Retro: Family at the Pyramids
A visit from Shari’s parents – Gary and Ardys – 10 years ago! On this day in December 2008, we were trekking around the pyramids at Teotihuacán. Here’s a great picture of the intrepid explorers!
Family
Two Weeks Until Christmas
Oh sorry – you didn’t realize that? I didn’t mean to be the one to tell you. Actually, I didn’t realize it either – wow!
I just thought I’d stop by and let you know what we’re up as we hurtle towards the holidays.
Our Sunday services are continuing, of course. We’re doing a series on the book of Hebrews, and are in chapter 5 right now. I’m also doing the Where did the Bible come from? seminar during our Sunday School time. For those who have taken the seminar, you’ll know what I mean when I tell you that Javier the Louse will be making an appearance this Sunday, so I’m very excited about that. 🙂
We’re been greatly encouraged by the church lately – people’s involvement and interest in the Word. Thanks for your prayers!
Shari continues to keep the kids’ ministry running smoothly. Or, as smoothly as is possible with kids! They’re doing a Christmas themed series in Sunday school right now, and on Friday nights they’ve been going through the Creation story – very slowly, but they’re addressing a lot of important questions!
The adult Bible study continues too – we’re in Genesis, but going a little faster than the kids. 🙂
On Christmas Eve Eve we’ll be having a Christmas themed service – and a special year-end service the week after that.
Yesterday we had the opportunity to get together with some of our team of missionaries (the Frys and Chalo are in the States right now, and various children of said missionaries are in various places, including Hannah in Canada!). We would appreciate your prayers as we prepare for this upcoming change and as every missionary decides whether or not they will continue with Avant after the two missions join (if you missed that, check out Camino Global, Avant – What has changed, what has not…)
Of course both Hannah and Nathanael are busy with school, trying to get everything done so that they can enjoy some time off during the holidays. Hannah arrives in Mexico in 1 week, 6 days and under 4 hours!
So yes, we’re hoping to get some rest over the holidays, even though ministry will continue. There seems to be a seasonal bug going around our house right now, so we’re hoping that will go away soon (and that I’ll have a voice on Sunday!). 🤧
So that’s a little of what we’re up to! I hope you’re doing well, and able to catch some time to breath and to meditate on the miracle of the Incarnation.
Retro: A Candy House
Every year, the Camino Global missionaries of Mexico get together for a few days of teaching and fellowship. That’s what we were up to 10 years ago today.
Someone had organized a family craft time – making “candy houses” (cardboard base – sorry, no gingerbread).
Apparently Hannah and Nathanael were in a patriotic mood that day, as they worked with Cathy Fry, freeing candy canes from their plastic bonds.
One Thing I Noticed In Canada
It was good to see many of you during our visit to Alberta and Saskatchewan this past summer (and we were sorry to miss many more of you!). It was a real encouragement to see what the Lord is doing in Canada.
We did notice a couple of unintentional/unexpected themes emerging during the summer. One theme was aircraft – yes, strangely enough, starting with a tour of CFB Moose Jaw, a centre of Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) aircrew training (a visit arranged by a friend – thanks!), and continuing with other events, such as seeing the Snowbirds (the Canadian Forces 431 Air Demonstration Squadron) in Cold Lake, visiting flight museums (such as…), and spending time with people who have flown or repaired aircraft (most notably family members!). It wasn’t planned – it just kinda happened throughout the summer.
The other theme kept coming up quite unexpectedly as well. That is – God’s Word. Now, of course, that was the topic of the main sermon I preached throughout the summer. But hearing people’s responses – and then seeing the topic come up again and again without us mentioning it, with people who hadn’t heard the sermon – there’s no doubt there’s something on people’s minds.
Of course, Christians are always talking about the Bible. But it was more specific than that. It had to do with learning from the Bible, the preaching of the Word.
Many, many people were concerned about the direction preaching has gone in many churches.
Personally, I think that the preacher’s job is to stand up, read the Bible, explain what it means, and sit down.
However, many Canadians are concerned that the focus is shifting elsewhere. And those who are hungry for God’s Word are not getting fed. Some people were concerned about their denomination. Others had actually left their church, to find a church where the pastor actually taught verse by verse. Still others were in churches that had changed and were no longer really teaching this way, or were attending a church (due to limited options) that seemed to have a very low view of God’s Word.
No one likes people who complain about their churches all the time. But these weren’t complaints about the colour of the walls, or differences of music style, or “that one guy” who is a real pain. These were not people jumping around from church to church because nothing “fit”. These were people with genuine concerns, trying to make sure that they and their families were being taught from God’s Word.
Over and over we were in a random conversation, and the topic would come up, and Shari and I would look at each other – “Again!”.
I learned a lot about Canada and the direction things are going. But this was certainly the topic that stood out. And here are the two things I came away with:
- It was encouraging to see how God is working. There are many pastors who are faithfully preaching the gospel, faithfully explaining what the Bible means, verse by verse, book by book. I had the chance to listen to a few sermons (even though I preached a lot too!) and talk with pastors and people from their congregations. Christians are finding creative ways to serve God in the midst of a unique culture and rapidly changing society. These are the things you don’t hear in the media.
- The other side of the coin – there is reason to be concerned. Pastors, teachers, leaders – you need to realize that believers in Canada are hungry. They’re hungry to hear the Words of the Head Shepherd. They’re trying to figure out how to serve at a secular job, where to send their kids to school, how to help a sick family member, whether or not to move, how to deal with death. The answers are not in psychology and the latest statistics, not in science and not in the latest news. The answers are in the Bible. I pray that more and more Christians will take a book of the Bible and start studying it, verse by verse. Whether it be from a pastor (I hope so!), or teaching a Sunday School class, or with a neighbour, or in a small group, or in family devotions. Or maybe all of these.
Thank God He is working in Canada! May all of God’s Word continue to teach His people. That’s the only way we’ll really fly.
Retro: Turkey Watch 2008
Ten years ago today it was Thanksgiving. The bad news is that Nathanael wasn’t feeling very well. The good news was that we got this classic picture of him calmly watching the turkey. This was at home in Ixtapaluca.
Belated happy Thanksgiving to you all! 🙂
Hogar, Dulce Hogar (Home Sweet Home)
We’re always thankful for smooth border crossings and travel in general, and for luggage that actually arrives. And that’s what happened this time around.
In fact, God even sent us a large taxi that could take all of us and our luggage at the same time back home!
So these things put a bit of a damper on our arrival.
But isn’t it interesting how God has His ways of making you thankful? The next day, the plumber came and fixed the pipe. We got gas. And I sorta had a shower (ok, so water pressure still isn’t a “thing” around here). Then I picked up the van (and something cracked our windshield on the way home — aaack! Enough!) But then we went out for some pozole. So we were very thankful for the simple things, once we got them back!
A few laundry loads and showers (sorta) later, we might even make it to the grocery store today for some actual food to cook. Which we can now cook, because we have gas. But actually, I need some gas in the van. Well, civilization is complicated, isn’t it?
Seriously, though, it’s turning out to be a little more of a challenge than we expected to learn how to live in Mexico again, after 15 weeks away. Even before diving into “official ministry”, we’re finding a plethora of things that we need to deal with, expected and unexpected, while we try to remember how everyday life goes. So the first few days are turning out to be a little tough.
However, it’s still hogar dulce hogar – and we’re so thankful for what God has provided, and we know He’s still here – and in Canada too, with Hannah. And we have been reminded that a shower, even with very little pressure, is still a wonder.