What's a day like in the life of a missionary?Well, the answer to that question can vary from week to week, even day to day for us!But let us tell you about last Friday, November 17, 2006.The day began at 8:00am with Joyce home-schooling Ian and Aaron, and David trying to study for his Sunday sermon.At 10am, Joyce participated in a re-scheduled music practice because two members of the praise team are owners of B&Bs, and had housefuls of guests showing up during the regular afternoon practice.After the music practice, Joyce caught up with some Crossroads women who were in the midst of a quilt project.In December, Crossroads is hosting its Annual Women's Christmas Tea.We are making a quilt to auction as a fund-raiser to buy blankets for the Women's Shelter in La Paz.In the meantime, David took Aaron to an orthodontist appointment, lugging along his laptop so he could simultaneously work on the script for a house blessing later in the day.

At 1:00 pm we carpooled with another couple to Oscar Montoya's new home. Oscar is a Mexican who was raised in the states but now lives in La Paz.He is a school teacher and just bought his first home.He asked us to come and bless it for him.The homes on his street are completed, but the whole area around him is a construction zone as more and more houses are being built.We began at the front door, and moved through the house room by room, asking God's presence to fill this structure--making it a place of safe haven, rest, and renewal not only for Oscar, but also for his friends and family.Finishing that at 3:30, we raced across town to find Stefen.David had double-booked a meeting with him and had to reschedule.Stefen is helping to install the new sound system for Crossroads.He also designed the web page for the church.And as both his cell phone and land line phone were out of service, we had to find him in person.Such an old-fashioned idea!Praise God we found Stefen at home, and then back to the car we scurried.No, we still hadn't eaten lunch!

At 4:00 pm we had a meeting with a Crossroads couple getting ready to move back to Houston.Famished, we decided to convene at a nearby sub shop. Alex and Iza are bi-lingual Mexicans who have lived and worked in La Paz for the past 6 years.Alex has the opportunity to return as a research biologist at Texas A&M for one year where he previously taught and worked before coming to La Paz.We met and talked about what God is doing in this family's life, the upcoming transitions, and how we could pray for them in the weeks to come.Alex and Iza have been strong leaders at Crossroads and we will miss them greatly!

After dropping Iza and Alex at their house around 5:30pm, we drove back towards our home, passing the Fi de Paz hospital.Did we mention that this was the weekend of the Baja 1000?A 1000 mile off-road race from Ensenada to La Paz that had every hotel booked in town, and crowds of joyous noise-makers lining the streets!As we went by the hospital, we saw some people disembark from a truck with a dirt bike secured in the back, and go inside.David said, "I bet someone was in an accident.Maybe we should stop and see if they need help with translation"So we parked, went inside, and made contact with a family from CA.The father had crashed earlier in the morning, but had still been able to finish the race.However, several hours later some complications from his injuries set in and he was hospitalized.So we helped doctors and nurses fill out forms, and calmed down the wife and son.After 45 minutes, we seemed to have done all we could, so leaving our local contact number; we once again headed towards home.

What a busy day!Some of it was planned.Some of it was full of surprises.But all of it was full of God.Thank you for allowing us to serve as your ambassadors for Jesus in Mexico!

David and Joyce