For whatever reason, years ago, we lost most of our pictures and videos from 2007. Usually we’re pretty obsessive about backing up pictures, but I searched everywhere for months and was only able to find the odd file.
But, amazingly enough, I found the pictures on an old drive (which I thought I would have checked!). Which means we’re seeing pictures and video from 10 years ago that we thought was lost forever!
So, one of these is this video from ten years ago today – Hannah and Nathanael in our yard in Cuernavaca, showing off a hummingbird feeder which we had made.
Ten years ago today – Hannah and Nathanael had their first birthday party in Mexico. Considering the plethora of new bugs where we lived in Cuernavaca, it was appropriate that the theme was – bugs! Or – small creatures, anyway. I realize that neither caterpillars nor spiders are technically “bugs”. 🙂
A photo taken on this day ten years ago, in our yard in Cuernavaca. Nathanael and Hannah are showing off their specially decorated Easter eggs on Resurrection Sunday.
Ten years ago today! Chilling out in the Casteel’s pool – something we actually rarely did, considering how close it was to our house in Cuernavaca. But we had fun when we went there! Thanks, Toby and Marilyn!
It’s one of those times when I have no time to write, but I really should give you a quick update – especially for those of you who are praying!
So – – you can pray for our team mate who has cancer. She has completed another treatment, and Lord willing will be going home today for a while. However, she needs to have another transfusion first. Please pray that she’ll be home soon, and will have a good time of recovery before continuing treatment.
Shari, who was almost better from whatever-nasty-bug we had recently, is sick again. Please pray that she’ll be feeling better soon!
The Camino Mexico Coordinating Team is meeting today and tomorrow in Ixtapaluca. As always, we would appreciate your prayers as we work on things that will impact us as a field.
A team will be coming from Thursday to Tuesday – we appreciate your prayers that God will teach them and use them – and all of us!
After that, there’s a meeting with the leaders of the churches in the Mexico City area – that’s the 11th – we would appreciate your prayers for that as well, as we discuss plans for the future.
On the home front, we’re approaching a whole bunch of deadlines related to Hannah and Nathanael’s school – please pray that they (and we!) can get everything done in time.
That fall was probably one of the most difficult times of my life. Absolute chaos, in so many ways – uncertainty, hardly time to sleep, and just waaaay too many balls in the air. But somehow or another, on the 31st of October 2006, we left Canada on our way to Mexico.
Nathanael and Hannah, having recently arrived in MexicoOnce we made it to Texas, we met up with friend and fellow missionary Alan McManus, who had been in the USA visiting family and picking up a few needed items. It was on this day – 10 years ago – that we followed Alan across the RÃo Bravo (called the Rio Grande in the USA), to start a new phase of life living in Mexico.
The border crossing was remarkably uneventful, and we were blessed with safe travels down (even though we were about to become horrendously sick for a few days – but let’s not get into that!).
That night we stayed at a hotel, and went to get pizza (Domino’s, I think – who would have thought our first supper in Mexico would be pizza?).
I look back with gratitude to God at those ten years in Mexico. In the weeks before we left, there were times we wondered if we would make it at all. Many times of urgent prayer. But God provided every step of the way.
Our first year and a half were spent in the city of Cuernavaca, going to classes and worshipping with our brothers and sisters in Christ at Iglesia BÃblica El Renuevo (The Renewal Bible Church). Then we moved to Ixtapaluca in Mexico City, where we had the privilege of seeing Mexican leadership officially take over the work of Iglesia BÃblica Sendero de Vida (Path of Life Bible Church).
Then it was a new part of Ixtapaluca – Jesús MarÃa, where we saw the birth and growth of another local church – Iglesia BÃblica Sendero de Vida Jesús MarÃa. We watched as God brought people to life and gave them a hunger for His Word.
And this month – we have seen the beginnings of a new group of believers in the community of Las Palmas.
God has blessed us with so many new friends here in Mexico (and continuing friendships outside of Mexico) – people who have counselled us and spoken God’s Word to us and encouraged us. He has shown us His grace over and over.
And today we still pray for many of the same things we prayed for in the first place – understanding, health, friendship, opportunity. That somehow God would use us to bring new life in an area where there are so few believers.
Thank you to all of you who have been a part of this ministry!
I have lots to do today – no time to reflect as much as I would like to. And how could I write a post that would do justice to what God has done over 10 years?
But just for fun, let me leave you with this almost-10-year-old podcast featuring Hannah and Nathanael. Less than a month after our arrival in Mexico, I asked them what they liked about it. Today they still like it, after living most of their lives here!
Our first year and a half were spent in the city of Cuernavaca, going to classes and worshipping with our brothers and sisters in Christ at Iglesia BÃblica El Renuevo (The Renewal Bible Church). Then we moved to Ixtapaluca in Mexico City, where we had the privilege of seeing Mexican leadership officially take over the work of Iglesia BÃblica Sendero de Vida (Path of Life Bible Church).
And today we still pray for many of the same things we prayed for in the first place – understanding, health, friendship, opportunity. That somehow God would use us to bring new life in an area where there are so few believers.