ST Highlight
Two Weeks Until Christmas
Oh sorry – you didn’t realize that? I didn’t mean to be the one to tell you. Actually, I didn’t realize it either – wow!
I just thought I’d stop by and let you know what we’re up as we hurtle towards the holidays.
Our Sunday services are continuing, of course. We’re doing a series on the book of Hebrews, and are in chapter 5 right now. I’m also doing the Where did the Bible come from? seminar during our Sunday School time. For those who have taken the seminar, you’ll know what I mean when I tell you that Javier the Louse will be making an appearance this Sunday, so I’m very excited about that. 🙂
We’re been greatly encouraged by the church lately – people’s involvement and interest in the Word. Thanks for your prayers!
Shari continues to keep the kids’ ministry running smoothly. Or, as smoothly as is possible with kids! They’re doing a Christmas themed series in Sunday school right now, and on Friday nights they’ve been going through the Creation story – very slowly, but they’re addressing a lot of important questions!
The adult Bible study continues too – we’re in Genesis, but going a little faster than the kids. 🙂
On Christmas Eve Eve we’ll be having a Christmas themed service – and a special year-end service the week after that.
Yesterday we had the opportunity to get together with some of our team of missionaries (the Frys and Chalo are in the States right now, and various children of said missionaries are in various places, including Hannah in Canada!). We would appreciate your prayers as we prepare for this upcoming change and as every missionary decides whether or not they will continue with Avant after the two missions join (if you missed that, check out Camino Global, Avant – What has changed, what has not…)
Of course both Hannah and Nathanael are busy with school, trying to get everything done so that they can enjoy some time off during the holidays. Hannah arrives in Mexico in 1 week, 6 days and under 4 hours!
So yes, we’re hoping to get some rest over the holidays, even though ministry will continue. There seems to be a seasonal bug going around our house right now, so we’re hoping that will go away soon (and that I’ll have a voice on Sunday!). 🤧
So that’s a little of what we’re up to! I hope you’re doing well, and able to catch some time to breath and to meditate on the miracle of the Incarnation.
Camino Global, Avant – What has changed, what has not…
This is an important post, so please take a few moments to read carefully.
You may or may not have received communication from Camino Global, or Avant – but here’s the news. The two mission agencies are uniting to become one mission.
First, the practical information. Regarding our ministry, our relationship with Camino, and donations, nothing has changed (and may not be changing over the next few weeks or even months). So you don’t need to worry about changing where/how you donate – donation information is always up to date here.
Second, what actually is happening? As I mentioned before, Avant and Camino Global will be joining together. The name of the mission will be Avant Ministries. However, “Camino Global” will retain its “brand” for the time being as a Spanish focused ministry within the mission. So you will continue to see both names.
Camino’s three offices will be affected in different ways. The Guatemala office will remain where it is. Eventually, both the US office and the Canadian office will move to where Avant’s current offices are (Kansas City and Winnipeg).
There are a number of reasons for the change, and there’s no reason to get into all the details here. However, the leadership of both missions hope that we will be “better together”.
If all goes as planned, the “new” mission will have over 500 missionaries in 50 countries. Camino of course has a strong presence in Spanish speaking countries.
The missions have put up a website to answer some of your basic questions (click the graphic to go there):
How will this affect our ministry? This news is very fresh, and it will take months – in some cases, years – before everything is worked out. We have no immediate plans for major changes. Both Camino Global and Avant are committed to making disciples for Jesus Christ, and in many ways they are very similar organizations. However, every missionary with Camino will need to make their own decision whether or not they will continue under Avant.
Our desire is to serve the Lord in this corner of Mexico City, where so few understand the gospel. Please pray that God will guide us, and especially the other missionaries in Mexico, as we work through these changes in the weeks to come.
We will continue to communicate with you (especially those who receive our newsletter and email update), but we all need to be patient.
If you have questions, you can contact us at any time here.
Here and There…
For those of you who have been praying for a place for our church to meet, you can keep praying! I won’t go into all the details here, but you’ll be glad to hear that we have a place for the time being – hopefully for a few more weeks.
But that’s not a long time – especially considering that the holidays are coming up quickly.
So, that and about a thousand other things are on our minds as we hurtle toward the end of the year.
Thanks to the hospitality of one of our church families, we do have a place for Bible study! Shari snuck this picture of us from last week. Shari is teaching the kids, continuing the chronological study that she started several months ago.
We’re preparing this Sunday for an adoration service, a special service that we have once a month. And there’s lots more coming up!
Anyway, just wanted to give you a quick update. Keep praying for the church – not only for a place, but for the people, who are going through some major struggles.
This Year’s Mega-Service
We had an … well, an interesting time this past Sunday. And thanks to those who prayed – it’s good to know you were praying. As you may see as you read on.
So before our drive through the mountains, we had to go through the city of Pachuca. That’s where we got tangled up a little. Nothing major – actually, I missed one turn, and of course the friendly GPS (full name – Gabriela Paula Sanchez) adjusted our route. It looked like a fairly straight road, on the map….
It was straight. Straight up. And narrow. We probably could have made it if everyone had gotten out of the van (except the driver, of course). But … we almost made it … but instead backed aaaaaalllllllll the way down, and once back down we easily found another way, and made it without any more problems to the service. On time, even.
Which is better than about 1/3 of everyone else did. One vehicle broke down (from the church in charge of communion), the preacher (Ismael) wasn’t there, and about a hundred or two others were still missing as the service began half an hour late.
So here’s the thing. Thankfully, I had checked out the route the day before, and other than the missed turn above, found it not too difficult. But once you get into the mountains, just try to get online and get an accurate map going on Google maps. Just try. You might end up like a group from one church, lost for 3-4 hours in the mountains.
Well, the good news. We were able to have the communion service. Ismael arrived in time to preach, and did a great job. And the others?
Well, some arrived after the service was over. One lost group finally decided just to find a park somewhere, stop to eat and have their own devotional, and then go home. But guess what park they pulled into?
Yep, the one where we were all eating lunch. So – late – but at least they all had a warm welcome when they arrived!
Anyway, the service went well. The traffic was horrendous and the way home, so we’re still tired. But at least we made it both to the service, and home! So thanks again for praying. 🙂
Into the Mountains…
Tomorrow is our annual mega-service with several other churches in the Mexico City area. Ismael, pastor of the church in Jesús MarÃa, will be preaching.
It’s been an interesting time trying to organize our travel, as a church. There are some people with cars, and some without. Can we all squeeze in? Do we need to rent a bus?
Well, our numbers were respectable, but not huge. It looked like we would all fit.
But then it turned out one vehicle wouldn’t be going (it’s not the vehicle’s fault, it’s because the owner isn’t going either). Can we fit? Yes, I think we’ll have space for everyone.
Then one family in our church had an accident (actually the second of our friends here to have an accident in the last few weeks). Don’t worry – they’re ok. But that’s another vehicle down.
Can we still fit? Well, now we’re at the last minute – I hope so! I’ve been messaging around looking for spaces and double checking who is coming. Still haven’t heard from everyone.
Ah well, Lord willing — we’re still going tomorrow — somehow! Up north of Mexico City, into the mountains. It’s supposed to be rainy and around 10C – pretty chilly for a service with no heat in an open structure.
Anyway, you could pray that we get it all worked out and are able to get everyone there safely! It will be an adventure!