Recently I was challenged to take a photo every day for 30 days. Well, maybe I will. If so, this is day 1. 🙂
These are our friends Ismael and Marta from Jesús María. We got together this afternoon to talk about some of the upcoming activities of the church.
Tonight we had our December "clausura" at the community centre in Jesús María.
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A clausura (say clow-SOO-ra) is a closing program. The fall set of classes at the community centre is finished, and at the close of each set of classes we have a special closing program.
Tonight we had some games for English class, and we sang a couple of Christmas songs. We saw some country dancing.
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There were special presentations for everyone who participated in various classes, including basketball and baking class. There was a demonstration from the drum class.
Afterwards there was ponche and corn dogs – what a combination! 🙂
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Clausuras are a great chance to get to know people in the community. Sometimes we meet family and friends of people who are in community centre classes. Sometimes we meet people who just happen to be walking by. 🙂
It’s a great way to end a series of classes with a bang, and recognize students that have been working hard. There’s usually an opportunity to share God’s Word in some way, as we did tonight by sharing the Christmas story and giving out some Gospels of Matthew.
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Very well! Our new community centre director, Tina, did a great job getting everything organized. We didn’t have a lot to do tonight, although I played keyboard for the songs. But it was good to spend some time with new and old friends.
Everyone will be taking a bit of a break from community centre activities over Christmas. Then we’ll be starting a new set of classes later in January. The next set of classes will end just before Holy Week, so there will be more opportunities to share about why Jesus came.
The community centre has been a great opportunity to make friends, and to offer services that actually help the community in various ways. Thanks to those of you who have been a part of it! 🙂
Today was a day to say goodbye. Our friend David will be heading to Uruguay in just a few days.
David is from Mexico City, and he was a part of the Iglesia Bíblica Ciudad Azteca (Ciudad Azteca Bible Church) for many years, before coming to Ixtapaluca as a church planter.
David was instrumental in the starting of both the churches we’ve been a part of here in Ixtapaluca.
Now David has been accepted with FAM Mexico (a CAM related Mexican mission agency), and is heading to Uruguay to work with a church planting team there.
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There had been a commissioning service here in Ixtapaluca for him already (while we were away), so today was a chance to say goodbye. David led the worship time, and Rod preached from the Gospel of Mark.
During the service, the youth and the children made special presentations. Hannah had a part – she read a verse in Spanish (I believe it was John 4:35), and later gave a little farewell in English, reading from Numbers:
Afterwards we had a potluck, and a big cake. 😛 What a privilege for our baby church to help send David to share God’s Word in a faraway land!
We’ve had the privilege to work alongside David ever since we came to Ixtapaluca, and we will miss him very much! But our loss is their gain in Uruguay. Please pray for David as he experiences life in another very different culture, and as he shares the Gospel with the people he meets there.
This is a recording of the sermon I preached at Cremona Country Fellowship in Cremona, Alberta, Canada. If you’re wondering what exactly the Bible is, in a nutshell, have a listen. 🙂
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Yesterday I presented the second half of the 2000 Years of Missions Seminar in Cremona, Alberta. This is the part of the seminar covering the "modern era" of missions. Once again I’ve collected a few clips to give you an idea what we talked about.
I admit it wasn’t my best day. We came later than I had planned (fortunately I had set up the room the night before!). When we were just about to leave for Cremona, I fell on the stairs with a jug of water, soaking myself and creating a lovely indoor waterfall. These are the kinds of things that happen Sunday mornings!
But, people were kind and we managed to have fun in spite of a touch of chaos here and there.
