Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1

"Bienvenidos" -- Welcome! These are the words we have been hearing over and over again as we travel throughout the city of Querétaro meeting new people and getting settled in. So, we'd like to welcome you to Querétaro and our home (for the first year) with some pictures below.

We are living in the house of another missionary family that is on furlough for the next year. It is a nice house in a great location--near grocery stores, malls, and one of the major highways of the city. The Lord has definitely blessed us with a nice setting.

We have attended the services of 3 different churches in town--two Spanish-speaking services and one English. The English service has been a blessing to ex-patriots for many years and also draws Mexican upper class businessmen and their families who speak English. The Rose of Sharon Church--the anchor church started by the Mexican Christians along with Dick and Ann Dye--has a beautiful service with various instruments used for worship singing. The pastor, Rigo, is a man of about 60 yrs who preaches strongly and is loved by his congregation. And, we are beginning to meet the congregation.

Next week I (Robert) have a meeting with the pastors/teachers of the seminary. Dick Dye will lead the meeting and in it they will decide the classes that I will teach for the next year. You can pray that all goes well with our plans.

The Music/Language/Arts Institute that is a such great outreach to the community has been postponed for this year. We are sad to hear this. A suitable venue for the event just could not be worked out after searching for many months. Amy and I will be working with the Rose of Sharon Christians to help make this happen for next summer. Lord willing, we will be able to put together another evangelistic event later on this year.

As for our daily lives here, we have visited the park "Querétaro 2000"--the equivalent of Millenium Park in Grand Rapids, MI, visited a local pet store--where you can actually pet the animals (see below), learned how to drive and gesture (appropriately) to other drivers, and eaten delicious tacos and tamales. Amy says the produce here is awesome! Also, we are now adjusted to the altitude of 6200 feet--this city is higher than Denver--and are sleeping through the night finally. The weather is a constant 70-75 degrees and since this is the "rainy season" (Jun to Sep) it usually rains several times a day and every night.

We are ever conscious of the prayers of God's people for us. Thank you for your encouragment and prayers.

Praises

1. Traveling Safety: Amy and Sophia met a friend at the Houston Airport to help them pass the 10 hour layover--thank you Deb for setting things up for them with Jackie! Robert safely drove the 2200 miles from Michigan to Querétaro. His dad and the dog were good traveling buddies. And Dennis, the missionary friend of the Dyes who met him at the border, was just the person to help him understand the border-crossing process. Dennis even drove him down to Q-town in record time!
2. We have a nice home in a great location.
3. The Dyes are excited and feeling spry and are helping us get situated.

1. That another evangelistic event can be set up in place of the postponed MLA Institute.
2. That the meeting Robert has with the pastors/teachers of the seminary next week will go well.
3. That our families will not be too sad at our being gone.
4. For the people burried in the landslide in Puebla, Mexico and their families. See the following: http://news.aol.com/story/_a/landslide-buries-bus-in-mexico/20070705082809990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

Sophia loved being a flowergirl in her cousin's wedding in June,
but she ran out of steam on the way to the reception.

Wallace is learning how to bark in Spanish!

We love our amazing quilt, which was a gift from
our Christ Church family in Grand Rapids, MI.

say "conejo" today at a local pet store.

I'll trade you my iguana for your conejo...