What’s Coming Up in January (podcast)
A look at what’s happening in January as community centre activities start up, construction continues, and more …
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Thanks for stopping by!
ST Highlight
Some December Events
I’m sure there are many of you who are extra busy this time of year – well, it’s been no exception around here!
Thanks so much for your prayers for our closing events (clausuras) this month! There was a great turn out in Las Palmas from the English classes (there were about thirty people there, I believe). Julian shared about the Christmas story, and we all had good opportunities to talk with people and invite everyone to a new season of classes starting in January.
On the 11th we had our clausura in Jesús MarÃa. Another great turn out from the various classes. Shari handed out some gifts for those who had attended the baking classes. And I shared the devotional, contrasting Mexican and Canadian Christmas traditions and the message from the angels to the shepherds.
The following Saturday we went with some neighbours to the Coro Unido in Puebla, directed by Camino missionary Terry Vanderwerf, where we heard about the Lord Jesus in words and songs. “A Gift of Love” was the theme of the evening.
This coming Sunday we’ll be involved in an evangelistic event in Jesús MarÃa, and I’ll be preaching in Santa Barbara. Yeah, we get around. 😉
So now we’re trying, somewhat unsuccessfully, to get everything done that we need to do so that we can get a break over Christmas! So I’d better run – talk to you later! 🙂
Clausura Season
That’s right – ’tis the season for all our clausuras – that is, closing programs for the community centres!
You can read more about the idea behind clausuras here.
Tonight we’ll be having a special program for those in Las Palmas who have been involved in activities like English classes, baking classes, kids’ clubs, crafts classes and the “School for Parents”. Julian will be sharing a special message with everyone.
Tomorrow night we’ll be up the hill in Jesús MarÃa. As usual, there was a plethora of classes up there – music, exercise, baking, and much more. I’m getting ready to give a little Christmas message during the program, so I would appreciate your prayers for that.
On Monday there will be a little Christmas party for those who have been involved in classes even further up the hill in Acozac.
Speaking of Christmas events, don’t forget the Christmas concert in Puebla on the weekend. We will be going, Lord willing, with some of our neighbours. You could certainly keep praying for everyone who’s organizing this big event – I just received another plea for prayer via email today. Watch a clip of the concert from a previous year, and a prayer request for the event here.
And now – it’s time to run to Las Palmas! Talk to you later! 🙂
Of Visas and Missionaries
Yesterday we drove all the way to the other side of the city (only about 2 hours, thanks to a newer highway that takes us around the southern part) to do some more visa paperwork.
As we waited in our third line-up, a woman behind us asked how long it was taking us to get our visas. “Well, we’re just renewing,” we answered. She was getting her visa for the first time, and it was taking weeks and weeks.
But then we told her the bad news that we had started working on these renewals at the beginning of August. And then I tried to soften the blow by telling her that she is “not alone”!
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Thousands and thousands of more pesos later, our paperwork is – as far as I can tell – done! Except that three of us still don’t have visas. Lord willing they will be in our hands next week.
Talking with our lawyer afterwards, we got some good news – and bad news. The good news is that, for once, we timed things right. We should all have three year visas, good until 2017. But the bad news is that we almost didn’t.
It sounds like the government is going to continue making things very difficult for those who are serving the Lord in Mexico. As many of you know, the cost has skyrocketed, and shows no signs of dropping. But from the sounds of it, it’s going to be even more difficult in the future.
In the last 20 years there has been an unprecedented openness in Mexico. But please pray for, and encourage, missionaries that you know who are here. Pray that we would make the most of the time we have. And pray that more workers would come to this strategic area where so many unreached and little-reached peoples live.
Help! We’re Stuck in a Video!
In fact, our whole team is in it! Jessica Nixon, who is here helping us for a year, put her considerable talents to work to make this video of our Camino team’s ministry! So here it is . . .
New Community Centre
Things are moving ahead with a community centre in a new area of Mexico City.
Since September there have been having activities in a new community here in Ixtapaluca, but they have been in peoples’ homes. Now it’s time for a place that can be known as the community centre.
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Our coworker Tina will be moving into a house in the area in January. This is a very special house, because it has a store front attached to it – a significant space that can be used for English classes, baking classes, and so on and so on.
I was actually waiting to get a look at the house to write this post, but things were pretty topsy-turvy this week so I haven’t seen it on the inside yet. But from the sounds of it and from the pictures I’ve seen, this will be a great space!
Over the next few days we’ll be “finalizing” plans for the classes for the new year. It’s a challenge to be in a new place – a very different place. Even though we have spent time there this fall, it will be a learning curve as we get to know people and learn how we can best help the community.
But this is one VERY EXCITING step!
PS No, it doesn’t already have the community centre logo painted on the front. Just playing with the picture!