Questions and Answers

Well, I thought I would do a Question and Answer for all those who read my blog out there ( which is probably like 2 people including my MOM), about Guadalajara..

What is the weather like?
Well, having been here only a week I would say NICE. It is the rainy season here right now, but compared to the MONSOONS of Costa Rica, it is small. Only like 2-3 hours a day does it rain, and even then it is not the whole time.

This is my new friend Angie, she is from Oklahoma. She showed us around today.
And NO, I am not pregnant. It is the style of shirt! For all those wondering. I know you were!
Next question
What thing do you miss the most, excluding the obvious answer FAMILY?
Mostly food, and the organization of the United States, I feel pretty safe in Guadalajara. Were we live is in a gated community, which means lots of Guards. So that is nice. For example, while driving today on the streets, I was using a map, but there was a lack of street signs. So I am like?? What the heck, how is anyone suppossed to know? I have decided that if I were to be the ruler/ president of a land. I would make so many street signs it would be very difficult for a vistor to get lost!.. Other than that, it would be the complete understanding of what people are saying.. It is something I will not take for granted from now on... My answers are probably different than my husbands..

Can you understand and speak Spanish completely fluently?

NO WAY! But I am able to communicate and get around easily. I have decided there is no possible way. But I am becoming more patient with myself, I believe it takes years until someone is completely fluent. And the key age to learn a language is when you are a child. You just soak it up like a sponge. I think people who are bilingual have more brain cells than I. I have so much respect for them...

This is a Cathedral down town.

What are you doing in Mexico?

Well, right now we are just getting connected with different people here who are doing different ministrys with Mexican people. I plan on using my nursing skills in some way, but we are trying to find in what way and where I can use them. We are working with ENGAGE, a college, that has many young adults from the United States and some from Mexico. These students take classes during the day and then go out on most afternoons and do ministry work with different organizations. For example there is a boys orphanage near here, that we work with. And a lot of really big colleges that we do work with as of now. We are helping ENGAGE as of now. Which is really cool to Andy and I. We like working with young adults.

Is it hard for you to be away from the United States?

Of course my answer is YES. But it has been a great time for Andy and I. We have really grown a lot as a couple and have seen many things that have made us so thankful for all of our blessings. It is a good thing to see people who have nothing, and they are HAPPY. It shows you what the important things in life are. And they are most definitely not MATERIAL.. It really broadens your horizons to live outside the U.S.A. I think this is going to be a great year for us. I am so thankful that God has given us the oppurtunity.

Well, I guess that is all for Question and Answer time. If you have any other questions write a comment to me and I will try to answer. And to all you who read, remember the blessings in your life today and realize how precious they are. Also, how precious it is for you to be breathing right now.

Okay that last part sounds like a wierd quote or something. I know my sister is thinking that at least.

P.S. we are looking into getting a schnauzer down here. And i will keep you posted on that.

Guadalajara

Well we have finally landed on Mexican soil.

We are now living in Guadalajara, Mexico. We arrived on Sept. 16th and have already started going...

These are just a couple pictures of our last week.

We are all settled into our house and are really enjoying it along with the truck we have been using. We are located right next to the largest park in the city. Which is nice, it has lots of room including huge trampolines which they rent out for kids to jump on. Which i thought was a great idea... Lets see, the two pictures from the top are from one of the other towns we visited right outside the city. The top left one is of a park where we go every Saturday morning. It is in a really poor area and we just go and play with kids and teach some Bible stories.. It was lots of fun, I am actually sitting in the crowd. It is just hard to see me.

The next one is of one of the roads getting there. IT was CRAZY, took a little while. The roads near our house are all normal and then you go outside the city and you see this..

And then I thought I would add this tree, it is at a restaurant in our city and those are Corona buckets. I just thought it looked interesting. Add i need to add that we have been eating lots of TACOS... But in our city they have a Chiles, Applebees, Outback Steakhouse and many other American Comforts.. I am thankful, and i need to add. I have lots of friends who are all over the world and do not have these blessed restaurants and i feel lucky.. So say a little pray for them..

Because sometimes all you want is a nice Cheeseburger.. It is so nice i have that option.

So not much, but we are starting to meet lots of people and do lots of things. And we are so happy to be here. Thankful for all of God's blessings in our life..

I will keep you informed.

Guadalajara, Mexico

Andy and I are now in Mexico. We arrived on Tuesday the 16th. Their Independence day.
We have already eaten lots of spicy food in the last 2 days. And we are loving it.
We are still moving in. But pictures will be on the way soon.

These are the pictures from the Airplane..
Chao for now.

Last Month

Well, Andy and I are now in Guadalajara, Mexico. I have not posted for quite a while because we spent the last month home in Iowa spending time with family.
These are some of the pictures from the last Month.

It flew by quite to quickly. But we had a blast.

I am going to try to wrap up everything we did.

Celebrated 3 family members birthdays:"Melanie Reed" my sister in law, "Greg Hanson" my dad and "Joe Hanson" my brother, he turned 16..

Got to see my sister Melissa's new classroom for Ames Middle School. She is the 6th grade teacher.. And we got to see Katie" sis-in-law" her new classroom at Clay Elementary, She is the kindergarten teacher.

Had a baby shower for my pal Katie Wheeler who then had a baby while I was home on September 2nd, to the cutest healthy, baby girl. Brooke Lynn Wheeler.. Yeah.

Went to the zoo with my two cute nephews Jaden and Ethan Hansen. Of course i forgot my camera this day. I also got to go eat lunch with my nephew Jaden at his school. He showed me around after lunch. One of the pictures is from that day.

We had a water balloon fight at Andy's parents house. Lots of fun.

Went to Oxnard, California for a church service and then spent a day in Los Angeles, California. Those are where the star pictures come into play. I had my picture taken by Julie Andrews feet, and the star walk way picture is of Chuck Norris' star????? We also visited a church in New Sharon, Iowa. One of our favorites with Awesome Pastors, and my parents Church. And Andy got the oppurtunity to preach at Berean Assembly of God a couple times. Which was really great.

Andy went to a Cubs game and Iowa hawkeye game with his Dad. He loved it, and now has the most hillarious story of some guy dancing to the "Go Cubs Go" song.

We got to see Joe play in some football games on the sophomore team for SouthEast Polk. He even caught his first touch down pass.

We ate out lots of times, I got to eat out with my Mom a lot and with my mother in law Norma. And we ate with both my grandma's and grandpa.

Lastly we got to spend lots of quality time with our family. We love them so much.