Just a few quick photos of the first day of construction and baking classes in Jesús MarÃa, with the team from Word of Life Chapel. Baking classes and a kitchen – I guess it’s all about food this week! I’ll try to post more pictures and some video when I have a chance.
There were two classes yesterday, and there will be two today and tomorrow as well. We had a good turnout – maybe a little low due to rain, so you could pray for better weather today and tomorrow. 🙂
The gospel was shared, relationships were built, and there were some good spiritual conversations. May the Spirit work again today!
Shari translates and gives some pointers.
Nathanael helps paint a table for the new kitchen in the church’s building.
Well, midsummer (summer solstice) has arrived here in the northern hemisphere. Since I haven’t had much of an opportunity to write lately, I’m taking a moment to look backward and forward to catch you up on what’s happening.
The last Two Weeks
Daryl and my Dad check out the new shed we assembled.
I just finished a brief trip to Canada, to help my parents move. They just moved a few blocks away – within the same town – but if any of you have tried such a thing, you know how challenging it can be!
Thanks to Daryl and Iwona, and many from the local churches, who helped so much (and are still helping as my parents finish up the move!).
I also had a chance to see Hannah, and Shari’s parents, and many others in Three Hills before I took off back to Mexico.
During my absence from Mexico, lots was happening as usual! You’ll want to check out Rod’s post about the team that he and Mayra took down to Oaxaca – A Wonderful Week in Oaxaca.
“Regular” ministry continues, as I get ready for Sunday’s continuing teaching on the Ten Commandments, and of course Hebrews.
At the beginning of July, Hannah will be coming home for the summer! Yes, we tried to time it so that we could both come back together, but it didn’t quite work out. So, as Hannah finishes her exams, we will prepare for her arrival!
On the side of practical matters, Avant and Camino Global are rushing toward unification as one mission. There are a thousand details to talk about and work through. The official date of launch is the 1st of July.
If you receive our newsletter, and if I have your email address, I will try to get some information out to you on or before that date. Otherwise, hopefully you’ll be seeing some changes here on our website shortly with more information, and we’ll get a letter to you by snail mail next month.
So, yes, a lot is happening right now! But it’s the longest day of the year – I should be able to get something done, right? 😀
Thanks so much for your encouragement and prayers. I’ll try to keep you up to date as I’m able.
Shari has been warming up – quite literally – for the baking classes that will be happening later this month. A team from Word of Life Chapel will be arriving on the 22nd of June, and this is one of the ministries that they will be involved in in Jesús MarÃa, at the community centre.
Just a little baking? Well, it’s not simple. The team will be teaching some typical Pennsylvanian recipes – which, of course, need to be translated into Spanish. And tested at a high altitude. And perhaps some ingredients need to be replaced with something available in Mexico. And will the timing be right for the class?
So Shari and Mayra have been preparing – testing and translating recipes. Rod recently posted this on Facebook, along with the above promo poster:
On the very first day of promoting this event we had 40 non-churched women respond to a Facebook post! Add another 20 women from the church, and you have a good problem…too many interested women! Please pray for these coming months of ministry.
Yes, pray! This is a very big undertaking. But baking classes have also been and can be a fruitful ministry in the community. And in less than two weeks, ovens will be hot!
Yes, it’s pretty much become a legend around here – just “the wedding” (or the way Spanglish works in our casa, more often “the boda”). We’re very excited about tomorrow (Saturday, the 1st of June) – the wedding of our friends Oscar and Viri!
Weddings are great – a wonderful opportunity to celebrate love and see a small glimpse of the love that God has for us. But this couple wants to take a step further – really making their wedding a testimony to what God has done and is doing in their lives.
So we’re EXTRA excited about that.
Anyway, Shari and I do have a small part in the wedding. We’ll be leading a time of worship music, and also singing a duet. So we would very much appreciate your prayers – for our part, and for the bride and groom, and for Rod who is giving the “charge to the couple” and marrying them, and for all others involved.
May God’s Spirit truly work on this special day for the new couple!
We very much appreciated the four people who came down from Lighthouse Community Church this past weekend to teach the Biblical Counselling Seminar. The material was so carefully prepared, and so well presented. And, ok, so convicting! 🙂
Day 1 at Path of Life Bible Church in Santa Barbara
As I told Tim, Mat, Laura and David (our guests) afterwards, it’s a good sign when you hear people talking about the material during the breaks, already wrestling with how to apply God’s Word to some specific situations they’re dealing with.
Four churches were represented, and I’m sure they will have a lot to take back to each church as we continue to grow in God’s grace. Thanks again, friends from Lighthouse, and all those here who helped as well!
Day 2 – Q&A with the Path of Life Bible Church in Las Palmas
We also had an interesting class with Rod, as he continued his series on Defending the Faith. And of course we’re continuing our incredible journey through Hebrews 11, this time with Abraham and Sarah.
And now we’re busy preparing for upcoming ministry, some of which I’m sure I’ll tell you about later. 🙂 Thanks for your prayers!
We enjoyed our time with Bill and Ryan this weekend, visiting from South Calgary Chinese Evangelical Free Church. It was a bit of a trilingual weekend, with a bit of Cantonese being thrown around along with the Spanish and English!
Ryan, Bill & Jim out for tacos in Mexico City
In fact, Ryan gave the benediction at the Sunday morning service – in Chinese. Another reminder of how we all can worship God together, no matter what our country or language!
I did some site-seeing with these guys, and showed them a bit of the ministry up-close as well. We talked a lot about strategies for future ministry. Thanks for visiting, guys! Come back soon, and bring your friends! 😀
Saturday night was our last Bible study for a few weeks. The adults finished up the Chronological Bible Study with the last segment – “The Triumph of the Lamb”.
Here are the kids from Shari’s study – keep praying for them – some are probably not believers yet.
Saturday night kids’ study
On Sunday we continued our study of Hebrews, and the Ten Commandments. A friend from Uruguay shared special music. The Mothers also got celebrated with a small gift and a song of blessing (it was Mother’s Day on Friday here). 🙂
Las Palmas Moms
And now we’re diving into the activities of the week! It just might be someone’s birthday this week, so there might just be a party coming soon. 😉
