This is a view of the city from a hill side that we went to while the Cassville team was here. The picture counts for about 1/3 of the city. But it sure is a pretty view.

On October 12 we went out to see the festivities that were being  held in honor of Mary or the Virgin of Zapopan. On this day she (the Virgin of Zapopan also known as Mary the Mother of God) makes her way back to the Basilica that is built in her honor. Prior to this each year she goes on a 5 month pilgrimage from church to church in the Guadalajara area then on Oct 12 each year she returns. On this day about 1-3 million people gather to celebrate her return. The following photos are from this day and the things that we observed. 

There were many people that lined the streets in order to get a glimpse of the Virgin as she passed by in order to pay honor to her. The streets looked like there was a huge parade or a party going on. 

The food vendors were everywhere selling food for eating but also unique bread that said "with love mother" or "our beautiful mother". We were never told for sure what the bread was for but I have to think it had something to do with an offering to the Virgin.

These blue and white flags hang all over the town. They indicate an area where the Virgin has passed through in order to bless.  

This is one of the many traditional dances that was performed at the Basilica in honor of the Virgin of Zapopan. If you look at the members paints you will see that almost all of them have mary sown on their outfit somewhere.

This dance is done to depict the brutal beating and converting by force of the indians to Catholicism. It truly was a horrible dance that we were glad the girls could not see due to the crowd.

We never figured out why these monsters were a part of the dances or even a part of the celebration. In fact we asked many people and no one not even the monsters themselves could explain to us why. Interesting!!

These are two of the many signs in front of the Basalica. Each is written to the Virgin of Zapopan or Mary. The first of these say "to Jesus through Mary" and the second says "Conserve our faith" (referring back to Mary). It is so sad to see so many people that believe that we have to have Mary to reach Jesus and that we need Mary to conserve our faith. 

Here is the beginning of the line to get into the Basilica to pay honor to the Virgin of Zapopan. The big building with the two towers in the distance is where she is at.  We did not use the camera lens to alter the distance this is the actual view and the length of the lines. (There are two the same length to get in). I am so glad that we don't have to wait in a line like this to pray to Christ. We are truly blessed to know that He is waiting for us to pray to Him right where we are at.

This is the Basilica that was built in honor of the Virgin of Zapopan. The entire building you see is in honor of her. The picture was taken on the same day of the pilgrimage and you can see all the people there waiting to honor her.

So who is the Virgin of Zapopan?  This is her. She is a about a foot tall wearing a very elegant and expensive dress and a wig. She is honored and prayed to all over Mexico and the World. 

The girls love to play tea every chance they get. This time they found a few participants that could not help but to say yes to coming.

Mckenzie celebrated her 5th birthday this past week and we had two different parties one Mexican Party and one American Party. We had a great time and learned many new things about Mexican Birthdays. Erica one of our Mexican friends helped Kandi make gelatin for the party. Every Mexcian birthday party has gelatin. Kandi and Erica cut peaches into small pieces in order to make flowers in the middle of the gelatin and they were very pretty. I was very proud of all the hard work they went to and the gelatin turned out very nice.

Kandi made a very nice Little Mermaid cake for the Birthday Party and Mckenzie loved it. It was great she did a wonderful job as usual.

Mckenzie had a great party with some of her friends from Sunday School. They had a great time playing and just having fun. They enjoyed all the typical Mexican activities. 

They had a pinata full of Kandi and sang a typical Mexican song while they bashed into it to get the candy out.

With any good Mexican Birthday Party there is a "Mordita". This is when someone pushes the birthday girls face into the cake. Mckenzie was very excited about this and was asking all day long if her friends would "Mordita" her. They did and she was very happy. 

Kandi, Kaitlyn and I also gave Mckenzie a few gifts. Kandi and I got her a little swimming pool for her Barbies and Kaitlyn gave her a sleeping bag for her build a bear. Cinnamon found the sleeping bag and seemed to enjoy it.

We had a second party with our missionary family here in Guadalajara and also with one of our closest Mexican family friends. It was a great time and Mckenzie had a great time. This was an all American Birthday Party with a cookie cake and ice cream. 

The Haynes family went back to the US for a Missions meeting and Grammy had an opportunity to send a little gift back to the girls. Mckenzie loves High School Musical and Kaitlyn loves Hanna Montana so she sent then outfits to patch including wigs. They have had a lot of fun with them and a few others have had some fun also.

Here is a few pics of the San Juan de Ocotan area. This is the area that the new Bible Studies have started and we have found God at work in a Big Way! There is nothing like seeing the look on a persons face as they understand the Bible for the first time. Wow God is working and moving in the lives of many people in this area. Right now there are about 15 adults studying His Word here and many are already asking when and where is the church that they can go to. We hope and pray that one day very soon we will see a church start in this area. Please be praying for those that are seeking the Lord in this area. 

Here is a few pics of the kids and Kandi from the first week of school. They all Love It.

Here is a sample of what the girls are doing in school. They are both pretty proud that they have learned to write their names. Of course Kaitlyn is learning to write in cursive and Mckenzie is just learning to write. Kaitlyn is doing great in school. She is doing great in cursive, reading, math, and she is a whiz in spelling (she gets that from her mommy). Mckenzie has almost mastered her ABC's and is loving school also.