In June of last year our team moved into the tribe. The Alkire family was ready to join Rachel and I in our somewhat finished house. We packed all the belongings that would fit and half-a-year’s-worth of groceries into a truck and made our way up the mountain to the tribe. The weeks flew by as we finished the pantry, put in our solar system, and stuccoed our inside walls. We began to learn language with the help of our tribal neighbors and either went visiting or received visitors every day. We started building a foundation for the day in which we will be able to share the gospel.
In August, I began teaching Josiah full time. With just one student, I was still able to continue learning language and building friendships with the local ladies. Josiah quickly made friends with the tribal boys, learning to lasso pigs and cows and practicing his Spanish. A few months later, when the roads cleaned up a bit, the Davis family came out to join us for some school and work on their house.
In November we headed out of the tribe for the first time since summer, making a trip to the city to take care of paperwork that gives us permission to be in the country. We celebrated Thanksgiving with our co-workers in town, and took advantage of fun “extras” like ice cubes, food that we didn’t have to cook, and hot showers.
Before we knew it, it was time to repack the truck and head home to host an eye clinic for the Nahuatl people. We saw over 100 people, outfitting more than half of them with new glasses. Many of the tribal women do intricate needlework, so it was encouraging to see them helped with their vision. We know that before we can speak to people’s spiritual health we must show our concern for their physical well-being.
By the time December rolled around, we had already lived in our new home for more than half a year. We decided a break and some time apart would be healthy for the three of us families that had been living in the same home, so headed to the U.S. for Christmas. I was able to surprise my parents in Florida and was joined by my siblings; what fun to be all together again.
Although it was difficult to stay connected without internet, our team repeatedly felt your prayers and love from a distance. Our co-workers in northern Mexico found opportunities to shower us with gifts, our co-workers organized an air drop of much needed mail and goodies, and our supporters in the U.S. faithfully continued to pray for us and support us. Thank you.