Here in Texas
We’re in Texas for a few days, representing CAM International of Canada at a conference at Rio Grande Bible Institute. We would love to see some of the students here take some time to serve with us in Mexico.
Thanks for your prayers!
Ministry glimpses
Land for the Church? Let’s do it!
Many of you know about the land we’re hoping to buy as a church here in Ixtapaluca. I wanted to explain things in a little more detail, so that’s what the video below does.
Update: I have discovered there actually are one or two things to be fixed in the original video! The numbers were accurate, as I said in my original post (though estimates), but I’ll be making some corrections. If you’re on our support team and would like to see the new & improved version, let me know and I’ll try to make sure you see it when it’s done! 🙂 Update to the Update: The video is done – if you’re on our Support Team, let us know if you would like to see it and all the latest information about the project.
Meanwhile, for more information, be sure to bookmark the Ixtapaluca Project page.
Closing Program December 2012 (video)
Below are a few clips from the closing program for the Centro Cultural Tiempo de Vivir (Time to Live Cultural Centre) this past Friday.
The program went well and we had a very good turnout. You’ll see some of the art that was on display before the program, and then some of the program itself. A good portion of the program was presentations by students, and handing out certificates.
Although we had a good crowd, we were disappointed that more people didn’t come to receive the wheelchairs. I think we presented three chairs, when we were planning to give out twenty. However, the chairs will be given out in separate presentations this week.
All in all a good program Рa lot of people worked hard to make it happen, there was great participation from many more in the program, and a great devotional by guest Antonio Mu̱oz.
Thanks to all who were praying!
Tomorrow Night – Closing Program!
The other night I was driving down from Jesús MarÃa after our Bible study. It was dark, and as I wound down the road I noticed that a van was following behind me.
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The strange things was that the van’s headlights were going off, then on. Off, then on. What was the driver trying to tell me?
I looked around – yes, my lights were on. No, there were no doors open. Blink, blink – on and off went the van’s lights.
There was a slow car in front of me. Could it be that the van was trying to signal him? Maybe they had been travelling together, and the van was trying to tell the car driver that he was no longer driving directly behind him.
But the van made no move to pass, and the car just kept going.
On went the van’s headlights behind me. Off. On. Off. On.
Finally I realized what was going on.
Whether by mistake or on purpose, the van’s headlights had been hooked up to the brakes.
That’s right, every time the van braked, the headlights went on. When he eased off the brakes, they went off. What kind of a message is that?!
The things you see!
Tomorrow evening we’re holding our regular closing of classes program at the community centre. We’ve done a lot of different things in past years, but this event is going to be a big one. There will be awards and gifts, students showing what they’ve learned, special music, an art show, wheelchair presentations, and even a special speaker. The speaker, pastor Antonio Muñoz, will be presenting the Gospel to many people who probably have never heard it.
Please do pray for our closing program tomorrow evening – pray that our message will be clear! No mixed signals – no headlights off in the dark – a clear presentation of God’s love and truth.
I’ll let you know how it goes!
When did November get so Busy?
I’ve wanted to post here, but haven’t been able to. So I thought I’d stop by tonight to at least let you know I’ve been thinking about you all! 🙂
I don’t know when November became so busy – it seems like everything is “due” this month. And I haven’t made a lot of progress crossing the right things of my list. Which means the last half of the month will be as crazy as the first.
But aside from all the business, Shari and I have been sick. Shari had an ear infection starting late last month – which seems like it may be gone now. But then we got some other bug, and it’s a nasty one.
Actually, Thursday night I was sicker than I’ve been in a long time. I was actually quite concerned, and starting to imagine doctor’s visits and medications and hospitals.
However, although I was feeling pretty rotten today, it seems like the whatever-it-is is progressing and starting to go away. So Lord willing we’ll be feeling better soon.
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That is to say, we’ve been in survival mode for the last couple of weeks.
On the practical side, I’ve been trying to get some things done – like paying a bill (forgot to bring it with me – twice), getting our van verified (No-go. They told me to get a tune-up and come back.), and get our visas (our lawyer tells us the laws are changing again, and we should wait for a call before we mail the rest of our documents).
But it hasn’t been all bad. Shari had a good baking class this week, with a lot of new women. Our Bible study on Tuesday was on evangelism, and I think we had a really good discussion. And we’ve been able to have some other good conversations with some other people. Oh yes, in spite of it all, there has been a lot going on!
Next week we’ll be going on a retreat – on the Gulf of Mexico. I know, we’re really suffering. 😉 It should be about 7°C or more warmer there than it is here, which will be nice. We’re looking forward to spending some time with friends there.
And to conclude our report on the week – a shot from Hannah and Nathanael’s swimming class:
Prayer to a Sovereign King?
Tonight’s sunset from Jesús MarÃa, Ixtapaluca
Tonight we had our Bible study on the subject of prayer. The words of a Mexican hymn kept going through my head:
Mi gozo es cantar su loor,
Es Rey, y me ve cual hermano,
Es Rey y me imparte su amor.
Dejando su trono de gloria,
Me vino a sacar de la escoria,
Y yo soy feliz, Y yo soy feliz por Él.
Jesus is my sovereign King,
My joy is to sing his praise,
He’s King, and he is my brother
He’s King and he gave me his love
Leaving his throne of glory,
He came to lift me from the mire
And I’m happy, and I’m happy because of him
Praying to Jesus, the Sovereign King. Some people may feel that it’s pointless – after all, doesn’t He already have His own plan – why does He want my feeble prayers?
I think, however, that it’s a wonderful thing to pray to the Sovereign King. On the one hand, it’s incredible to know that He has control – He has the power to help us. And He does have a perfect plan.
At the same time, He uses our prayers to change the world.
He’s a loving King, an understanding King. And He is our high priest, who shed His blood for our redemption. (Hebrews 4:14-16)
Tonight I think of so many prayers that are going up to God – prayers for family members who don’t know the Lord. Financial needs. Safety. Health. The needs look overwhelming.
And then we look up, to a loving, sovereign God. And light shines from somewhere unseen. And everything looks different.
to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,
according to the power at work within us,
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations, forever and ever.
Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21