Guadalajara Greetings

Greetings everyone!

We finally have a chance to sit down and update you all on our journey thus far!  You might have heard by now that our journey down here was a bit challenging.  We thought we were doing great in our timing to get to LAX - and we were doing great according to the time we thought our flight was departing.  However, when we got to the check-in counter, we discovered that they had moved our flight 30 minutes sooner!  Also, our baggage had to be checked at least 1 hour before the boarding time.  Well, that left us 10 minutes too late - and they wouldn't budge one bit on that.  So, to make a long story short, we ended up spending an extra day in LA, which provided the chance to hang out with Jake's long-time friend, Elijah Penner, who is attending Fuller Seminary.  There's always good to be found in every situation!  

The following day we arrived at LAX with PLENTY of time to spare!  We arrived in Guadalajara as scheduled, with no additional hiccups.  At 7:30am we arrived at our new apartment, which is located on a busy street.  The apartment is on the third story of a church building that is sandwiched between a pharmacy and a dry cleaners. Everything is pretty much in walking distance from us:  grocery stores, taco shops, a big open-air market, you name it.  It's here.

The language school is located in the same building and floor.  It works out perfectly - we just walk down the hall to our classes.  There is a room that Gracie and a 3-year old girl stay in while we go to class.  School goes from 9am to 12:30pm Monday-Friday.  It seems to be the perfect amount of time.  

You might be wondering how Gracie is doing - she has been amazing!  From the flight to the new living space to daycare to sleep - it has been a very smooth transition.  We are very grateful to God for that!  Today is her first birthday.  We plan to take her to an ice cream shop to celebrate tonight!  She finally cut her first teeth yesterday.  Happy birthday Gracie!  

Thanks for your prayers: the big and the little ones, we know the fruit of them as we have peace amidst this crazy transition, joy as we live in simplicity, love despite frustrating points, and hope instead of despair. God is the God of Guadalajara as much as anywhere and we truly know in a new way our utter need to rely on Him for our needs: emotionally, physically, and spiritually. So, thank you.

May we here and you there (wherever that is) know the Love of God so that we can share that love with those around us - one person at a time.

Off to study espanol...

Lots of love from Renee, Gracie, and Jake

(PS - we tried to insert pictures, but it wasn't working - we will try again sometime soon!)