Retro: Easter Eggs 2007
A photo taken on this day ten years ago, in our yard in Cuernavaca. Nathanael and Hannah are showing off their specially decorated Easter eggs on Resurrection Sunday.
Family
Quick Recap of the Last Few Days
The weekends tend to be busy times around here, and this past weekend was no exception! So here’s a bit of what happened…
On Friday, we had a Bible study learning about the Holy Spirit – His nature, what it means to be “filled with the Spirit”, and so on. Hannah taught the kids’ study, focusing on the books of the Bible.
On Saturday, activities like the kids’ club, soccer and youth club continued as normal. Hannah went to the youth club, but otherwise we weren’t much involved because I had a meeting in Mexico City and all three of us went (Shari being in Canada for a few days).
The meeting in Mexico City was with leaders of various churches in the area. Good meeting. And a short meeting. A short meeting is a good meeting. But seriously, it was good to study God’s Word together, pray together, plan together, and struggle with various issues together.
The Word of Life interns were over here a couple times during the weekend. On Saturday night we made “Canadian style nachos” – nachos with things like cheddar cheese and ground beef. The two girls from Mexico said that they had “never done anything like this before” – which goes to show how little much of the “Mexican food” in Canada resembles the real thing!
Sunday we had a guest from Uruguay, who took us through the life of Jesus and beyond – all with music! It was just Fernando and his guitar, and all of us with our Bibles open following along (and sometimes singing along) because most of the music was right out of the Scripture. Fun!
I also preached on Sunday, on “The Sower”, and thanks to a lot of work fighting with technology showed this video.
And yes, Shari made a brief trip to Canada to pick up a few things, most importantly popcorn seasoning some medication that we can’t buy here. And Lord willing she comes home today!
We’re looking forward to having David Radlowsky back this weekend (and into the week), as well as a team from the USA. It should be another full weekend!
Quick Updates
It’s one of those times when I have no time to write, but I really should give you a quick update – especially for those of you who are praying!
So – – you can pray for our team mate who has cancer. She has completed another treatment, and Lord willing will be going home today for a while. However, she needs to have another transfusion first. Please pray that she’ll be home soon, and will have a good time of recovery before continuing treatment.
Another couple on our team – Mark and Angélica – were in a car accident (on the way to meet with out team, no less!). They are fine – and the car will be fine eventually. Last I heard they’re just waiting to get the insurance process worked through. So do pray that the car will be repaired soon, and that they can pick it up soon (since it’s in a different city from where they live).
Shari, who was almost better from whatever-nasty-bug we had recently, is sick again. Please pray that she’ll be feeling better soon!
The Camino Mexico Coordinating Team is meeting today and tomorrow in Ixtapaluca. As always, we would appreciate your prayers as we work on things that will impact us as a field.
A team will be coming from Thursday to Tuesday – we appreciate your prayers that God will teach them and use them – and all of us!
After that, there’s a meeting with the leaders of the churches in the Mexico City area – that’s the 11th – we would appreciate your prayers for that as well, as we discuss plans for the future.
On the home front, we’re approaching a whole bunch of deadlines related to Hannah and Nathanael’s school – please pray that they (and we!) can get everything done in time.
What can I say? Crazy days ahead.
Retro: Tres Muñecas (three dolls)
Mu̱eca, the word for a toy doll, is a common term of endearment for a young girl or even baby who is Рwell, pretty as a china doll (probably prettier Рsome china dolls are kinda creepy)!
So, here they are, three muñecas! These three are MarÃa Fernanda, Kathryn, and Hannah, at the fourth anniversary of what was then our church in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Ten years ago today!
We Have Lived in Mexico for Ten Years.
That fall was probably one of the most difficult times of my life. Absolute chaos, in so many ways – uncertainty, hardly time to sleep, and just waaaay too many balls in the air. But somehow or another, on the 31st of October 2006, we left Canada on our way to Mexico.
The border crossing was remarkably uneventful, and we were blessed with safe travels down (even though we were about to become horrendously sick for a few days – but let’s not get into that!).
That night we stayed at a hotel, and went to get pizza (Domino’s, I think – who would have thought our first supper in Mexico would be pizza?).
I look back with gratitude to God at those ten years in Mexico. In the weeks before we left, there were times we wondered if we would make it at all. Many times of urgent prayer. But God provided every step of the way.
Our first year and a half were spent in the city of Cuernavaca, going to classes and worshipping with our brothers and sisters in Christ at Iglesia BÃblica El Renuevo (The Renewal Bible Church). Then we moved to Ixtapaluca in Mexico City, where we had the privilege of seeing Mexican leadership officially take over the work of Iglesia BÃblica Sendero de Vida (Path of Life Bible Church).
Then it was a new part of Ixtapaluca – Jesús MarÃa, where we saw the birth and growth of another local church – Iglesia BÃblica Sendero de Vida Jesús MarÃa. We watched as God brought people to life and gave them a hunger for His Word.
And this month – we have seen the beginnings of a new group of believers in the community of Las Palmas.
God has blessed us with so many new friends here in Mexico (and continuing friendships outside of Mexico) – people who have counselled us and spoken God’s Word to us and encouraged us. He has shown us His grace over and over.
And today we still pray for many of the same things we prayed for in the first place – understanding, health, friendship, opportunity. That somehow God would use us to bring new life in an area where there are so few believers.
Thank you to all of you who have been a part of this ministry!
I have lots to do today – no time to reflect as much as I would like to. And how could I write a post that would do justice to what God has done over 10 years?
But just for fun, let me leave you with this almost-10-year-old podcast featuring Hannah and Nathanael. Less than a month after our arrival in Mexico, I asked them what they liked about it. Today they still like it, after living most of their lives here!
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Retro: Harvest Time!
The 4th of November, 2006 – 10 years ago today! We were on our way down to Mexico, and had the opportunity to visit our friends the Stirtzes. Out on the farm near Enterprise, Kansas, we enjoyed a taste of the farm. Here’s Shari and Hannah, beside the mysteriously hidden driver – Ryan, I believe?
