We just got back from vacation. It was much needed, but now I feel like I need a vacation to rest! For a while now, my little princess has been asking us to go to Disney World so she can see the princesses. Thanks to our friends at Kissimmee Guest Services, we got some tickets to go to Disney World for one day during the first week of vacation.
We took lots of pictures (you can see them here), but this one is one of my favorite of all times.
My little girl was speechless when she walked into that castle room. Her interaction with each princess was so cute, and her timidness was evident. She slowly warmed up to them, but you could just tell that this was a special moment.
I wonder if one day that is how we will feel when we finally meet Jesus face to face. It’s like that old song, “I can only imagine.”
I wonder if we will be in such awe that we won’t know what to say. I wonder how we’ll act. One thing is for sure, that is going to be a great hug from our Savior.
What a wonderful day that will be!
Sunday, smack in the middle of a busy weekend, we had some friends over to celebrate Shiloh’s third birthday. It wouldn’t be a birthday party without cake and a piñata, so that’s what we did.
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On August 27, 2003, Janell and I boarded a plane at the Miami International Airport with 7 bags. We had sold or given away almost everything else that we owned and were ready to take a leap of faith and move to Mexico. In the next days we would leave 5 of those bags in Mexico City and move to the unknown city of Cuernavaca to live with a family we had never met and try to learn a language we barely knew at a school we had only visited one other time.
Those were very exciting and scary times. When I look back at it, I realize that it seemed crazy to most people and even to us at times. But as I reflect on what has happened in this decade in Mexico, Latin America, my own life, and my family, I can definitely say that it has been worth it. Despite the trials and uncertainties of support raising, recruiting students, teaching classes, searching for housing, and all the other things that come along with missionary life, God has always been faithful.
He has provided at the right times, both financially and materially. He has brought us great friends who have helped make the journey great. Many of them are no longer in Mexico, but they were always with us at just the right time. Financially, God has provided for us when we least expected it. Even in the months when support was low, He has always made a way for us to see His provision.
When we first started here in Mexico, youth ministry seemed to be so new, and we had to ask what we were doing here. Now we see certificate programs all over the country, students and graduates from the Bachelor’s degree program that are doing incredible work in their local churches, 3 Seminaries in Cuba with thriving Centers for Youth Ministry, a new Master’s program launching in Mexico in January that will help plant 3 new CYMs in different Seminaries in Mexico, and a plan to open 60 new Youth Ministry programs in Latin America in the next 15 years.
If you’re reading this, you probably have known us for these 10 years and have been supporting us and praying for us for at least that long. We thank God for you. He has proven His faithfulness to us through your constant support and prayers. I can’t believe that so many people have been a part of this journey alongside us. You are very special to our family. Thank you for your continued prayers. They have sustained us throughout this decade and will continue to push us forward for the time to come.
Today we celebrated Shiloh’s third birthday. I can’t believe it’s been three years since she was born!
When we woke up this morning, we gave her some birthday presents. The boys put their money together to get her a chocolate “Kinder Sorpresa”, and we got her a princess lego/duplo set and a baby princess. She loved her presents.
After work (and day 2 of homeschool) we celebrated as a family with some chocolate cupcakes. Check out the video below:
When bedtime approached tonight she said, “Is it almost bedtime?” When we responded that it was, she said, “But I don’t want my birthday to end.” She had a great day.
It’s hard to believe that in August we will be celebrating 10 years in Mexico! We are amazed at all that God has been doing in our lives and how He is using youth workers to impact young people throughout the country. We feel like He is just getting started.
When we first came to Mexico, we had no children. I can still remember the day we got our Dodge Stratus in 2003. We were studying Spanish in Cuernavaca at the time, and we took the bus from there to Mexico City (2 hours) where we then took the metro from one end to the other (1 hour), and a taxi (30 minutes), to where our car was. The first time I drove the car in the craziness of Mexico City traffic is an experience I’ll never forget.
We’ve had that same car ever since that crazy day, but we now have 3 growing children who don’t fit too well in the backseat, which hinders our ability to take other people with us. There’s also a law in Mexico City that makes you “rest” your car one day a week if it is 9 years old or older. Last month was the last month we could drive our old Stratus everyday. Now we cannot drive on Fridays or the fifth Saturday of the month, which are busy days for our ministry. Also, Nathan would love to have a bigger place to sit instead of being smushed between his brother and sister’s carseats.
So we need your help. We need to raise $8,000-$10,000 as soon as possible (hopefully by the end of August) so we can buy a minivan for our family and ministry. We’re asking everyone we know to chip in and help us get a newer used van so we can use it everyday and not be hindered in the ministry that we are doing.
If you’d like to help, please send a donation to Youth Ministry International and mark it as “Poulette Van Fund.” The address is: 1300 Envoy Cir. Suite 1306, Louisville, KY 40299.
You can also donate online by clicking the link here and put “Poulette Van Fund” in the comments box.
One of the most traditional things about birthday parties in Mexico is the piñata.
Ben’s birthday party last weekend was officially a “Captain America” party, but we couldn’t find any piñatas that were Captain America, so we settled for a minion from the movie Despicable Me 2. We haven’t seen the movie yet, but our kids love the minions, so we were excited to find this little guy at the party store.
As usual, they took turns whacking him until he spilled his candy. They loved it. Be sure to watch the video at the end of this post. It’s always really fun to get candy.
Shiloh walks around with her bag of “Despicable Me candy” now.
Ben’s Fifth Birthday from Dennis on Vimeo.
