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Dear Sweeties,
I thought I would send you a copy of the most recent emailing between me and Shelley, the Wycliffe missionary for whom I am drawing. I think this email explains the "por que" of all my requests of late for "HELP!" from God in doing this work. I'm also attaching the two David C. Cook drawings that I colored but which now seem to be pretty useless. Anyway, read or scan it and then PRAY! Lord, help Donna!
The last drawing I attached was the last one I finished to illustrate what the people did with ashes to show contrition.
Donna Waguespack
Date: Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:50:28 -0500
From: Shelley Dufoe
To: donnaisnow@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Questions, questions and more questions
Donna Waguespack wrote:
Did you see what I wrote up in SHELLEY'S COMMENTS Mc 9.14-29 joven endemoniado.doc? (I wrote it last night for the CD and just uploaded to the ftp site.)It's me again, the little old question asker...
I'm reading Mark 9:14 and on trying to get a good take on where people should be. I opened the two drawings I had started coloring, 1729 and 1730 and realized that in one picture Jesus was on one side of the picture and in the second, where He's taking the hand of the boy to help him stand up, Jesus is on the other side. So, I flipped the picture for it to make sense with the first one. Don't know if that will work but that's how I started. Then I read the passage and it seems to say
So, help!!! None of what we have in the two Cook drawings seems to be correct. What do I do?
- that the boy wasn't initially with the dad when he came to tell Jesus about why he was there.
- Verse 19: Jesus says, "Bring the boy to me." (why would he say that if the boy is standing there with him?)
- Verse 20: "So they brought him"...and the evil spirit throws him down then, not when the dad is explaining the situation.
Donna Waguespack
What you have written is correct.... I'll fill in the rest.
- Jesus, Peter, James and John come up on the other 9 disciples arguing with teachers of the law, surrounded by a crowd. We want a picture of this.
- that the boy wasn't initially with the dad when he came to tell Jesus about why he was there.
- Verse 19: Jesus says, "Bring the boy to me." (I didn't ask for this, but it may be good to have a picture of the dad with Jesus, Jesus saying/gesturing bring the boy ("ven"), several men accompanying the boy walking towards Jesus (the boy/demon doesn't yet see Jesus because of the crowd). (Or maybe it would be better at the instant that the demon and wild eyed boy see Jesus...)
- Verse 20: "So they brought him"...and the evil spirit throws him down then, [not when the dad is initially explaining the situation].
- Verses 21-24: Jesus then asks the dad "How long has he been like this?" and the dad replies, then Jesus reponds, then the dad responds. I want you to modify CN01729B so that it shows this conversation. (The Cook drawing with the dad cradling the boy's head is not correct. Nothing in the biblical text suggests that he did this. But you can put and paste the dad and make him stand up.) See the Word document for details...
- Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, which shrieked, convulsed the boy violently and came out. [Depending on if the Translation Coordinator allows us to draw demons, we may want a picture of this]
- The boy was completely still. Many bystanders said "he's dead."
- Jesus took the boy by the hand and lifted him to his feet. CN01730B Unfortunately they show this from the opposite side (Jesus appears to have walked a little ways around the boy and the "camera angle" has changed. I think it is good to flip this picture. There also needs to be a crowd of shocked people in the background and the
dad should be nearby.
Does this make sense? If it would be easier to talk about it than write about it, please download and read my SHELLEY'S COMMENTS Mc 9.14-29 joven endemoniado.doc and then feel free to give me a call.
Sorry that you're frustrated, but I'm glad that you're thinking it through so carefully! (It's much easier to think it through, then draw, rather than fix it up later!)
Shelley
So, pray for Donna's brain, that she can figure all this out. Here's my last drawing...
He had a list of things he wanted her to experience, to see, to taste, and people he wanted her to meet. It started with experiencing the Fourth of July on the banks of the Mississippi River in New Orleans.
But beyond this first plan he and his bride were blessed beyond anything they could have imagined. Two of his aunts gave them a week in the French Quarter at the Quarter House. Now Sam and Shadai are city kids through and through. So to spend a week in the Quarter investigating the sights and sounds (they loved the sounds) in the city of New Orleans was right up their alley, so to speak.
Eating beignets and drinking the rich Cafe Du Monde cafe au lait, seeing the tourist sites like the aquarium and the River Walk, the new Insectarium, going to see the singing candy makers at the Fudgery, learning about Mardi Gras at the Mardi Gras museum, getting to know some of the locals they saw in the Quarter everyday, finding little pockets of music with the aid of Sam's cousins...it was a total blast.
Then there were the family dinners planned for Shadai to meet her new family. I don't have pictures of everything. Much of it was filmed by the newlyweds, a running account made for her parents of all her new experiences. And I regret now not having taken photos as well. First there was one dinner we knew about, a feast prepared by Uncle Darren, rich crayfish etoufee, to which all the family in New Orleans was invited. Then another feast was prepared by Geri and Bob in Gretna, a huge shrimp boil for the family and their friends who had helped with cousin Chris's wedding. Shadai was amazed at the amount of shrimp. "I've never had the opportunity to eat all the shrimp I wanted in one place at one time."
Sam wanted to take his bride to a plantation so we all went to Oak Alley.
We drove around Lakeside and the Ninth Ward to see, once again, the damage caused by Katrina and what headway was being made in rebuilding. We do this everytime we go back as a kind of memorial to the homes and the good times they represented that are no longer there and places my husband remembers from his boyhood. And we went to City Park hoping to see that the living oaks were still living.
And of course he wanted to take her shopping. She modeled every piece for him and
he took photos in some stores until the novelty wore off. It was more difficult than we had anticipated it being finding clothes that were small enough for her. Never having had that problem in my whole life I thought we would just take her to the petite section of the major department stores and she would come home loaded down with clothes, but she was even too small for that. It was a major revelation for me who always thought most of the clothes in the stores were made for Barbie dolls. But I guess not many are made for Gidget. So we got an education in finding places and sizes for our little bride and she came home with a decent amount of new clothes that her husband had so lovingly bought for her.
In New Orleans, in the big city setting, Shadai was more or less at home but I think she was totally unprepared for how small my hometown would be. She soon adjusted to the slower pace of life and enjoyed new taste sensations like fried okra, cornbread, Granny's green beans, field peas, creamed corn and butter beans. And then she had Granny's homemade peach ice cream and chocolate icecream! She went out to see the tomatoes and cucumbers growing in the garden. She had more family dinners in Alabama but had a harder time understanding the southern accents of people in my family and Sam had to do more translating for her. I totally understood. I understand people in Mexico City usually, but outside of the city or in another state of Mexico, I'm lost. The accents and manner of speaking is so different I can only get a few words and then hope I have understood the message the speaker is trying to get across with the few words I've captured.
At the end of our time in Alabama the day arrived when Sam could tick off another item on his list, that of taking her fishing with his grandfather. It was interesting to me to see the various things he had in his mind that he wanted her to experience, basically what comprised his memories of visiting the States as he grew up. When we got into the my dad's diesel truck Sam told her, "Now, Baby, you get to ride in Papa's truck. When we went fishing we always went in Papa's truck to the pond."
So we went in Papa's truck to the pond of a friend, got all the
gear out and Papa baited her hook with crickets that were very much alive. Sam patiently showed her how to cast, just like Papa had taught him. I waited on the side ready to take her picture when her cork went under. She started out saying, "Oh, poor fishie. It's gonna hurt him (to be caught)." Of course when she caught her first fish that changed to, "I want to do it again!"
It was a special time, not only for the things she got to do and see and taste. She was welcomed by everyone in both our families, treated to special things like a community production of West Side Story in Houston and a pool party, a trip to IKEA to buy some things for their little apartment. They loved her and welcomed her and enjoyed her. They went out of their way to attend family dinners or to show them things like the music scene in NO. I have been so touched that it has been difficult for me to sit down and put it all into words. I've tried several times before now and each time came away saying how is it possible to express the deep appreciation I feel for all the big and little things they did to love and welcome our new daughter into our family. So this is my pitiful attempt. Thank you. It meant so much.
Several people have asked about it and here it is, the wedding. It was a special time full of memories. Our hearts are still so full of everything that has led up to the momentous event in their lives. And getting to have family and friends come in for the wedding is literally icing on the cake (which was rich fudge, by the way). Here are some of the photos from our visit...
Thursday night Christina and Vern...NO...it's really Tylor playing a trick and planning the BIG surprise, fly in! What fun!
Does everyone have change for your metro ticket? Mariann acted as hostess/tour guide for the group on Friday. Friday night we all went out to eat tacos. It was like we were having a rehearsal dinner of sorts, only without the rehearsal.
Sunday afternoon was the perfect time for the Turibus and a lazy drive around the downtown area of Mexico City.
The following video was taken:
a. at a clandestine meeting of the rebels in Chiapas
b. at an uprising against the government in the Zocalo
c. at the Polytecnico University
Answer: At the Polytecnich University. These are chemistry students who have just completed their years of work and will be receiving their degrees in a few days. The tradition is that the chemists sew together their lab coats, hang the BIG lab coat from the building, have a party, then burn the giant lab coats (one for each class) as they dance around the bonfire. Sam reported that they began chanting things about graduating but gradually changed to, "We're unemployed! We're unemployed!"
On a more sober note, here's a photo of Shadai on graduation picture day taken by Sam. Two days before her wedding Shadai received her diploma. It was celebrated at home with family and friends, Mariann and cousin Emily who enjoyed a delux enchilada dinner prepared by Mamá Elisabet. Viva los Chemicos Bacteriologos Paracitologos!
When Mariann returned home in May, she brought her friend Pam home with her. Pam wanted to see where Mariann had grown up and experience all things Mexican. She practiced her Spanish on anything that moved and tasted and smelled everything else. It was fun sharing it all with her and seeing Mexico from a visitor's eyes once again. She fit right into our family, sharing in the Despedida and Wedding shower. The day before she left we went to the floating gardens of Xochimilco in southern Mexico City.
The painting was finished last night. This afternoon the movers are coming to move their few large pieces that can't be moved in the car: a beautiful HUGE black leather sofa (gift of a friend), two bookcases, a mattress (same friend) and some boxes. Several friends have gone together to order their little fridge. It's all coming together. Come Saturday night they should have their first home ready and waiting to receive them.
Every Thursday morning Nuria Gomez picks me up at 8:30 am to drive through the Mexico City traffic to go to Women of the Word. Two Thursdays ago, she told me that once a year she goes out of town to have some "alone" time to read and write. "Why don't you come with me?"
Well, we didn't get much done in the way of writing, did do a little reading. But what we did do was talk. We talked in the kitchen, in the living room, in the hall, in the car, in Starbucks, in La Trainera (fish restaurant), in the grocery store. We talked in the pool, on the beach and on the rooftop patio, in lawn chairs and in the hot tub. We shared our stories and stood in awe at what God had done in our lives. And asked lots of questions.
"What does one do at a "despedida?"
"How do you spell...a lot of English words. Why don't you choose one sound...just ONE sound for a vowel and stick with it (this was always followed by lots of laughter).
What do you call those flowering trees? bushes? flowers?
How do you say in English...como se dice en español?
Do you know what this fish is in English?
We talked about the difference in how parents in our respective countries think about when a child should leave home. We talked about different customs, what we like and dislike. We swapped stories of our children when they were little and Nuria told me the latest cute thing her grandson had done or said. We talked about them a lot as we were driving down to Acapulco which is something I've noticed that women do when they leave home for even a night away. It's a kind of ritual we do to prepare ourselves for our absence from them, like a long good'bye even after we've kissed and waved farewell. It's like giving ourselves permission to leave for a short time. We prayed for them during the five days were were away and in the end of our trip as we drove back into Mexico City we got the calls giving us the good news that Octavio had passed all his exams to graduate from high school and Nena passed her intense exam that very day that completed her seven years of medical school. I can't think of a better conclusion to this special time we spent together in Acapulco. Thank You, Father.
Things are beginning to happen so fast that I may not be able to keep up.
May 24, 2008, these lovely ladies were hostesses for a bridal shower for Sam and Shadai in the lovely home of Isiah and Tammie Parnell.
It was lovely, warm, welcoming and delicious! Old friends and new gathered to celebrate the coming marriage of Sam and Shadai.
I shall never forget this kindness. I will never forget the warm welcome Elisabet and Josue received. They were quite nervous beforehand thinking that everyone would
be speaking English all afternoon but everyone present was bilingual or knew some Spanish and every guest spent some time chatting with them. My heart was full with the love shown by our friends. To see them enjoying themselves was another gift given our family by our friends.
Thank you dear friends for your presence, for taking the time to celebrate with our children this special event and the beginning of their lives together.
