Este es para nuestros amigo en Puebla: ¡está nevando!

Si creen que hace frío en Puebla, lo sentimos mucho.  Esta semana en el día la temperatura ha estado entre -3 y -8…en el sol.

Y hoy, por fin, está nevando.  Estamos muy contentos al ver la nieve.  Es algo diferente y muy bonito.  y no va a durar más que unos días.  Les mandamos unas fotos de la casa de mis papás hoy en la tarde…

Salmo 147:16/Psalm 147:16

Yesterday in the Tacoma area tens of thousands of people lined the streets to pay their respects to four police who were shot in cold blood. Besides the obvious tragedy we’ve felt, it’s been interesting for us to note the differences in law enforcement and the relationship between cops and communities here and in Mexico.

Burning police truck in Otumba

This link is to a community outside Mexico City (about 20 minutes from the Nevins’ house) called Otumba. Two police agents arrived at a school to with an arrest warrant for a teacher accused of “actos libinidosos”, I assume for molestation of some sort. People in the community got wind of what happened, rang the church bell and 500 people attacked the agents and were in the process of lynching them (saying they were kidnappers and the people in the community were “sick of the crime in the community”) when 1000 state security agents had to bust in to free them, in the process losing a couple trucks that people threw gas on and lit.
Incidentally, Otumba is a place we had a run in this April with corrupt cops who effectively robbed us.
Sooooo, we’re awfully thankful for the four cops who gave their lives and for the many more who serve honestly and with integrity. “Fire in Otumba” is a reminder of what you get when police are neither honest, competent nor trusted by their communities. “Protect and serve” is a great motto. Oh, that it were true in Mexico (and many other countries around the world).

So we are thankful for our police here and deeply feel for the four families who lost their loved ones in Lakewood.

Well what to say. We’re here in Tacoma for Thanksgiving for the first time since before Drew was born. We’re at Opa’s and Grandma’s (Glessner) house with Jana and Josh & Laura & Sophie & Uncle Ron & Aunt Ruth. Fun!

We started off with the FBUP Turkey Trot, well, Tim & Jana. It was raining so Barbara-Lee stayed in with the kids to watch the Macy’s Parade, a Kieselowsky tradition that has yet to be transfered over to our household. And now we’re over at Grandma’s and Opa’s. Read more…

Well, the Fireballs won tonight, after a bit of a drought. It was a 2-0 “mauling” of the Cougars (who, I believe were our other victims), Again, Kayla scored both goals. Drew, while shoing no scorers instinct, was absolutely all over the place. Side to side, front to back. It seemed like he’d kick the ball across the court and then be the first to get to it. Anyway, he had fun. And so did I. So rah, rah for teamwork and hustle and learning. But it’s fun to win, too!

We had a great trip over the mountains to Connell. I think it was actually quite a bit faster (excluding snow and KFC stops) than Google Maps allows, and, yes, that’s mostly a speed=limit-following Tim. There was snow falling over the pass so we broke two rules: 1. We stopped against all instinct and played in the snow for 1/2 hour. 2. We allowed Christmas music ahead of Thanksgiving. Well, we only get to be around snow once every blue moon, maybe even less, so why not?

And once in Connell Drew and I accompanied our host, Pat Nunan, to Kennewick where we watched the Connell Eagles, a 1A school, dismantle the River View, uh, Cougars, I think, 47-7, with a dominating running game and stifling defense (hint, don’t try to block four defenders with only three down linemen). That was a lot of fun. It’s the first football victory we’ve seen in four tries this season. Hopefully we’ll catch up to this team in the Tacoma Dome (site of the state championship).

And of course tomorrow is the reason we’re here: to present at the church. But we’ll close things out with some snow pictures and a video of the band (sax and trombone played by Joel and Kyle Nunan): of the kids playing in the snow (to keep all the snow stuff in one post):

And here’s the video:

We’re traveling over the mountains today. In western Washington parlance that means we’re going over Snoqualmie Pass on I-90 to eastern Washington, to Connell, to be precise. The forecast is for rain and snow over the pass–the kids are greatly excited. We’ll leave early so that conditions aren’t too bad, hopefully, and the kids hope to play in snow.

Trips like this are pretty typical for missionaries of our type in the States. We’re visiting a church that has supported us for about 8 years and it’ll be good to see some friends there again. Our travels are probably a lot less than most other missionaries, actually; this is only our third over-nighter of the fall. And it’s fun to get out and about and see our beautiful state.

Thanks for your prayers.

Check the Snoqualmie Pass conditions here.

Just a word that we’re working on updating this page to make it a bit more attractive, interesting and useful. We’ve been adding old prayer letters to the new format and also using Flickr to improve our photo capabilities. Go to the Mailbox link at the top of the page, and to the Photos link to see some of the photos.

Thanks,
Tim & Barbara-Lee

Some random musings and family news:

We’re going to our last church of the year, Connell, on Saturday. We’re driving over Snoqualmie Pass, probably through snow. It’s about a 4 hour trip, if all goes well. Then…we’re off until next…? We’ve had a brutal time trying to schedule churches for next year. There’s just not much interest. Strange, seeing as how churches have supported us for 5-8 years! Oh, well, pastors are busy too and we’ve just got to get them at the right time, I suppose. I thought this would be a bit easier, though.

Our car’s at the body shop getting fixed from 1. a falling branch and 2. a break-in. Someone punched out the lock from the driver’s side and stole a tool bag. So we’re getting these things fixed, hopefully a minor dent-repair job. Here’s the fallen branch next to its victim, our car:

Narrow escape from falling tree limb

Our friends, Miguel and Socorro (and kids, Roy and Jessi) are coming for Christmas! It’ll be a pretty special time with family and friends. I’m holding back on the Christmas music and lights, but Barbara-Lee is chomping at the bit! The day after Thanksgiving…

Reading Drew a book of poetry, ok, looking for a funny poem to make him laugh, I found this one by
Arthur Guiterman.

Strictly Germ-proof
THE Antiseptic Baby and the Prophylactic Pup
Were playing in the garden when the Bunny gamboled up;
They looked upon the Creature with a loathing undisguised;—
It wasn’t Disinfected and it wasn’t Sterilized. … Read more…