Malachai told us today that he loves Josu. Why?
apparently it's "because he is so, so, so little, and so sweet!"

we've been having cold, rainy days. this is what my kitchen has been looking like lately; makes cooking and cleaning a bear.

I talked with Malachai in Spanish about Thanksgiving on the way to school this morning; I want him to have the concepts and words given to him in Spanish so that he could repeat them to anyone who asked (or didn't . . . ) It's a funny thing - - learning in another language . . . . I find that if I want to communicate an idea in Spanish, it is much easier to do so if I have read or talked about it first in Spanish. Having to take an idea that was first formed or introduced to my mind in English and then try and translate it to Spanish can be a bit cumbersome.

I found pecans at my local grocery store; they never have pecans! of course, to make the pecan pie I'm also supposed to have corn syrup, and they didn't have any of that . . . but we will substitute honey (maybe it will turn out better that way!)

yeah! a care package!
we love flaming hot cheetos! we love craisins! we love friendly, encouraging little notes!
most of all we love the people who sent it all; thank you Pace Setters bible study!

Thursday we had family day and went downtown to get some roasted chestnuts . . . it's one of our favorite cold-weather-customs here in Pamplona.
On our way home I remembered that Malachai had is first school outing - - taking a bus to "observe the fall" in a nearby town the next day, and that I was supposed to pack a lunch for him; it was late when I remembered this but I had peanut butter and jelly at home, and I could send him with that . . . after a family pow-wow, however, we decided we should send him with chorizo on a baguette - - like all the other kids would have, so we swung by the grocery store, and went a bit over the grocery budget . . .

we're still working on fitting in!

we had dinner with Carlos and Hebe (plus their former pastor who was visiting from Argentina) earlier this week; we love this family! They are warm, funny, hospitable, have a tender heart for unbelievers, and are excited to understand and apply the Scriptures to their lives. Take a good look at their friendly faces, and pray for them as they are increasing involved with our our church planting team.

according to an article I read in the newspaper yesterday, Spanish women are the most perfumed in all Europe (they apply twice a day!)