God is still working...

Current HarvestCall missionaries in Magdalena de Kino, Sonora, Mexico

Mary Lehman

Jason & Geo Grassi

Kendra Neihouser

Andy & Erin Ott

Carissa Schlipf

Todd & Zoe Stoller

Nicole Knobloch

There are a few national missionaries here that aren't pictured (Issa Sibaja Leon y Marce Salcedo)

Our first visit to Casa Vida y Esperanza was November of 2017, 7 years ago. We didn't know much about the ministry as we'd never visited. Getting a firsthand experience is so much different than hearing about it. The current picture above has 7 of the same people in it but most from 2017 have moved on. It's easy to think that God isn't hearing our prayers of bringing more people to the field. It's easy to focus on what we do not have instead of thanking Him for what's in front of us. Awhile back, in our Teen Girls Bible Study, we were talking about this very thing. Eve was in the garden in her "perfect world" with everything she could have ever dreamed of, walking with God, beauty all around her, having a doting husband, taking care of animals, no sin, etc. Yet, the devil came to her and whispered temptation in her ear and caused her to think of something she didn't have, God's wisdom. In a moment of weakness, she began thinking of what she didn't have, which became more important than thanking God for what she did have.

I confess that I am Eve sometimes. I can fall into the trap of complaining or wishing things were different. Recently, we had an all-entities meeting that consisted of The Church, CVE, The Fatted Calf, and Cafe Sed. Both boards (The Fatted Calf/ PCLM and CVE) were present, pictured below. During this meeting, it was brought out that yes, we have 2 CVE kids left. It's easy to think that God is closing the door on the mission in Magdalena de Kino. And if we concentrate on kids living full-time at the orphanage, God is changing the mission. But if we zoom out and get a birds' eye view of what God is working out in the ministries we will see that there are 16 teachers employed at the Christian Private School, there are some 12 employees of Casa Vida y Esperanza, there are around 90 kids enrolled in the School, hearing God's Word every week. There are also around 24 kids that attend Hilos after-school program 2x a week for 2.5 hours, also learning life skills and healthy emotional/social skills. There are 9-10 employees of PCLM working in a safe, Christian environment. What else could I be lamenting when in reality my eyes haven't been opened to what God is doing?

Casa Vida y Esperanza- Board of Directors

Joel Leman, Hannah Herrmann, Keith Schieler, Tom Klotzle, Todd Kaeb, Jeff Beer and Jeremy Ebert

The Fatted Calf/PCLM Board of Directors

Bob Hartman, Chase Rinkenberger, Daton Kupferschmid, Jake Leman, Keith Schieler, Steph Baner & Josh Virkler

Employees of the School, CVE, Hilos after-school program, and HC missionaries

Since our family arrived in 2020, we've said goodbye to 9 families and 4 singles. (I very well could be forgetting some) Our community has shrunk and the losses over and over take our mental capacity to grieve well. Sometimes we don't hold space to grieve and instead continue to adapt to the new normal.

I snapped this picture of the CVE community when we first visited in November 2017.

In November, we said "see you later" to two more singles, as they each got married. One is Pau, who married Evan Greiner from Bloomington, IL and the other is Brittney, who married Brant Martin and moved to Eureka, IL. Both were super special to our family and blessed us in many ways.

With our dear Pau

With Brittney, our little lost puppy (inside joke, wink wink)

Lately, our family has done some reminiscing on our time in Costa Rica. We look back on this time with fondness. Andy says it was one of his most favorite parts of this missional journey. To have just our little family to lean on, to spend quality time with, to explore a new country and develop new friendships with others on the same journey.

Read more Costa Rica stories here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

It's amazing to us how it got to be that way. When we were still exploring what life would look like if we did indeed follow the Lord's Leading to Mexico, it would be required to go to language school for a minimum of 6 months. That seemed so daunting to a young family with four kids. How does one move to a different country, with kids and study a foreign language? Turns out, with God, we can do HARD things! Or things that seemed impossible at the time and yet while in the midst of it, you just feel carried by the prayers of those who love you. I know many who have testified of this during cancer diagnosis, a hard family situation, you name it. If someone has the Lord on their side, mountains fall and the steps in front of you, while still difficult, become manageable. What else could I be fearing that could actually be a blessing?

And so that brings us to today. It's been a challenging 5-6 months. I'd say the hardest 5 months since we've been here. Andy's job has become more challenging because of the fact there's simply less people. In August, Jonathan Aupperle, moved his family back to Princeville. Andy has been at Carnisimo Burgers, training under and next to Jonathan pretty much since we arrived. So the loss has been deeply felt in Jonathan no longer here. Andy also assumed the Director of Teaching and Doctrine for the Magdalena Church, also from Jonathan. So right away there's two "heavy" things on Andy's plate that wasn't there a year ago. Also, Pau was a wonderful addition to Burgers and managed the restaurant employees, adding a woman's touch to the restaurant and a 3rd person to brainstorm things with. With her moving on this past November, that leaves another hole. The challenge with so many responsibilities is that there is less time to work with and encourage the employees. And being the people person Andy is, he would much rather be working and teaching the employees than all the administrative work that needs done.

There's also been some frustrations since the restaurant moved to its new location in October 2024. The ice cream machine has not worked since we moved it. There's been different electricians, technicians and phone calls. Today, Andy was talking to someone in El Paso, Texas who was troubleshooting it over the phone. There was a lady that pulled up to the drive thru window asking for ice cream and when Andy told her our machine was down, he could hear her kids crying in the car as they pulled away:(

There's also been a problem with the water lines leaving the restaurant and we've been at the mercy of the local water authorities to get that fixed. Thankfully, just recently we were able to rehook up the sinks and toilets, otherwise employees were having to direct customer to an alternate bathroom in the adjoining event room or empty water from buckets beneath the sinks :(

Such is life. We know it'll never be perfect. Or easy. But we have to trust God is doing something with "our little". And it does seem little most days. There's a song Becky & Ronda sing called, Lord Here's My Basket. It reminds me of what He is able to do even though we are small, broken people. Here's a version by the Clark Family.

This blog is getting a little long so I'll wrap it up now.

Please continue to pray for God's Will to be done here in Magdalena. Pray that God's Will will be done in our Family. Please pray that the gospel will never be secondary and that we can boldly share the Good News with hurting people. Thanks for reading and caring.

God bless you all.

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. "

Ephesians 3:20-21