Hadinger’s in MEXICO

Mike and the guys have been on a road trip since Thursday, July 3rd.  They unloaded the trailer into a storage unit in Mission, TX and will cross the border today, July 7th, expecting to arrive in Oaxaca on Tuesday evening.  Katie and I fly out of Cleveland Hopkins this Friday morning at 6am.

We continue trusting God to keep Mike seizure free and to allow them a safe and swift crossing into Mexico, even though the travel alert remains.

Thanks to all who pray - we depend on and covet your prayers.

<—- (boxes on our front porch before loaded in trailer)

below:  across the street at First Assembly before pull-out

We received the call we’ve been waiting for: we are officially cleared to return to Mexico.

What does it mean? Simply this: our financial pledged support requirements have been met, and our medical tests have cleared approving us to return to the mission field for another term.

We have several trips planned to find a house, investigate schooling options and to scout out our new area. Our re-entry interview with the National Superintendent of Mexico and his Executive Committee is scheduled for June 18, following which our family is welcome to move south of the border to begin another four years of missionary service.

• Pray for God’s intervention
• Pray for believers and churches of these cities
• Pray for the protection of our missionaries living/working in these areas
  

We get a text message from our oldest son in college earlier this week. We thought he was safe and sound, studying at the library, attending prayer meeting, mud jumping again or something of that nature at his college near Philly.

He wasn’t even on campus.

We should have seen it coming and made an attempt at communicating, you know, asking the right questions. Then it just happened. His addiction got the best of him. He couldn’t help himself and with three friends gave in to their madness.

His Buckeye madness- Ohio State University. An aficionado like no other. Extreme case of Scarlet and Gray fever.

“New York City???? Madison Square Garden?”

“Yeah, we got tickets for $15 to see two games.” One was Florida something or another and then of course the Buckeyes taking on Ole Miss.

Who did he drive with? How late are they staying? Does he know not to carry his wallet in his back pocket? He’s not missing a class for this, is he? Those were the questions I wanted Mike to ask him.

But all Mike could say was, “lucky dog!”

Must be a guy thing.

A four day whirlwind trip filled with lost luggage, spicy grilled grasshoppers, and productive meetings.

Flying out of Cleveland Hopkins, Mike was fortunate to get his seat, since all the flights from the day before had been grounded due to the snow and priority was to move those passengers first. He had layovers in Atlanta and then Mexico City before arriving in Oaxaca, and although he made it safely, his luggage hung out in Atlanta for another day.

This caused us a bit of worry for two reasons: his anti-seizure med’s were in his luggage as was a new computer monitor he took at the request of a friend. Thank God he was able to find a pharmacy that was open on Sunday night and that the luggage arrived Monday evening, just as the airlines had told us upon our inquiry, with both med’s and monitor intact.

The meetings with the Area Director and the other team facilitators were very encouraging: new missionaries are arriving in Mexico; exciting testimonies from around the country; fresh vision cast forth as the harvest of souls continues. These are exciting days!

They also enjoyed a meal with Oaxaca District leadership. The food in southern Mexico is quite different than what we have experienced in Chihuahua (the north). Names and descriptions relayed to us were quite interesting…and yes, Mike ate the BBQ’d grasshoppers among other things! “How did they taste?” I asked. His reply was, “like grass”.

At least he enjoyed some protein along with his tortillas and salsa!

Mike bought his ticket, packed his bags, kissed me goodbye and headed out the door for his trip to the land of BBQ’d grasshoppers and of the seven moles: Oaxaca (wa-ha-ka).

Then the car got stuck in the snow at the end of the driveway.

The troops were summoned (including Michael who was thankfully home on spring break) and with muscle and momentum dad was freed to go.

He will be in Southern Mexico meeting with our Area Director and other members of the MMF Leadership Team through Wednesday, possibly snacking on those crunchy chapulines.

I believe Mexico is one of the most united areas among the missionary body world wide, and I’m glad they have these meetings twice a year to plan, pray, and fellowship with each other. The wives are invited to go, and some do. I have only been to one, mainly since I still have kids at home and well, they are my first responsibility! (Since I couldn’t go this time, the area director’s wife offered to try that bug-on-the-barbie for me. I don’t know; I think she was being facetious.)

The Mexico Field uniquely re-structured their leadership team, moving it from geographical basis to ministry basis several years ago. The former division of north, central, and south gave way to the three current teams: Builders, Educators, and Compassion Missionaries. (I like to call it the hands, the head, and the heart!)

Mike serves as facilitator for the Builders Team, which is not all construction as most assume. All missionaries serving as church planters and evangelists along with the construction missionaries are included on this team. And we have a good group if I do say so myself! If I would have a complaint, it would be that we don’t get to see them enough. Mexico is a vast and diverse country and we are all spread out from one rincon to the other.

Please pray for Mike and the others as they meet this week- that they would have wisdom, direction, edifying fellowship, and the mind of Christ in all things.

What a testimony on God’s goodness:

"Dear Hadinger Family,

Just Sunday, Feb 17, I made a $300.00 vow toward your family…believing that if I blessed your family that my family too would be blessed.  I took a step of faith and gave $30.00.  I told God that as He provided I would pay the vow off and I wanted to do it fast.  I sell items on e-bay and I had some items ending on Sunday night.  My very first item to end for the night was a Michael Simon sweater with Tweety Bird, Sylester the cat, and hearts.  You will not believe it sold for $261.00!!!!!  I had looked them up before listing the item and they normally sell for $50.00-$60.00.  I know beyond a doubt this is a gift from God for me to bless your family and as you are blessed that my family too will be blessed.  Oh when we put our trust and faith in God, mountains can be moved.  I cannot wait to see how you all are blessed in Mexico and how my family will be blessed, mended and restored.  I will continue to pray for you all and please do the same for me and my family.    Love, your sister in Christ, R.W"

R.W. included a check for the balance of her vow with that note. 

"Dear God, we thank you for proving yourself faithful in response to R.W.’s step of faith.  We ask that you indeed bless her family;  bring healing and restoration to her marriage we pray.  In Jesus’ name,  Amen!"

Moving a family out of the country is never an easy task even if you’ve accomplished it several times.  Over the next three months Mike will be making several trips to Mexico as we begin transitioning back to the field.  In March he will  be traveling to Oaxaca and Chihuahua for meetings.   Then, house hunting in Campeche in April, which will be slightly different then it was in Chihuahua for numerous reasons.  Climate, schooling, and utilities are just several key factors in picking a home outside the U.S.  

How does rent in Mexico compare to renting a home in the U.S.?  Ask Ilona at  ilonahadinger@hotmail.com

We will be meeting with the Mexican national leadership team soon regarding our planned move to Campeche.  First indications have been very favorable from several team members,  yet the final okay requires a full committee’s approval.  Campeche is a beautiful state in southern Mexico, most notable for it’s petroleum industry and Mayan heritage. 

How do missionaries decide where to live outside the U.S.?  Ask Mike at  Hadingermike@yahoo.com

Since January 1st,  our monthly commitments have seen a dramatic increase as churches and individuals from all over Ohio have added us to their missions giving.  We are literally within a couple percentage points of 100% .   Thank you to all of our new partners who have opened their hearts.  Of course none of this would be possible if it wasn’t for the faithful supporters who have stayed with us over the years.

If you’ve ever wondered what an A/G Missionary Budget is composed of,  feel free to ask at  Hadingermike@yahoo.com