Ten years ago today we were at a kids’ club in the community of Jesús María. There were about 80 kids every day (and not always the same kids!). Shari helped out with the little kids, and also found time to lead a baking class (that moms could come to while their kids were at the club – another opportunity to make friends and talk about the truth).
There was a visiting short-term mission team from Pennsylvania, and so the baking class mission was to make whoopie pies!
The theme of the kids’ club – airplanes! Hence the cool piñata…
It felt like summer was coming early last week, but winter is back this week.
Sorry, no, I don’t have any dramatic stories like those that we’re hearing from other parts of North America. You can complain that we’re suffering from beautiful Mexican weather if you like. But for whatever reason, it turned colder and windier on Sunday.
Now we have tarps and tents to shield us from the sun. But those just seem like giant sails when the wind starts to gust. I was leading the music on Sunday, and in spite of various clips and other things I was using to anchor down my music, I simply had to stop and talk between each song as I tried to manoeuvre the next song sheet into place, knowing that half the time I still wouldn’t be able to see all of it because of the wind. Even setting up and taking down was a major challenge.
And in the brief video below, you can see our service leader and our preacher trying to keep their Bibles open to the right page, and catch papers that went flying (all the time trying to stay casual and professional). We in the congregation were having a hard enough time, as bulletins and song books went flying, and our Bibles insisted on moving on to other texts!
Anyway, in spite of the unusual wind, we had a good weekend! Shari had a good baking class on Saturday, which ended up being a great prayer and share time as well. And we need the prayer! And we had a good time of worship and fellowship on Sunday morning.
In the midst of the many challenges that this congregation is facing, we are so thankful for these times together in the presence of our Lord. And we praise Him in times of wind and storm, as He shows His great power. Thanks so much for your prayers!
This isn’t the greatest photo, but I keep using it because it was an historic day. 🙂
10 years ago today was the very first baking class. It was at Claudia’s house (seen on the right in the picture below), and 8 women attended, with Shari, Mayra, Aurora and Tiffany teaching. They made Christmas sugar cookies.
But it was most historic because Tiffany came and visited from Arkansas (in the middle). Tiffany moved down the following year and served with us here for more than three years, and actually became Claudia’s neighbour.
So – first baking class, first visit from Tiffany – two things that led to a lot more great ministry in the years to come!
Just a few quick photos of the first day of construction and baking classes in Jesús MarÃa, with the team from Word of Life Chapel. Baking classes and a kitchen – I guess it’s all about food this week! I’ll try to post more pictures and some video when I have a chance.
There were two classes yesterday, and there will be two today and tomorrow as well. We had a good turnout – maybe a little low due to rain, so you could pray for better weather today and tomorrow. 🙂
The gospel was shared, relationships were built, and there were some good spiritual conversations. May the Spirit work again today!
Shari translates and gives some pointers.
Nathanael helps paint a table for the new kitchen in the church’s building.
I actually haven’t posted any substantial news since last month! So let me give you a quick update on what’s been going on.
First of all, the weather has been a topic of conversation this month. Before the end of February, the weather changed – it wasn’t getting so cool at night, and felt warmer. This brief reprieve was replaced by rain, and howling winds, and snow at higher elevations. One day the entire state closed the schools because of the cold.
I’ve concluded it’s virtually impossible to explain the impact of this kind of cold to a Canadian, who has survived -20C but can always go inside to warm up. No sun, and no heat in the cement block houses simply means some very miserable days. And whatever explanation you care to give (I have a few), it’s very hard to stay healthy in that kind of weather.
Since the season had already changed, when the cold front disappeared it was instantly replaced by summer. Our thermometer was up to 30C yesterday, and the memories of wearing four layers, and gloves, in the house, are quickly replaced by concerns about drinking enough water and using sunscreen. At the same time, pollution levels rose to their highest in 11 years, which means unusual restrictions on vehicle circulation this week.
My bones haven’t quite thawed out from last week. Once they do, maybe I’ll start to complain about the heat. Maybe. Until then, I’m thankful!
Between the weather and the school cycle here and other factors, attendance at the community centre has been down, but not quite non-existent. Shari is looking forward to her last baking class of the semester on Thursday – fruit pizza – who would want to miss that?! Plus, the closing program is on Thursday – fun times! Oh – AND we have a soccer tournament coming up on Monday. 🙂
On the 5th we connected with David Radlowsky, who is here from Canada for a couple of weeks. We went site seeing at the beginning of last week, doing some orientation along the way. And eating, of course. (By the way, I have a good restaurant in Mexico City to recommend when you come visit…)
Laying sod at the church’s propertyDavid has been joining all of us at various times, visiting – what has he visited? A nearby rehab centre – I think an orphanage and senior’s shelter. He helped put clean the church property and put sod down. Yesterday we visited some friends in various parts of Ixtapaluca. Last night he was a guest teacher at my English class. Today we’re heading to Puebla to join our friends Chalo and Beth in their ministry there.
On Sunday we had our 6th anniversary service at the Path of Life Bible Church of Jesús MarÃa (Iglesia BÃblica Sendero de Vida Jesús MarÃa), which was a real blessing. Lots of people were involved in the service, the temporary sanctuary was full with lots of poor people stuck outside, but we enjoyed good times of fellowship afterwards. Nathanael and Shari were both in two different choirs.
Our family has been struggling with some health issues – all four of us – which has made things a little interesting. As always we appreciate your prayers in that department.
In other news, I’ve been working with our Coordinating Team to update and clarify some of our orientation requirements and tips for new missionaries. How in the world do you introduce new missionaries to Mexico and ministry here? Big topic! But I think we’re making progress.
The kids are busy with projects and things as they finish up another section of school. And we’re getting ready for their big birthday parties coming up in April and May. I’m organizing some of the delegation of funds to the ongoing construction on the church property (almost done that project – help us finish!).
Well, I could go on and on. Busy days!
But if you want to pray over the next few days, we would appreciate your prayer for health issues, for wisdom as we share with many people in various ways, and strength as we try to get so many very different things accomplished.
Some of you have also been praying for Alan, a fellow Camino Global missionary (working north of Mexico City) who had a heart attack. God graciously spared him, and he is home. However, his recovery is being hampered by a lack of sleep right now – I know he would appreciate your prayers. He has a long road to travel still.
You made it to the end of this post! 10 points for you! Have a great day. I’m off to Puebla…
Visiting Laura – February 2016Thanks to those who prayed for Laura and her Mom last week. We enjoyed a good visit with them, and made some new friends along the way. If you want to continue praying, that would be great. Lord willing He will allow us to visit again later this year.
For those who have our prayer calendar and are following along, you can most certainly pray for the children at the orphanage this week. However, it looks like Hannah’s visit there on Saturday has been cancelled.
But there are other things coming up this week! I have a couple of English classes on Tuesday (my regular class, plus I’m filling in for Tina). Shari has her baking class on Thursday, and the kids’ club and Bible study is on Saturday. We had a great kids’s club on Friday, but no one came for the adult study. But we did have a youth study, led by Rod.
We’re also gearing up for an anniversary service in March, which means that both Shari and Nathanael are going to music practices this week.
I’m also preparing for my last sermon in a series this Sunday – dealing with some pretty major topics, so hopefully my brain will be awake!
