Blog 10 25 Aug 2015

Mount Hebron Christian Academy

First Day of School!   

. . . has been moved to Wednesday.  I will post pics of the kids next week; but at least for now, here are the other teachers and I getting ready.

 

Hermana Lily (L) teaches the preschool-Kindergarten.

Hermana Emily (C, me) teaches English and Math.

Hermana Juani (R) teaches Spanish and Mexican History.

Hermana Jenny (not pictured) teaches Music one day per week.

Her. Juani also teaches English in a Mexican public school.

She and her husband are the main ones who came to Pastor Ashcraft with the burden of starting the Christian school.

Trip to the Border! part 4

At the end of July, Jenny and I drove to the border for the sole purpose of "legalizing" my vehicle. Previously, I have told about starting my car and getting it inspected. I was turned away from  the Texas department of Safety and denied an application for a driver's license because I had failed to first register my vehicle.  We spent half of the day and were only able to complete the inspection and get the application for driver's license.  I am now approaching the window at the tax office (the same window for the fourth time), hopefully with all necessary forms.

If you have not been following, you may want to read the previous installments of this saga.  

I, though somewhat fatigued, rather triumphantly hand over all paperwork and forms, along with my Arkansas title and registration.

"Ma'am, which vehicle will you be registering today?"

"1998 Infiniti QX4."

"Do you have your title and registration for that vehicle?"

{somewhat irritated} "I just gave it to you."

"No ma'am; this is for your 1997 Chevy Venture.  Did you want to go ahead and register both vehicles today?"

What! What had I done! I was afraid to speak as the tears formed in my eyes! Why did I still have this title? And, where is the title to my Infiniti??? Is it possible that I switched them and have destroyed the wrong title!

In the time I was processing all of this, the lady was asking me if I even owned both of those cars.  I felt that she thought I was trying to illegally title a vehicle (or two).

I attempted to explain; she suggested I just go out to the parking lot and get the correct title.  No, the Venture had been destroyed when it died; apparently I had destroyed the wrong title.  My eyes stung with tears and my voice was quavering when I asked what my options were at this point.

Fortunately, the nice man at the Arkansas DMV was happy to fax over what was needed to complete this process. The not-so-nice Texas Dept of Safety employee demanded that I know the expiration date of my AR registration.  I asked her if it was not on the fax.  She insisted that I tell her. This back-and forth-continued for several minutes.

If I don't know, I don't know ~ it was all I could do to keep myself from just naming off the 12 months of the year until I said the right one!

I said I did not know because Arkansas did not use your birth month but did send notices in the mail; I again asked if it were not on the document she had just received.  This went on for several more minutes.  Finally convinced that I truthfully did not know, she agreed to process my registration.

Unfortunately, the debit machine was broken and I would have to go to the ATM down the road and withdraw cash to pay the taxes and fees.  I was now in a total breakdown of sobs and tears.  I do not even want to guess at what Jenny may have been thinking when, in the midst of my breakdown, I handed her a piece of paper on which I had written: "I need you to take me to the gas station on the corner." 
I did return with the cash and pay the $198.25 for my tags and registration.  It is now 10:30 am.

So far, I have spent seven hours in offices or lines for paperwork and $243.75.

Finally, I can go to the Department of Safety and complete my driver's license application!  Remember, that I have already been here, and been given the paperwork and information / identification needed to return.  

I went to the ticket counter and was given a number.  After a moderate wait, I was called to a window. After giving her all of my paperwork (and my license plate!) I was given another form to fill out.  This form asked for all of my previous driver's licenses -- since I was 16! 
{What!  these people are crazy!}  
I just smiled and filled it in.

Finally!  I can't believe this has been so difficult! The lady looks at me and says that my address is not displayed on the proof of insurance I gave her.  Although I was almost certain that it was, I bit my tongue and took my card from my wallet and handed it to her, pointing out my address. As she took it, she commented that it, too, was a PO Box.  Perhaps I could call and ask them to re-issue the card with a physical address and fax it over.

{What!} 
I did; they did.  Now, this chapter is over.  $25. I have everything but a title.  She told me to look at the blue dot and smile.  Here is my $268.75 (+ gas & tolls) photo:

I feel like a convict!!

Ladies' Soulwinning: (still the silent partner)
or Sembradoras (which means "seed-sowers")

This week sixteen ladies attended soulwinning. There were a few new and returning students to the Bible Institute who joined us.  We went higher up in the mountain than even the last time I posted pictures of where we were.  Sadly, I did not have my phone with me.  I was privileged to partner with Mrs. Brenda Ashcraft who led two ladies in the sinner's prayer. One of them had several interruptions, yet asked us to wait so she could hear all of the presentation. She also seemed very interested in church; Mrs. Brenda and I plan to go back one day next week. 
The six ladies in my van won five people to the Lord.

Soulwinning Related Story:

One day last week, Jenny and I were picking up some supplies for use in the Bible Institute and making a few other stops, which would of course, include lunch.  After lunch, we were leaving a tract with the tip, and the waitress spotted it before we left the table. She asked Jenny for it and opened it.  She told us that she remembered that Jenny had been there before with the rest of her family (maybe because we are Americans or maybe because of Jenny's red hair) and had been thinking about the question on the front for several days because the inside of the tract that was left then was blank.  For some reason, it had just not printed.  As the waitress was obviously working, we did not take time to witness completely; but Jenny briefly described to her that it contained Bible verses about Heaven. She promised to read it.  I will not be surprised if she shows up in church the next time she is off on a Sunday.

New Food of the Week:

Tostada Siberia
Jenny is such a good cook that it almost makes me glad that I am not.  This was soooo good! You probably cannot see the chicken on the bottom, but it is there, with avocado and cream sauce on top.
Though I am one of those people who usually does not let anything on the plate touch anything else, I mixed all the flavors together on my plate and actually enjoyed it. There were so many flavors!

Also, one day this week Jenny made homemade fish tacos with homemade tartar sauce.  They were way better than the ones at the restaraunt!

Around Town:  

This is the Locksmith shop, but obviously they carry many more items.

There is a Lowe's in Monterrey, but this little hardware store is just a short drive down the highway.

Language Update:

I continue to practice, practice, practice! I am beginning to understand the advertisements on Words With Friends and they talk really fast in advertisements. :)

I am halfway through Unit 2 of Rosetta Stone.  I posted on FB the day I passed two speaking exercises and scored above 90% on the first try.

"Pride goeth before a fall." The next day, I tried the next two lessons and had to repeat the first one and barely squeaked by with a 77% on the second one.

Reading to the Boys!

Their favorite book for me to read to them is "There is a Monster at the End of This Book" starring loveable, furry, old Grover.  I read it to the twins when they were just a few weeks old and I read it to Lucas for the first time this week.

       

Prayer Requests:

1. For me to learn Spanish

2. For the Pace order to come in quickly

3. For Kristen Hall & Kathy Wilkie

These are both my good friends from college days who are currently battling cancer.

4. For finances