The Big Move, Part 2

We have been in Las Cruces for 2 weeks and most of the boxes have been emptied! There are still a few things that I must find a place for, and pictures to hang on the walls, but gradually our little apartment is looking more like home. Wow! It is really hard moving from a big house to a 2 bedroom apartment!! To me, Las Cruces is a huge city (90,000), but we are gradually learning our way around. Remember, I grew up in the country----the tiny hamlet of Browningsville, MD. I'm not sure it is even on all the maps! But, Paul is good with directions, so he is helping me learn the street names, and having me drive to various places to learn my way (he is in the car too, of course!). I now know how to get to the grocery store (Lowes Fiesta Foods), K-Mart, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, our storage rental and Savers (a wonderful thrift store). Of course, all these places are on the same street, so that helps! I still need help locating Walmart, Walgreens and Hobby Lobby! Ha! I haven’t ventured out on my own yet. Maybe this week! Rest assured, I will take our Garmin with me! I also know how to get to our 2 churches! Yes, I said churches! Joe is active at University Church of Christ, and wants us to worship with him, so we have been there the last two Sundays. One of their services is at 11:20, so we will go to that most of the time. They have an earlier service where they only have accapella music, but THIS later service has a praise group, WITH INSTRUMENTS! It is a very uplifting service, with a wide range of age groups. During the school year, many college students attend this later service, Their young pastor is a very gifted spiritual leader and the sermon we heard our first Sunday here was very evangelical and challenging! They emphasize outreach a lot! We will be well fed spiritually! BUT, since we ARE United Methodists and since Paul has a conference obligation to maintain contact with a Methodist church during our leave of absence, we will also attend St Paul’s United Methodist church! It is just a mile from our apartment! We went to their earlier 9:30 “New Day Praise” Service this past Sunday morning. It also was very uplifting and worshipful. Their pastor is James Large, and they just received a “new associate” pastor – Tammy Valentine. Paul knows James, from our connections with our NM Annual Conference. They have FOUR (count ‘em!) worship services! 8:15 (traditional/gospel), 9:30 (informal with praise music) and 2 at 10:45 (one contemporary and one traditional). We will go to the 10:45 service sometimes too, because Ben said he wanted to go with us sometimes. When we go to the late Methodist service we may go to the early Church of Christ worship. How’s that for being eccumentical?!

Paul continues to look for employment. But, we are not worried. We know that the Lord will take care of us and He is going to open the right doors and opportunities of service for us. We are trusting Him! He has applied to many places he would enjoy working----it will be interesting to see where the Lord leads us to minister and work! Even though he won’t be the pastor of a church we know that EVERYONE is always a MINISTER of the Gospel wherever we work! As for me, I am enjoying setting up our apartment, and just being at home. I have a couple of possibilities that may open up for me, outside the home, to help with our income. But if not, it’s okay. I have applied at the public schools as a teacher aide, but with budget cuts, that probably will not happen. One option I am considering is to give piano lessons here at the apt. Paul purchased for me a wonderful Yamaha Portable Grand piano, full-sized keyboard, with a beautiful tone! It’s perfect for an apt! Even if I don't give lessons, I will love playing it! I already do love playing it! Also, in the paper the other day, AND at worship on Sunday at St Paul’s, I heard of another job possibility! St Paul’s Methodist has a Child Development Center/Preschool, and they need a preschool teacher for the next school year! That’s right down my alley, since I taught preschool for 6 years at Lil Dogs! I met the director on Sunday, and am sending her my resume this week! Pray with us that the Lord will show us the paths he wants us to take that will enable us to be the best witnesses for Him!

It is wonderful having all three kids here in town! Emilee is back home with us for her last year at NMSU. She is busy this summer, working 2 jobs – at Wet Seal, a clothing store at the mall, and as a waitress at the Lemon Grass Restaurant (Thai food). It's good to have her here, though she is gone much of the day! The Lemon Grass Restaurant is a great place to eat. The food is different from other Asian foods we've had, but is good! They use peanut oil, peanuts, ginger, and curry in their cooking! I love their iced Lemon Grass Tea! Joe has completed (and hopefully passed) his LAST final exam of his college career and is now completing his internship at Fitness One, as a personal trainer (and getting paid too!) He loves it! It looks like he will graduate in December, and Emilee will graduate in May! Ben will enroll at the Dona Ana Jr College Campus in the fall! It is connected to NMSU. He is enjoying his work at the Doggie Dude Ranch! It is a boarding kennel and DAYCARE for dogs! Can you believe it?!?! People who go on vacation board their dogs there, but ALSO, some people just bring their dogs there for the day while they are at work! I never heard of that before. Ben says they want their dogs to socialize! They bathe them, feed them and take them out to play in the big yard. I guess they have nap time too!? Just maybe he and I both will have jobs at a daycare! He likes this job---so that’s the important thing.

We had our first dinner guest Saturday night (Not counting our kids – who AREN’T guests)! A Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (which is in Artesia) student that attended our Artesia church last winter is now living in Las Cruces and working with the Border Patrol in Deming! We had him over for veggie pizza last night (since he is vegetarian!) fruit salad and icecream! We hope to have more times of fellowship with him in the future. If you've got any veggie recipes, send em on! ha

So, our life is beginning to take shape here in Las Cruces, the city of the 3 crosses. Come back soon for more on what the Lord is doing in our lives, and what he is teaching us!