I have added a bunch of pictures on our photo page from the past month of our time at the beach and for Anna's birthday party. I know that sometimes these types of pictures are not really interesting for those who don't know the people, but this is life for us. I wanted to share with you our life and experiences we go through. Isn't that what God calls us to do as believers?
    This weekend we will be having a dinner for our youth group. Our desire is to work with other churches and bring more young people to the Lord so we invited various other churches with their young people. So be praying for this weekend as all of the planning gets kind of hectic. After this event we are going to be preparing for our yearly Easter retreat. It is three days but can have a great impact on people's life. I get the privilege again to baptize at least two people maybe three.

The month of March is almost gone. I don't know where it went. Anna turned 10 yesterday. I can't believe we have a child now in the double digits. It seems like yesterday when we were at Bethany College of Missions taking our little newborn baby to class with us. She is growing up. She got perfume from someone at her birthday party on Friday. What are is happening?

    One thing I thought I would mention about the christian church culture here is anniversaries. Each year we attend an anniversary for one of the local baptist churches here. I was just pondering about this. Our church doesn't celebrate our church anniversary each year. Then I started to think about this in context of the US. We may celebrate a 10, 20 or 25 year church anniversary but every year is not that common. So I mentioned it to Jessie as we were eating our lunch after the service. It is these types of things that are traditions here but do not have any thing biblical about them. This is what Jessie reminded me of while talked. I don't want to just do things for tradition's sake. One aspect I see as being a benefit is getting people to come to the church who normal don't attend. The church was full of people that they had to put chairs in the entrance.
    This was the fourth anniversary we attended at this church. I remember the years past, the people from our church who would come with us. Three years ago it was Chavo, Vicente, and Barbara were with us who are now finishing up their second year of Bible school. Four years ago, we had Sigi and Jennifer Montes, a couple who had been living near us for over 2 years who are from Cali. Sigi had grown so much that by the time they went back to the states he was preaching at church. It is moments like this you realize just how life changes from one year to the next. We are blessed to be where we are. It does not mean that it is always easy but we are growing in the Lord. What is next? Only God knows.