Today’s forecast for Ixtapaluca:
Need I say more?
I know someone out there wants to hear an update, so here it is! I don’t like writing a lot of "general news" posts, but there comes a time to catch everybody up!
Since one of my last posts was on the topic of health, I’ll start there. First, no one in the family is at death’s door, as far as we know, but everyone is undergoing "adjustments" of one kind or another.
Shari is trying to get a hold of her doctor to talk about what to do next. Lord willing she can talk to the doctor over the phone without taking another trip, but so far they haven’t been able to connect.
Nathanael is awaiting test results, and then he’ll be back in Puebla with one of his doctors. He’s also dealing with changes in medication for other reasons.
Jim? Well, I’m feeling a little better than I was, but still not great. I have two appointments with specialists coming up – probably one next week and another the week after.
We really appreciate your prayers for health. It obviously has a huge impact on ministry here. Also, it’s costing a lot – particularly all the gas as we drive hither and yon.
And you could pray for the health of a co-worker here in Ixtapaluca, who has been struggling with something for several weeks.
One big thing we’re trying to work through is van repairs. That’s another time/money thing, of course. Lord willing I’ll be going to get a part on Monday, and getting the first repair done.
We have to have this repair done, and have the van verified, or else we’ll have severe limits on when we’re allowed to drive come April. Due to laws here in Mexico City, there are certain hours on weekdays and at least one day a week when we can’t drive if the van isn’t properly verified (a test that includes emission tests).
Tomorrow is an exciting day! It’s the first anniversary of the church plant in Jesús María! We’re going to have a special service, special music (we’ll be doing a number, Lord willing), and of course some great food afterwards. Praise the Lord for what He’s doing here in Ixtapaluca!
Do you remember the first service? I don’t…
I have two more keyboard classes before the end of this series at the community centre. Please pray that these classes will end well. After the last class there’s a special closing of classes event, which is always a lot of fun and an opportunity to connect with people from the community.
I’m busy preparing for a kids’ camp in Hermosillo, Mexico next weekend. It’s going to be a lot of fun! Hannah and I will be flying there on Thursday.
Please do pray that I will have something useful from God’s Word to share with this group of young believers. I’m drawing from the life and works of the Apostle Peter. It’s been great to get to know Peter – what a guy. What a life!
Of course, there’s lots more coming up! I’ll be preaching again shortly, we’re looking forward to Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday services later in April – great times!
We continue to be very concerned about space issues when it comes to services and Bible studies. People are frequently standing outside, and can’t hear what’s going on.
We’ve started raising money to find another place, and we’re looking for temporary solutions too. If you want to know more, and help out, you can visit ixtapalu.ca and click on "Making Space".
Here’s a sample from the song we’ll be singing tomorrow, especially for those who want to try out a little Spanish.
The song is a translation of an English hymn. About 160 years ago, Thomas Westrup came to Mexico from London England with his family. He was only 15 years old.
They had come to set up a flour mill. But it was in Mexico that Thomas became a believer, and eventually he became a pastor, and then a missionary! Thomas and his son wrote and translated literally hundreds of hymns. Thomas was the translator of this one:
Today in Mexico it’s the Día de la Candelaria. For some it’s an excuse for a party, but its origins are religious. For many people in Mexico the 2nd of February has important religious significance.
The 2nd of February is the time when people remember Jesus’ presentation at the temple by His parents. It’s been traditionally a time when candles were brought to the Roman Catholic Church to be blessed. But here in Mexico, other things are blessed too – most notably, the baby Jesus figure from nativity scenes (el Niño Jesús or Niño Dios).
It’s also the time to fix up the figure – re-paint it, buy a new christening robe for it, fix the chips, maybe even get a new one. I’ve also seen people by the side of the road collecting money to have larger statues (like of the adult Jesus) fixed up.
Commonly here in our housing development there has been a "Baby Jesus Hospital", where the little statues can be fixed up. I keep wanting to take a picture, but I never remember in time. I do have this far-away blurry shot – it will have to do for now. 🙂 In front of the little white shed there’s a low platform with red on it – on there are two or three rows of large Jesus figures (they’re usually way bigger than the other figures in the manger scene – way out of proportion!).
What follows are religious rituals, such as a mass where the priest (they believe) offers up Christ as a non-bloody sacrifice again in the wine and the wafers of the Eucharist.
 Photo courtesy of fontplaydotcom |
The figure receives a special blessing, before being put away for another year.
Sometimes a godparent is actually chosen for the figure. Certain people will host celebrations for the little statue and be responsible to buy the fine clothes that it will wear to the mass today.
Because of all the various religious beliefs connected with the figure and the nativity scene, and the veneration given to the little statue, many Christians in Mexico don’t keep nativity scenes in their homes.
This marks the end of the Christmas season. Now – only 5 weeks until Lent begins!
It was a clear day yesterday, so, just for fun, I took a few lo-res snapshots of the volcanoes from an upstairs window. Here they are! Which is your favourite?
Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great!
You are clothed with splendour and majesty,
covering yourself with light as with a garment,
stretching out the heavens like a tent.
He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;
he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind;
he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire.
He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.
You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
At your rebuke they fled; at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.
The mountains rose,
the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them.
You set a boundary that they may not pass,
so that they might not again cover the earth.
You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills;
they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;
they sing among the branches.
From your lofty abode you water the mountains;
the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.
(Psa 104:1-13)
It’s just about to begin… listen to this podcast for more! Oh, and here’s the link to the Church & Community Center calendar.
We have a big… very big… event coming up in January! On the 5th to the 7th of January, the sports ministry known as Uncharted Waters will be returning to Ixtapaluca.
Uncharted Waters has actually been here more than once, running evangelistic sports camps. And they’re coming to do it again – but this time, with a twist.
The purpose of the camp will not only be to reach out to kids here in Mexico City. It will also be to train Mexican workers from other parts of the country to run their own sports camps. So it will be 15 years of international experience from Uncharted Waters added to the national experience, enthusiasm and people-power of Mexican leaders!
Now regularly doing over 100 camps a year, Uncharted Waters wants to see this ministry grow exponentially.
So we’re hoping to be hosting a lot of people come January! If you know Mexican Christian workers who would be interested in this ministry, point them to the poster below. Our coworker Rod has also posted more information in Spanish here.
This event will be three days long, hosted at our community centre in Jesús María, Ixtapaluca – Tiempo de Vivir. There is no cost.
