Menu

Ministry glimpses

A Hearing Aid/Glasses Event (video)

, , , 1

Some of you have heard about our recent events in Ixtapaluca, where we have been providing hearing aids and reading glasses for people in need, along with a presentation of the gospel. Well, today you can get a glimpse of what one of these events looks like.

I was able to help one lady with her new hearing aid. Her hearing was pretty bad, so I was either shouting instructions or making sure she was looking at me so that she could understand what I was trying to tell her.

This particular person was also waiting to receive a pair of glasses. Her name was called from the front, and up she went. When she sat down, her friend said,“You actually heard them call your name?!” Well, she was pretty proud of her new ability to hear what was going on. 🙂

Anyway, here you can see a little of what happened this time around.

Between Two Teams

, , 0

Our remaining time with the team from Mt Calvary went well. There were lots of other fun activities. For one, the women promoted and joined a craft class hosted by the church in Santa Barbara. Here are a few of them – they were making pretty greeting cards.

Crafts - Santa BárbaraAlso, we continued with evangelistic events, where we providing hearing aids and reading glasses to people who needed them, along with sharing the gospel. Here’s the team singing in front of a large crowd in the town of Río Frío (also in the municipality of Ixtapaluca).

Mt Calvary in Río FríoThe next team arrives tomorrow, so I’ll be heading downtown with them, Lord willing. Shari and Hannah will be teaching the adults and kids back here in Ixtapaluca at our regular Friday evening study.

This team will be starting their ministry on Saturday, and I’ll be preaching on Sunday.

Sunday afternoon, Nathanael and I will be heading out with the team to the State of Veracruz. I’m mainly going to help with transportation, and there was just enough room for one more small person, so Nathanael is squeezing in too.

The team will be involved in ministry in various areas in the state.

Here’s a photo of some of the people who took a similar trip a few years back. Some of the same people will be there this time.

On the ferry in VeracruzWe’ll be gone until Thursday, the team flies Friday, and the next team comes Saturday. And so it continues!

A Few Photos from Mt Calvary’s First Few Days

, 1

Here are a few photos to give you a glimpse of what has been happening so far with the team from Mt Calvary.

Flooded Street in Las Palmas, IxtapalucaThe first night, for some of us, was a blur of flooded streets. booster cables, and getting very wet.

Mt Calvary at Sendero de Vida Las PalmasHalf of the group (or so) shares a song at the Sunday service in Las Palmas.

Hearing Aid DemonstrationShowing people how to use their new hearing aids at a special event to help the community, hosted by the church in Santa Barbara.

Fat Bulldog.A very fat dog at the children’s home we visited yesterday. His name is Balboa. And seriously, the picture doesn’t do him justice. He was a ball of flesh and fat.
Gustavo and Nathanael

Eating pizza and drinking Coke with the kids at the children’s home (Nathanael and Gustavo in the foreground).

Children's Home 2017Some of the children at the children’s home (they have a total of about 18 right not), along with one of the owners.

The Bible Teacher’s Guilty Confession (and some upcoming events)

, 1

I’m such a bad Bible study leader. Do you know what I did?

I’m so ashamed.

For our Bible study passage we … we … we opened the Bible at random.

I know, I know.

Actually, it’s not quite as bad as it sounds. We had just finished a two part study on how to study and understand the Bible. We did a review, and then as a bonus we look at 7 ways to look for Christ in the Old Testament. My claim was that you should be able to open up to any page in the Old Testament and find Christ.

So – after we got the training, we tried it out. Sure enough, we found Christ in several ways in – where was it? Some chapter in Jeremiah. It was quite interesting, actually. I noticed some things I hadn’t before.

Really, you should try it. Just don’t open the Bible at random expecting that it will be talking about you. That’s when you get into trouble!

Tomorrow we’ll head into “grey areas” – yes, actually a study about how to figure out what to do when the Bible doesn’t address it directly (how to dress – video games – going to the casino – you name it!).

Actually, this study is online in English – here is part 1, and here is part 2.

Cake creation 2017 begins!I’m preaching on Sunday, and would appreciate your prayers. Once again I’ve been learning about some things that have really confused me in the past, from Mark 6. Amazing stuff.

In the midst of all this – it’s (a slightly belated) birthday season! This week, a party for Hannah, and next week a party for Nathanael. Hannah’s party is a dolphin theme, and we’re taking her and some friends to the aquarium in Mexico City.

But if you know Shari, you won’t be surprised to know – cakes are being created!

Thanks for praying! (No, really.)

, , 1

I don’t always report back properly after asking you to pray – but then again, here on earth we only see a fraction of the results of your prayers!

Renacidos
Gospel presentation from Renacidos. In the foreground, reading glasses and hearing aids we gave to specific people in need.
For example, we had an excellent weekend with Renacidos. New people were connected to the community of believers, and many many people heard the gospel.

I mentioned to you the Bible studies I was doing on Friday nights – recently focused on how to understand and study the Bible. These have been fun studies – and hopefully useful! Tonight we’re doing an extra-special study – a review of what we’ve learned, and a look at how to look for Christ in the Old Testament.

Sometimes I specifically ask for your prayers before I preach on a Sunday morning. I sometimes wonder – if I really knew what I was doing, and what was going on people’s hearts – would I freeze and be too nervous to speak?

God does amazing things in our hearts through His Word.

The last time I spoke, it was on Mark 5:21-43 (listen in Spanish). In this part of the book, Mark tells us about two hopeless causes – a woman who no doctor could help, and a girl who was beyond help because she had died.

Afterward I got thinking about the people who were listening. Someone with a mother in their house, who had come home from the hospital for her final days. A man who we almost lost this year, who has one leg and recently lost a good part of his remaining foot. Someone with a father with cancer. A sister with a chronic illness. The list goes on and on – and in such a small group!

There is no hope from me – no hope from within this world. But such wonderful hope from another world – from our Lord Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life!

Pain is not the basic reality of life. Death is not the end.

So this is why we need your prayers – because the darkness is deep, and the Holy Spirit must shine His light to guide us beyond what we can see.

Thanks for praying!

A Big Weekend with Renacidos!

, , 0

We have a big weekend coming up! If you’d like to pray, here are a few highlights:

Children's Day Event 2016 - in Ixtapaluca with Word of Life
Children’s Day Event 2016 – in Ixtapaluca with Word of Life

  • Tonight – I will be continuing the Discovering Life 2 Bible study. This week and next week we have especially fun topics – this week, How to Understand the Bible, and next week How to Study the Bible.
  • Tomorrow morning (11:30am) instead of the normal kids’ club, there will be an outreach in the community of Alfredo del Mazo. A group is coming from Word of Life Mexico (besides the interns who come every weekend) to do some special presentations in honour of Children’s Day (which is actually the 30th). We will also be providing reading glasses and hearing aids to people in need.
  • Saturday evening – another presentation from the group from Word of Life (the group is called Renacidos – Reborn). This time in the Path of Life Bible Church in Santa Barbara.
  • Sunday morning – we’ll be having an early service, so that we can worship and pray for the days’ events. This is actually Children’s Day, so after the service we’ll head back over to the community of Santa Barbara, where Renacidos will have evangelistic activities for the kids and their families.
  • After the activities, we’ll have the interns (I think around 25 people this time around) at our house for lunch. If we can find something to feed them. 🙂

So lots of teaching, outreach and evangelism this weekend! We would appreciate your prayers as we meet new people. We would also appreciate your prayers for the new church in Las Palmas, who will be very involved, and for new people – believers and unbelievers – who have recently connected with the church community.

«‹ 32 33 34 35›»
Back To Top
All content at CottrillCompass.com is © J. Cottrill 2002-2026. If you quote any material, please be courteous and provide a link.