Our New Address!!!

Kids playing geography game given by Kristi's aunt.

We now have a new mailing address for those of you that would like to send a note our way.  Do you like getting mail?  We do!  In fact,

Summer Holidays






Our latest family picture - December 2013

Hello everyone!  Many of you are traveling today to be with family and friends for the holiday season.  We had a wonderful surprise to share with the kids this month! 

WE ARE HERE!!!

Hey everyone!  THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR US!!! WE NEEDED IT!  We are probably the only ones that can turn a 20 hour trip into a 35 hour trip. 

Fall/Spring Recipe

Here is our family's Super Moist Pumpkin Bread recipe.  It's dairy and egg free for those of you who might be sensitive to these ingredients.  Happy Thanksgiving!!!   We miss you all!!! 

THEY'RE HERE!!!!!

 We are so excited to let everyone know that an unforeseen delay in our schedule yesterday afternoon led to a wonderful answer to prayer....

Buying Chicken And Eggs at the Mercado...a short video...

When we go to a nearby (indoor) market, this is the little corner where we buy chicken and "farm eggs." 

Mate (Ma-te)...Argentina's National Tea (and a video tutorial)

Mate (Ma-te) is Argentina's national tea.  It is traditionally consumed by adding the loose, dried, herb (called: Yerba Ma-te) within a gourd or

Location, Location, Location...

We are excited to share with you the city and area where the Lord has been leading our family to live.  The town is called...

Slavic Partnerships?

We have had the privilege of meeting with a friend, and partner in ministry, from the California Southern Baptist Convention.  Dr. Anthony (Tony) Ahaev

Message on our Phone!

Today, Eric received a message on his phone telling him that our DNI cards (national document card) has been issued and will be delivered by the postal service soon!  Praise the Lord!  Thank you for your continued prayers on our behalf.  Please join us in expressing our gratitude to our Lord Jesus Christ for this sweet answer to prayer.

November Prayer Calendar...

Please download, save, and/or print our November Prayer Calendar!  Keep this page in your Bible or by your dining table so you can remember to pray for us and the work each day this month.  Thank you!!

Are You Ready to Try Something New???

LEARN SPANISH!  
We have found some basic Spanish children's videos that are especially good for language learning.  They cover colors, animals, and more...  If you're interested, go to the "Kid's Corner" tab in our blog and take a look at the different videos.  Our children are learning and practicing their Spanish (called 'Castellano' in Argentina).  These videos are geared for very young children's vocabulary building but they could be helpful for any age. 

Missions Message by imb President, Dr. Tom Elliff

Newsletters

You can now view (and/or download) our newsletter updates by clicking on the "newsletter" tab!  Thank you!

Encouragement from Children in Texas!

Olivia, Sofia, and Elias Stanton delivering mail

We would like to thank all the 1st through 6th grade children from First Baptist Church in Plainview, TX., and their Children's Minister, Mrs. Brittany Godsy, who took the time to put together cards and magnets for the imb (International Mission Board) missionaries serving in Argentina, South America.  We also want to express a special "thank you" to Jennifer De León (our sister-in-law) for establishing this contact.
    
All the envelopes were placed in the missionary's mail boxes here at the mission office today.  Some of the missionaries that live in Buenos Aires will receive their cards in the coming days.  For those that live far from the capital city, it might be a little longer before they receive theirs.

Thank you for taking the time to write us and encourage us!  It feels special to be remembered, prayed for, and encouraged through mail by you!  

 

It's always good to try something new.....

Can you guess what the girls are enjoying?????? 

 

 

A little outting to the Forests of Ezeiza

Back in Argentina...

The Lord was so good to allow us all to travel back to the USA and to be with Mom before she passed away.  It is still hard to believe that she is no longer with us but we are forever grateful for her life, her testimony, and the hope we all share to be together again in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
After Mom's home-going, we stayed in Tyler with Dad helping him continue to unpack, hang things on the walls, get rid of things, and go through Mom's things as well.  We had such a sweet time together.  It was extremely hard to leave...it doesn't get easier!  We also shared several special moments with Eric's parents who made three trips down from Arkansas to be with us and help however they could.  My brother and sister (in-love) and their three children were also able to be at Dad's house many of the weekends and we all had a great time together. 

We have several pictures to share of things we've done since our return.  Enjoy!


Eric sits in-between Sofia and Lucia and Elias helps on the other side of Lucia

Wiped out after the trip!!!

 

We celebrated Eric's b-day on the 25th!



Eric got Silly-Putty for his b-day...

 We played a game where everyone had to sculpt certain things with the silly-putty.  Some of the things we had to sculpt were from Bible stories.




Elias chose to sculpt the parable of the seeds falling on different soils for his turn

 

For sculpting something that 'gives light,' Eric chose to do Sofia since she's our "Sunny Bear."



Olivia also sculpted "Sofia" for the "gives light" turn.



Lucia also having fun with Mommy's silly-putty...except she and Mommy both got it stuck to their clothes...any hints on getting it out??????  Already tried to freezer trick!

 

Happy birthday Daddy!!!!  We love you!!!

 



 

Mom's Home-going

Dearest Friends and Family,

We wish Karen would be writing this herself, but she's enjoying her NEW LIFE with her Lord Jesus to whom she gave her life October 1959 in Coronado, California.

The last couple of days she was surrounded by family and her Grammy Bears (grandchildren). Any time any of them went in to her room to see her, she would open her eyes and smile.  She kept commenting on the joy of hearing them laugh as they played in the nearby room and backyard. We rejoice that we had this precious time together as a family and thank you for your faithful prayers.

Last night (9/2) as she was nearing the end of her life here on earth, she said: "Take me home Jesus, take me home." Within a couple of minutes He took her home.  As you know, the void is great but we celebrate her life.  In all of this, as you well remember, her greatest desire was that God receive all the glory
    
The memorial service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 7^th, at Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, TX.  It would be our family’s joy to see you at the service where, together, we will celebrate Karen’s homegoing. 

In keeping with Karen's wishes, the family asks that those desiring to express sympathy make a memorial gift to the IMB (International Mission Board) for the ongoing ministry in the Patagonia region of Argentina where Richard and Karen served from 1996 to 2004, or to the Restorative Justice Ministry at Green Acres Baptist Church, where Richard currently ministers.

For a moving article of what the Lord is doing through this ministry, and how Karen's life touched those involved, follow this link - http://www.gabc.org/surveyor, then go to page 32.

 

For memorial gifts to the IMB - Argentine Patagonia Team:

International Mission Board

PO Box 6767

Richmond VA. 23230-0767

 

Please write:  Ref.:  Argentine Patagonia Team on the check.

 

For memorial gifts to the Restorative Justice Ministry:

Attn. Mrs. Judy Turner

Restorative Justice Ministry

1607 Troup Hwy.

Tyler, TX. 75701

Thank you for your continued prayers!

In Him,

Eric & Kristi (De Leon) Stanton - on behalf of the De Leon and family.

 

 

Urgent Request

Dear Friends and Family,

 

This is a super quick update to let you know we flew into the USA (Tyler, TX) – arriving Tuesday after receiving a call from my dad (Richard De Leon) on Sunday saying that Mom isn’t doing well.  We were on our big trip down south in Argentina and immediately packed up and drove through the night back to Buenos Aires.  We arrived back into B.A. Monday morning and were able to get things ready, find last minute tickets and re-pack so we could fly out that night.  Originally, just Kristi and the baby were going to come but after a doctor’s visit Monday morning, Dad called us and said things weren’t looking good and that it might be just a matter of time.  So, this confirmed to us that all of us needed to come.  

I will include her update in this message in case you don’t already get her updates (it has more information about her situation).  She is doing ok, resting a lot.  She is receiving in-home Hospice care.  Dad, my brother, and I are doing most of the care along with the support of Eric and Jennifer (my brother's wife).  We are SO thankful that we arrived in time to enjoy some much needed special moments with her and the rest of the family.  We will be staying in the USA for several weeks.  Please lift up our family during this time.   

 

Thank you!

 

 

 

_____________

 

We sent this update out a few days ago....

 

As we sit here to try to write an update on behalf of Mom (who is resting in
her room), we (Eric and Kristi Stanton, Micah and Jennifer De Leon, and
Richard De Leon) realize that there is NO WAY all five of us could write the
kind of update Mom would write!



Due to the results from the latest liver sonogram, blood work (showing
lowering platelets even after having received platelets), as well as several
other physical symptoms, the doctor has said that her liver is very
compromised and may begin to shut down.  Other than giving her pain
medication, there is not much more they can do to help.   Even though she is
spending more time resting, she still has her bright smile and cheerful
countenance.  Her humor is still there.  Just this evening, as she was being
visited by several sisters from one of the Spanish churches in Tyler, she
was encouraging them and admonishing them to keep on serving the Lord with
His joy.



There has been such an outpour of love and support for my parents (and the
rest of us) by many friends and loved ones .  Mom and Dad have repeatedly
said that they don’t know how they could make it without this extensive
spiritual family.  THANK YOU!!!!!



We would love to write the kind of update Mom would but none of us have her
gift.  However, we decided that one of Mom’s best attributes is her
determination to focus on the blessings of the Lord.  She says it isn’t a
gift – it is a choice to focus on the blessing.   So, join us in praying for
Mom.  We still believe that God can heal her if He chooses to do so for His
glory.  Pray for her comfort and for no complications that would force her
to go to the hospital.  Her desire is to be here at home surrounded by the
sounds of her Grammy bears and family.



We are rejoicing in the Lord for this beautiful time together.  We praise
the Lord for a family who loves Jesus and has the peace and JOY that comes
from knowing Him.  We rejoice in  friends that are coming by and remembering
the fun and special times shared.  We…(wait, Dad said that Mom asked that we
wait and let her PLEASE dictate what to write…)  :o) Only Mom!  Rejoice that
we don’t have to finish this update ourselves.



Mom wanted us to change the “update” to: The latest sonogram revealed that
the current hairball population has increased to such an extent disallowing
“normal” liver function…which means that the cat invited help and has gone
wild  (Micah says, ‘it’s having a party.”  Eric says, “it’s having a feline
frenzy.”)  As a result, hairballs don’t fit well into the kidneys and they
stifle the production of platelets.  Because we know the Bible says that our
bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made, we also know that only God can
correct the hairball situation…whether in this world or through our eternity
with Him to come.  We still need for God’s honor and glory to be manifest
above and beyond all of our circumstances.  We anticipate that very thing
either by a second miracle (the first already having been made at the cross
of Calvary), or by His taking me home.  At present time, under Hospice
in-home care, we are discovering the joys of family reunion as our children
have come in from West TX and South America.  We have received an OVERDOSE
of God’s peace and the sense of His presence and the utter delight of
knowing that our families will again be reunited with our Savior Healer in
His Kingdom.  We continue praising God for your faithful prayer support.



Under HIS Mercies,



Karen, Richard and family

 

 

Eric and Kristi Stanton

Olivia, Elias, Sofia, Lucia, and Emilia

Post by Olivia and Elias

Olivia's Section:  This trip has been fun but any time you travel with several little kids and a baby it can get hard. They usually need help buckling, eating, passing things, entertaining and more.  The nice thing is that Mommy and Daddy don't mind that much about how much time it takes us so we go to rest stops where we can run off our energy.

Sea lions

There have been many things to see and do along the way.  We liked seeing the wales, sea lions (with their babies), and a few guanacos.  There was a missionary down here that knew of a dinosaur museum with lots of dinosaur fossils and petrified eggs which have been found all through the Patagonia.  We also got to see some petrified dinosaur eggs which our Grammy (Karen De Leon) found many years ago.  That was really neat!

Us kids looking at the sea lions
 

Last night, we arrived very late and got some food and went to bed.  I got to sleep between Sofia and Lucia - that was fun!  Some of the time it was a giggle party.  This morning, I was the last one up (I was very tired!).  After breakfast, we heard Argentine Folklore music playing from the little park across the street from where we are staying.  A little later, Daddy took us to the park to play while Mommy finished cooking lunch.

Alright, I better let Elias have his turn!  Good bye for now.  I miss all of you very much!!  - Olivia

At the dinosaur museum in Trelew

Elias' Section:  Hi!  This is Elias. We are going on a looooooooooonnnnnnng trip and on the way, Mommy took us to buy souvenir with our own money.  I bought a blue wooden boat which I plan to put in my bedroom.  They also had a yellow one and a black one which I did not buy because I like blue if there is no other boyly color.

Lucia holding a stuffed baby penguin at the Ecocenter

Mommy and Daddy took us to the beach in Puerto Madryn.  I enjoyed collecting soooooooooooooooo many sea shells.  I asked Uncle Grady Milstead how to make them not stink.  He said to put bleach water in a bowl and put your sea shells in there (Mommy said I can't do this without her help).  After that, you put them out in the sun and let them dry.  Then I asked him why he has salt in the bottom of his and he said it was so that they would look like they had a seashore under them.
We went to an ecocenter and we saw lots of interesting stuff.  The funniest part was getting to walk through a hallway full of hanging ropes that symbolized the gills inside the whale.  I better let Mommy hold Emilia.  Good bye!  I love you all!  - Elias

White Knuckle Driving

We're in Cipolletti (Province of Rio Negro)!  It was a long day of hard driving.  The people at the gas station at 'Choelle-Choel" were saying that the gusts of wind were reaching between 43-50 mph.  Eric said his hands were cramping from holding the steering wheel so tightly!  We have several interesting pictures to share with you as you 'journey' with us.  Please pray for us tomorrow as we meet with a leader.  Thank you!

Kristi working on a post for the blog while on the road...



Kristi driving during a 'brown out' of sand/dirt today on the road to Cipolletti

Women's bathroom at the service station...bidet included!

Pastor Ordination

Here are some pictures of the kids and their new friends they made the evening of the Pastor Ordination Service. 

Sitting in the back row of the church

Sofia and Lucia making friends

Elias and his friend "Gabe"

Sofia and Lucia with their friend, Naiara

Sight Seeing

We’ve enjoyed a few field trips scattered throughout our trip to the Patagonia.  We’ve been able to go to a dinosaur museum in Trelew, an Aquatic Ecocenter in Puerto Madryn, and the beaches where we were able to see the whales (Playa Doradillo) and to the ‘Puerto Piramides’ on the Peninsula Valdes where we saw the seals.  Kristi and the kids have had a few excursions to the beach to collect sea shells also.  It has been neat to let the kids learn more about the Patagonia and it’s flora and fauna.

Playa Doradillo



Southern Right Whales



 

Kristi and kids at the Trelew dinosaur museum



Southern Right Whale