Just for fun

5 January 2020

Retro: Balloons for the Kings

Ten years ago today, Hannah and Nathanael were sending balloons to the three Kings.

So, if you don’t know the tradition – in Mexico, children get gifts on the 6th of January, which is Epiphany. That’s the time when people remember the visit of the wise men. They gave gifts – so we give gifts. 🙂

But it’s nice to let them know what you want to receive ahead of time, right? So you buy a balloon, you attach your note to it, and you send it up into the sky. So here’s a photo from 10 years ago today – Hannah had already sent up her balloon, and Nathanael was ready to go!

(An update for a new decade – balloons are starting to become rarer, because of environmental sensibilities. Many children are leaving a note for the kings in their shoes, which is where the gifts are traditionally left. 🙂 )

11 December 2019

Retro: Shout with the Shepherds!

Jim Just for fun, Ministry glimpses, Retro 2

Shout with the Shepherds, shake them blues!

Ten years ago today we were doing a Christmas program at the community centre in the community of JesÃºs MarÃa. It included a pastorela (a Christmas play) (see the actors on the right), some sing-a-long music, presentations to students, and a devotional from Rod. And, of course, some hot ponche for all at the end!

We were actually brand new in JesÃºs MarÃa at the time. There was no church in the community (that would start in March). So the participants were made up of people from our church planting team, people from the church in Santa BÃ¡rbara, and people that we had met through the community centre.

We invited family and friends of our students to attend, and had a great time.

Baking classes and English classes were big, and so the music was intentionally bilingual. Shari and I did some special music, singing “Good News” by our friend Mark Sorell, with one chorus translated into Spanish (one line quoted at the beginning of this post, of course!). So – here we are – ten years ago tonight!

Good news of great joy Which shall be for all the people Good news of great joy Spread it 'round the world

15 November 2019

Retro: First Day in Mexico Special

Jim Just for fun, Mexico, Retro 0

Going through some old receipts earlier this year, I was wondering if I could figure out what our first purchase was after moving to Mexico. Other than legal stuff at the border, of course. Must be food, right? What could it be? Tacos? Churros? Burritos?

Well, we think we figured it out. 13 years ago today, on our way driving down, we stopped at Church’s Chicken. Shame on us.

I don’t know if there is any irony stopping at an American restaurant chain, which was originally started across the street from the Alamo. I do know, however, that we were shortly sicker than we had ever been in our lives with some stomach bug. I doubt it was Church’s Chicken – the theory at the time was that it was peanut butter that we ate later (another very non-Mexican food!), but we may never know.

Anyway, there’s the receipt to prove it. A couple of combos with fries, an apple pop and a Coke. Well, those sound like us, anyway. 🙂

I’m not sure I’ve eaten at Church’s Chicken since. But thanks for the memories!

I could be wrong, but I think this is the place:

5 November 2019

Retro: Tiffany Bakes

Jim Just for fun, Ministry glimpses, Retro 0

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!

4 October 2019

Retro: National Children’s Ministry Conference

Jim Family, Retro 0

Here it is – can you believe it? 10 years ago today, Shari was at a national children’s ministry conference near Pachuca, Mexico. About 250 to 300 people attended from all over the country, learning more about how to guide children to the Lord Jesus.

So here are a couple pictures of Shari and friends – and to learn more from the archives, just go to Shari at the National Childrenâ€™s Ministry Conference.

2 September 2019

Retro: Laura Secord Homestead

Jim Family, Just for fun, Retro 0

This photo from 10 years ago today, visiting the Laura Secord Homestead in Ontario. This house was the starting point of Laura’s 32km journey. The end point was the house of my great great great grandfather (John), where she warned Lieutenant James Fitzgibbon of an impending American attack. The warning came in time, and in the end Colonel Charles Boerstler of the US Infantry surrendered, with 484 of his men. For more, see Canadaâ€™s Heroes: Laura Secord.