Prayer and Praise

21 October 2014

Building UP!

Jim Practical matters, Prayer and Praise, ST Highlight 0

Here’s the building we meet in on Sunday. But do you notice something different? That’s right – a second floor!

After the most recent robberies of the property, we knew we had to do something drastic. So here it is.

Actually, this was already a part of the plan, but it wasn’t what we were planning to build next.

But the plan was changed. We’re building rooms and bathrooms up there. The purpose of the bathrooms should be obvious. The rooms can be used for meetings and also to house visitors.

Or – perhaps for the time being, to actually house a family.

The idea is to have someone there at night, so that no one can sneak in. So it looks like one of our church families will be moving in, which will help them and help all of us.

So the hired workers have been working madly to get the job done.

The property actually doesn’t have permanent bathrooms yet, so these will be the first. Of course, there’s still a minor detail – we still don’t have water hooked up yet. We’re trying, really we are.

Thanks again to all who have given to the Ixtapaluca Project. The funds have been a huge help, especially now when the need is so urgent. And we’re not quite done the project yet – we’ve raised about 90% so far. If you’d like to help, visit this page.

The most important work, of course, is the people! Please keep praying that we would be faithful to God’s calling to share His Word and His love. There are many challenges and struggles, many of which I can’t write about here. But our Lord is faithful, and powerful, and He holds us in His hands!

15 October 2014

A Crowd Draws a Crowd

Jim Ministry glimpses, Prayer and Praise 0

We stopped by the community centre in JesÃºs MarÃa to prepare for the baking class tomorrow. Cleaning the room, making sure we have supplies, going downtown to get gas for the stove.

At six o’clock some activities started, all pictured in the tiny photo above. Guitar class with Rod, kids’ craft class with Emily (Hannah helped with that one), country dance with Tina, soccer/football with Jonathan, and some serious swinging just for fun.

It was great to see new people coming, and Shari had a chance to talk to some of the women about tomorrow’s baking class.

English classes continued this evening in Las Palmas as well.

So much going on, it’s hard to keep track of it all! But I wish there was more going on, in more communities. It’s hard to imagine the number of communities and the number of people right around here – tens of thousands – who will not be touched by any of the activities at all.

Anyone want to come and help?

6 October 2014

Heading to Honduras

Jim Ministry glimpses, Prayer and Praise, ST Highlight 0

I’m off to Honduras, which, in case you’re wondering, is about 4166km southeast of Weyburn.

I’ll be there for a week of meetings with various leaders of Camino Global Canada, Camino Global USA, and other Camino leadership from around the world. We’ll be talking about … hmmmmm… well, I guess if I knew that, I wouldn’t have to go, would I?

I would appreciate your prayers as I go (like, right now!) and come back. And for Shari, Hannah and Nathanael who continue with homeschool and other things up north in Mexico.

Well . . . see you later!

Photo courtesy of Kevin D. Clarke

4 October 2014

More Community Centre Excitement!

Jim Ministry glimpses, Prayer and Praise 0

We’re adding on more activities at the JesÃºs MarÃa community centre this coming week!

So we’ve already got English classes happening in Las Palmas, we’ve also had a kids’ craft class and a baking class. (You can hear about a recent class over at Julian & Malu’s blog.) That’s on top of the kids’ club, run by the church in Santa Barbara. In a neighbourhood called Acozac, there are also English classes going on.

We recently handed out 500 flyers earlier this week, and there’s growing excitement about the upcoming classes – artsy classes like painting and crafts and baking and country dance and guitar, the usual English classes, and even an exercise class!

With all this and other upcoming activities, everyone will be keeping pretty busy. Regular classes will come to an end on the 11th of December.

Thanks for your prayers as we meet new people and reach out into the community over the next few weeks!

26 September 2014

Classes Among the Palm Trees

Jim Ministry glimpses, Prayer and Praise, ST Highlight 1

There is a lot happening right now “among the palm trees”. I’m referring to a housing development known as Las Palmas (The Palms). And yes, there are palm trees lining the road in Las Palmas. Actually, there are three “Las Palmas” – creatively named 1, 2 and 3. We’ve been hanging out in 1, but people join us for classes from other neighbourhoods as well.

On Wednesday and Thursday Julian and Malu hosted English classes in their home. They just started teaching some English at the local junior high, a school which we’ve had a lot of contact with in the past. So some of their students came to the classes, along with a smattering of others.

Julian and Malu with a few of their students
Rod and I swung by to help a little this week. It was fun, although I admit that among the three other teachers I am the one who is not and English teacher. I am a teacher, which helps, but teaching English is something I’ve hardly ever done.

So in spite of Julian’s modesty, he and Malu seemed to be doing an excellent job. 🙂

Anyway, it was great to make new friends in Las Palmas through the English classes, which are being given under the auspices of Tiempo de Vivir, our community centre.

We would appreciate your prayers as activities continue tonight. Shari will be doing her first baking class in Las Palmas, with the help of Malu. At the same time, Hannah and I will be doing a craft class for the kids.

After the baking/craft class is the kids club/School for Parents, which is led by Iglesia BÃblica Sendero de Vida Santa Barbara (Path of Life Bible Church Santa Barbara). I’ll be leading the parenting study tonight, which, as you might imagine, will be a very convicting experience! But it is a great review for me, which will hopefully spill over into more action.

Our community centre administrator, Tina Barham, will return home to Mexico on Monday (Lord willing), and there will be more classes starting up in JesÃºs MarÃa as well. There are already English classes going on up there, currently with Jessica and Emily teaching, along with some help from Julian and Malu. But other classes will be starting up, such as an exercise class, craft classes, guitar classes, and more.

Thanks for your prayers! May God’s truth shine brightly among the palm trees and beyond. 🙂

22 September 2014

Church Property Robbed – Again.

Jim Ministry glimpses, Missions, Prayer and Praise, ST Highlight 1

This is the only window leading into the building where we meet for worship services. As you can see, the bars are pretty thick.

But if you were small … like, a child … you would be able to fit through. It would be a bit of a drop, but with help you could do it. And pass things out to your accomplices.

Well, looks like that’s about what happened.

I think this is the second time the property has been robbed since we came back to Mexico at the end of July, but this is the first time the building has been broken into.

Hundreds of dollars worth of things were stolen, including a video projector, the majority of our microphones and cables, including costly power cords. Tools belonging to members of the church were also taken. Whatever would fit through those little squares.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering – they did take the time to detach and remove the sink that was outside by our temporary bathrooms. Yes, even the sink was stolen.

So throughout the weekend we’ve been talking about options to up the security. None of the options are easy or inexpensive. But we have to do something.

When we arrived at the Sunday service, I was wondering if we would stand around the room singing like the Whos in Whoville after the Grinch stole all the Christmas trimmings (Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small, Was singing! Without any presents at all!). But actually a few bits and pieces came from somewhere – even a video projector someone borrowed from work. 🙂

In fact, we weren’t talking about the robbery at all. Everyone was talking about the Holy Spirit, and how we can better serve each other, and things like that. Imagine!

Finally, at the very end, we did take the time to pray for the thieves.

Right on.

We would appreciate your prayers as we try to replace some of the things that were lost and try to move toward a building which is more complete and secure. (By the way, don’t forget we’re still raising funds for the building here. As I write we’re about 90% finished)

Just another reminder that we’re in the world. And it’s the world we’re reaching out to. We’re not angels reaching out to other angels the next cloud over. But sinners reaching out to sinners.

With a God far more powerful and good than any of us.

Hear more from Rod’s perspective in Theft and Missions

«‹ 53 54 55 56 ›»