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Prayer and Praise

A Hearing Aid/Glasses Event (video)

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Some of you have heard about our recent events in Ixtapaluca, where we have been providing hearing aids and reading glasses for people in need, along with a presentation of the gospel. Well, today you can get a glimpse of what one of these events looks like.

I was able to help one lady with her new hearing aid. Her hearing was pretty bad, so I was either shouting instructions or making sure she was looking at me so that she could understand what I was trying to tell her.

This particular person was also waiting to receive a pair of glasses. Her name was called from the front, and up she went. When she sat down, her friend said,“You actually heard them call your name?!” Well, she was pretty proud of her new ability to hear what was going on. 🙂

Anyway, here you can see a little of what happened this time around.

Between Two Teams

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Our remaining time with the team from Mt Calvary went well. There were lots of other fun activities. For one, the women promoted and joined a craft class hosted by the church in Santa Barbara. Here are a few of them – they were making pretty greeting cards.

Crafts - Santa BárbaraAlso, we continued with evangelistic events, where we providing hearing aids and reading glasses to people who needed them, along with sharing the gospel. Here’s the team singing in front of a large crowd in the town of Río Frío (also in the municipality of Ixtapaluca).

Mt Calvary in Río FríoThe next team arrives tomorrow, so I’ll be heading downtown with them, Lord willing. Shari and Hannah will be teaching the adults and kids back here in Ixtapaluca at our regular Friday evening study.

This team will be starting their ministry on Saturday, and I’ll be preaching on Sunday.

Sunday afternoon, Nathanael and I will be heading out with the team to the State of Veracruz. I’m mainly going to help with transportation, and there was just enough room for one more small person, so Nathanael is squeezing in too.

The team will be involved in ministry in various areas in the state.

Here’s a photo of some of the people who took a similar trip a few years back. Some of the same people will be there this time.

On the ferry in VeracruzWe’ll be gone until Thursday, the team flies Friday, and the next team comes Saturday. And so it continues!

A Few Photos from Mt Calvary’s First Few Days

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Here are a few photos to give you a glimpse of what has been happening so far with the team from Mt Calvary.

Flooded Street in Las Palmas, IxtapalucaThe first night, for some of us, was a blur of flooded streets. booster cables, and getting very wet.

Mt Calvary at Sendero de Vida Las PalmasHalf of the group (or so) shares a song at the Sunday service in Las Palmas.

Hearing Aid DemonstrationShowing people how to use their new hearing aids at a special event to help the community, hosted by the church in Santa Barbara.

Fat Bulldog.A very fat dog at the children’s home we visited yesterday. His name is Balboa. And seriously, the picture doesn’t do him justice. He was a ball of flesh and fat.
Gustavo and Nathanael

Eating pizza and drinking Coke with the kids at the children’s home (Nathanael and Gustavo in the foreground).

Children's Home 2017Some of the children at the children’s home (they have a total of about 18 right not), along with one of the owners.

A Month of Short Term Teams (and how to pray)

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Today 28 people will be arriving in Ixtapaluca, to be involved in the ministry here. This will begin a month of short-term MANIA, featuring 3 different teams.

The first team to come is from Mt Calvary Church in Elizabethtown, PA, Rod‘s home area. This church sent a team last year (pictured below doing an evangelistic skit at a public junior high school). Also coming to check out the ministry here are Phil and Jessie, from Kansas. 13 Mexican families have generously agreed to host people from this team.

Mt Calvary in Ixtapaluca 2016If you know us, you know that we believe in short term missions. Ever since the itinerant ministry of many of the Apostles, God has used short term missionaries. And we’ve been blessed by the fruit of short term teams. There are many in our churches who are there because of short term ministry in cooperation with long term ministry.

So how can you pray for us and for these teams coming over the next 30 days? Here are some ideas:

  • Pray that there would be a real connection between team members, teams and missionaries, teams and local believers, and believers and unbelievers. This means true unity in the Spirit among believers of whatever culture, and an opportunity for those believers to share Christ with unbelievers.
  • Pray for health and strength. Some days can be pretty intense, and serving in a tropical country always has special health challenges. Pray for missionaries, host families, and team members. And pray that God would show His strength in us, even when we’re weak.
  • Pray for humility and open-mindedness, and the ability to listen. We all need to serve one another and serve the Lord, and learn from one another, even when our first reaction toward someone or something is overly judgmental.
  • Pray that we would grow to be more like Christ, and that people would see Him in us.
  • Pray that we as believers would remember to turn to God in prayer, and turn to His Word, when we need help (and when we think we don’t!).
  • Pray for long term results. First, that people would come to know the Lord, that new friends would be made, and that local believers would grow. Also pray for short term team members, that this time would be a part of long term growth, and a new vision for service in their churches, in their communities, and in the world.

The Bible Teacher’s Guilty Confession (and some upcoming events)

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I’m such a bad Bible study leader. Do you know what I did?

I’m so ashamed.

For our Bible study passage we … we … we opened the Bible at random.

I know, I know.

Actually, it’s not quite as bad as it sounds. We had just finished a two part study on how to study and understand the Bible. We did a review, and then as a bonus we look at 7 ways to look for Christ in the Old Testament. My claim was that you should be able to open up to any page in the Old Testament and find Christ.

So – after we got the training, we tried it out. Sure enough, we found Christ in several ways in – where was it? Some chapter in Jeremiah. It was quite interesting, actually. I noticed some things I hadn’t before.

Really, you should try it. Just don’t open the Bible at random expecting that it will be talking about you. That’s when you get into trouble!

Tomorrow we’ll head into “grey areas” – yes, actually a study about how to figure out what to do when the Bible doesn’t address it directly (how to dress – video games – going to the casino – you name it!).

Actually, this study is online in English – here is part 1, and here is part 2.

Cake creation 2017 begins!I’m preaching on Sunday, and would appreciate your prayers. Once again I’ve been learning about some things that have really confused me in the past, from Mark 6. Amazing stuff.

In the midst of all this – it’s (a slightly belated) birthday season! This week, a party for Hannah, and next week a party for Nathanael. Hannah’s party is a dolphin theme, and we’re taking her and some friends to the aquarium in Mexico City.

But if you know Shari, you won’t be surprised to know – cakes are being created!

A Verified Vehicle

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It took the better part of yet another day. And there were many more strange and bizarre adventures as I talked to many different officials.

And I’m just not going to waste your time with all the details.

But at the end of the day (yesterday), we had a verified vehicle. With license plates.

Vehicle VerificationSo what does that mean? That means that after three and a half months of no van, we now have a vehicle that we can drive every day (unless there’s an unusual level of pollution – sometimes the government adds special restrictions).

Praise the Lord!

We’ll be trying to get the van back into good shape before the short term teams start arriving – in 3 weeks and 3 days!

I kind of feel like I need some driver’s training to remember how to drive. But Shari says it’s “just like riding a bike”. 🙂

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