Just because we won’t be in Mexico this summer, doesn’t mean we can’t be involved in what’s going on. And so can you – through prayer!
Well, it’s going to be a fun summer. The first team arrives on the 8th of June, and the last team leaves at the end of July. Our friend Samuel (and elder at the church in Jesús MarÃa) came up with a logo for the summer teams:
(Spanish speakers, please ignore the typo. Let’s just say we like pickle juice.)Apparently, visitors can experience the popular game of pickleball in the second week of June (a game which apparently celebrated it’s 50th anniversary three years ago. Who knew?). One of many community centre outreach events.
The church in Las Palmas will be working together with a team from Pennsylvania (Hope Community Church) to put on a VBS during the fourth week of July. Please pray that this international cooperation will reach a lot of the kids in the community!
The youth of our church are also raising money to go to a summer camp put on by Word of Life Mexico. The theme will be … er … how would you translate that? I guess you could say, Get Passionate! Although in English that sounds a little too passionate for a summer camp! 🙂 Looks like it’s a soccer theme – can’t imagine why.
Oh! And how about this tempting looking baking class, which will take place in the community centre in Jesús MarÃa with the help of one of the teams.
Of course, this is all on top of the regular activities and ministry going on. That includes a series on the book of Philippians on Sunday mornings – sorry to miss that! And a continuing series in Sunday school on the heroes of the faith in the Bible.
It all sounds like fun, but remember – it’s all with a purpose! To serve the community, and most of all to share God’s Word! So pray for the events of the summer, and all the many many who will be involved!
One thing we’ve learned during this semester of classes – people don’t seem to like classes at 6pm. And what time is my English class and Bible study – yep, 6pm.
Well, that’s how we learn – by trying!
Making sweets at English classBut I have had people at the English class and the Bible study, though not every week. And we’re looking at making some changes for the next semester (which starts in January). We have three weeks of classes left before the Christmas season begins. So what’s the “switch” I was talking about in the title? Well, we’ve had quite a few people who aren’t from Las Palmas in our classes. Out of the 8 people I’ve had in my English class, I don’t think any were from Las Palmas.
The other classes have had a mix.
Because Las Palmas is actually connected (you can walk from one to the other) to Santa Barbara, we do get a few from there.
And lately we’ve actually had some neighbours from our street come to classes, which has been fun! Four of the people in my English class are friends from our street. And two women from our street came to Shari’s baking class this week.
That is a switch – but it’s a fun switch! It’s been great to get to know some neighbours in a different context. And we’ve had some interesting conversations!
We’re planning some fun things for the semester ahead – we’ll see how it goes! Meanwhile, three more weeks and then our closing program on the 10th of December.
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.
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. 🙂
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 BÃblica 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 MarÃa 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. 🙂
We just received the official schedule for the fall at Centro Cultural Tiempo de Vivir – the community centre in Jesús MarÃa! The excitement begins next week (right after Independence Day). Here it is –
In case you don’t read Spanish yet, here’s an overview. Every weekday – exercise class! On Wednesday and Thursday, the coffee shop is going to be open again.
On Wednesdays we have a kids’ workshop – I think it’s baking and crafts, depending on the week. And – a new addition – drama class! I wonder who’s teaching that? Oh yeah – I am. 🙁 🙂
On Thursdays – baking class (Shari is teaching some of those), English class, country dancing, and guitar class.
On Fridays there’s a movie, apparently. And on Saturday morning, soccer – and my keyboard class.
So there you have it! We basically have 12 weeks of classes, bringing us right up against the Christmas season. Lord willing we’ll have a special closing program in December.
Yesterday Shari had another baking class, and it was a great success! So – how did all this get started?
Back in 2009, Shari, Mayra and Aurora started doing baking classes in Jesús MarÃa. I should mention Tiffany too, who was there for the first class even though she wasn’t living here at the time.
Around the same time they also did a baking class in Santa Barbara.
This was the beginning of many more baking classes in both communities. So – what are they all about?
The ministry, known as Amigas del Alma, was described by Rod this way back when it started:
The phrase “Amigas del Alma” has two meanings in Spanish. The common meeting [sic] is “soul friends” or “best friends.” The second meaning is “friends of the soul.” Obviously the purpose of this dynamic trio is to reach women through different creative events, principally…are you ready for this…baking and cooking. So far, Shari has helped the women make banana muffins, and Tiffany assisted in making Christmas cookies. [original post]
Amigas del Alma has evolved quite a bit in over three and a half years, and the “amigas” have changed over time. But here’s the basic idea…
How it works
It’s nice to have a specialty, and Amigas del Alma has specialized in desserts. Yes, it could have ended up much broader, but sticking (more or less) to desserts has brought a nice focus, specialization and expertise. Shari has also tried to bring recipes that are less known here in Mexico City.
Actually, dessert-making here is not especially common. You can buy cakes at the store, and you might make flan or rice pudding, but there’s not the variety that there is when it comes to other types of food. Not to mention that many Mexican women use their ovens more for storage than for baking!
Shari usually hands out the ingredients and what-to-bring list a week early (not the recipe itself – that would take the fun out of it!). Everyone brings their ingredients and what bowls and utensils they can.
Then at the class, Shari goes through the recipe and everyone bakes more or less together. Some share ingredients, others bake their own thing – and it kind of depends on what’s being baked. But everyone wants something to take home! 🙂
As the goodies are in the oven, someone leads a short, simple devotional.
As time has passed, Shari has learned a lot (as have the rest of us!) about what and how to teach! For example, how to explain things in a culture that often just doesn’t have the specific words that we use in Canada when we bake (how do you “cream”? or “fold”?). Or what things are natural to those of us who have grown up baking, but are foreign to those who haven’t. (For example, a pie is not a stew – you can’t just put everything in at the same time and mix it like crazy and throw it in the oven!)
Some things we’ve more or less invented Spanish names for – fun!
Why it’s so cool
There are a lot of reasons why the baking class has been an awesome ministry! For example:
It’s delicious! What a great thing to share – and to bring home to your family! Good feelings all around!
It’s relational! What a great way to get to know people – believers, unbelievers – what a great way to make friends!
You can invite your friends! It’s a fun, non-threatening atmosphere.
It’s a great skill! As a matter of fact, some women have used what they’ve learned to earn money for their families!
You can bring your kids! And many women have over the years. It’s a great mother/daughter event! (And yes, some guys have come once or twice – but here in Mexico, that’s just pretty weird.)
You can pass it on! You can teach baking – and then someone else can take the same recipe and do the same thing – and some have!
Short termers can be involved! As Tiffany did when she first visited, many others from the USA and Canada have come and have been involved. Can’t speak much Spanish? No problem – just come and share a recipe, help stir, and share a smile. You’d be surprised how powerful it can be!
Oh, and of course when someone shares something from the Bible, something else happens. People start to think about spiritual things – and struggles, and hopes. And conversations get started. And people are introduced to – the Pan de Vida (Bread of Life)!
And His food and drink last forever!
Thanks to those who have prayed for this ministry, and those who have donated supplies. Sometimes at the end of a series of classes, the women are invited to one of our closing programs, and they get a little gift. It’s especially fun to get something that’s expensive or hard to get here, that can help with future baking exploits!
And looking back, it’s so neat to see women in the church who got to know other believers through Amigas del Alma. And of course, they got to know Jesus.
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (John 6:35)
So I seriously need to catch up on the many things that have been happening here. We had a busy weekend and then took some days off, so I haven’t had time to write.
SO – we did have a closing program for the latest semester of classes at the community centre (Centro Cultural Tiempo de Vivir) In my opinion, it was one of our best closing programs ever. Not a huge group, everyone involved did a great job, people were into it, and paying attention – it was fun.
Shari made a presentation to the women who came to the baking class this year. Less than half came, sadly, but the ones who came got a special surprise! Here they are…
On Saturday we joined the church in Santa Barbara, Ixtapaluca – and several other churches from Mexico City – for a day of evangelism and outreach in Santa Barbara. It was a “spring festival” theme – people dressed in “springy” costumes, carried signs, sang, played instruments, etc, as we paraded through the neighbourhood. Then we stopped at a park and did some face painting, Gospel-sharing, and gift-giving.
They also promoted the wheelchairs that we can offer thanks to Operation Blessing. We tried to get the word out to those who may be in need of a wheelchair but can’t afford one.
Praise the Lord that the Gospel was shared at these two events, and people did respond!
I’ll write more about March (and maybe some other things) shortly. Meanwhile, if you haven’t visited our photo gallery for a few days, you might want to see our newest photos.
Oh! And how about this tempting looking baking class, which will take place in the community centre in Jesús MarÃa with the help of one of the teams.
