Retro: Board Game Inventor
The beginning of an illustrious career? I don’t know, but on this day ten years ago, Nathanael and Shari were playing a game created by Nathanael himself. I have no idea how to play – maybe he remembers?
Shari
A Visit to Panama (and a sloth video)
We recently came back from our mission’s Latin American Conference, which is a conference for missionaries in . . . you guessed it. Dozens of missionaries from all around the hemisphere gathered together in Panama.
We had lots of meetings, but also lots of time to talk and meet people and even to be touristy. This was the first Avant conference we’ve been to since Camino Global and Avant joined together, so there were quite a few missionaries who didn’t know each other (and there there still are – it was impossible for us to even meet everyone). I believe that they try to have a regional conference every 2 years.
Without going into all the details, there were times of worship, prayer, Bible teaching, and a lot of mission information meetings. There was also a special program for the youth and kids.
Yes, we were able to go and visit the Panama Canal, and even see ships go through. Having lived near the Trent–Severn Waterway in Ontario, it was interesting to compare and contrast the two. (The Canadian system of course having smaller locks, but being much more extensive. It was mostly finished before the Panama Canal was started.)
To see the wildlife, all we had to do was look out the window or walk out the door. It was a birdwatcher’s paradise, to say the least. And yes, Shari and I went to see some sloths. Here is an action-packed video for you to enjoy:
Retro: A Brief Visit to Canada
In 2012 we had a very quick visit to Canada – and here’s why.
During our visit, we were able to visit some grandparents! One stop was in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan… 10 years ago this very day.
Retro: Pies
Ten years ago today, we were in the midst of a kids’ club – and a baking class – in the community of Jesús María. Special Canadian guests came from Innisfail Baptist Church and Mirror Alliance Church.
After the baking class, Shari posed with the ladies from the team with their creations!
Hey friends – we told you to “come back soon” – but we’re still waiting! 🙂
Celebrations of Hope
We’ve had some very busy, very “social” days lately. But it’s been good to have some times of prayer and celebrations of hope.
Last Friday we went to a church planting workshop put on by our mission agency. It was a blessing to get together with coworkers from around the country, talking about how to move forward in ministry.
Sunday was certainly a celebration of hope. Having a Sunday almost exactly half-way between Christmas and Easter, we had a Christmas/Easter Service! (In Spanish, we actually use the word Pascua or Passover, for Easter. I do actually believe that, contrary to popular belief, Easter is likely a Christian term. But here in Mexico it’s generally Pascua, and Holy Week (Semana Santa), and Resurrection Sunday.)
This was originally my Dad’s idea. The first half of the service has Scripture readings about the birth of Christ, Christmas carols, and so on. The second half features songs from Good Friday/Resurrection Sunday. The idea is to bring the two together, and show why they are both important.
With so many new people at our church right now, it was also an opportunity – not only to do something fun and different, but also to remind ourselves of the basics of the faith. Who is Jesus? What did He accomplish on the cross? Why is it important that He rose again?
As you can see, Shari even thought of having a poinsettia and lily display. 🙂
But anyway, it really was a celebration of hope. What an encouragement to remember that Jesus has acted in history – and continues to do so – to bring salvation. He is indeed the Sovereign king of all.
Speaking of having lots of new people, we need more chairs! So I went and bought 16 more this week. And we also need to expand our tent – literally – so that we have shelter from the sun. So that is an ongoing challenge.
On Monday, we enjoyed getting together with Chuck and Karla, fellow missionaries in Mexico City. It was good to catch up with them, and pray for one another.
We even had a chance to “get together” as a family, connecting with Hannah in Canada, this week. We chatted and played some board games (online) together.
And Lord willing we’ll be seeing other coworkers next week, Mark and Angélica, who serve in the city of Pachuca.
And I’m hoping to have a prayer time with some of the pastors in our area next week as well, this time via video conference.
Meanwhile I’m preparing to preach tomorrow on “The Purpose of the Plagues“, as we continue through the incredible book of Exodus.
Some of you have received our newsletter – let us know if you don’t get it (it’s the “Different Opinions?” letter). Oddly enough, it was held up at the US/Canada border! Not by police, or truckers, as far as I know, but by some mistake. So I’m not sure what’s up with that. But do make sure that, if you’re on our Support Team, we have your current email address and physical address, in case something goes wrong with one or the other.
Today is Bible study day! Women in the morning, men in the evening. May God continue to teach us through His Word.
God’s Warmth in Chilly January
I’m just stopping by to say hello and let you know what we’re up to these day! So first – hello! And second, here’s a visual hello from Shari and her boys:
Actually, there are a few new photos in our Photo Gallery, if you would like to check them out.
So, yes, chilly January is here. I think we were pretty spoiled with temperatures last year, but winter has truly arrived in Mexico. And all of you up north can just be quiet about comparing temperatures – the truth is, I’m cold most of the time these days. Except today, when I brewed turkey soup on the stove all day, and made a dessert in the oven. It was a nice reprieve.
But seriously, this is the weather when a lot of houses are pretty cold around here, and that seems to lower your immunity, and people get sick. That can be bad, but of course these days there’s the added dimension that people feel they need to shut down their lives when that sniffle comes around, and so that means checking on people and sometimes shuffling around who is in charge of what on Sunday morning.
Tomorrow our church will take part in Biblical Sexuality Sermon Sunday (read more about that here). I’m actually not the main preacher. But by God’s providence, Rod was already preaching on a related theme. And I will address the topic earlier in our service, and we’ll be praying for our fellow believers in Canada, and other parts of the world, who are sharing God’s love and truth.
I’m excited that we’re getting back into Exodus next week, although I have to wait until the end of the month to preach myself. But I’ve already been preparing and I’ve got a fascinating text (Exodus 6).
Next week we’ll be continuing our leadership Bible studies, finishing the pastoral epistles. I think we’ve all learned a lot from the Apostle Paul (and most of all, the Holy Spirit!).
Nathanael is finishing up his semester next week, so that is certainly the end of a journey (and another one will begin the following Monday).
And I started my second Greek course this week. So that has meant a lot of study. A bonus is that I’m the only student in the class, no extra charge! 🙂
We’ve been excited about some past and future opportunities to share the gospel. So do pray for those who are hearing, that God’s Spirit would work in their lives and bring them to life.
And there are a lot of other things going on – every-day things, ministry things . . . even some online ministry at En la Biblia, and moving my Dad’s materials to the new WordWise blog.
Anyway, that’s just a little first-month-of-the-year update. Hope you’re all doing well!