A Long Weekend (here and there and there)

We just got back from a long weekend of fun and ministry.

It all started with a drive to a part of Mexico City called Ciudad Azteca.  I was admittedly feeling horrible that day, but thanks to a kind wife who drove us I was able to make it!

In Ciudad Azteca we got together with Camino Global team mates the Topps.  It was a rare opportunity to catch up and hear more about what’s been happening with the Topp family and their ministry.

On Sunday we visited their church, Iglesia Bíblica Ciudad Azteca (Ciudad Azteca Bible Church).  It was a very special Sunday, the grand finale of a kids’ club that had been going on for the past few days.  So there were a lot of guests, and a special presentation of the Gospel.

Shari and I shared the special music, but we especially enjoyed hearing the songs that the kids had learned over the past week.  Karla Topp uses sign language as a part of her ministry, and the kids sang the songs both in Spanish and in sign language.

We had a great time after the service talking with the Topps and others from the church about ministry and evangelism in both Ciudad Azteca and Jesús María.

Then we rushed home and got ready for phase 2 of the long weekend.

Shari went on a special “girls-only” trip with our co-workers and friends Tiffany and Tina.  They headed out on an overnight bus trip to Oaxaca de Juárez, a city about 5 hours south east of Mexico City.  This is the time of year of the Guelaguetza, a famous cultural festival originally in honour of Centeótl (the goddess of corn and agriculture) and la Virgen del Carmen Alto (yes, at times both of them together).  So they were able to see some cultural events and also take a tour to see some famous sites around the city.

Meanwhile (well, from Monday to Tuesday), the kids and I went to Valle de Bravo, about 3 and a half hours west of us.  Valle de Bravo is the home of a man-made lake, and lots of tourist activities such as paragliding, boating, and horseback riding.

We didn’t have time to be too touristy, but we hung out in a fun bed-and-breakfast, had a snack on a boat-restaurant, and checked out some local sites.

Even the drive to Valle de Bravo was beautiful.  It looked like a lot of small family farms, plus some beautiful evergreen forests.  During the trip we listened to lots of stories from Acts thanks to Mrs. G.

We got back Tuesday afternoon in time for the Tuesday night Bible study.  It was study #5 of our evangelism study.

It’s been so great to hear about peoples’ experiences sharing the Gospel over the past week, and to see them (and me!) learning how to be more effective.  (By the way, if you want to be the first one to help with the study, click here!)

Early this morning, Shari returned home, and we’re all united again!  So, I’m working on some documents (this time tax related, not visa related.  Though I was frantically working on visa stuff last week!), preparing for a keyboard class on Saturday, doing laundry, and lots of other odds and ends.  So excuse me – I’d better run!