Settling in to life in Ohio

After a few weeks of lethargy and bad drug reactions, I am finally back to life, vowing to seriously restrict all prescription drugs. In fact I am waiting to see a nutritional specialist to help me resolve some ongoing health issues without the use of medicines if possible. Thanks for the prayers. Just thought I should give a feeble excuse for my silent blog these past couple of weeks.

Now Jim is in Orlando for a week, so I hope to make up for lost time and write a few early impressions of our stateside time. I was dreaming of getting my very own laptop computer this summer rather than only writing when the computer is free or Jim is gone, but after getting the bill from the emergency room, I think the computer will have to wait (again!).

One of the primary reasons for our trip north this summer was to expose our three youngest children to the U.S. again. They had not been up here since 2006. Little by little we were hearing prejudiced remarks about how wonderful Mexico is in contrast with the United States. We felt it was time they experience a bit more of the American culture and some of the benefits of living up here again. It isn't easy at ages 10, 12, and almost 14 to readjust to Mom and Dad's passport country when they were born and raised south of the border. Nor is it easy to strike up friendships at those particular ages. It is a gradual process, but necessary nonetheless.

So far the highlight of our time, besides seeing both grandmothers, was the discovery of a "taqueria" down the road from our house. There is a little mobile unit set up in a run-down parking lot with an actual Mexican selling tacos. Most people would run like the plague (or should I say Swine Flu) from such a questionable establishment, but I suspect that may become one of our regular haunts this summer. Just knowing they can have a taste of home has helped our kids' attitude and adjustment.

Living this close to the inner city has other benefits as well. We were hoping for ministry opportunities in the community so we could put into practice the recent sermons we have been hearing. On Saturday we took the kids and participated in an Urban kids' club with the neighbor children. There are many Cambodian refugees who have settled in this area, and we are praying how to become involved either teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) to the parents, or working with the children like we did on Saturday. At any rate we are determined to make our time count for eternity this summer.

Later I will post photos of the lovely mission house where we are staying, along with tidbits about our life up here. It's hard to believe we left Mexico over a month ago!