Christmas with the Lewis'

Holly's parents moved from Chicago to Skiatook, Oklahoma 3 weeks ago. They've journeyed far and wide for the last 20 years to finally make their way back to the Heartland. Just in time to host the family for Christmas dinner... What a day! It was good to be together.

Merry Christmas!

Hey folks-Got word from Santa- he called us to say that he is staying at our apartment in Rio San Juan for some R&R while we freeze our sun-tanned hides here in Oklahoma.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas with friends and family. We are loving having both sets of parents in chilly Oklahoma- even if Holly hasn't stopped shivering since JFK airport.
We look forward to seeing many of you over the break-
Love and Grace- TJ and Holly

As we celebrate Christ's birth into our world, may we allow him to be born, once again, in our hearts.

Home again, home again, jiggity jig

We are happy to be home in Nashville! Thanks, Beth & Michelle, for letting us stay with you in Santiago. Thanks, Blake & Mo, for picking us up at the airport and driving us all the way to Tulsa tomorrow.

We'll be in Tulsa visiting the fam for the next two weeks, on to Dallas Jan 8-9, and then back in Nashville for awhile.

It is cold here! The air is cold, the tap water is cold, and the toilet seats are cold! But we love sitting in warm cozy houses with dear friends and family. Thanks, Laura & Jay, for hot chocolate, peppermint bark & a lovely afternoon. Here's to many more as we visit our favorite people and places in this amazing country. Maybe its the Christmas spirit, or maybe it's just plain old sleep deprivation (we've been up and traveling for the last 36 hours), but that's how we feel right now. Just amazed and thankful and feeling very, very loved.

Sooooo.... because we've missed saying this in English (and it just doesn't sound the same in Spanish): Merry Christmas!

Feliz Navidad!!!

Let's just say, we know how to party.

For our last Sunday night in town, we had a super-duper, mondo-fun Christmas party and invited all the community kiddos. We had a packed house and it was a blast singing (botching) Spanish Christmas carols, playing gonzo games, hearing the Christmas story, learning the legend of the candycane, drinking juice and eating homemade popcorn while watching that ol' Grinch try to steal Christmas again. Suffice to say, he did not succeed this year.




We are gonna miss these guys, but we are soo excited to come home for the holidays! Look for us soon at a church or a mexican restaurant near you!

Santa's Got a Good Gig...

This week we're working with the Magi Project, a yearly Manna event that provides Christmas gifts to kids who live in rural, impoverished areas.
It's been a blast putting gifts into the hands of these awestruck children, and knowing that this symbol of love comes from so many miles away, from so many U.S. churches, and is a blessing to so many children.
I can't help but think, this Christmas, of the gift of Grace that our Father has given us in much the same way; undeserved, unasked for, and yet mind-blowingly extravagant.

Here are some pics:

Wanna fly over for free?

Well, it's not exactly like being here, but it is pretty cool. If you haven't got Google Earth yet, then you need to download it and fly on over to see Rio San Juan! can even punch in your home address and fly from there- it only takes a few seconds! Maybe this is what God feels like sometimes...?
Our GPS address is at the bottom of this picture- and you can "fly" around RSJ to see our apartment, Outreach Center, the Laguna, and the beach that we live right next to! The apartment is hard to make out- but its right on the corner where the place marker is.
Well, until you come see the real thing... this will have to do...

Two Year Old's Rock Star

Well, most of you have probably seen this by now, as it is hands-down the cutest video on the internet...

But if you haven't, check out this video of Jack, 2 year old son of ACU friends Matt & Christine, singing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" & "Oooh, Oooh, Says the Monkey." It's one of the songs off of TJ's children's album, and it is so precious. You can even hear Jack's sweet little Texas accent.

We watch this video all the time. Matt & Christine, thank you for thinking of us - you have no idea what a blessing this is. And Jack, thanks for listening!

Castigar

Ok.
    I am good at most of what we do. Meeting people, talking to them, making them feel at ease   even though I am butchering their language... We play games and have conversations, looking for those "teachable moments", hoping to set up deeper interaction in bible study and spiritual conversations down the road.
    But the kids who come around, especially the younger kids that we have right now, are not what you would call well-adjusted. Some of them are only a few steps from downright feral. So, you can imagine, even with our influence, they aren't exactly angels. It would be just as easy to take pictures of our kids running from the police as it would be to see them smiling, playing Uno. We knew that before we came, but as we realize how necessary it is, I have to admit that I am not good at the punishment stuff.
    We are not their parents, so the only thing we have to hold over them is ourselves. If they can't share, if they get into fistfights, if they are disrespectful or use filthy language, they can't hang out with us and are back out onto the street for a while.
    In the heat of the moment- when they are being ugly- you don't feel bad about kicking them out. It's when they beg to be allowed back- that's when it's hard. When they sit on the curb across the street for hours and sulk because they have nowhere else to go. I mean, can I really tell these little munchkins (gremlins, more like...) that they can't come back for several days?!
Here's where I am learning about God. Punishment is part of his love for us. I can't imagine what it must be like to punish your own child. How my parent's hearts must have broken to take a hard line with me when I needed it. But, I am realizing, without punishment, there's no healing from our mistakes. Sitting and pouting, across the street from God's perfect Love, we realize how much we want to be back in it- and are thankful when he forgives us.
    "Sweet" little Johan (pictured above) stole our cellphone the other week and he has refused to come back since. If he would apologize, we would work something out, but how many times have I done the same thing- trying to keep from facing the music with God? Being bad at this "parenting" continues to convince me what a good Father we have.
    I am learning that grace only means something after the sting of being removed from God's goodness. And love is only Love when it admonishes as well as it hugs.
    I guess I should have known this already, but... like I said, I'm not good at the punishment stuff. But I'm learning.