An Average Day in the Life of the Knutzs

A few people have asked what a "normal" day looks like for us in Mexico. This is how most days work themselves out.

6:45 AM
Mike, Molly and Josh leave for school


7-1o AM
Showers, breakfast, morning chores, Tammy starts laundry, ironing, floors, Spanish lessons on computer begin, alternating people


10-1 PM
*Home school for Maddy and Jake, email and blogging for Tammy
(Activities are interrupted multiple times from people stopping by to ask about this, to sell that, and students dropping in)


10 PM MONDAY ONLY
Monday market day. Vendors come from all over with fresh foods, household items and clothing. It is the cheapest way to buy things here. And, it's just plain fun!


1:00 PM
*Mike and teens arrive home from school. With them come 5-15 students on any given day. This time changes frequently.


2 PM THURSDAY ONLY
(No English class today) Mike hauls a van loud of kids to La Presa to swim and jump (see blog!)


1-4 PM
*Mike studies for his English class and does bible study with students
*Teen hang-out time, card playing, goofing off,
*Practice the language with the studengs through friendship
*Tammy: make snacks, wash cups, serve drinks, translate English for Step class that afternoon, serve salsa and guacamole
*Knutz kids try to get their daily chores done amongst the chaos, Kids teach card games

4-5:30 PM
*Mike teaches an English class to local school teachers
*Tammy & Molly attend Mike's English class since we learn Spanish at same time
*Josh and Jake practice basketball at school with the team
*Maddy chills at house

5-11 PM FRIDAY ONLY
Friday Night Fun Night, kids come to have salsa, guacamole, tostadas, soda and Pizza. Card playing, goof-off time, a movie in Spanish at 8

5:30 PM
*Lupe picks up Tammy. Tammy teaches Step class for 2 Spanish teachers at her ranch house
*Mike hangs out with students that come to house after basketball, gives kids snacks, sometimes prepares dinner

7:30 PM
*Tammy returns from exercising. Time to eat. Many times we walk to town for real Mexican food. We can feed the whole family for under $15. We have two regular students who have dinner with us every night.

8 -10 PM
Normal Activities, depending on the day:
*Shop in downtown tiendas for groceries.
*Walk and hang out in plaza.
*Visit with Fernando (see blog)
*Recap with our kids, take time to encourage and instruct with what's been happening in their daily lives in Mexico

Sunday Night is Plaza Night. The evening mass ends at 5:30 PM, the tiendas close up shop and everyone stays in (after mass) town in there best Sunday attire. The Catholic church opens up into the town square. People walk the town square, or gather on the benches to enjoy a long evening of fellowship and fun.

WEEKENDS ARE DIFFERENT. We try to leave town to see what else is in Mexico! It requires about a 3 hour drive whatever direction we travel.

Mike and La Huacana Teens; A Good Combination

Mike gets along with teens. He has always amazed me. Back at home, kids like him. I have knocked it off as him being their 4-H agent. After all, youth development is his specialty and what he gets paid to do.

I have been surprised that it is the same here. Teens in La Huacana want to be around him. It is clear that the kids come to our home to see Mike just as much, probably more, than they come to see our kids. I watch him interact with them students closely. The teens enjoy his company and respect him. That can be easily seen through their body language and how much they laugh with him even as they struggle to understand each other's words. More incredible, the students are eager to teach him, spending a lot of time saying the same words and phrases over and over until Mike can get it out correctly. In this picture above that is exactly what is going on. Maddy and I were amused with this conversation that went late into the night.

This is Tony and his cousin, Rando. Mike is studying Proverbs with them. Mike read a verse in English and then one of the guys read it in Spanish. We are so thankful for the Spanish bibles we brought with us, thanks to a friend!

What a wonderful way to study language together.

Teaching Card Games

A House Full Every Single Day...

We are able to practice the language while showing God's love to kids who mostly come from very tough circumstances.

Maize Tortillas & Real Guesadillas, A Cooking Lesson

Three students came to our home to teach this American mom how to make home-made maize tortillas. We had a great time together. Reese, center, was a fantastic leader, telling everyone what to do. It took several hours but the product was worth it. We turned them into guesadillas. The flavor and texture of the tortillas in Mexico far exceed the ones sold in grocery stores in America. They are fairly easy to make. Also, I have never eaten such wonderful guesadillas. This is one skill I will be happy to take home with me.

These young men visit our home daily. We cook together, play cards, play basketball, practice our language and go swimming. I wish we would have brought more games and card games. We have played a thousand rounds of UNO.

This is Tony. He is one of our regulars. His mom lives in the United States, having remarried and started a new family after his father died. Tony lives with his Grandparents and is extremely poor. (We have heard lots of stories like this).

Read it and weep, these nice young men insisted on cleaning up the mess after cooking. In my house, the rules stands; if you cook the meal then you don't have to do the clean-up. I tried to shew them out, really, I did!

Muchachos in the Afternoon; Ninos in the Evening

It looks like we will host the muchachos after school and the ninos in the evening. . . What a blessing this evening was! Two little guys rode on by on their bikes, around the ages of 3 and 5. Hussling into the house, I searched for the gifts that we brought for the children. They consist of mini bubbles, gospel bracelets (see wrist of the boy) and Spanish bibles. Amanda H. came over the week before we left and made over a hundred of these with my children. Sherri J. donated a bag full of small, Spanish new testaments. (Thank you ladies!)

The two little boys brought a couple of friends and then those friends brought their friends, etc.... before long we had a very large excited group of children in front of our house. They were in no hurry either. They stayed quiet awhile asking questions about our family.

We have learned enough Spanish in the time that we have been here to be capable of telling these children the gospel story, using the 6 colors on the bracelets. Bright-eyed, the children left saying, "hasta manana!" which means "see you tomorrow!" Looks like I had better figure out how to make cookies over here! Or this may be where the animal balloon making kit will be handy that Sherri and Gabe J. sent with us because I have a feeling we will be having frequent young visitors!

The children are a blessing to be around. They are very sweet and friendly. (Wish I had attended CYIA in Spanish)! I have to admit though, the kids lighting fire-crackers right in front of me with no adult supervision was a bit stressing. It was concerning as to rather they would get out of the way or throw them fast enough before they ignite.

After School Visitors Every Day

School kids come home with Mike and the kids everyday. I need to start looking for some cookie ingredients to feed all the muchachos! No chocolate chips here though. Or cocoa powder for that matter. This has become routine; if they don't come with my kids, then they will be coming home with Mike.

The three shorter guys on the left closest to Mike, well, that is Mike's fan club. They hang very close to Mike at school and are eager to help him with his Spanish. Mike says they are always flipping through his dictionaries to look up words. They are nice boys and like Mike's company.

School is Quiet an Experience, But Anything But Quiet

Do you see Josh in the middle of this crowd of kids? Josh said this is what happens when he slows his pace or sits down. My kids are quiet popular since they are white Americans. Josh said he was asked to sign autographs yesterday. I will be asking if he actually consented. (I sure hope not). All of the attention and being immersed in a foreign language makes them very tired after school. Josh routinely finds the hammock on the back patio. (Not to mention the heat and having to wake up earlier than they ever have had to). School starts at 7 AM! Public school is a first for all of my children. They have all been home schooled their entire lives.

School in Mexico is just like every other part of Mexico - loud. Classrooms are very rowdy. Just like in America, some teachers are better than others. Every day teachers don't show up for their classes. There is no such thing as hiring a subsitute. Kids are left to hang-out and goof off during those class times.

Molly has a Face book account and Josh has a My Space. Both of them are recording their Mexico experience and posting pictures. Maddy and Jake have personal email accounts. Email me if you want their address.

An English Class for La Huacana Teachers

Mike has 15 students. They are all teachers for the secondary school. It is quiet a challenge teaching English to Spanish students when you have a limited vocabulary yourself. As you can see, hand motioning and body gesturing come into play. I was going to delete this picture but then I saw the humor in it. The silly things we have done to communicate!

To learn English, people have to take very expensive classes in a larger city. Few can afford this. Having an English teacher is a privilege for this community.

My kids have reported how loud the classroom setting is. The adult classes aren't much different. Mexico culture is loud no matter where you are.

Hemanas (sisters)

This is Carmen and Lupe. Don't they just look like a good time waiting to happen? We have reached a new comfort level, even in our broken communication. I told them that in Oregon I am skinny but in Mexico I have become gourdo (fat). The next day they scooped me up and took me to the school to play volleyball, soccer and basketball. I didn't make the connection until that evening.

Our Home, A Place of Learning

Josh and Jake play a friendly game of Uno with Alexis. They switch back and forth playing in both languages, practicing numbers and colors. Every day Alexis and Adere come over after school. Molly and Josh help Alexis's older brother Adere (not pictured) with his English homework. Madeline works with Alexis on English. We are all teachers and students!

A couple hours later, both Carmen and Lupe come over with all their ninos. I am their English teacher.
Daily, I prepare lesson plans from several books I brought from the US. I have to write out everything in Spanish, twice! Teaching them English reinforces my learning. It keeps me on my toes! A computer program called Rosetta Stone has been helpful in teaching English to others. I just reverse the lessons that I am learning. If you desire to learn a foreign language, you ought to check out Rosetta Stone. I am impressed with the program.

Gwen is Teaching Molly Spanish

I was delighted when Molly brought home Gwen on the second day of school. Every since, the two girls have been connected at the hip. Gwen is a very nice young lady and speaks no English. This is a real plus. Molly and Gwen are constantly learning each other's language. They have to work hard to be friends. In fact, Gwen is constantly teaching our whole family.

Gwen and her parents invited our whole family to go out to dinner on Friday night. Since her parents don't speak any English either, we had a very quiet evening. No, not really. (It's never quiet with the Knutz's!) Mike is good at making conversation even if people can hardly understand him. Both of Gwen's parents are teachers in our community.

Mexican Children are the Cutest!

This is Lupe, Maddy’s school teacher along with her two little ones. Again, we are renting Lupe’s house while she has moved in with her mother for the length of our stay. I enjoy her company so much. We have a fun and challenging time trying to communicate but I find her to be the easiest to “decode” with. Lupe is very patient. She asked me yesterday to please teach her English. These are Carmen’s and Lupe’s children. These women are hermanas (sisters). Aren’t they so cute? Mexican’s are beautiful people.

Above is a random boy in the market place. I was watching him play and just had to take a picture. Molly and I point out all the adorable Mexican children, esp. the little boys. They appear so innocent and sweet. And they are.

There are numerous children walking the streets of La Haucana. They will come along side us and walk with us without the need to say a word. I try and “chat” with them but they usually shy away. Mexican children are very happy kids. The play and play outdoors after school together. ~T

Why Are We Here?

This week everyone went to school for the first time. Mike, Molly, Josh and Jake all went to the esculea secondaria (middle school). Madeline is picked up every morning by her 5th grade teacher. Since Mike is a professor for Oregon State University, they allowed him to come here on a sabbital leave to immerse into the culture and learn the language. He is teaching English classes at the middle school, providing guidance with the school farm (agriculture background) and taking the spanish classes. The same is true for the rest of us. English is highly regarded here and the people are very excited we are here. The kids are recruited to help in the English classes. Mike´s growth here will be valuable for his job back at home. It will provide him with language skills and understanding for the Spanish audience in our home community, enabling him to better reach spanish people with the 4-H program. Our children´s growth is valuable too. I can´t even imagine at this point all that the Lord is going to do through this.



Mike and I decided this was the best way for them to get as much as possible from our trip is for them to go to the public school. They are forced to interact all day long with Spanish speaking adults and children. Oh, the stories that I heard this afternoon. All the children crowd around my kids in large groups. It´s a very unique experience for the children to have white English kids in their school. Josh said that if he slowed his walk or paused to sit down, in 30 seconds he was surrounded with excited, jabbering kids. Madeline has found herself to make friends easy. All are eager to help them with their very poor Spanish.

Ross Warner said to me before leaving the states, ¨It will be interesting to see how God uses this in your children´s lives in the many years to come¨. That was eye-opening for me. My heart did a little leap as I considered his remark. I had been so focused on the here and now that I hadn´t yet considered this. Our children have needed reminded over and over that they themselves have been called to be in Mexico. It has been a lot to ask to pull them from their home and their friends to come to a foreign place. The only way to makes sense is to be serving a higher purpose. I tell them that this is what it means to walk by faith. We may not fully understand today why God he has us here or can physically see what He is doing. We can fully trust that He is always at work. It is likely beyond what our little ol minds can comprehend.

I am content as I watch my kids gain a better understanding of these people. I desire for all of us to have a greater love for them and to be able to communicate with them. I know there are many Mexicans who live in our home town that need to be shown God´s love. We all look forward to seeing God´s plans and purposes unravel, in His timing.

"Una coca por favor"

It was a big step to have Jake request a Coca-Cola from a restaurant. All it took was three little words. Amazing how hard it can actually be. It is one thing to speak Spanish at home with your Spanish curriculum. Once you have to interact with real Spanish speaking people that is another. They have a very distinct accents and can roll their R's amazingly. Also, the speed by which they can speak will cause your head to spin. This is way harder than I could have ever anticipated. I say words over and over again but just can't say them like they can. Like I told Ross W. on an email, it feels as if you are swimming in an ocean of words.

This is the advantage of learning Spanish through immersion. We get to hear it over and over again, correctly. Our family is learning text-book Spanish, but real-life Spanish. Fernando often corrects us with our examples we pull from our books. He says, no no, that is way to formal. Say it like this! He adds his cool-attitude with it. Fernando has been very patient with us, repeating over and over, explaining culture and customs. He comes to see us regularly, each time with great enthusiasm. Each time we get to see him, I am greatly encouraged.

We have all experienced the shyness that goes with trying to speak someone else's language right in front of them. There is always the risk it will come out wrong and you will get laughed at. I had to tell the water truck that I didn't need any more water delivered until Tuesday. I shouted, "Martes" which means Tuesday in Spanish, and both men in the truck started cracking up at me. I have now learned just to laugh at myself as well.

Jake soon conjured up the courage to approach the lady at the counter to ask for his soda. It took guts on his part, but he got the words out and received his prize. (The kids would have you know that all the soda here is much better tasting than in America.)

An Average Shoe Store

This is Channel whom has been very hospitable to us. He speaks minimal English and has been able to answer a few questions for us, like, "Does La Haucana have a post office?" He too is a small a business owner like everyone else in this town.

This is Mike and Fernando studying the languages together. Fernando knows some English. He adores Mike and lights up whenever they meet. When we are walking in town, Fernando will jump out of nowhere and shout, "It's my brother!" I've tried to get in on the excitement but it's just not the same. When parting one evening I asked him if there is anything I could pray for for him. He responded, "Oh, yes, I have God in my heart 100% and pray all of the time." I was delighted and told him we shared the same faith. Fernando said, "Yes, I know. The God in my heart sees the God in your heart." That was a blessing since we had been wondering if he was one God had brought into our lives to tell Jesus about. Instead, He has brought Fernando to us to enjoy christian fellowship, to study the language and to learn the culture here in Mexico. This friend is full of joy and has a way of making you feel special. ~T

On the Road

Mario and Norma and their daughters were our trail guides and interpreters from Nogales, AZ to La Huacana. Mario is also a professor for the OSU Extension Service.

Buenos noches de La Huacana, Michoacan, Mexico! (Good Evening from the town of La Huacana, in the state of Michoacan, Mexico.) We have been here almost a week and have been striving to learn the language. It is a lot of hard work and we covet your prayers. This week we have settled into our casa (home) and have attended several fiestas (parties). The most time consuming thing has been learning to shop in the market place for groceries with very little language skills. We have been very grateful for our picture Spanish/English dictionary and the many folks that God has set in our path to help in those times that all we could say is "no intendo" (I don't understand). The people have been very hospitable to us. Since La Huacana is off the beaten path from tourism, the presence of six Anglo people attracts quite a bit of attention in this town of 10,000.

We have been very blessed with the great food, the sunshine (although we think 90 degrees is a bit on the warm side) and the help and friendship extended to us by several families. Mario and his family served as our guide and translator from the time we crossed the border in Arizona up until they left town several days ago. Gamaro (Mario's brother) has served as our host family since we have arrived. They have shown us around, provided meals, invited us to community events as well as family fiestas. Please keep praying for our ability to learn the language quickly. We will soon be able to upload more photos to our blog. Our only Internet access is at a cyber cafe. To dispell what you may be thinking about a cyber cafe, it does not serve coffee or any food. I had visioned myself sipping a mocha while doing my email and blog. With temperatures near 90 (I hate to mention that again with all the snow you guys have had back home), I am looking for the nearest ice cream shop. On Christmas Day we plan to go to the beach and swim in the tropical ocean water. We hope that will ease the pain of not enjoying a white Christmas with family and friends in McMinnville. ~M

Feliz Navidad!