Just a quick hello…
I haven’t recorded a podcast in a while, so I took a quick break today to say hello to you all…
Prayer and Praise
From Calgary to Mexico City (exciting news)!
I’ve been very slow in making a very exciting announcement! Here’s the news: We’re looking forward to hosting a team from Calgary’s First Evangelical Free Church this fall!
The team is Walter, LeAnn, Amy and Christine. They come with a lot of talents and skills, many of which I’m sure they’ll put to good use!
Their time here will be divided up half and half. First, they’ll be helping out at our annual CAM Mexico conference. There they will be serving the missionary kids.
This is a huge help to the CAM missionaries here in Mexico. They’ll be teaching God’s Word to the kids, and also giving the adults a chance to attend their own sessions. We’re so thankful that they can serve in this way!
But that will only be half of their time here. The other half will be spent in Jesús María, Ixtapaluca. There they will be serving the church and the community. They’ll be a part of our worship time Sunday morning, and during the first part of the week they will be helping out at the community centre.
It will be a great encouragement to us and to many others here to have them come. It will be another chance to build on current relationships, and maybe make some new ones, and continue to share God’s Word here.
Please pray for the First Free Mexico Team as they prepare for this adventure, and for us as we work to make sure their work will fit well into the big picture here. They’re coming in November – only a few weeks away!
Where the First Free Mexico Team meets to worship together
Photo courtesy of Google
Fall Activities Begin, and a Letter from the President
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Today I opened the door to our street, letting in the mail lady on her motorcycle, so that she could deliver these flags. It was actually a package with the words to the national anthem, and a letter from the President! Imagine! 😉
So, the celebration of Mexico’s bicentennial continues!
Meanwhile, fall activities are starting up at the community centre (Centro Cultural Tiempo de Vivir). Tonight the English classes start, along with basketball. And I hear that Tiffany will be starting a line dancing class – Ixtapaluca will never be the same again!
By the way, if you click on the church logo to the right – it looks like this –
– you can see a calendar of community centre and church related events. It’s in Spanish, of course, but it will give you an idea what’s going on at the moment.
I’m busy with some things that aren’t on the calendar (all right, gaZILLIONS of things that aren’t on the calendar!). Back at the church in Santa Barbara, I’m teaching a class on playing keyboard for worship.
We had a good time this morning at the first class, learning about what Colossians 3:9-17 can teach us about music and worship (of course, worship can be music, and music can be worship, but worship is much more than music… music is the minority of worship…. at least, it should be!), learning chords and the use of the sustain pedal, and other stuff like that there.
I’m also working on the next study. We’re doing a Tuesday night study now on some of the basics of the Christian life. But after that is coming something new – it’s going to be a blast – I’ll tell you about it once it has formed some more! 🙂
Shari is working on baking classes and Bible studies. And she’s been busy putting together the fall schedule for Sunday School. They’re going through the Bible chronologically with the kids – fun stuff! And in spite of the fact that they’re packed in like sardines in a small space, the kids keep coming!
And Hannah and Nathanael – wow, they only have 2.5 weeks left until their first exam week. Ah, the wonderful things we get to look forward to!
But after exam week, we’re looking forward to a visit from the director of CAM Canada, Charlene de Haan. How cool is that? Now that is something we can look forward to. 🙂
Anyway, I need to get back to helping Nathanael with his homework… then I’m going to see how the English classes are going. Bye for now!
24 Hours and 5 days
In 24 hours, I went to six medical appointments.
Well, all right, they weren’t all appointments. And I wasn’t the patient in all of them. But still, that’s got to be a record for me.
It was like this. The doctor that I’ve been seeing for migraine told me to go get some tests and see a dental surgeon. All right. I had to go to two different places to get the tests (and numerous places to find out who could administer the tests!)… but that doesn’t count, because I did that a few weeks ago.
But earlier this week, I went to the dental surgeon, who sent me to get x-rays. 3 x-rays, and they had to re-do two of them. Then I went back to the dental surgeon (count: 3). Then I went to a chiropractor. Then on to my regular doctor. (count: 5)
These are what you might call multiplying appointments. In other words, when you go to these appointments, they multiply into more appointments in the future.
For example, I will probably be calling the doctor this week. The chiropractor wanted me back for follow-up. And the dental surgeon wants me to come for a series of 3-4 appointments in one week.
Insurance will cover some of this… but considering that all these appointments are in another city… well, you get the idea.
All these were related to migraine, and the story continues.
But wait, you protest. I thought you said 6 appointments.
Good eye. Yes, the 6th one in 24 hours was the next morning (still in the 24 hours, though), when I took Shari to the doctor.
And speaking of numbers, Shari is now in day 5 of being sick – mostly flat-on-her-back-sick (she hasn’t been this sick in years). She thinks… maybe…. she’s feeling a little better this evening. So I’m holding out hope that she’s improving. Still, she’s been in bed all day today, except when she should have been.
So, 6 appointments. Plus a visit to the pharmacy, of course. But I didn’t count that. Was that when I lost my bank card? Oh, sorry – that’s another story.
Anyway, I haven’t planned my myriad of other appointments yet (one was supposed to be Saturday… oops), since I’m waiting to make sure Shari is over whatever she has. Then it will be my turn again. Maybe I can get the record for most appointments in a week? Naaah.
Jack Cottrill
Just stopping by to ask for your prayers. Yesterday Jack Cottrill, my first cousin (once removed) went to be with his Lord. It was very sudden, and he leaves many people behind who will miss him, including our family.
Jack had a strong testimony for the Lord. We enjoyed time with him and his wife Marj in their home. In fact, at one point they were generous enough to let us stay in their home for an extended time while we were visiting Ontario.
I discovered when we joined CAM that Jack had actually served for many years on the CAM Canada board. He had a great interest in the Lord’s work around the world.
Here’s the obituary from the funeral home website.
COTTRILL, John E. (Jack)
It is with deepest sorrow that we announce the passing of John E. Cottrill, in his 86th year. He went home to be with his Saviour and Lord on Tuesday, August 24, 2010. Loving husband of 61 years to Marjorie Cottrill. Devoted father of Bill (Linda) Cottrill, Diane (Wayne-deceased) Nichol, Dave (Judy) Cottrill, Gail (Tom) Budge, Mark (Jay) Cottrill. Cherished Grampa to fifteen grandchildren. Visitation will be held at the Donald V. Brown Funeral Home, 36 Lake Avenue Drive, Stoney Creek (due to road construction enter from King Street) on Thursday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Service of Celebration to be held Friday, August 27th at 11 a.m. at Calvary Gospel Church, 4129 Hixon Street, Beamsville. Interment Mount Osborne Cemetery. In Jack’s memory, donations to CAM International or Fairhaven Bible Conference will be appreciated. Online condolences may be sent at www.donaldvbrown.ca
via Donald V. Brown Funeral Home
Please do pray for Marj, and the children and grandchildren. Thanks!
Note: Someone asked about giving to CAM. I don’t know if there are any special arrangements with the funeral home, but you can donate an "In Memory of" gift to CAM Canada through Canada Helps. If you do not wish to donate online, or would like more information, contact information for CAM Canada can be found here.
Fair Havens is another ministry we appreciate very much – information on Fair Havens here.
