RII (Rest in Indiana): The Marshall Family 2009-2011.

Sadly, December 12th marked the last day in Mexico for the Marshall family.  I think 26 of the 28 of us cried sometime around the good-bye. (Everyone except Aaron and Diana, who were trying to make everyone laugh instead)  They'd spent the last two years here at the ranch.  Mark was the handyman, the English teacher pre-James, and the famous clown Espeghetti.  Lucy was workhorse teacher, chief goodie-chef, photographer, and team mom.  Aaron was the amazing PE teacher, class comedian, and the always fun Niñote.  Joanna was the crafty art teacher, novel laureate, and most Mexicana, going to church on her own many Sundays and translating in numerous situations.

My favorite memories of each:
-Mark:  So many good conversations.  I love the way Mark was just a strong Father figure in the lives of his own kids and the ranch kids.  With 18 kids and numerous personalities, a variety of role models is important.  English class and Youth group could also get pretty hillarious, and I think he's the best clown we had for our missions trips.
-Lucy:  Decided I could be part of the family.  Also, put up with my antics getting shaving cream all over her house and family during youth group.   Some creme yogurt dessert that was super-tasty.
-Aaron:  Stargazing, soccer; had the worst jokes ever, but they were still really funny.  Great attitude and always up for a game of Risk or Bond or Blokus.
-Joanna:  Swimming to islands, fun conversations, and tongue-twisters.  :)


Mark's going on to a Pastorate in Indiana, but what I love about the Marshalls is that they all invited me in, and each one of them was a teacher and missionary in their own right here.  I hope my family is like them someday. (maybe a mix between them and the Zaragozas and the Jackons (Michael, Janet), without all the abusive parenting, and maybe with folk music instead of pop.)  

Pray for the Marshalls, because God's sending them as missionaries to Indiana now, but it's gonna be tempting not to see it that way and accept the "normalness" that so many of us slip into.  Also, they're having pretty intense culture-shock right about now.  Also, pray for us left behind, because it's gonna be crazy when school starts again, and I think we should still have a youth group, but I'm not sure how yet...