¿Qué pasa?

Wondering where I've been all month?

I've been working on a couple of blog posts. One is a transcribed document about the English and Flynn (Flin) families in colonial South Carolina. Another is about some very cool 17th-cenutry Irish maps, recently digitized and available online. I'm still pondering over some of the (owner) names on the County Westmeath maps, names that don't match up with my genealogical research.

Then I put everything aside to get ready for another trip. I spent last weekend visiting Quakers in Mexico.

When I got back, all my free time — and sleep time, and eating time — was confiscated by these six little cuties! Feral, unweaned... Did you know kittens don't automatically know how to drink from a bottle, much less lap up milk or formula? Did you know they have to be fed every few hours, day and night? Ay-yi-yi!

Now you know what I've been up to.

Two Yearly Meetings in partnership

Sometimes you've just got to hang a sign in the shop window, pack your bags, and get out of the country.

Seriously, I went on a short trip to Mexico on church business early last week. North Carolina Yearly Meeting (Quakers) hadn't sent anybody to visit our meeting in Mexico since 2010 (2009 for me) because of the dangers of traveling in that country.
We've missed our brothers and sisters in Christ. With Pastor Jorge leaving after nearly 30 years of service, and our decision to turn over administration of the meeting to Mexico Yearly Meeting, we couldn't stand it any longer. We simply had to go.

After a hearty Mexican breakfast, we visited with a couple of families that I knew from past mission trips, then went to Sunday worship.







The swing in the churchyard now gets lots of use before and after services!

The family sitting in front of me had a Bible for every age.








We gave Jorge a plaque of appreciation and he and his wife joined us for dinner.

Representatives from Mexico and North Carolina yearly meetings

The next day, we met with several pastors and their wives from Mexico Yearly Meeting. We had an awesome time of business and worship together. We returned home excited about the future, determined that our next visit won't be so long in coming.

A Bookstore Blessing

I've been meaning all week to share some bookish news about my trip to Maryland, but not only was I trying to get the shop ready, I was also helping to prepare for Mid-Year Gathering for North Carolina Yearly Meeting (Quakers), held this past weekend. As part of that gathering, we had missionaries in town from Kenya, Mexico, Alabama and Jamaica. It was invigorating.

Today I planned to take our pastor from Mexico out to lunch. I've been to the meeting in Matamoros a couple of times and wanted to share just a little of the hospitality that he and his family always offer us. I asked him and another friend to meet me at the bookshop, where I figured I would be working. They arrived before me, though, and I unlocked the door to show them my new business. There were books stacked on the floor, boxes strewn about, empty shelves, and the strong smell of new carpet (have I mentioned that we're opening in four days?).

Pastor Jorge stopped just inside the door. He told me and the other friend that he wanted to pray for me and my business. We held hands and he prayed, in Spanish, asking the Lord to bring people and business and to bless the place. I was deeply moved.

Just wanted to share that.

Mexico update

The mission trip was physically and emotionally exhausting, but we got a lot of work done. Here's a list of tweets from the trip.
July 16: safe and sound in Mexico for mission trip. No mucho tiempo en la computadora (oh-not much time on computer).
July 17: Hot, exhausting day painting new church building in Mexico. Thankful to feel every muscle.
July 17: had great ideas for writing while up on ladder painting today. Now, totally brain dead.
July 18/19 midnight: excited, got visa to go farther into Mexico. Have to get up to leave in a few hours.
July 19, night: Me: I love Mexican food. I'm in Mexico! Tummy (after 1 week): no mas! VETO the spicy food!
Monday, July 20: Bible school kids showed up, saw new swing set, didn't know what to do with it. Helpers taught them how to use slide.
July 24: Home safe and sound from Mexico. Thanks for prayers and encouragement.

Thursday already, in Matamoros, Mexico

We left early Monday morning from North Carolina and arrived Tuesday evening in Matamoros, Mexico (after an overnight stop at our MOWA Choctaw mission in Alabama). Now, I remember why I never seem to journal much, and why I have such trouble writing stories about these great mission trips - because we go from sunup 'til sundown and then fall into bed, only to get up and start again! I will try to get some of my thoughts in order offline and then post later.