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Prayer and Praise

Classes Among the Palm Trees

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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.

English classes in Las Palmas
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. 🙂

Tiempo de Vivir - Las Palmas

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 Bíblica 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 Jesús María 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. 🙂

Church Property Robbed – Again.

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The Window

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

Acts, Outreaches, and Other

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We’ve been having a good time and a not-so-good-time here.  Maybe that’s not so unusual.

We would appreciate your prayers as we join with our friends at Path of Life Bible Church in Santa Barbara to reach out into a new neighbourhood with kids’ clubs and a special study for parents.  Last week’s turn-out wasn’t great, but Shari, Julian, Malu and some from the church handed out some more flyers yesterday, so we’re hoping for better things this week. 🙂

Acts Contest!
Acts Contest!
On Sunday we had a special service at Path of Life Bible Church in Jesús María.  All through the month of August, the congregation was encouraged to study the book of Acts.  Last Sunday, we had a special quiz to see who knew their stuff.  It was a competition between the women, the men, and the youth.

I got to make up the questions – from easy, to normal, to hard, to very hard, to “almost impossible”.  (And they were.)

One group worked particularly hard to prepare, and it showed.  Congratulations to the women!  (The men challenged them for a while, but eventually fell behind).

If you know Spanish, you can take a look at the questions here.

The not-so-good has been health.  I’ve been sick since Thursday noon, and last night was the worst night yet.  Which means I’m getting better now, right?  Right?

It looks like Shari has decided to join the ranks of the sick today as well. 🙁

But we’re pushing ahead, trying to get some other outreaches up and running here, getting some Bible studies going, and of course getting Hannah and Nathanael edykated.

Sightseeing and Brainstorming

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Did Julian and Malu arrive?  They sure did!

As you may remember, some car trouble stranded them in San Juan del Rí­o, north of the promised land Mexico City.  Repairs were finally completed this past Monday, and they arrived on Tuesday.  Praise the Lord!

So they’ve been trying to settle in and get their house set up.  They’ve been dealing with all the typical complications involved in getting things done, but they’ve persevered.

On Thursday and Friday I went with all our mid-term missionaries to spend some time together and do a little sightseeing in other parts of the city.  It’s pretty cool to have Jessica, Julian, Malu and Emily all here at the same time!

A restaurant in a cave
A restaurant in a cave


There was at least one thing I got to do for the first time – visit La Gruta, a restaurant at Teotihuacán (an archaeological site known for its “pyramids”).  Cool atmosphere – and the food was great!  I had mixiotes, an Aztec dish.

On Sunday we were able to introduce Julian and Malu to the church in Santa Bárbara, and we talked a little about upcoming ministry in a new neighbourhood here in Ixtapaluca.  We’re continuing to brainstorm about what types of ministry we could be doing in this and other neighbourhoods in the weeks ahead.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we’re getting ready for a new year of school.  And working on getting three of our visas renewed.  And getting ready for a special event on Sunday – maybe I’ll tell you about that later. 🙂

Malu, Julian, Jessica, and Emily - strolling around downtown Mexico City
Malu, Julian, Jessica, and Emily – strolling around downtown Mexico City
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