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Ministry glimpses

TLC Team – A Year in Review

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Below is a video highlighting some of our Camino Global team’s activities over the past year.  Our team currently serves in both Mexico City and Puebla.

The pictures came from all of our team.  Special thanks to Nathanael for helping with some of the videography.

Incidentally, the team name – the “TLC Team” – is intended to have a bit of a double meaning.  In English TLC is familiar as “tender loving care”.  But in Spanish it’s Tratado de Libre Comercio – or free trade agreement, the equivalent of NAFTA in English.  It reflects the fact that our team is made up of people from various cultures – currently from Canada, the USA, Mexico, and Nicaragua.

I should point out one more thing for those that don’t know Spanish – the newspaper clippings in the early part of the video show some of the sad things that you would see in most newspapers – death, unemployment, crime.  We know that sin has done terrible things to the world.  But then we look up and see who God is, and our perspective changes…

A Sticky Bible

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Cake Decorating Class 2013

Yes, I’m talking about a Bible that is actually sticky – which usually would be a bad thing.  But today was special.

Today Shari led a baking class – unlike any class before.  It was finally time for the much-requested topic – How to Decorate Cakes!

Madly decorating cakes!

There were twelve women (plus Shari and Tina) who came, and a handful of kids, including three or four that don’t usually come.

They learned how to make icing and fondant, how to make cake from a boxed cake mix (not as simple as you may think, if you’ve never done it!), some of them learned how to use a microwave (with all those scary buttons) and a double-boiler, how to decorate with an icing gun, how to make cakes with several layers, and more.

After a time of instruction, in pairs and groups the women started some mad decorating, using their own creative ideas.  You can see in the pictures what they came up with.

Of course Shari brought her Bible, and at the very end in the midst of all the crumbs and sugar, she shared a brief devotional about the Gospel.

If your Bible has to get sticky, that’s a pretty good excuse, I think.

The Hamburger Cake

A Witness in the Darkness

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On Friday night we hit the streets of Jesús María – and you’ll never guess what we found there!

Ok, well, if you read my post on Hallowe’en In Mexico, you may at least have a clue.

The streets were packed – it was like a carnival.  Families roamed with their kids – often all of them dressed up.  Although people were mostly having fun, we could see the results of a generation brought up on horror movies.  There weren’t a lot of super heroes or princesses – more witches and killers and skeletons.

This was the evening of the 1st of November, right in the middle of the Days of the Dead.

Life in the Darkness

Our friend Jos, accompanied by Tina and the youth of the church, led the kids from our congregation as they handed out flyers (written by our coworker Rod) explaining how Jesus has conquered death.  They did a great job teaching the kids about the joys and challenges of sharing the Gospel.

We as adults also handed out tracts and spoke to people.  Shari and I had a very interesting conversation with an older man who felt he was a very good person before God.  Do pray that he will understand his need.  On the bright side, he was aware of the classes we give at the community centre.  It was good to hear that we do have a good testimony before many in the community.

Please pray as the believers here continue to share the Truth in their community.

Some of our group peaked inside one of the tents that was set up on the street.  Inside were probably dozens of images of Saint Death – the “woman” skeleton dressed in white, representing death, that many here worship.  Offerings, candles and orange marigolds (the flower featured in the Day of Dead celebrations) were everywhere.  They were encouraged to return for prayers at 8pm.  But we don’t pray to death – we spent time that evening praying to Someone else – the Life.

How difficult – and yet encouraging – to be a light in the darkness.  We had fun, and made a few people smile, but we also encouraged people to think about what God really has to say about death and life.

Thanks for your prayers!  God hears.

The Weekend Ahead: Evangelism, Planning, and Praising

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It’s shaping up to be a pretty busy weekend – we would certainly appreciate your prayers!

This evening, people will be preparing for their next visit to the graveyard with the family, and they will be going to bow before shrines built to honour dead relatives.  Many believe that children who have died will return tonight, and they want to help them on their journey.  Adults are believed to return tomorrow night.

During the time of twilight we’re planning to be out with other believers, sharing the Gospel.  Please do pray for us as we seek to show love and compassion to people who need to know of God’s salvation.  Both children and adults from the church will be helping with this event.

Tomorrow I’ll be going to a meeting of Christian leaders from related churches in the area.  We’ll be discussing how we can work together to strengthen the church and reach out in the year ahead.

We have a tradition that the first Sunday of the Month is a special service of celebration.  I really hope I’ll be able to play keyboard on Sunday. 🙂 Because of other activities and studies, it hasn’t been a common thing this past year.  But do pray that God would give us unity and love and we worship Him on Sunday.

Frankly, my health this past week has been pretty bad.  I’m likely still recovering from our trip to the retreat we went to last week.  So I am hoping for strength and energy to make it through all these events – and hopefully be used of God in some small way.

I need to go and continue preparing for tonight.  Thanks for your prayers!

The vision of a dying world
Is vast before our eyes;
We feel the heartbeat of its need
We hear its feeble cries:
Lord Jesus Christ, revive Your Church
In this, her crucial hour!
Lord Jesus Christ, awake Your Church
With Spirit-given power!
-A. Ortlund-

Volcanoes at Sunrise

Leaving “The House of David”

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Just about moved out
The rented house – almost empty

Yesterday we climbed up and down the stairs of the rented house in Jesús María countless times.  We moved a desk, an electric typewriter, books, crayons, song books, and old blankets as we prepared to move out.

Before the first service
David and Rod prepare for the first service

We started renting this house before the church in JM even started meeting.  In March 2010, we met there for a Sunday service for the first time, packing it out.  (Actually, I was sick that day, and missed the big event!)

It was a great location, right on the corner of two busy streets.  But the owner never wanted to sell, so we kept renting.

In an effort to save money, and in hopes that we’ll soon have a new place to meet, the church leadership decided to stop renting the house this month.  But – oh the memories!

  • Of our friend David, who lived in the house and helped with the church plant until going to Uruguay as a missionary. (It’s still nostalgically called “The House of David”)
  • A Good Friday service
  • Of taking off the door (that you see in the picture above) so that the people who couldn’t fit inside could still hear (sort of) the service.
  • Of packed-out studies, such as the Chronological Bible Study and Where did the Bible Come From?
  • Of prayer meetings and answers to prayer
  • Of Bible studies with the men of the church
  • Hearing the testimonies of new believers
  • Meals together with friends
  • Of playing keyboard with the music team, packed in the tiny kitchen
  • Of worship, prayer, tears, laughter, and God in it all!

A service in November 2010
A service in November 2010


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The house (the one with the dog in front).  Click to zoom or see the surrounding area.

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