With each step Juarez came into greater view behind the rocks at the top of the mountain. Santiago and I had reached the summit of the first large peak in the Juarez Mountains. For months we had talked about climbing it, had stared up and wondered how and now we were at the top.
The wind whipped around us ferociously. This is high desert, an unforgiving desolate environment where the plant life waits eagerly to plunge its 2 inch razor sharp spines deep into your flesh. At times you are assured of your safety only as you cling to the rock, pulling yourself higher and higher and hoping that from the top you'll catch sight of a safer, trail down. A short day hike to be sure, but one with an abundance of danger in every foot gained towards the top.
As Santiago and I climbed and talked, we talked of the Christian walk and the similarities of climbing in the desert mountains. All the while a few thoughts were persistent in my mind. The first was that there are reports of people killed climbing these and the Franklin Mountains (a small chain of mountains in El Paso). The second was that in my lifetime there may be many hikes, climbs, etc. Yet, there is a finite number and therefore each one, no matter how painful, difficult, ugly or wonderful must be recieved as the blessing that it is. With that, it must not be taken for granted and the summit must ever be ahead.
The Lord in His graciousness has given each one of us a finite handful of situations. Each one has its ugliness, it's pain and 
it's beauty. Each one points us as Children of God towards our Savior. Each one is frought with danger, even and especially when unrealized and each one of these demonstrates His unseen and loving hands protecting, directing, guiding and caring for us.
It is in the times of hunger when we are most keenly aware of His every provision. It is in the times of heartache when we learn the depth of His love for us in of His sovereignty as it plays out. And at the times when we see our sinfulness, if we'll look, we see most clearly His rich and abundant mercy. But most often I don't see things from this view in the midst of it. I most often see only the circumstance, the struggles, the sorrow or hunger. Yet it is the summit that proves the real value of the climb. We must be ever reminded of the summit and the view from the top, because our time on the mountain, no matter how perilous it may be, is an integral step leading to the peak. Therefore as much a part of the gift as the summit itself and as we long for the summit we're filled with the hope of soon seeing it reached. Therefore we continue by faith, one foot and then another, a white knuckled bleeding hand holding fast as the wind threatens to blow us to our death below.
Peter speaks to these things in the first chapter of his first letter. "According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" He predicates his discourse on the living hope on the great mercy of our God. That is the forgoing of our rightly deserved judgment. It must be understood that we are of no ability to climb this mountain. In the midst of it, we have no business even setting foot near it. And all around us we see the lost as they're consumed and destroyed by it's perils. We are sinful, and yet He foregoes the righteous retribution that we are owed and sets our hearts on the summit. This greatest aspect of this holding back of His wrath is that He causes us to be reborn to a living hope.
"... who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." This living hope, the summit, can only be seen, by faith. It is not visible from the bottom, it's peak is far higher then our eyes can percieve and even with faith is often obscured by the steepness of the next ridge, or the treacherous course ahead, or the tears in our eyes and yet it is ever there. And it is God's power that keeps our foot to the slope and secures our climb, and He does this through our faith. Even the faith is a generous gift. And we are being kept for the summit, and we must know, that the summit has been given us. And we must know that every inch gained towards the summit is His power and not ours and we reach out our hand and grasp the rock by a given faith.
That is, our resurrection, our completion, Peter calls an inheritance. "... to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you ... " It is something that our God has built and earned for us and before us and then He freely gives it to us. He describes this gift as imperishable, it cannot be destroyed by the passing of time or be defiled by sin and if we look with eyes of faith, is unfading. Peter describes this outcome as the "Salvation of our souls". It will be revealed in the last time. As children of the living God, we anticipate this revelation and this anticipation, this hope is the salt that flavors the sorrow and the joy in our way, it is the 
reminder in the midst of our clinging to the rock, that we shall one day see that glorious summit. The glorious resurrection!
"... In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials..." About two thirds of the way up, I kicked my shin into a yucca plant, which gladly sunk a nice spine deep into my shin. It hurt, I couldn't get it out and it made it painful to use my leg. Yet I thought of the view from the top because the summit was drawing ever nearer. I came to see the summit. It was an absurdity that I might turn back, or lie there whincing. We are likewise often grieved by lifes trials. They are devastating, brutal and seemingly insurmountable. Yet these trials, Peter tells us, are there for the purpose of testing, refining our faith, burning the impurity off, purging the poisons that pervade all of us who have suffered the fall. And we rejoice in our living hope, we rejoice in our view from the top because we shall see it soon.
"... may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ ..." Every aspect of this climb is to result in the Praise and Glory and Honor of our mighty King. We shall all see Him very soon. Do you see it? In your heart, can you see the view from the top? Your glorious inheritance is it fresh? Does it lift your feet one more step? Set your life to it, to the view from the top. We are set upon this mountain, we have one climb and a finite number of trials, it is a gift and He has given us this gift and we shall soon see the summit!
Somewhere behind me, someone was slamming on their horn, their patience wearing thin. The starter wouldn’t even click as I frantically turned the key and for some reason no matter what I tried I couldn’t get the transmission into neutral. It was stuck in park. “Lord, please… please… let the van start!” I said out loud, over and over again. All at once, the precariousness of one hot afternoon in Juarez seemed to come to this culminating point, here on the other side of the Santa Fe bridge in downtown El Paso, surrounded by a sea of people annoyed with the heat; perturbed with the preceding long wait to get there and now frustrated with this sweaty American now babbling to himself (seemingly) blocking most of the right lane of their only quick escape from downtown in a giant ancient van. Somewhere miles away in a warm one room Juarez church sat Lori and the kids, now most of the way through the church service and wondering when I was to return. Miles in an entirely different direction the hood of Jose Luis’ van sat open, now cooled down, surrounded by a crowd of fellow church attendees, waiting for the Gringo in the big van to return with Jose Luis and a radiator fan motor. “Lord, PLEASE, PLEASE, IN JESUS NAME, start this STUPID VEHICLE!!! AAARGH!” Nothing!
“Do you need help? I’ll help push you!” In Spanish, breaking through the panic of the moment and softening the shrill of horns beside me and the angry looks and gestures of those wise enough to drive around me. I tried to explain in broken Spanish that I couldn’t get the van into neutral and that he couldn’t help. My cell phone erupted from the console, “Brother, where are you?” Jose Luis questioned, obviously tired of waiting. “Pray Jose Luis, the van won’t start!” I said, hanging up. And my new friend was gone. Working the key, fiddling with wires, under the dash and praying out loud, the Lord’s beautiful sovereign will poured out and the van was in neutral. “PRAISE GOD!” I said out loud and from out of nowhere to men were pushing the van. We found a parking place just around the corner. My friend had returned to help push.
God’s sovereignty as it plays out can be a wonderfully frustrating thing. Specifically, in relation to our own expectations and what we think to be a cost too unreasonable. Hours earlier, the building wave of whining children, anxious and uptight preparations built to a crescendo with a mad rush down the highway towards church in Juarez. I had prayed, as we often do, that God would launch us into ministry, that He would use us and that we would have a good time. It had been two weeks since we were able to attend church and I was INSISTENT on getting there on time to practice with the worship team. I had spent the entire day in frustration as NOTHING had come together; as every one of my children whined in their own lovely way about having to go to church; as the glass light cover fell for no explicable reason on Joes head and shattered on his tile floor scattering glass all over their floor and the hour it took to clean it and the 3 tons of accumulated toxic waste; as Tatyanna and I had spent 3 hours crying and discussing the pain of moving away from her home and friends; as … as … well you have the idea. My attitude had seen MUCH better days. “Mike, this is Georgia… uh… we have a situation.” “Ok, well what’s up!?!” I retorted. “Jose Luis and Cristina’s van is broken down. I don’t know who to call. They need some part for their van, could you call him and find out what they need… I know your on your way to church… please?” “WHERE ARE THEY GEORGIA?” “Anapra… at their church.” “Fine I’ll take them the part.”
There is a fine distinction between “Radiator fan” and “Radiator fan motor”. Especially, if you’re not happy and being short with someone on a cell phone. I didn’t know that I had purchased the wrong part until I was driving along the tree-lined “river-road” through Juarez on our way to church. “NO Brother, not the fan… the fan MOTOR!” Jose Luis snapped at me. It was this stupid mistake on my part and the 2pm closing time of all Juarez auto parts stores that had landed me now squarely in the midst of God’s wonderful plan on the side of the road, in downtown El Paso, wondering what the heck I was going to do. That’s when I saw our friend, Rafa (the names have been changed to protect the fragile and forgetful mind of yours truly). Rafa, a “Ranchero”, wore a huge cowboy hat with, huge belt buckle, gold chains, gold teeth and alligator skin boots. He smiled and asked me in Spanish if I had gas in the tank. Of course I had gas. He made the suggestion that perhaps it was overheated and so I should let it sit with the hood up. I did, so we stood there.
I’ve learned long ago to look at car problems, or long waits in line, etc as opportunities to share Jesus. Depending on the day, my comfort with the language, I take these when I can. We spoke about the law of God, sin, death and of Christ’s death on the cross, His resurrection and of faith. He smiled even bigger and soaked it up. Rafa listened intently to the Gospel and took a Bible excitedly and left. The Holy Spirit had moved in his heart and his walk with Jesus has seemingly begun. The Lord caused me to laugh at all that brought me to this place and time and of my foolish frustration. I did indeed laugh and smile and know that the van would start right up. So I got in and the man who had originally offered to help came over to my window. He told me in Spanish that he had been standing there praying for our conversation. We exchanged the joy of the work of the Lord. Of course the van started right away and we prayed and worshiped the Lord together right then and there.
Jose Luis was able to drive his family home and I showed up at the church just after dark with many folks hanging out.
To finish this testimony off, I must share a bigger picture, because I wasn’t the only one having a hard day. Jose Luis had ridden with me to the bridge, forgotten his visa to get into the states and therefore had to wait for me at the bridge. However, he was also not feeling good. In this and his frustration with my stupidity, Jose Luis boarded a bus back to his van. On the bus, a number of Christian women prayed with him. Additionally, we had taken Daniel Young in with us. He was grouchy and didn’t even want to go into Mexico. But after church, we were invited by Lori’s good friend Betty to eat at their home. This too, was a gift from the Lord for Lori as she had been hoping for time with Betty. Daniel had “His favorite time in Juarez.” Joe (my son) was able to spend time with his good friend Eduardo. Jacob (also my son) freaked out and started trying to speak Spanish with many people.
Finally, the point:
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:10
What a joy it is to know that God is working all things together for us, that we might grow more like His Son, Jesus and that He has sovereignly ordained all things to come to pass in such a way that even our most frustrating steps are set before us that we might enjoy the good works, that He set before us. Because we have been created in Christ Jesus, and therefore it is all Him, and not us and the works themselves are a great part of His divine grace to us. – Mike
The Beginning
Two years ago, God transported us from our normal and ordinary (never been that ordinary) lives into Colonia Estrella De Poniente. We didn't even know what a "Colonia" was really. It was at the end of January. The first thing that struck me driving in was this amazing tangle of hand run wires and cables. Wires and cables shot every which way in the air and on the ground. This all hung, maybe 8-10 feet off of the ground. As far as the eye could see, there were make-shift telephone poles. They used anything that they could find. NONE of these was a sturdy and tall board. The tangle led from a power station where the power was pirated for those living within Estrella de Poniente.
The second thing that immediately struck me as we drove up the hill, was the number of little children playing in the dirt road. City buses, cars and motorcyles were speeding past around these kids and that the kids were just playing around the wires. It was a different world from our suburban neighborhood of cross-walks, safety zones and neighborhood watch programs.
The final thing that struck me were the pallet houses. These were constructed out of pallets. Now we had been told about these. However, nothing can prepare you for the realization that in the midst of 25 degree nights (winter) and 108-110 days (summer); that in the midst of blistering Chihuahua desert sand storms; that in the midst of the constant sewage and trash that covers the ground in tiny houses made out of other peoples trash, people live out their lives.
I'll admit it, I cried. I wept like a baby. It broke my heart to see these beautiful little children perched so precariously on the edge of this broken and barron waste land. It wiped me out and left me senseless. I believe this was God's heart.
We react to human suffering in one of three ways (all of which I've done). First, we can harden ourselves to it. Just ignore it, it will go away. Steel ourselves and resign ourselves to the weight and magnitude of our own circumstance. If we see it then we have to deal with it, so rather than that, we quiet our consciences and look elsewhere or throw up our hands and say "what can I do?" Second, we might entrench ourselves in the unfairness of it and in either the meeting of physical needs or in the combatting of injustice try to assuage the cries of our heart. Finally, we can seek God's heart and find that though each one of these hurting people makes their way through that which we would find unacceptable, God's heart is far greater. He wants us to feed the poor, but far deeper then that, He is drawing to Himself a people for His namesake. This, of course, He is accomplishing through the blood of His Son Jesus! "I am not afraid of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for SALVATION, to all who believe, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith; as it is written: 'but the righteous man shall live by faith'" - Romans 1:16-17
It was THIS that Jesus has us here to pull these from the fire (Jude 1:23) that our gracious and merciful Savior made abundantly clear to us during this first visit to the Colonia. For those who know this testimony, you know that in our hearts, even then we knew that we would return.
Coming Home
Most know the story. Jesus continued to work in our hearts. We returned one time a few months later during a subsequent outreach. This time God confirmed what He had been saying in our hearts. We were to return to this place. And the relationships that had begun were refreshed and in joy we saw His loving hand guiding us to this place. This is, of course, a testimony for another time.
To make a long story short: we returned in May of 2005, having sold our house, quit my job and having been sent by our home church Lakewood Christian Fellowship. The transplant was tough. God blessed us beyond measure in countless ways and yet the cost of it was very real. There is nothing that our Lord can NOT do.
There have been times during my walk with Jesus that the ministry that He has given me to do has seemed to me as a burden. Difficult times, large tasks and WORK (LOL) can tend to make that which is blessing seem as burden. However, having experienced this, I've also experienced the conviction of the Holy Spirit that the cost of ministry is actually a genuine and important blessing.
If I could paraphrase this lesson for me it is: that no ministry to Jesus comes without sacrifice and effort. And in our world of instant-gratification and microwave ovens, the Christian must never lose sight of the monumental, and indeed IMPOSSIBLE, nature of the Kingdom of God. It is by this reality that we are driven to faith. We CANNOT accomplish that which has been given to us. Therefore, we must run to the cross, in faith for every aspect of ministry and our lives. Nonetheless, it requires the sweat of our brow and the impossibleness of a weight that we can't lift for God to demonstrate His power, goodness and love (The Jordan River, The Red Sea, etc).
During my time earlier this year in Louisiana during the Katrina Relief effort, the Lord had very poiniently and lovingly given me this verse: "Unless a grain of wheat falls unto the earth and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life, loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there my servant will be also. If anyone serves me the Father will honor me. But for this purpose I have come to this hour.'Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour?' But for this purpose I have come to this hour." - John 12:24-27. So I saw that I must follow Jesus to our death (of self). And that if I am His servant I will be where He was, in the position of self sacrifice. Finally, Jesus Himself expresses the anguish of His calling. If there is no difficulty or pain with our self-death it isn't the same. Jesus Himself allows Himself to feel the weight of the burden of His calling. So, that to say that our blessing in Poniente has been with cost in mind. And in our early stages we were shocked by the cost and even felt.
This summer was awesome amazing and profoundly challenging. Into that God impressed upon us that He had called us to be active in the Kingdom work that was being accomplished in Estrella de Poniente. Indeed our ministry in the Colonia would be deeply important to us. However, we have a few handicaps.
First, arriving in May neither Lori nor myself speaks Spanish. In fact what little Spanish we spoke initially and even now could be used up in about 3 seconds. Three then and now maybe 4 minutes. Making most conversations occur like: "Hola! Como Estas?" "Bien, usted?" "Uh, Bien gracias. Dios le bendiga!" "Equalmente, [spanish that I can't speak] me hermana tiene [more words, but it looks serious] por favor?" "Uh... no intiende, uh LO Siento, me Espanol is mal." This is a very fun handicap in ministry. As the "Visit in Jesus Name" is very much about communication.
In fact, one day I drove all the way over to the Colonia to meet with my friend Santiago. Now, Santiago is a good friend. I enjoy my time with him because he is a very cheerful man with a great family. However, I also enjoy spending time with Santiago because he speaks fluent English and we're able to communicate well. This day I arrived to find that he was at work and I used up all of my spanish quickly with Elvira, His wife. So I drove away. In my mind I thought: "Why bother staying, I don't speak Spanish well. I have a lot to get done back at the house. I'M GONE!" I drove out of the Colonia and the Spirit was pounding on my heart. He spoke into my heart that I would regret not being there. So I returned and though there weren't amazing fireworks on that day. It was God's will that I return and visit.
This sort of thing has happened repeatedly. God has made clear that while there are a number of ministries that visit Estrella de Poniente (most for building projects in the summer), there are only a few people who God has there as full time missionaries to those people. There are currently a small handful. His calling for our family in this place is to develop these long term relationships for His glory. To spend time in friendship, evengelism, discipleship and prayer. In a later blog post we'll cover the ministry. However, the Lord has blessed our bad Spanish and our bored kids and all of the various difficulties that are a part of our time in the Colonia. He has blessed it by providing strong friendships and opportunities in abundance for many other aspects of ministry.
Secondly, we live 40 miles away and the drive over is expensive. This reality hit early on. If we get 20 miles to the gallon and we drive 80 miles per trip, we use 4 gallons of gas per trip. If gas is almost $2.25 a gallon, each trip costs $9. In addition, most weeks we go to the Colonia twice a week. That is $18 or more per week of travel expenses in addition to our numerous trips to El Paso. However, even in this, God has provided abundantly. Along with the early realization that it was going to be costly to spend time in the Colonia was God's blessing to us in His word that He would provide for this need. And He has been faithful to this.
It has been a profound and costly blessing to be privilidged to work in the Colonia. Our family has been able to continue and invest in relationships that were started during our first visit. As well as to begin building new relationships. God has richly blessed our time and it is clear to us that we need not fear or focus on our inadequecy but that as Jesus said "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom." - Luke 12:32
We have enjoyed deeply knowing that God has called us to be here and that He is the author of the ministry and of each one of our lives. And that at this moment and time, Estrella de Poniente and the Mission Church is home to us.
A City On A Hill
God has been moving in power in this Colonia for some time. One thing the Spirit has made clear is that what God is doing in Estrella de Poniente is unique. Many residents of the Colonia are newer Christians. All of them have been touched by the IFM outreaches in the past. It has been neat to see as God begins to build fellowship. And as we meet more and more Christians, we find that He has been bringing many to His throne of mercy throughout Estrella de Poniente.
Geographically, the Colonia is located on a mesa formation, above a highly populated valley below. Especially at night, the Colonia is very clearly visible for a long way off. However, it is not just physically set apart, it also has NO gang problem. Which for all of the surrounding Colonias is a persistant and severe problem. While the Colonia does have its share of problems, many residents (including those who have not been born again) believe that God has protected them.
Many within the Colonia believe that as the IFM buses started coming God began to move in power there. Subsequently many have given their lives into the hands of the living God. Additionally, as the Colonia grows, houses are improving dramatically. Houses that were once one room pallet shacks are quickly becoming 1-2 room cinder block homes. As of yet, there are still no emmenities such as sewer or running water. However, within recent times, the electric company has built all of the necessary infrastructure to begin safely serving the residents of the Colonia. It's fair to say that Colonia Estrella de Poniente is an up and coming Colonia. All of this is seen as God's blessing being poured out in the Colonia.
Consistently the Lord has healed many. Including a boy we met on our first trip. Jesus Armando was suffering with Luekemia and all though he was receiving sporatic treatment seemed to be worsening. Jesus' father had died a year and a half earlier. Jesus' sister suffered with epilepsy and his mother had no job and they begged for food. We prayed for them instensly. I can clearly remember his mother sitting there, looking off in the distance, numb to reality. The other day I was visiting and I saw Jesus. I stopped him and spoke with him and the Lord has healed him of his cancer. His mother confirms this and she herself is a different woman. She shines with the joy of the Lord. The amazing thing that God did was to lift up this poorest of poor families. In addition, He has healed her daughter as well. She is not taking medication and has been without epilepsy for a long time. If that weren't enough, Lupe is now working in a factory 4 days a week. And while this is a hard life. She credits God for the amazing gifts that He has provided for them. And they are active participants at a church in downtown Juarez, near the outdoor market.
On another occasion this summer we were in the Colonia with an outreach team. A woman that we know "Maria" came and asked Kathy Hart if we could send men to pray for her husband who was extremely ill. He had a very high fever and she was trying to figure out how to get him to the hospital. A number of team members and I went to see him. He was indeed very sick and as we layed hands upon him we could feel the intense fever. As we prayed the Lord moved in power. All of us felt his flesh cool down dramatically. When we finished we shared with him the Gospel and he responded and received Jesus. After this, he told us that he was no longer sick. God has blessed us by allowing us to pray for a number who desired to heal.
The primary thing that has occurred is the number of those who have received Jesus as their Savior. It is a bright and hopeful day in the Colonia and it seems as though God has brought a harvest. God is raising up various Bible studies, etc to begin to feed the many that have placed their trust in Jesus.
Our prayer for the Colonia and we would ask that you would pray as well, is for salvation for the Colonia. That God would continue to move in power their. Additionally, please pray that those who have bowed their knee to Jesus would find a church home, either in the Community Center or at a Godly church elsewhere. Finally, that God would raise these up as fruitful "outreach" minded servants.
OK, I have had quite a number of STRANGE days in Mexico up to this point. There was the time that Lori, the family and myself were driving in one car and John Lambert in his truck as we tried to make our way home one summer evening after visiting Col. Estrella de Poniente and found ourselves lost in the heart of Juarez. Darting from street to street vainly trying to find our way to something recognizable. Neither John or myself spoke a WORD of spanish, which made the directions we were able to ascertain meaningless and found us completely lost. Then there was the time that the US Customs agent at the border asked me which middle eastern country I was from. Then there was the time in El Paso when our van was broken down in 108 degree heat. The only spot of shade that we had for the family was full of fire ants and some crazy guy drives up... sees my van... asks about it and then asks if I don't mind watching his dog as he goes into the store... to which I IGNORANTLY responded with a yes. OF COURSE as he gets his dog out of his truck, it's this giant rotweiller with a head as big around as my torso on a chain meant to pull a truck... I could barely keep him from eating the kids and he only understood spanish commands...
However, today was MORE ODD then perhaps any other day I've experienced in Mexico to date. John Lambert and I were visting the orphanage; Casa de la Nueva Vida in San Augustin, Mex, when Sergio's brother showed up. He told us this crazy story about chasing his PIG all through the neighborhood in hopes of somehow getting her into his van to cart her off to have her bred.
You don't just pull up to a 150 lb pig and shout out the window; "HEY, ya wanna go for a ride?" That's were we meet Blondie. It didn't take long for Sergio, John and I to jump into the van and race to Hector's house for some good ole' fashion pig wrastlin'. The entire way over to Hector's Ranchero, he told us the whole story. Chasing her through friends yards, houses, down the streets. Cornering her, grabbing her tail and holding on for dear life; attempting to bribe her into getting into the van and finally chasing her right back to her pen.
Blondie is a 4 month old, 150 - 200 lb Mexican pig. She quite enjoys her time in her pen, eating slop and rooting in the Mexican dirt. She found her current home, having escaped the confines of her previous (unknown where) residency and was just wandering the streets of San Augustin. She came right to Hector's house and found a fast friend and a new home. She has lived there ever since.
Blondie, is not much on change. We tried to explain to her the benefits of taking a trip to the breeders Ranchero, but she wouldn't have it. We reasoned with her about the joys of motherhood and the grand adventure of life with piglets, but she wouldn't have any of it. Instead, she chose to run as fast as she could squeeling in terror at the crazed missionaries who were coming at her.
Around the house she would go, followed by two or three of us. Back down through the yard. She would be cornered with Sergio, Hector and John grabbing for ears, a tail or hooves in an attempt to control this giant squeeling ham. Then as soon as it seemed that we had her almost under control, she would charge off squeeling with us running laughing hysterically behind. Finally, somehow she was cornered near the van and we were able to grab her feet and her head and toss her into the empty van.
A whole lotta squeelling, mud, make-shift fencing and the dragging of one very unhappy pig later, and uh... well... uh... she should be the proud momma of a whole mess-a-bacon some day soon!
-mike-