Prayer and Praise

2 October 2015

The Brubachers at Conference

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We returned to Ixtapaluca today! The conference went well. I wanted to throw up a few pictures of the Brubachers doing their music (eventually I’ll get some HD versions up).

Brubachers at Conference
Also, you may be interested to know that the family is blogging over at Facebook – so you can see better pictures (though not as much of them!) and their insights there. It’s on their church Facebook page, so just scroll down until you see the image (there are posts for each day so far, so just keep scrolling down for each day). Click the image below to visit:

28 September 2015

The Brubacher Family Is Here in Mexico!

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Today I went to the airport, and picked up the Brubacher Family, from Hamilton, Ontario. It’s great to have them here!

The Brubachers in front of the community centre in Las Palmas[/caption]The Brubachers will be leading the worship music at our missionary conference (in this case, a conference for the Camino Global missionaries in Mexico), which starts tomorrow and ends on Friday.

Then when we get back, they’ll be involved in music on Sunday morning, and will be teaching lots of classes and doing lots of outreach. We’re looking forward to some fun times!

27 September 2015

Answered Prayers are Prayed Prayers

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It’s amazing what happens when you pray specifically and strategically. When God answers, you actually notice.

When you pray things like “God bless George”, how will you know if it’s answered?

Anyway, I’m thanking the Lord for His specific blessings over the past week.

We have been really encouraged to see what’s happening at the community centre. In an answer to prayer, people came to my Bible study, where we solved five “Bible mysteries” and got ready for the series which will be starting next week.

The English classes have had students, but mine has been sparse. However, we brought along a neighbour, who learned some words and had a fun time.

And another reason to thank the Lord – another answer to prayer – this week’s baking class! Check out all these people:

On Saturday, I was at a church leadership meeting. It was well attended – and it was so encouraging to see people concerned about evangelism, discipleship, practical needs in the congregation and beyond – things that I think Jesus would be concerned about. We’re preparing for some exciting stuff in the months ahead – may God continue to answer prayer!

This morning we enjoyed a full service, contemplating our Lord, love for His people, and His return.

So often I put up with things that I really should just pray about. God is the one who can transform hearts and make things move in a way we never could!

Thanks to all of you who are praying as well – see? God is answering!

Sunday Morning Service September 2015 — Sunday Morning Service

15 September 2015

A New Semester Begins!

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A new semester of community centre classes started up in Las Palmas this week! It’s turning out to be a slow start, but it should pick up in the weeks ahead.

The classes at the beginning of the fall semester are especially dependent on the weather. A good thunderstorm, or the threat of one, can keep students away, since they usually come on foot.

September is our rainiest month of the year. The good news is that the rain drops to about half of September’s levels in October, and about half again by November, when we only get rain on a very rare day.

But the biggest deal in the middle of this week is Independence Day. Tonight, the parties begin, and tomorrow is the day itself. So I don’t have high expectations for huge numbers of students, but I’m going to be ready anyway. Shari was wise and decided to start baking classes next week instead of this week.

Anyway, tonight is the first edition of English: InmersiÃ³n Radical. This will be an experiment in an interactive, total-immersion English class to compliment the other English classes that we run. Tonight will be a bit of a “light” version anyway, so we’ll see how things go.

Tomorrow night is the start of a Bible study at the community centre. There are no classes on Wednesday night, just the study, which will be open to anyone who wants to come. The first couple of weeks we’ll just be present and see how things go, before starting into more of a series of studies in October.

I’m playing catch-up, having just returned from meetings in Guatemala yesterday. So I need to finish unpacking, and get things ready for tonight. Excuse me – time to get back to work! 🙂

9 September 2015

Guatemala and Cross-Cultural Meetings

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Antigua Guatemala I’m in Antigua, Guatemala, for some meetings with Camino Global leadership from around the world. So far we’ve been doing a lot of singing and praying. We’ll be here until Monday when I actually go home. 🙂

Once again, I wasn’t thinking about it, and wasn’t expecting it. My main thought before coming was that I should keep quiet and try to learn something while I was here. 🙂

So I have been listening carefully, and once again I’m struck by something.

Although we have people here from various cultures, the dominant culture is still American (USA). And I’m struck again by just how differently people from other cultures (such as the USA) think.

I will go through an entire session, and think I know what we’re talking about, and then realize that it’s something just a little different (or maybe even a lot different).

I do have the company of Keith and Ruth Ann from Canada – and several others who are not from the USA. But of course I’m enjoying the time with everyone – and trying to be quiet and learn something from any American – or Colombian – or Guatemalan – or whatever. And what better place than in Guatemala – a land of so many different cultures?

I think one reason why the Church is made up of so many different cultures is so that we can learn to see things a different way, get out of our ruts, and ultimately see more of the character of God – that we would not see otherwise.

But let’s face it – I still have a lot to learn about – and from – my friends – brothers and sisters – from the USA.

What the Camino Team Leaders WISH they were doing in Guatemala.

Guatemala

5 September 2015

Yes, we are home!

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Mexican road side Although I announced it on Facebook and Twitter, I didn’t actually mention it before here at Finding direction. But yes, we are home!

Our seven days of driving went mostly without incident. I have to admit we did have an engine light come on – apparently due to a problem with our gas level gauge. The cost of repair that I was quoted was incredibly high, so we haven’t fixed it yet. But we should deal with that one day soon – otherwise we’ll run out of gas with no warning!

In the end, we are amazingly thankful to God for a safe return – having accomplished what we needed to accomplish, with medical issues, paperwork, and of course – a (mostly) working van!

So now we’re unpacking – and trying to control the armies of ants that took over our house while we were gone.

In two days I’ll be on my way to meetings with Camino Global leadership in Guatemala. We would certainly appreciate your prayers as we discuss many critical issues. Also pray for Shari as she starts school with Hannah and Nathanael while I’m away.

Then as soon as I get back, community centre classes will begin! I’ve got an English class (my first time teaching one!) and a Bible study that I need to prepare for. Maybe on the plane?

Thanks again to those who prayed – and also helped in so many ways – before, during and after our road trip. God is good!

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