Menu

Misc

Bible Reading – What to do….

1

[display_podcast]

Here are some links to things I mentioned in the podcast above:

New CAM Canada Director

1

Thanks to all of you who have been praying for a new executive director for CAM International of Canada!  We’re happy to let you know that, as of the 1st of April, our new director will be Charlene de Haan.

Charlene de Haan

Charlene de Haan grew up in Vancouver, BC, and now lives in Scarborough, Ontario.  She comes to us with a wealth of experience, having been the executive director of Pioneer Clubs Canada, and Manager of Human Resources with Interserve Canada.  She also has experience teaching missionary kids overseas (Guatemala), founded stepUP Transitions Consulting, does freelance writing, and is involved and has been involved in many other things.

We haven’t yet met Charlene, but Lord willing once she’s settled in she’ll be able to come visit.  Welcome to the team, Charlene!  🙂 You can send her a note here if you like.

Our current director and his wife, Larry and Jayme Hower, will be moving on with their ministry in the CAM office in Dallas.

Larry and Jayme Hower

 Larry is an administrative assistant to the president, and will be involved in bringing new missionaries to the field.  Jayme will be involved as well in this work, and they both hope to continue serving in a short term capacity in other countries as they have done in the past.

Words can’t express our appreciation for all that the Howers have done for us and for the kingdom in general over the years – both on a business level and a personal level.  We look forward to many more years of friendship (with fewer questions about what the number in D4 of this spreadsheet means, and so on!)!

Please pray for all these people as they go through this transition.

Major Flooding (a few minutes away) (videos)

2

Yesterday some of our friends went to take a look at the incredible flooding just a few minutes away from where we live.

The flooding happened on a major highway, which goes from Mexico City to the City of Puebla, in an area known as Chalco.  I drove that highway yesterday and this morning, and where I got on was just where they had it all blocked off (but I was going the other direction).

The river (which is actually sewage water) actually runs above the highway, and so when the river bank burst the highway was quickly flooded, along with houses and businesses nearby.  There were explosions – vehicles burned – people killed – it’s going to be a long time before anyone can even get some of the vehicles out of the river, which is now running through the highway and nearby buildings.

You need to understand, it rarely rains like this here, even in rainy season (it’s dry season now).  The rain normally comes in short bursts with lots of sunshine in between.  Continual rain over more than one day is rare, and no one is ready for it.

I’m going to include a couple videos below from Rod Fry, and I’ll give you a link below so that you can read more at his blog about the flooding and see more videos if you like.

We’re going to try to do some networking and see if we can provide some relief to families in the area, many of whom have probably lost everything.  News sources have said that 12 thousand families were affected in Chalco.  If you’d like to help, please let us know as soon as you can.  Thanks!  Hopefully we can distribute food, clothes … whatever people need … in Jesus’ name.

To read/see more, check out Rod’s first post Flooding near here, please pray, then some more short videos in More videos of Valle de Chalco flooding.

For news sources, there are some excellent pictures of the Chalco flood here: Torrential rain floods Mexican states and in Spanish see Aguas negras afectan a 12 mil familias en Chalco.

Here’s a Google Maps shot of the area where the river bank burst.  You can see the river winding above the highway.  If you zoom out just a bit, you’ll see Ixtapaluca where we live, north of the highway.  We live just off the highway.


View Chalco Flood in a larger map

CAM’s Window

0

CAM International logo

I really like the logo of the mission organization we’re with.  I’d like to know who came up with it.

In case you’ve wondered, it’s a window.  The style is very common in Mexico, and in fact all across the Spanish speaking world.

Of course this says a lot about CAM’s roots and focus.

CAM International window

But I find it especially cool that it’s a window.  There’s a lot you could read into that – a window into a world in need, or a window out of it to the love of God….

But it’s interesting to look at what the Bible says about windows.  Sometimes a window is a place of escape, sometimes of judgment, sometimes of salvation.  Way back in Genesis we see Noah opening a window in the ark, to send out the birds in order to see if the water had dried up.  Maybe you could say that was a window to the mercy of God.

But arguably the most famous story in which the window is key is a story in Joshua.

Spies are sent to investigate the city of Jericho.  They end up hiding out in the home of a prostitute – a home which had a window on the wall.

The people of Jericho have heard about what God has been doing with the people of Israel.  They’re afraid.  But this prostitute – Rahab – decides to throw herself at the mercy of the Israelites and their God.  The New Testament confirms the faith of Rahab.

She snuck the spies out the window, letting them down by a rope.

Rahab made a fascinating agreement with the spies – she would put a scarlet cord in the window.  Then she would gather family members who wanted to be saved into her house.  The scarlet cord would be a sign for the Israelites not to destroy this family.  Read more in Joshua 2.

It’s kind of reminiscent of the blood on the doorpost in Exodus 12:1-13 – the angel of death would pass by if blood was on the doorpost.  And, of course, it reminds us of salvation by the blood of Jesus – when we throw ourselves at His mercy, and trust in salvation by His blood, we find salvation.

CAM International logo

So when I see logo (which is often more or less scarlet in colour, but the way), this is the story I think of.  Rahab’s window was a window toward coming judgment – the attacking Israelite army.  But it also became a window to salvation.

By faith Rahab joined God’s people, and in fact became a great-great grandmother to King David, and an ancestor of Jesus.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down
after they had been encircled for seven days.
By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient,
because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
(Heb 11:30-31)

(re)Start a Boxing Day tradition!

0

Good King Wenceslas
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Back in 2006 I wrote about the significance and history of Boxing Day (26th of December), a day observed in Canada and many parts of Europe.  I also suggested that we keep up with an old tradition – giving to those in need on this day (or a few days later – I’ll be flexible!)

Here are some ideas of how you could show your thankfulness by giving to others in need this Boxing Day:

There are several great projects in the CAM International Christmas Catalogue this year (note: if you’re not from the US, and want a tax-deductible receipt, don’t donate through the CAM website.  Contact CAM International of Canada if you’re Canadian and want to be involved in these projects).  For example:

  • Help a family in Honduras that doesn’t have an adequate place to live.  Did you know that you could build them a home – for only US$230?!  Check out Home for a Honduran Family
  • What if you had a place to live, but no clean water to drink?  Or what if there was water available, but it was very expensive?  This is an amazing project that involves creative involvement of a local church, building friendships, and providing clean water to families in need.  Water Filtration Systems for Guatemala – only US$75 for a system!
    Read more about the filtration system, and more examples of how it’s being used.
  • One of the biggest challenges here in Mexico City is space – finding property that people can afford.  What if a church wants to meet, and have a place to have community events?  Here in Ixtapaluca we’re praying for such a place for the new outreach in the community of Jesús María.  Contact us if you’re interested in helping with this need.

One of the things I’m interested in personally is getting clean water to people who have none, in the Lord’s name.  Another family involved in this is the Beam family, missionaries with the Evangelical Free Church of Canada Mission in Bolivia.

The project is called agua:yaku, and it involves using and teaching simple, effective clean water drilling techniques.  Each well drilled using this method costs about $100-$200 (that’s all!).  Read more about this water drilling here.

Donating can be a little confusing, but Canadians can donate here – just mention the Beams and the agua:yaku project.  If you’re in the USA, you can donate through Owingsville Baptist Church (contact the church here).

In previous years we have mentioned Samaritan’s Purse – they have a Christmas catalogue here.

Of course we also appreciate those who have given to us as we pass on the blessing to people in Central Mexico.  You can give to our ministry here.

Other ideas?

  • Get together with a group from your church to help out someone who is in need financially, or discouraged, in your community.
  • Visit someone in a hospital who may be alone.
  • Have your children collect some of their older toys to give to someone who has less than they have.

If you have other ideas – leave a comment!  Let’s (re)start an old Boxing Day tradition.

«‹ 9 10 11 12›»
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.