A week later....

Wow! Time is going fast....We are sorry we have not been able to update this, but since the team got here on Saturday, we have stayed very busy! We have only a few minutes before we eat breakfast and head out for the day, so we will give you the highlights since the last blog..


Thursday- We finished up VBS and had an awesome time with the kids! Many of the parents accepted Christ! YEAH God!

Friday- Day off and we hung out around our house, watched a couple movies with our host family and just relaxed.... it was a good thing since we haven't had time to do that since!

Saturday- We spent the morning at the church doing a kid's club outreach. This was like a mini VBS and we had about 20 kids there. We really enjoyed playing basketball, jumprope, bingo, doing puzzles, and coloring while talking about God! We were also anxiously awaiting the arrival of our team.... we went home and ate lunch, and then came back down to the church at 3:30. The team arrived around 4-4:30 and it was great to see some more english speaking friends! We did an orientation at the church and then they all went off with their families....We went back to our home and watched Facing the Giants ( One of our favorites!)

Sunday- A full day of worship! We had three services, where we sang, shared testimonies and had an a great day.....we definately felt God's presence today!

Monday- Work day at the church! We had devotionals with the team from 8:30-10 and then spent the day helping around the church. The kids and I spent most of the day painting the playground, they were a great help....I spent most of my time just holding the paint can and putting paint on the brush :-) We had an afternoon of fellowship and food with all the workers from the church, which was awesome....the rest of the afternoon was spent finishing up painting, and misc... for us. Steve spent almost the entire day sanding the church floorboards under the hot sun, with glass, and sandpaper..... one small incident with a shard of glass in his finger.... He was sanding with Don, Paul, Alberto, and Jason... Austin also was sanding for part of the day.....

Tuesday- Yesterday was a full day....8:30 devotions, 10:30 off to children's ministry( some problems with electricity, so no music. We had a very cool experience while we were all in a circle praying to get the electricity working. Steve prayed first, and then Rosa prayed in Spanish, and afterwards, Belinda told us that they prayed almost the exact same thing!!! It is great to feel God's presence among us!

Wednesday afternoon....

Wow, we have so much to write, and tell everyone about but so little time on the computer.... Austin is having so much fun at Vacation Bible School with the other 10-12 year olds, and I don´t think it even phases him, that they all speak only Spanish! Steve has been helping with the 7-9 year olds and Dani and I with the 4-6 year olds. The first day they were all a little shy around us, and just not sure what to think of all the blonde hair! Now they are warming up to us, and love to have us speak English, and just hang around us, so that is very cool! Dani and I stayed back at home today, because Dani has a cold. Please pray that she will feel better quickly, as we will be very busy next week, when the Northwood team arrives!

Also, please keep our friend Shane in your prayers. He was in the hospital Sunday night, and is at home now, but is suppose to be coming down here on Saturday. We pray that he is pain free tomorrow, so the doctor gives him the go ahead!

As Steve mentioned in the post on Monday, we have had lots of great food down here! Austin is eating everything, well almost everything, he didn´t eat the broccoli soup the other night, but you will be very surprised to hear that I did! ( it was pureed) Dani has been a trooper, and has at least tried most of the foods. We had sopes twice on Sunday, and they were delicious! We even got some churros from the street vendor yesterday, and they were great too. The kids favorite is Pan Dulce, which translates sweet bread. Almost every night we walk down to the Panderia, and pick some out, there are all different kinds, but Dani likes the ones with cinnamon and sugar on them the best!

As far as the Chaffin´s go, we are doing very well, living and sleeping in the same room! The kids are actually on the roof right now feeding the two dogs and loving it! Dani and Austin both love all the dogs, even though they know that they can´t pet them. The one in the picture belongs to one of the families down here, most dogs don´t look like this here! We had a couple nights where we did not sleep very well, but we are adjusting to all the noises at night. I actually woke up last night, and it was completely silent, and that almost seemed odd! We just had our dinner which they eat at 4, and the Vivanco family is coming over tonight to visit with us. Last night, we were part of the small group that meets on Tuesdays in our host home. It was very cool, we sang songs, prayed, and talked about different blble verses, and then shared a snack together! Just like home!

That´s all for now...Thanks so much for all the prayers, when things are a bit out of our comfort zone we can feel all of you praying us through! We will try to post pictures at some point.... LOVE AND MISS YOU ALL!!!

Steve. Amy, Austin and Dani

Dani´s update

We are in Mexico!! It was a long plane ride but it was fun and kinda bumpy in the air. It was funny our tummies went up and up! When we got to the air-port in Mexico City I was very nervous about checking suit-cases but it was totaly fine! then we saw Manuel and Emily they brought us to their house and we slept at their house! Then around 6:00 to 7:00 Laura dropped us off at Irma and Hilario´s house. I miss evereyone and will see you when I get home!

The Latest

It´s hard to believe we are already at Monday, the time is really going fast. Well, here is an update from the last entry. Friday and Saturday we spent the whole day helping out at the Vivanco´s unpacking, hanging shelves, and doing whatever we could to help get them settled into their new home. We also met a Missionary couple from Chicago that have only been here for five months and we were able to spend Saturday evening at their home for dinner and then they brought our family out for a treat of ice cream afterwards. Sunday we went to Church and saw many friends from years past and enjoyed the praise and worship, it was great to be back at our Mexican home church ( this is the only church we have been to in Mex., so this is why we say our Mexican home church.) The kids were very excited to meet everyone but I think they were a bit overwhelmed by all the hugging and kissing going on. Sunday after church we had a meal with our host family and their kids, and their kids kids, and extended family and so on. People kept coming and going all afternoon. We went to church again on Sun. night and had another great service. After the service, we were invited to a birthday party for one of the youth ( David ) and had a great time in laughter and fellowship. Sunday was a full day for everyone and we were all tired by the time we got home and went to bed. Steve has been trying some new foods that he has never heard of before (they have been a culinary taste sensation), two different types of fruit, Guayaba, and Mamey (mi gusta) and also a main dish called Pata De Res y Tostadas (tostadas with pickled cows foot) the taste was great, the texture was interesting. Monday was spent back at church and VBS. We helped as best we could with our limited vocabulary in Spanish. Austin and Dani have been troopers so far and we have only had a couple of close calls as far as meltdowns (Praise God), they have even been eating most of the food (not the Pata De Res). Anyway, I know that´s alot of info, but we don´t have access to the internet like we do back home.
En Las Manos De Dios,
The Chaffin Family

Austin says "I miss everyone at home, hope to see you soon but I am having fun in Mexico too"
Dani Says "

Friday July 24th.....

We are so excited to be here in Chiconautla! This is the first chance to write....so here we go....

We woke up at 3:35 a.m. on Wednesday to the kids jumping on our bed saying it was time to get ready- They were very excited! We made it to the airport and security with no problems and no time to spare...when we walked up to the boarding gate, they were all boarded, and said you must be the Chaffin's! We were hoping for a Cinnabon for breakfast, but not this time...A half hour later we were in the air and on our way. Austin and Dani were very excited for the plane ride and loved looking at the clouds, loading of the luggage, they could see ours, because of the bright pink suitcase, we had bought the night before, and just everything about the flight.
We arrived in Houston, and had just enough time to stop at the restroom, and get to the gate for our flight to Mexico City. This plane was only 3 seats across, but Austin thought the seats were much more comfortable.

We arrived in Mexico City at around 1 pm, made it through immigration and customs with no problems. Manuel and Emily Vivanco met us with a WELCOME sign and it was awesome to see them again!
We spent our first night with the Vivanco family, due to a death in the extended family of our host family. This turned out to be an easier transition for the kids, since the Vivanco's speak English. We loved spending time with them and having dinner with them, but we were off to bed by 8, since we were all lacking in sleep.
On Thursday, we went with the Vivanco family to a party at John and Tracy Pieters (missionary friends). We enjoyed our time with the Vivanco's, Pieter's and two other families. The kids were able to jump on a trampoline, watch a skit about Greek history, performed by the Pieters girls, and break a pinata!

At 6 pm, we loaded up our suitcases and headed over to the Vidales (our host family), and we were all very excited. When we arrived we were greeted by Irma and Hilario, and their daughter-in-law, Angeles, and her little girl, Daniella!, We also met Irma's mom, Maria.
We brought the bags up to our room and the kids said they liked our room and everyone is so nice! We spent the evening practicing our Spanish :-) We were fed a great meal with cheese quesedillas and pan dulce (sweet bread), Delicioso! We crawled into bed around 9:30, and fell asleep fairly quickly. We all woke up at different times, due to outside noises (dogs, sirens, roosters)! We all woke up by 8, and spent some time as a family, before our meal at 10. We had cereal, and eggs with ham.

Today and tomorrow, we will be helping at the Vivanco home. Since it took me a half hour to remember my password to log on to this today, I will wait to post pictures until tomorrow. Off to get some work done....Thanks for those who have already commented, it was fun for all of us to log on and see comments! Hasta Luego!

Steve, Amy, Austin and Dani

Austin's first journal entry....

I am excited, worried and nervous about going to Mexico. I am excited because I will get to meet new people, make new friends and bless many people as well as learn a whole new language. I am worried because I have to learn a whole new language. I am nervous about eating food that is really spicy. What also made me excited to go down there was meeting the Vivanco family, because they can help us learn the language and help us meet new people.


For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
Romans 10:13-15

Dani's first journal entry...

This year has been a long school year. I've thought alot about Mexico and what we are going to do. There is one thing I've thought about most. That is blessing other people. I think that is something that people should think about whether your at home, school, church anywhere. But your probaly nervous like me. I'm nervous about alot of stuff. Like food, language and other stuff to. I am excited about blessing people, meeting and seeing people. And we met our parents friends wich made me more excited because we could meet there friend.

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1John 3:18

24 Hours and counting....

24 hours from now, we will be on the plane! Wow time went fast....we meant to update this more before we left, but somehow time got away from us.
The last week our entire family has gone through a lot of emotions, including nervous, excited, anxious, scared, blessed, humbled.....but God has brought us this far, and now we are anxiously awaiting to see what He has in store for us.... Yesterday I was very overwhelmed, and somehow, everytime I got in the car, I heard a song that gave me some peace or made me smile...
The first one was You Never Let Go by Matt Redman . The next was The Motions by Matthew West...You can click on the links to hear the songs and see a video on YouTube.....I just watched the one by Matthew West, and I had never seen it, it gave me goose bumps and brought tears to my eyes, VERY cool!! Check it out if you have a moment...
I remember on Saturday, saying to Steve why us God, are you sure you don't want someone more prepared, organized, more Godly than us?
But I think what we have realized, is that it is not about US, this entire journey is about what God is doing through us, and it is meant to show His love to others by our obedience, and we our humbled to be part of His amazing plan.
I need to go finish all the last minute things, and oh yeah, we need to pack, too!!!

We will keep you posted as often as possible....I am going to add Dani's first journal entry from about a month ago, with her permission:-) Have an awesome day, and SMILE, Jesus loves you! or should I say Sonreir, Jesus Te Ama!

Amy

The story behind the trip...

Our journey started 5 years ago, when Steve traveled to Chiconautla with 11 others from Northwood Church. The following year Amy was led to go with another team of Northwooders, even though Steve said she would never make it :-)

One of the last days in Chiconautla Amy was feeling a nudge to lead the trip the following year. When she came home she talked with Steve and he was feeling the same thing.

In 2007, we led a team of 12 adults and 6 youth on an amazing trip. Each year when we returned from the trip, we were changed for the better, and could feel God stirring things up. In early 2008, we launched H20 (Helping Hands Outreach) to help provide outreach opportunities for Northwooder's, small groups and individuals. We find such an awesome joy in serving that we wanted to share that with others, and pray that they catch the vision that we have for Maple Grove and beyond!

Last year we led another great team to Chiconautla. Before we left, we knew it would be our last year leading the team, but we were not sure what God had in store for us. Then a seed was planted to take another step towards God and bring the kids to Chiconautla on a family trip.

After many months of prayer, and a lot of conversations with others, we knew that if this was what God wanted from us, we would be obedient. There have been many obstacles along the way, and we almost changed our mind. We realized that we couldn't do this on our own, but if we completely surrendered the trip to God, He would get us there, and that leads us to the blog.

We decided the most difficult part of starting a blog is the first entry, so we won't make any promises on great entries, but they will be from the heart! Thanks for sharing our journey with us!