Monterrey Exhibit 1

Here are a few pictures from our Thanksgiving Trip to Monterrey. Some of my favorites are still on Nicole's computer from our visit to the children's home. I will have to get those up later.


Church where we serve near "Serro de la Silla" near the mountains

nursing home where we will be working on some gardening projects

my cousin's Juan's daughter

another view of of the nursing home

plants
My cousin Flor's daughter

This was my view for about 12 hrs. I am not complaining.

When I looked back this was my view for more than 12 hrs. though she was not always this peaceful.

Sydney enjoyed the trip and all the attention she had.

Micah & Nicole showing the baby to the elderly people at "Asilo Hermosa Provincia" a Christian Nursing Home

Senor Ramon singing a hymn a prayer asking for the power of God "Dios manda tu gran poder a cada corazon" Lord Bless him!

The construction continues at "La Casa de Carlos" mission house

We met the new pastor and his family at "Cristo La Roca" church. Pastor Nahum.

Micah, Tim, and Pastor Nahum.

Great shot of Sydney outside little cabin outside of church that used to be a place I visited as a child and now owned by my uncle Javier.

Micah & Nicole in love :)
Playing peekaboo in Monterrey, though there is no such thing as "peekaboo"

Senor Carlos shared with me how he has been struggling with heart problems.

More pictures from the Asilo.
Sister Yolanda was so happy and encouraged to hear about a group comming to visit the "abuelos" as she calls them "grandparents"


"Serro de la Silla" & a taxi cab. turn right here to go to Tia Blanca's

Thanksgiving Travels

We are thankful for the opportunity we have to travel to Monterrey, Mexico in preparation for our upcoming "After Christmas Mission Trip to Monterrey, Mexico." We will travel light. Tim, Sydney, and I will be accompanied by the very much in-love engaged couple Micah & Nicole (don't worry we will be keeping our eyes on them, and put Sydney between them :)

Please remember us in your prayers. We will be traveling to Mission, TX November 25 and are due to arrive in Monterrey Wednesday afternoon. Our trip is short as we hope to be back by Sunday 30th at the latest. Be also in prayer for Grandad & Grandma Carpenter as they care for Seth and Selah. This will be my longest time without them so pray for me. I know Seth has been looking forward to this as he has been asking the last couple of weeks, "Are you going to Mexico yet?!" We are trusting God that there will not be any physical sickness or home sickness on the ninos' part.

Happy Thanksgiving!! Well be eating some turkey tacos for you guys!!

No post could do without some cute new pictures so here they go...

A Creative Funny by Seth

You may not be able to tell very well from this picture, but Seth taped his picture on the frame covering up our wedding picture with a much better one according to him.

He did quite a good job I must say. He has a way with tape and sticky stuff.

Drums Not Guns n the Carpenters

Last night for our fun event of the day we went to get some pictures and video of an event coordinated by Refugee Resources. An organization called "Drums Not Guns" has started working with some of the refugee children on Friday evenings. It was pretty exciting. When we arrived at the apartments there were already a handful of children waiting for the group.

You could tell the kids were getting excited. One interesting thing about their culture is that they do not hide their emotions. You can kind of tell when they are happy (this is an understatement). Another thing about their culture is they are very communal and like belonging to a group. For example, when some of the kids saw Tim they were excited to recognize him from camp. "Hey, I know you," they would say with huge smiles. "You're from camp. I was in the green team!" Then someone else would say, "Yes. I was in the green team too!"

I enjoyed watching the kids including my kids get excited once the drumming session got started. Seth, Selah, and Sydney love music and dancing and you could tell that night. Everyone was jamming. Once they started a little chanting song that said "Africaaaa naaa naaa" it was fun to see the kids get so excited. While some stayed at the drum keeping beat there were a few who just could not keep from dancing. They got in the middle of the group with huge smiles on their faces and as beautifully and as loudly as they could sing they sang "Africaaaa naaa naaa" while keeping beat with their feet and swaying to the song. Once you hear the song it's kind of hard to get it out of your head.

Even Selah and Seth got loose on the floor but seeing they were a little dangerous with the drum sticks we had to tell them to get back to their seats. Some of the drum leaders were smiling at Sydney as she started to bounce around to the beat.

Fun Times!

Quote of the Day (song lyrics)

Give Me Your Eyes by Brandon Heath

Looked down from a broken sky
Traced out by the city lights
My world from a mile high
Best seat in the house tonight
Touched down on the cold black tile
Hold on for the sudden stop
Breath in the familiar shock
Of confusion and chaos
All those people going somewhere
Why have I never cared?

Chorus:
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones who are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
again
again
yeah
yeah

Step out on a busy street
See a girl and our eyes meet
Does her best to smile at me
To hide what's underneath
There's a man just to her right
Black suit and a bright red tie
Too ashamed to tell his wife
He's out of work
He's buying time
All those people going somewhere
Why have I never cared?

Chorus

I've Been there a million times
A couple of million eyes
Just moving past me by
I swear I never thought that I was wrong
Well I want a second glance
So give me a second chance
To see the way you see the people all alone Chorus (x2)

Please be in prayer fo this

Mexico Here We Come

You are invited:

Annual After Christmas Mission Trip to Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico

Dates: Dec 26, 08 - Jan, 2, 09

Cost: $250

Covers: Food, Lodging, Transportation, Insurance

Ministry: Backyard Bible Clubs, Elderly, poor, children

Money Dues: (Non refundable $100 deposit by Dec. 1st) Total $250 by Dec 15th.

Make checks payable to First Baptist Garland. Memo: Monterrey Mission Trip

Leaders: Tim and Rebeca Carpenter

Contact : tcarpenter@hiddenacres.org

Beautiful Boys

I had the privilege of taking pictures of these precious boys. You can't get cuter than these two little men. Ryan and Brandi are two wonderful parents and a great testimony of people walking by faith and not sight. They have a heart for life and ministering to a hurting world and I love them and appreciate them for that. Hope you guys like the pictures.

Felicidades Hermanita

So it finally happened for Ruth my "hermanita." Yes my little sister had been waiting for a special gift that she finally received Tuesday. Her engagement ring. After two years of dating "Boosh" or "Booshie" as my kids like to call him Jody proposed. While I still have not heard the full story I will retell the story of when Booshie first proposed to Ruthie like four years ago or something like that.

Ruth was in highschool and had join a group of us from Dallas on a mission trip. The group was split between two vehicles Ruth riding with one group and Boosh riding with Tim and myself and a few others. So we are on our way back from Monterrey and I decide to teach Boosh some Spanish. I say "Hey Jody, let me teach you a phrase in Spanish" Jody looks at me suspiciously but decides to go along with me. "Practice saying 'casate conmigo.' It means 'come to my house'" He is still not sure whether I am teaching him the right thing and looks to Tim to see if I am lying or something (As if I was a tricky person or something). Tim agrees with me and says, "Yes, 'casate conmigo' means 'come to my house'"

I turn around from the passanger seat and explain to Jody "You know 'casa' means 'house,' 'conmigo' means 'with me.' So it means 'come to my house.'" I can tell he is starting to believe me and he starts practicing. I tell him to try it on the walkie-talkie and practice with Ruth. So he ask Ruth over the walky talky and Ruth says "No" and kind of laughs or something. Jody looks at me with a "what did I just say" kinda face and Tim and I start laughing because he had just asked Ruth to marry him and she said no. He was kind of asking her to come to his 'casa' forever if you know what I mean.

I don't know exactly what Jody did to change Ruthie's mind but whatever it was it worked and I pray God's richest blessings for them as they take this step towards marriage. And when they are mad at each other after they are married I hope I don't get blamed for this one.

Here is the pic of the ring and the picture of the gift Ruth made for Booshie on their special two year anniversary. (I am wondering if Jody proposed that day so he wouldn't have to remember two different dates. Or maybe he didn't want to buy two different gifts. But who knows. :)

The artsy boy

I let this little guy take a few pictures with my canon rebel and these were two of my favorite.

I had this great idea

I had this great idea to take a picture that I saw on a photographers' blog. He had children feet all lined up from biggest to smallest with their names and all. Well it did not work out as I hoped but this is what did turn out.