Today’s forecast for Ixtapaluca:
Need I say more?
Here are the most popular posts according to visitors to this blog over the past 90 days. They’re in chronological order, but the three most popular posts are in bold.
This is a video taken last night around this time, just for the Grandparents and others who just want to see Nathanael play.
During his siesta he set up this … thing you’ll see … and just before bed he explained it all to me. Now you can see it too…
You’ll be glad to hear that Shari is feeling quite a bit better, though she’s not at 100% yet. Apparently she had a ear/throat infection, which hit pretty hard – but we caught it early. She was partially out of bed yesterday and has been up and about almost like normal today. 😉
In fact, she was teaching Nathanael – and administering an exam! Nathanael did very well, I saw the exam after the teacher marked it. 🙂
Hannah is at school, getting ready for exam week which is next week.
I’m preparing for the weekend. I’ll be in Hermosillo (with Hannah) at a children’s camp that a church there is putting on. The theme is A Little Crazy. Now why would they have chosen me to speak about a theme like that?
Well, actually, it’s focused around the life of Peter, so I’m learning a lot about the guy. He had a crazy life all right!
Anyway, I’d better get back to work here. Thanks for your prayers for Shari, and us all!
Shari’s not feeling well at all – and that was how our day started. So, that changed everything.
We were all going to be ready for the service (with our song practised) at 9am, when I was going to help with the setup and practise with the worship band. Instead, we were trying to help Mom and figure out what was wrong with her.
We didn’t make a lot of progress – we just knew that she wasn’t feeling well. So, eventually (after a lot of discussion and prayer) we left her to rest and we went back to Jesús María.
The rest of the gang were having their own problems. The tent was late getting set up (no way we’re going to fit more visitors in our normal little room!), the sound system wasn’t working – I don’t know what all happened. But in the end, it must have started quite late – so we didn’t miss any of it.
I checked on Shari regularly throughout the service, and she… still wasn’t feeling well.
The service itself was really great. Great testimonies, music, prayer, preaching… lots of visitors – a good time had by all. I sang the song Shari and I were going sing by myself. It brought a tear to everyone’s eye… because I was singing and Shari wasn’t! 😉
No, the song went all right, considering the lack of practice time.
After the service there was a fabulous smelling layout of food – but I already was concerned about leaving Shari for so long, and I knew she would need food. So we went home to eat.
It’s a rather strange turn-around that I missed the first service of the church because I was sick, and Shari missed the 1st anniversary one year later because she was sick.
Well, Shari is doing all right. She’s taking it easy. Likely we’ll head to the doctor tomorrow to see if we can get some more answers.
So, in the end – great service! Praise the Lord for what He’s doing in Jesús María! And – thanks for your prayers for Shari. She’s doing ok, and we’re taking good care of her.
I know someone out there wants to hear an update, so here it is! I don’t like writing a lot of "general news" posts, but there comes a time to catch everybody up!
Since one of my last posts was on the topic of health, I’ll start there. First, no one in the family is at death’s door, as far as we know, but everyone is undergoing "adjustments" of one kind or another.
Shari is trying to get a hold of her doctor to talk about what to do next. Lord willing she can talk to the doctor over the phone without taking another trip, but so far they haven’t been able to connect.
Nathanael is awaiting test results, and then he’ll be back in Puebla with one of his doctors. He’s also dealing with changes in medication for other reasons.
Jim? Well, I’m feeling a little better than I was, but still not great. I have two appointments with specialists coming up – probably one next week and another the week after.
We really appreciate your prayers for health. It obviously has a huge impact on ministry here. Also, it’s costing a lot – particularly all the gas as we drive hither and yon.
And you could pray for the health of a co-worker here in Ixtapaluca, who has been struggling with something for several weeks.
One big thing we’re trying to work through is van repairs. That’s another time/money thing, of course. Lord willing I’ll be going to get a part on Monday, and getting the first repair done.
We have to have this repair done, and have the van verified, or else we’ll have severe limits on when we’re allowed to drive come April. Due to laws here in Mexico City, there are certain hours on weekdays and at least one day a week when we can’t drive if the van isn’t properly verified (a test that includes emission tests).
Tomorrow is an exciting day! It’s the first anniversary of the church plant in Jesús María! We’re going to have a special service, special music (we’ll be doing a number, Lord willing), and of course some great food afterwards. Praise the Lord for what He’s doing here in Ixtapaluca!
Do you remember the first service? I don’t…
I have two more keyboard classes before the end of this series at the community centre. Please pray that these classes will end well. After the last class there’s a special closing of classes event, which is always a lot of fun and an opportunity to connect with people from the community.
I’m busy preparing for a kids’ camp in Hermosillo, Mexico next weekend. It’s going to be a lot of fun! Hannah and I will be flying there on Thursday.
Please do pray that I will have something useful from God’s Word to share with this group of young believers. I’m drawing from the life and works of the Apostle Peter. It’s been great to get to know Peter – what a guy. What a life!
Of course, there’s lots more coming up! I’ll be preaching again shortly, we’re looking forward to Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday services later in April – great times!
We continue to be very concerned about space issues when it comes to services and Bible studies. People are frequently standing outside, and can’t hear what’s going on.
We’ve started raising money to find another place, and we’re looking for temporary solutions too. If you want to know more, and help out, you can visit ixtapalu.ca and click on "Making Space".
Here’s a sample from the song we’ll be singing tomorrow, especially for those who want to try out a little Spanish.
The song is a translation of an English hymn. About 160 years ago, Thomas Westrup came to Mexico from London England with his family. He was only 15 years old.
They had come to set up a flour mill. But it was in Mexico that Thomas became a believer, and eventually he became a pastor, and then a missionary! Thomas and his son wrote and translated literally hundreds of hymns. Thomas was the translator of this one:
