Retro: Snow Angel
Ten years ago today, Hannah was doing something she hasn’t done much since – make a snow angel!
Tweets 16-30 January 2016
- Thanks for helping us donate about 170 wheelchairs in 2.5 years! (and here’s Cathy Fry to thank you “in person”) ow.ly/X8wxZ (16 January 2016)
- One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless. ~Proverbs 14:16~ (18 January 2016)
- From Veracruz to our grocery store in Mexico City. Price – about 57¢ Canadian per pineapple. Sweet! [image] (19 January 2016)
- Flatterers . . . [image] (20 January 2016)
- Something to pray about: “Burkina Faso: Elderly missionary couple ‘kidnapped by Islamic extremists'” [image] (21 January 2016)
- A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated. ~Proverbs 14:17~ (25 January 2016)
- Seen in Ixtapaluca, Mexico City … “If you need one, take one” (image) (25 January 2016)
- Some quick advice for your trip to Mexico: “5 things I wish I’d known about Mexico” ow.ly/Vu7TO (27 January 2016)
- Enjoyed an encouraging time with our fellow missionaries from 3 cities today! ☺ (27 January 2016)
- The last of Hannah’s nights of studies and games (and food) with Kaycee! 😠Kaycee will be missed! [image] (27 January 2016)
- Like, right now! [image] (28 January 2016)
- So apparently there’s a snow warning for Mexico City tonight. 🌨 Our kids aren’t going to want to go to sleep! 😄 (29 January 2016)
- Reading: From DF to CDMX, Mexico City changes name and status ow.ly/XI7oM (30 January 2016)
- Seen while driving today . . . [image] (30 January 2016)
More Praise!
For those who have been praying for our kids’ club and Bible study Friday nights – thanks for your prayers! God answered our prayers in an obvious way this week, and we had some new people come, and a bigger group than ever. We had some great conversations in our Bible study (focused on Genesis 3 this week) – so keep praying that people will come back, and keep learning! May God do great things in Las Palmas through His Word!
A “Praise” from Tina!
Praise the Lord! Tina finally got her visa!
As you may remember, Tina started her visa process in October. Which would make you think she would get her visa in October, or maybe November.
But in mid-December she was preparing to leave the country, and still had no visa. Which meant she needed a special permit to leave. And she barely got that (thanks for your prayers!). (See Prayer Request: Visa Adventures (but not ours) and Permit Received! (Thanks for Your Prayers))
With time running out before her next trip out of the country, we were wondering what was going to happen next. Still no visa … still no visa …
And during this time, trip after trip (these trips take hours) to the office to ask – so, is it done yet?
But about five hours ago we got the news – visa received! And a permanent resident visa, no less, which (at this point… until the law changes… disclaimer disclaimer…) does not run out or have to be renewed.
Paperwork challenges are common with missionaries around the world. And just for the record, it’s not just missionaries. It’s not unusual for a Mexican friend in our church to have a prayer request related to bureaucracy and navigating the world of official documents and the expenses that go with them. Sometimes things actually get worse for believers because they try to do things with honesty and integrity.
So in a few months we look forward to going through the same process Tina just went through – although with some different twists and turns. But we’re confident that she has straightened out the system, and that we won’t have any trouble. 🙂
Nathanael: Mexico
Somehow I missed this picture from last Independence Day, but it made me smile! It’s Nathanael’s creation from bits and pieces around the church’s property. Notice the face with the moustache…
Thanks for Your Prayers for Sunday School
Thanks to much to all of you who prayed specifically for my adult Sunday school class last year. As many of you know, I was teaching a series from October to December (actually, I finished it up in January because one week was cancelled).
The series was on the 10 Commandments. It was a great opportunity for us to wrestle with what they mean for us today, and also to look at so many of the related laws, especially in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. There is just so much there that can transform our lives and communities if we just listen.
I don’t think that we as a Church in general (I mean as the worldwide Church) spend enough time in the Old Testament. And one of the greatest reasons to study it would be the reason that Jesus Himself gave – that it bears witness about Him (John 5:39-40). And so each week we looked at the New Testament as well, and saw the 10 Commandments in the light of Christ.
As I warned my class, we don’t want to assume that we are to ignore the New Testament and the reality of Christ’s coming as we study. We also don’t want to assume that the New Testament is really the only thing that’s important. And finally, we don’t want to “pick and choose” which laws to obey, but instead let God through the Scripture tell us.
And it’s amazing what comes clear when you actually take the time to see what the Scripture says!
The series is going to have new life as I share it on my Spanish blog, where I’ll post the handouts so that others can use the study as well.
Thanks again for your prayers! Now I’m headed to teach another Bible study…
* Note on the graphic: The logo from the class says “Ten Words”. The word “commandments” can be translated “words” or “declarations”, as in “a word from the king”. The first class was entitled “He spoke to you out of the midst of the fire” from Deuteronomy 4:12. “Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live?” Wow – Deuteronomy 4:32-35.