We’re a part of many different teams.  One of these is called a "T2" or Transformation Team.  It’s made up of missionaries with our same organization in the area (in our case Mexico City and Puebla).

We don’t all work directly together (although some of us do), but we come together to encourage, pray for, and support one another.  We’re from 4 different countries, but we all love the Lord and Mexico – and we’re all citizens of Heaven (Philippians 3:20-21).

And today I finally got a picture!  All right, I remembered at the last minute when everyone was rushing out the door – but we did get a picture!  Here it is…

Sadly, two people on our team of CAM missionaries are leaving to go to another team.  Rollie and Jo Ann Smith are joining another team (for various reasons – none of them bad!).  (Well, bad for us – because we’ll miss them!)

This gave us a golden opportunity.  At our last team meeting, the other team members snuck out and made a video for them.  After all, even missionaries can have fun.  Sometimes.

As you’ll see, the video was really made for them, so some explanations are required before you watch.  First, a "T2" is a Transformation Team (two ts, get it?) – that’s what our mission teams are called.  All CAM missionaries are on a T2.

Secondly, some poetic license was being taken (ok, a LOT of poetic license!) – the Smiths aren’t really being sent to Pachuca (a place in central Mexico), but they’re joining the Pachuca team – so called because most of the missionaries have been from around Pachuca (actually, that’s not even the official team name).

Lastly, and most obviously, they changed teams because of mutual discussion and agreement, not … well, not for the reasons you’ll see here.

So even if you’re not an "insider", you might enjoy this video.  A good reminder that we have some cool missionary friends.  Or some weird missionary friends.  Or both.

(By the way, as we told the Smiths – be sure to watch the whole thing – it’s just over 10 minutes)

What kinds of temptations arise in church planting, especially for the church planter?

I appreciated the thoughts from Eric Davis in his article, Cautions for Church Planters, which is actually an introduction to a series of articles focusing on the topic.

Here are some of the cautions he gives:

• A temptation towards, and permission of, pragmatism (in other words, whatever "works" (especially if it works quickly) is all right)
• A dangerous de-emphasis of sanctification (focus on reaching out, to the detriment of inward holiness)
• A de-emphasis of the Sunday gathering and expository preaching
• Church-planting is easily hijacked as a means to prove oneself in ministry (a perfect place for pride to flourish (at least for a time!))

Check out the full article and see what you think.  See the list of other posts by Eric Davis to read his further thoughts on each danger.

Today was a day to say goodbye.  Our friend David will be heading to Uruguay in just a few days.

David is from Mexico City, and he was a part of the Iglesia Bíblica Ciudad Azteca (Ciudad Azteca Bible Church) for many years, before coming to Ixtapaluca as a church planter.

David was instrumental in the starting of both the churches we’ve been a part of here in Ixtapaluca.

Now David has been accepted with FAM Mexico (a CAM related Mexican mission agency), and is heading to Uruguay to work with a church planting team there.

There had been a commissioning service here in Ixtapaluca for him already (while we were away), so today was a chance to say goodbye.  David led the worship time, and Rod preached from the Gospel of Mark.

During the service, the youth and the children made special presentations.  Hannah had a part – she read a verse in Spanish (I believe it was John 4:35), and later gave a little farewell in English, reading from Numbers:

Afterwards we had a potluck, and a big cake. What a privilege for our baby church to help send David to share God’s Word in a faraway land!

We’ve had the privilege to work alongside David ever since we came to Ixtapaluca, and we will miss him very much!  But our loss is their gain in Uruguay.  Please pray for David as he experiences life in another very different culture, and as he shares the Gospel with the people he meets there.

David cuts the cake

We are really hoping and praying for more help in our corner of Mexico City (oh, I know, it’s only 20 million people – how many missionaries do you need??), people from Mexico and abroad.

The good news is, two more mid-term* missionaries have just been appointed to Mexico.  So let me introduce them…

Jessica Nixon:  Jessica is a website development and graphic art missionary.  She’s from north east Texas, and is now an "empty nester".  We’ve enjoyed having her in Ixtapaluca in the past, and we’re looking forward to having her continue to serve the local church.  She’s especially interested in painting murals for the Lord in Mexico.

Joe Martinez:  Joe was born and raised in Dallas, Texas.  We’ve also enjoyed having him in Ixtapaluca in the past.  He also has a variety of talents and interests – serving teens, basketball, apologetics, and evangelism.

What about you?  Ever thought of serving in a less-reached area in the Americas?  I just might know of a place for you . . .

*mid-term:  This is someone serving cross-culturally for a 6 month to 2 year commitment.

Yesterday I presented the second half of the 2000 Years of Missions Seminar in Cremona, Alberta.  This is the part of the seminar covering the "modern era" of missions.  Once again I’ve collected a few clips to give you an idea what we talked about.

I admit it wasn’t my best day.  We came later than I had planned (fortunately I had set up the room the night before!).  When we were just about to leave for Cremona, I fell on the stairs with a jug of water, soaking myself and creating a lovely indoor waterfall.  These are the kinds of things that happen Sunday mornings!

But, people were kind and we managed to have fun in spite of a touch of chaos here and there.

Today I went to visit Julian and Malu here in Calgary to continue their information orientation (or is that disorientation?) as new appointees with CAM International of Canada (yes, soon the be Camino Global).

We had a good time – Julian and Malu love the Lord, love His Word, and love Mexican food.  So guess what we ended up talking about for a lot of the time?  That’s right – the Lord, His Word, and Mexican food.  Which does rather lead me to believe that Mexican food will still feature prominently in the new heavens and new earth.

Seriously, do pray for this couple as they start out preparing for ministry in Ixtapaluca.  They have been involved in ministry in Mexico before in various ways, and because he is Canadian and she is Mexican they’re used to living in two (or more!) worlds.  So we appreciate their experience an insight, and also realize that in many ways this will be another new journey for them.

And tomorrow – we’re off to Innisfail and looking forward to serving in the worship service and seeing old friends and new.

So you’re with CAM International – is that a new mission?  (Well, newish – long after the apostles…. only about 121 years old….)  And does "CAM" stand for something?  (Well… it used to stand for Central America Mission.  These days it’s just "CAM".)

CAM CAM CAM… for the last 8 years or so, we’ve been "CAMers".  My family has been involved with CAM.  My parents were married by CAM missionaries.  Uncle Cam, founder of Wycliff Bible Translators (Cameron Townsend) started out as a CAM missionary.

We own a CAMera.  CAM missionaries enjoy a lot of CAMaraderie.  In Mexico, CAM is involved in a CAMp.

In the essentials, CAM has never changed all that much – CAMers have always focused on the Spanish speaking parts of the world, and have always been passionate about discipleship.

But … every once in a while … there’s a bit of confusion about the name.  CAM.

So – we’re going to try to make things a little clearer.  Give it a Spanish feel.  Yes, CAM International is going to change its name.

Not yet – not until Spring 2012.

But the announcement has been made… the new name has been chosen… it will be…

Camino Global.

Camino (that’s CAM with an ino) is a Spanish word meaning "way" or "road".  It’s pronounced caw-ME-no.  Sort of.

CAM International and CAM International of Canada have an official announcement up where you can read all the details.  Read about Camino Global here.

To clarify, the name hasn’t changed yet.  But stay tuned for more.

And remember, it’s still all about reaching and sending Spanish speakers – discipleship – and serving the Lord Jesus.  It’s a name change, not a direction change.

This past Sunday we enjoyed spending the day in Mirror, Alberta.  In the evening I presented the Maximizing Your Short Term Mission Trip seminar.  Below I’ve shared some clips from the first half hour of the seminar, so you can hear a little of what we talked about.

For more on some of the seminars we’ve offered, see our seminars page.