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Hello from Sunny Oaxaca! I always think life is exciting for us down here until I read the news on the Internet and see what's going on in the States.....tornadoes, blizzards, floods, mass nightclub tragedies, rumors and beginnings of war...makes life here in Oaxaca seem pretty simple and peaceful. Today, the 4 younger children and I stayed home from church because Bertito was down in bed with a fever. So, we had our own little service and we sang hymns together and prayed, and then we listened to a message on Ex. 34:14, on the jealous love of God. What a tremendous message it was and a real sword in my heart as I know that so often I get tied up with myself and my own needs and become frustrated or impatient with others. How often I start to edge away from the burning fire of first love for the Lord. The Lord sent me that message and reminded me how awesome and tremendous and overwhelming it is to be loved by God and to be wanted by Him. He is a jealous God, and I'm thankful for that jealous love. I sang to the children, "I Am His, and He is Mine." The words are so precious and were an encouragement to me... Loved with everlasting love, Led by grace that love to know; Spirit, breathing from above, Thou has taught me it is so! Oh, this full and perfect peace! Oh, this transport all divine! In a love which cannot cease, I am His, and He is mine. Things that once were wild alarms Cannot now disturb my rest, Closed in everlasting arms, Pillowed on the loving breast. Oh, to lie forever here, Doubt and care and self resign, While He whispers in my ear-- I am His, and He is mine. His forever, only His; Who the Lord and me shall part? Ah, with what a rest of bliss, Christ can fill the loving heart! Heaven and earth may fade and flee, Firstborn light in gloom decline; But while God and I shall be, I am His, and He is mine. So, no matter what the turbulence and anxious news that fills our times, pillowed on His breast and closed in His everlasting arms....what on earth can harm or disturb us. He is the Sovereign over ALL things. How grateful and humbled I am. Bert and Narciso had a wonderful and joy-filled week in northern Mexico in the City of Victoria. The folks in the mission there were like sponges and couldn't seem to get enough of the teaching/preaching they were receiving. They gave 4 classes every weekday with services in the evenings. On Sundays, they had regular services times. In between, they gave counsel, encouraged, and helped those who had questions. The Lord really blessed, and even though it was an exhausting schedule, they are very grateful for the Spirit's work in hearts. The camper we had put on the truck has already proven to be a real help...that's where the men stayed all week. Bert hasn't said if it was really hot (it can be at times up there), but the camper has 2 nice ceiling vent fans that keep the air circulating and makes it nice for sleeping. In January, there were special services in the mission here in Oaxaca. Bert spent a lot of time in preparation, and he taught on Baptist distinctives and the doctrine of God's grace. It was a wonderful time of learning together for everyone. Then, on February 9th, 6 people were baptized from the mission here. It's pretty dry here in Oaxaca (we're in our 4th month without any rain), but there is a small lake outside the city where there is "much water." A real benefit of going there is that Sunday is the Mexican "day off" and "family day." The lake is usually surrounded by families with their picnic lunches and their music blaring, and so ALL can see those who are obeying the Lord in baptism. It's a real sight, I'm sure, for Roman Catholics to see baptism the Bible way...by immersion. Now, there are 6 members of the Abounding Grace Baptist Mission here in Oaxaca. There are others who are considering and others who are still not saved but are so faithful to attend services. Please pray for Laura....she is a single lady, a nurse, who has been coming for about 5 years, travelling 3 hours one way by public transportation. She is lost and absolutely miserable in her sin. If there was ever a female version of Pilgrim with his burden on his back... Please also pray for Maria. Her husband, Homero, lived with us for a time before he was married and is kind of like a son to us. She comes from a very Roman Catholic family where there was always a lot of strife and conflict. She and Homero have 3 sons aged 3 and under. She too is lost and bowed under the weight of her sin. We have been praying a long time also for the young preacher, Narciso's wife. Rosa has also been miserable in her sin for quite some time. She and Narciso live on the other side of the wall from us (we're CLOSE neighbors). But, a couple of weeks ago, God graciously saved Rosa....you couldn't see her husband's face for his smile. He has all along just rested in God's timing, absolutely convinced in his heart that God would save his wife. They leave for their hometown of Chetumal, Quintana Roo, but a month before they are to leave, God saved her, so it has been a time of great communion, especially since both of our husbands are gone, and we see each other all day long. It looks like we are going to Chetumal as a family. Bert plans to stay about 3 weeks, so we decided to go together, especially since he will have already been away for 17 days. We are all looking forward to going. It's dreadfully hot over there in the Yucatan Peninsula, but we will have the camper to sleep in, so we can rest well. We may "camp out" by one of the many lagoons there and cook outside, bathe and wash clothes in the lagoon, etc. Don't feel sorry for us...after being in the city since we came back...we're ready for some real country. I guess you just can't get that country out of us country bumpkins. And, the water there is gorgeous...some of the lagoons have more than 7 different colors of blue in the same body of water! It's pretty, so you "put up" with the heat and enjoy the beauty....we don't have hardly any water here in the Valley of Oaxaca, so our kids' eyes bug out when they see lots of water like that. Sure not like it was for us in the States when we grew up with lakes and water all over the place. Looks like we might be having German Shepherd pups around here in April....at least we're hoping so. Our faithful dog, Sheba is 7 years old now, and we would really like a pup from her. She has been a wonderful dog with the kids, and ever since we got her, we've never been robbed like we did before. She's a great security system. You have to understand that the Mexican dogs are as skinny as rails and poor excuses for a dog. They don't have "pets" like we do in the States, and dogs roam the streets everywhere and just live off garbage, and they look like it too. They are dreadfully ugly and sad looking. So, our Shepherd looks huge and menacing to the people here, though she is very respectful of people. We found an American family with a white German Shepherd male...so, hopefully, we'll have some pups. Speaking of animals...we're trying to take our little sheep down to the river (we live a couple of blocks from the Atoyac River, but there's no water in it....it's only a small river during the rainy season) so they can pasture there a bit and get some exercise. We really do need to sell them and are trying to wait until Semana Santa (Easter time, literally "holy week") when the price will go up for lamb. They are so sweet looking and have the biggest and softest eyes...I think I'd rather eat beans than kill one of them. Not so with the chickens..the big rooster started attacking the kids, so he's up for sale. He also killed a poor little hen who was a good layer, so he's definitely the big, bad rooster. We have a sign up on the door to sell him, but so far, the only ones who have stopped have wanted a fighting cock (that's not illegal here). He's a fighting cock, but not the kind they want. The men had a great visit up to the mission in the mountains. They killed a sheep and a goat (they must have thought they would be STARVED!) for their arrival, and so the men came home saying they were fed like kings and still felt stuffed (I imagine so!). The ones who meet together up there are really eager for the men to come and teach/preach as often as possible. The men will go, the Lord willing, every 2 weeks. The men in this village are bread makers and grow their own wheat (I don't know of anywhere else they grow wheat down here...it's pretty unusual). They make whole wheat bread and sell it in the markets. It's not soft, loaf bread like we'd be used to, but rather small, triangular-shaped pieces that are kind of tough (it's made out of pure whole wheat) that they use to drink with their ever present cup of coffee. The men in the mission here are really encouraged by the reception they received. It seems like there are so many open doors to us right now...in Ciudad Victoria, here in Oaxaca, up in the mountains in San Augustin Mixtepec, and over in Chetumal. These are the "serious minded" groups, and there are other interested groups, one in northern Oaxaca, and one on the Pacific coast of Oaxaca....Please pray the Lord give us strength and wisdom and that we would stay under the pillar of cloud to know what He would have us do and when. We continue to live cozy and comfortable here in Oaxaca. We've settled in pretty much now and the kids are doing their schoolwork, which they enjoy. It's a challenge at times here as there are 10 children aged 9 and under living in the same house, but there are also a lot of good lessons learned. Our children are the oldest, so they are learning even more the importance of being a good example. With only Spanish speakers around, all of us are improving rapidly on our rusty Spanish once again. Even Ruth and Lydia who had to start at the beginning are doing pretty well. Lydia, at 3, doesn't understand completely that there are 2 languages, and she often chatters away in English to someone, and they just laugh at her sincerity, but don't understand a thing she says. We're seeming to go through another bout of some kind of illness, but not a serious one. I think that since we are living so close, some of these viruses are bouncing back and forth between families. Living here has allowed for lots of times to minister to others, and that is a blessing for our family too. In the morning, I'm going to teach Rosa how to make bread, the Lord willing. That's mostly a male job here in Oaxaca as they do a better job of kneading the dough, but I told her she can easily make her own, and she wants to try. We had some more cultural lessons when we had a garage sale a couple of weeks ago. After moving, we set aside all kinds of things that we didn't want to move again or things that we didn't need anymore. It turned out to be a lot of clothing and other misc. items. We ended up having the sale for one week (it seemed like a looong week), and there was the usual haggling over prices and trying to barter for this and that. We were selling things very, very cheap, and there were a lot of nice clothes, especially girls' clothing (I wonder why...) A lot of things sold, but we honestly thought it would ALL sell for the price we were selling it, but we were disappointed that it didn't. Alas, the styles from the States have made it down to southern Mexico, and the clothes we sold were all "old fashioned," modest dresses, and we are seeing fewer and fewer dresses here in the City. Another observation previously learned and seen once again is that the typical Mexican lives for today and doesn't think about tomorrow. In one sense, that's good, because they are not worrying about tomorrow, but when there's an opportunity to buy clothes for your child for the next couple of years at dirt cheap prices, the thought never crosses their mind...they just buy what their child can use right now. They tend to "nickle and dime" themselves to death here also. Instead of buying sales or in quantity, they'll buy the same amount everyday of the same item, no matter what the price is. Things observed...but not good for our garage sale. We weren't trying to make money, but instead of giving things away, (which isn't the best for the people), we tried to sell things at a very good price. Some took advantage, but mostly people who knew us....that was interesting too...it's like others didn't have the confidence to buy. Some acted like "there must be something wrong with the price that low." Anyway, we aren't here for garage sales, but you sure do learn a lot of things about their way of thinking. Our "little" Bertito turned 8 years old on the 21st of February. Bert was gone, so we are planning to celebrate his birthday when his daddy comes home. Even if I want to turn the clock back, I can't. Time marches on. It doesn't for the great I AM though. Someday, we won't ever think about time, but for now, it's a reality. I want to grab all my little ones sometimes and not let them grow any older, but instead, I must ask the Lord like Psalm 90:12 says, to give me wisdom to number my days and apply my heart unto wisdom. There is so much to teach them....I just want to be faithful and diligent. I wouldn't be happier doing anything else. I love nursing, I love midwifery, but I love best being a wife and mother...it's a lot of work, but the benefits and rewards are without measure. Well, another little sketch and glimpse into the life of the Craft family. We are happily busy, as you can see. We want to be found faithful at His coming, and that is by His grace alone. Thank you for praying for us. How good He is, and we pray that you are rejoicing in His goodness too. When you think of us, please pray for my brother, Seth, also. He is a Navy medic attached to a Marine Corp unit. Right now, he is stationed on the Iraq-Kuwait border...I could be prejudiced, but he's a fine young man and would willingly give his life for others and his country. It's difficult for a mother and for all us, for that matter, to know he could be in harm's way. We are trusting him in the Lord's care. In His Hand, Heather Craft Email: bertcraft@bigfoot.com Home Phone: 011-52-951-514-5649 from the U.S. U.S. Voice Mail: 1-800-337-9435
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