It was sad to know that tonight was going to be my last Bible study with Jason for a couple months. He is reading the book voraciously and is so eager to learn. I spent about 90 minutes just retelling the stories of Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers and Egypt and Moses and leading the people out of slavery. He knew a little bit about the 10 plagues and the Red Sea parting but he didn't know any of the rest of those Bible stories. It was fun to tell them while he sat mesmerized by them.
We talked a good bit too, and Kristin joined in when she brought Justin home from just being out of the little apartment so we could study in peace and quiet. They shared with me some of the life's story and how they were in Minnesota until about 5 years ago and their lives were so messed up. I was the one who set mesmerized by this story. I'd like to share it with you.
They were both on some serious drugs: methadone and heroin. He said he was ashamed to pray to God but he did a few times to help him get out of the drug addiction but he didn't think God would listen to him since he never worked at getting off the drugs.
Jason was in the U.S. illegally but had had some contact with Immigration to try and become legal. It looked like it would eventually happen for him. However, he'd had a couple of run-ins with local police for some fairly minor things but they would eventually figure things out and call Immigration.
Finally, they were driving in the snow one day and their car slid through an intersection and barely hit another car. There was no real damage to either because their car was almost stopped when it tapped the other one. They were afraid to stay in case the other driver might call the police so they drove off. The other driver took their license plate number for leaving the scene and called the police who tracked them down.
They were never charged for anything in that accident. There were no injuries or damages. However, in talking with the police he said something about Immigration and so they called Immigration. The officials there told them that this was the third call from police about this fellow so they were done with him and wouldn't be helping him any further. Three strikes you're out sort of deal. So, the police put him in jail as an illegal.
He didn't fight this through the courts as he figured he would have lost. Since Kristin was an American, he could have slowed down the process, but he would have been in jail for that whole time and he didn't really want to spend a year or more in jail. So, he waived any rights he might have had. Nonetheless, he spent some months in jail.
Jason said his time in jail was an answer to his prayer to God for help. During his time in jail he went through withdrawal from the drugs but he got through it. He said if it hadn't been for that time in jail, he probably never would have gotten off.
This was also the step that got Kristin off too since they ended up in Mexico without any money for drugs. She went through her withdrawal down here a bit later in this story. They both say that the time in jail saved their lives. They know that they'd both be dead by now by the drugs.
He was deported in shackles and stayed in Nuevo Laredo in Mexico (just over the border from Laredo, TX) until Kristin could come down. She sold their cars and bought a conversion van and drove down to be with him. They had a 3 month old baby and a little boy and they simply dumped them with one of Jason's relatives in Minnesota (who was a naturalized U.S. citizen). His uncle and aunt hated him for a few years for literally dumping their kids on them but he says now they've forgiven him.
Once in Mexico they drove to San Juan where Jason's family lived. However, Kristin had bought the van and come down so quickly (he didn't have any money to live) that she didn't have a title or even plates for the van. So, they had to bribe their way through the main checkpoints.
They were stopped again by police about 3 hours north of San Juan del Rio when they only had 200 pesos left and were almost out of gas in the tank. The police took that and said they were going to take the van too.
He finally convinced them that this was all the money they had left in the world and he showed them a nice radar detector that he had and so they took the radar detector and actually gave him back his 200 pesos and let them keep the van. They believed him. So, they arrived in San Juan on fumes and had 50 pesos left. They slept in the van for some time while he looked for work.
It was then that Kristin had to deal with the withdrawal from the drugs. Jason was away all day at work when he got a job, and she was left at his parents' house with his relatives who just hated her. She spoke not one word of Spanish and was totally alone and depressed. She got clear of the drugs but the depression grew worse.
By this point, he hated his work, hated his family, hated Kristin, and hated life. He really didn't see the point in living. Kristin, well, she felt the same way! They wanted to have a baby again now that they were finally drug-free but they weren't having success in that area.
They were just about to give up on life when Beth's mother and then Beth entered Kristin's life and Kristin also got pregnant. It was actually through a lady in the church here who lived nearby who helped hook up Kristin with Beth Hanna (Beth's mom). Beth H. tried to help Kristin but Kristin was still dealing with the drug and alcohol and depression and was not really interested in the studies and was looking mainly for someone to navigate Spanish for her and to maybe get a handout of money or whatever she could get.
Both Jason and Kristin said that the pregnancy saved their lives. Having a baby was the only thing they could think of to live for and for which to be together since their marriage was so bad they didn't even want to be together anymore. But Kristin had nowhere to go and couldn't communicate or survive on her own so he didn't send her away.
It took about 3 years for God to use the relationships between Beth Hanna and then Bethie to break through to Kristin's heart and to become genuinely interested in God's Word and in knowing God. Those were some tough times but oh so worth it!
Of course, now in 2009 "baby" Justin will be turning 3 in August. We won't get to be here for that celebration. Their faces are just radiant with the transformation God has done in their hearts. It is no less than amazing and a miracle. It took jail and deportation for both of them to beat the drugs and be saved from that.
Befriending Kristin was about the hardest thing Beth has ever done. Kristin was "unlovable" from a human perspective. But God was in control and God loves the unlovable. That's you and me and Jason and Kristin and everyone else. I'm so glad for God's amazing grace! Aren't you?!?
BTW, Jason's brother, Gerardo is having problems with his work as a long-distance bus driver from Guadalajara to Tijuana. He lives just down the street from Jason and Kristin even though his job is 5 hours away (and a lot more to Tijuana). A few weeks ago, Gerardo's wife, Lorena (I think I remember that correctly) was very sick and he couldn't leave her. He lost his normal bus route so now he has to wait for a bus trip to come up that's not on the schedule (there in Guadalajara). Unfortunately, there just aren't extra trips available very often so he's not getting enough work and they're in trouble financially now.
They don't know what to do BUT last week Gerardo asked Jason to pray for him. Gerardo has seen the change in their lives and has seen God answering Jason's prayers. Tonight, Jason asked me to pray for Gerardo too.
You know what would be great? If all of you would join me in praying for Gerardo...it would be great to see how God answers all of our prayers and to let Jason AND Gerardo and Lorena AND all of Jason's family know that God does answer prayers and the changes that God has done in the lives of Jason and Kristin are because of God's grace and mercy and His grace and mercy is there for them too.
Would you let me know that you are praying with me for Gerardo? It is now officially July 1st. Let's pray for this family every day here in July 2009. Let's see what God will do in their lives too. Jason knows God answers prayers because God saved his life from drugs and then saved his life from sin after crying out to God.
The only thing holding God back from answering our prayers is...our not praying them.
Are you in with me? If so, let me know...leave a comment or send me an email. I'd love to tell Jason how many other believers are praying for his brother and family in July 2009.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
FIFO
That's "First In, First Out" for you non-accounting types. We said goodbye to the mostly youth work team from CEFC this morning...well...more like last night in our case since they were up and out of here early and I wasn't driving so I prayed for them...with my eyes closed...in my room...in bed...asleep. Well, I was up working on home assignment plans until 2 a.m. so a 6 a.m. wake-up call would not have gone over too well.
And we said hello to our next work team tonight as they arrived in a moderate rainy season refresher. We had three young ladies stay with us for the past week and now we have three...hmmm...MORE young ladies...just not quite as young as the first ones. Hmmm....I probably shouldn't have gone there with age!
This group is from West Chester, PA (as I recall). The last group was from Carlisle, PA. We're really getting a Pennsylvania people fix this summer! lol I trust they will have a great week of ministry and new experiences here. We're leaving Friday so our guests will continue to be hosted for a few days by just Beth's mom (whose apartment is upstairs).
They'll be doing construction and English classes as their primary ministry focus.
And we said hello to our next work team tonight as they arrived in a moderate rainy season refresher. We had three young ladies stay with us for the past week and now we have three...hmmm...MORE young ladies...just not quite as young as the first ones. Hmmm....I probably shouldn't have gone there with age!
This group is from West Chester, PA (as I recall). The last group was from Carlisle, PA. We're really getting a Pennsylvania people fix this summer! lol I trust they will have a great week of ministry and new experiences here. We're leaving Friday so our guests will continue to be hosted for a few days by just Beth's mom (whose apartment is upstairs).
They'll be doing construction and English classes as their primary ministry focus.
Monday, June 29, 2009
July 2009 "Knowing Your ABCDs" Prayer Letter (snail mail version)
***NOTE THE TOGGLE FULL SCREEN BUTTON ON THE UPPER RIGHT OF THE SCRIBD VIEWING BOX FOR EASIER VIEWING***
McManus July 2009 PL
McManus July 2009 PL
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Catching Up
Where to start?
Well, we're 5 days away from our next home assignment. Always a special time for a number of reasons.
We haven't seen most of our siblings nor my parents and all but a couple of our many, many dear friends and relatives in at least two years. Trust me...we miss them. We have about 8,000 to 10,000 miles to travel ahead of us just over 2 months time. Trust me...this is not an easy thing to do.
It's not just the driving but so many different beds and floors and whatever else we manage to sleep on...sometimes these agree with our tired and sore necks and backs and sometimes they don't. Good attitudes are needed and remembering our precious Lord and Savior who had not even a place to call home for over 3 years...not just 3 months.
We really do enjoy sharing our ministry and what God is and has been doing in and through our lives and efforts here in Mexico. It's our passion...sometimes our pain...but always our purpose.
Aside from the many thoughts that cloud our minds as we try to prepare for such a long trip and try to remember exactly who needs shoes and belts and shirts and pants and skivvies and how many bags of chocolate chips and how many bottles of motor oil and filters and those big bottles of coffee creamer at SAMS Club and what gifts should we return with, books for co-op, curriculum for the boys' education, and on and on and on. And there's paperwork to be filled out for the mission for our departure from the field as well as our planned travels and appointments and then...well...I could go on. But I just wanted you to get the picture that we don't just plop stuff in suitcases and hit the road...it's a rather daunting preparation project. When all is said and done...we pretty much just plop stuff in suitcases and pray that God will work it all out and we won't forget something really important. :-)
It's work team season. We have one here now. Only 3 gals with us this week as part of a team of 11. We don't have huge responsibilities but some transportation and a couple of meals (we just finished the last one tonight). They leave Tuesday and the next one arrives Tuesday with a few more guests. Beth's mom is here for the summer so when we leave on Friday, we'll still be hosting those guests.
I've been ill. Not a sickness...not the flu...but just a condition. It has really gotten to me the past week. Last Sunday I could barely get out of bed. It had been a lesser and unknown problem for about 2 years but worsened in early April, and a week ago I thought it was time to see a doctor so I could at least find out if it was terminal or not. Seriously, I wasn't sure...I just knew I have never felt this badly before in my life. So, knowing I needed to see an internist, you can imagine the difficulty it is to get into see one on short notice. Beth called on Monday at about 10 a.m. and we were sitting in the surgeon's office at 12 noon! Ha-ha...now THAT'S the way it should be when you really need to see a doctor.
Well, it turns out it isn't terminal. It's worse. It appears I'm going to live. But...he didn't really tell us precisely what it is...just threw a couple of basic categorical names at us and gave me a few prescriptions. Basically, it's colitis. My entire abdomen feels bruised...front and back. It really hurts. Sometimes it's better but at other times it's worse again. Now, I've only had meds going for about 5 days and I've got another 20 or so days to go. I am presuming that I'll feel much better then, but if not, I'm not sure what I'll do. We'll be traveling and what can you do when you're in a different place from day to day? Well, I guess we can pray, right? So...maybe you can pray too. Pray that God will heal this issue.
I lose a bit of sleep because of it and that's not going to work out too well with the schedule that we're looking at. Here I can deal with it b/c if I don't have morning requirements, I can get the rest I need by sleeping later. But that won't work out once we hit the road. I sometimes can't sleep well b/c of the pain and often don't fall asleep until 1 to 2 a.m. In fact, at times I don't even try to go to bed b/c it seems pointless to go to bed until I'm so tired I can't stay awake anymore. That's when I sleep best...but that's quite late. Anyway, I hope you'll pray for me. Thanks.
We're closing in on our last times with Jason and Kristin for a few months. They're growing in Christ and we will miss them. We hope and pray that they do well in our absence. It feels a little like leaving your children off at university or boarding school or something like that. Of course, we know they have the Bible and they the Holy Spirit so they can make it fine. But they're so young in the faith and have so many questions. We've just begun to work a bit with them as a couple in some marital issues. Normal ones really but neither of them had any kind of a role model growing up. They have no past experiences to help them know how to parent or how to treat each other respectfully and lovingly. They manage...but they are definitely in a stressed relationship and we've been helping them the past couple weeks with particular issues. It's fun to watch because they seem to really want to make the marriage a better one and they seem willing to learn and to work at it.
I took Jason to the Christian bookstore here (Jornada Espiritual) last week. He'd never been there. He loves to read and he was overwhelmed by the quantity of books they have there. He had no idea on where to start so I picked out a book on eternal security which looked good. I wasn't quite sure where to start either! Later we came here to the house and he looked through our shelves of Christian books and he took home a book that was really meant for teenagers as an overview of the Bible but it looked perfect for his level of English and comprehension. I think he'll learn a lot from it. So, he's got those two plus he's going to read through the rest of Stranger on the Way to Emaus. I think he's set. Oh and he was "commanded" by Beth to read aloud to Kristin, His Needs, Her Needs.
Finally, the rainy season has returned. We had some nice rains in May for about a week but then it was dry until a couple days ago. For Father's Day I got myself a gadget I found in an electronics store downtown: an electric flyswatter. Wow...is this thing great! Flies are actually hard to hit but mosquitoes are much easier and we have lots of those. With the team here for meals we have had to leave the front door open in the evening and our house is just inundated with mosquitoes (which showed up when the rains returned) so I've been zapping mosquitoes constantly the past couple days. No more slapping them against the walls and ceilings with books. No more yucky spots on the walls and ceilings! I will have to pick up a couple more of these in the U.S. too. Oops...there's something else to add to the list. Trust me...I'll forget.
Well, we're 5 days away from our next home assignment. Always a special time for a number of reasons.
We haven't seen most of our siblings nor my parents and all but a couple of our many, many dear friends and relatives in at least two years. Trust me...we miss them. We have about 8,000 to 10,000 miles to travel ahead of us just over 2 months time. Trust me...this is not an easy thing to do.
It's not just the driving but so many different beds and floors and whatever else we manage to sleep on...sometimes these agree with our tired and sore necks and backs and sometimes they don't. Good attitudes are needed and remembering our precious Lord and Savior who had not even a place to call home for over 3 years...not just 3 months.
We really do enjoy sharing our ministry and what God is and has been doing in and through our lives and efforts here in Mexico. It's our passion...sometimes our pain...but always our purpose.
Aside from the many thoughts that cloud our minds as we try to prepare for such a long trip and try to remember exactly who needs shoes and belts and shirts and pants and skivvies and how many bags of chocolate chips and how many bottles of motor oil and filters and those big bottles of coffee creamer at SAMS Club and what gifts should we return with, books for co-op, curriculum for the boys' education, and on and on and on. And there's paperwork to be filled out for the mission for our departure from the field as well as our planned travels and appointments and then...well...I could go on. But I just wanted you to get the picture that we don't just plop stuff in suitcases and hit the road...it's a rather daunting preparation project. When all is said and done...we pretty much just plop stuff in suitcases and pray that God will work it all out and we won't forget something really important. :-)
It's work team season. We have one here now. Only 3 gals with us this week as part of a team of 11. We don't have huge responsibilities but some transportation and a couple of meals (we just finished the last one tonight). They leave Tuesday and the next one arrives Tuesday with a few more guests. Beth's mom is here for the summer so when we leave on Friday, we'll still be hosting those guests.
I've been ill. Not a sickness...not the flu...but just a condition. It has really gotten to me the past week. Last Sunday I could barely get out of bed. It had been a lesser and unknown problem for about 2 years but worsened in early April, and a week ago I thought it was time to see a doctor so I could at least find out if it was terminal or not. Seriously, I wasn't sure...I just knew I have never felt this badly before in my life. So, knowing I needed to see an internist, you can imagine the difficulty it is to get into see one on short notice. Beth called on Monday at about 10 a.m. and we were sitting in the surgeon's office at 12 noon! Ha-ha...now THAT'S the way it should be when you really need to see a doctor.
Well, it turns out it isn't terminal. It's worse. It appears I'm going to live. But...he didn't really tell us precisely what it is...just threw a couple of basic categorical names at us and gave me a few prescriptions. Basically, it's colitis. My entire abdomen feels bruised...front and back. It really hurts. Sometimes it's better but at other times it's worse again. Now, I've only had meds going for about 5 days and I've got another 20 or so days to go. I am presuming that I'll feel much better then, but if not, I'm not sure what I'll do. We'll be traveling and what can you do when you're in a different place from day to day? Well, I guess we can pray, right? So...maybe you can pray too. Pray that God will heal this issue.
I lose a bit of sleep because of it and that's not going to work out too well with the schedule that we're looking at. Here I can deal with it b/c if I don't have morning requirements, I can get the rest I need by sleeping later. But that won't work out once we hit the road. I sometimes can't sleep well b/c of the pain and often don't fall asleep until 1 to 2 a.m. In fact, at times I don't even try to go to bed b/c it seems pointless to go to bed until I'm so tired I can't stay awake anymore. That's when I sleep best...but that's quite late. Anyway, I hope you'll pray for me. Thanks.
We're closing in on our last times with Jason and Kristin for a few months. They're growing in Christ and we will miss them. We hope and pray that they do well in our absence. It feels a little like leaving your children off at university or boarding school or something like that. Of course, we know they have the Bible and they the Holy Spirit so they can make it fine. But they're so young in the faith and have so many questions. We've just begun to work a bit with them as a couple in some marital issues. Normal ones really but neither of them had any kind of a role model growing up. They have no past experiences to help them know how to parent or how to treat each other respectfully and lovingly. They manage...but they are definitely in a stressed relationship and we've been helping them the past couple weeks with particular issues. It's fun to watch because they seem to really want to make the marriage a better one and they seem willing to learn and to work at it.
I took Jason to the Christian bookstore here (Jornada Espiritual) last week. He'd never been there. He loves to read and he was overwhelmed by the quantity of books they have there. He had no idea on where to start so I picked out a book on eternal security which looked good. I wasn't quite sure where to start either! Later we came here to the house and he looked through our shelves of Christian books and he took home a book that was really meant for teenagers as an overview of the Bible but it looked perfect for his level of English and comprehension. I think he'll learn a lot from it. So, he's got those two plus he's going to read through the rest of Stranger on the Way to Emaus. I think he's set. Oh and he was "commanded" by Beth to read aloud to Kristin, His Needs, Her Needs.
Finally, the rainy season has returned. We had some nice rains in May for about a week but then it was dry until a couple days ago. For Father's Day I got myself a gadget I found in an electronics store downtown: an electric flyswatter. Wow...is this thing great! Flies are actually hard to hit but mosquitoes are much easier and we have lots of those. With the team here for meals we have had to leave the front door open in the evening and our house is just inundated with mosquitoes (which showed up when the rains returned) so I've been zapping mosquitoes constantly the past couple days. No more slapping them against the walls and ceilings with books. No more yucky spots on the walls and ceilings! I will have to pick up a couple more of these in the U.S. too. Oops...there's something else to add to the list. Trust me...I'll forget.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
New Prayer Card
With our upcoming home assignment looming on the calendar, there are so many things to do to prepare for it. One is to get a new prayer card to take with us. The kids change so quickly over 2 years time so we really needed to replace the last one.
Thanks to a fellow CAM missionary at the CAM Center, Alfie Pfeifer, we have a new card to share with you. He also formats and bulk mails our quarterly snail mail letters as well. Thanks Alfie for your great ministry to us and all the other CAMers too!
Without a doubt Alfie has saved us dozens and dozens of hours of work so if you've never thought that it is important to have or to support missionaries in the U.S., think again. Without Alfie and many others like him, we would either not be here or we'd be here spending many hours making prayer cards and newsletters instead of helping missionaries in their home education needs or sharing the Gospel with others and discipling young believers. It's a team effort and Alfie is one of our key players! Thanks Alfie!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Birthday Park
After the Lord of the Rings cake and a not too restful overnight with a couple of friends, Cameron also got a trip to Bicentennial Park located about 10 minutes on the other side of Queretaro. This is a birthday park not just because we were belatedly celebrating Cameron's 11th birthday (June 1st) but this park was built for the 200 year anniversary of Mexico's independence in 1810. The park is a little early which is somewhat of any oxymoron considering most events seem to be late rather than early or even on-time in this country. That's fine with us and I'll show you some photos that shows why we're pleased with it being open now.
It's not a huge park but it is very attractive and has a dozen or so rides and attractions. For a one-price admission, there's a small roller coaster with a loop and corkscrew, bumper cars, a not yet open water spash ride, a train, a pirate ship swinging ride, and a few rides for younger kids. On top of that there is a water park included that has three slides, a lazy river, a few pools and a little kiddie area.
The best part to all of this is the price. Ready for this? It costs 25 pesos for everything. At today's exchange rate that's $1.87. Yup...under $2!!!
The government agency for child welfare built it and is in charge of running it. I guess they wanted to make sure that children from any economic bracket could enjoy it. Funny thing is that I've noticed it being used by people from upper and upper middle classes for the most part who could afford to pay more. We sometimes go to water parks with fewer slides open for about 100 pesos. So this is an amazing deal and fits a missionary budget really nicely! We were happy to pay the entrance price for the whole group!
Next to the park is a new sports complex and a new children's hospital. Government funds at work. At least it does seem to benefit the general population and not just line the pockets of insiders. Can't complain! Finally we have a park within an hour's drive that is worth the price and gives us a nice day out.
I'll share some photos and some videos as soon as I can get them prepped for uploading.
It's not a huge park but it is very attractive and has a dozen or so rides and attractions. For a one-price admission, there's a small roller coaster with a loop and corkscrew, bumper cars, a not yet open water spash ride, a train, a pirate ship swinging ride, and a few rides for younger kids. On top of that there is a water park included that has three slides, a lazy river, a few pools and a little kiddie area.
The best part to all of this is the price. Ready for this? It costs 25 pesos for everything. At today's exchange rate that's $1.87. Yup...under $2!!!
The government agency for child welfare built it and is in charge of running it. I guess they wanted to make sure that children from any economic bracket could enjoy it. Funny thing is that I've noticed it being used by people from upper and upper middle classes for the most part who could afford to pay more. We sometimes go to water parks with fewer slides open for about 100 pesos. So this is an amazing deal and fits a missionary budget really nicely! We were happy to pay the entrance price for the whole group!
Next to the park is a new sports complex and a new children's hospital. Government funds at work. At least it does seem to benefit the general population and not just line the pockets of insiders. Can't complain! Finally we have a park within an hour's drive that is worth the price and gives us a nice day out.
I'll share some photos and some videos as soon as I can get them prepped for uploading.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Cameron's Birthday Cake (2 weeks late!)
Cameron wanted his birthday cake to have some sort of Lord of the Rings theme so Bethie made him "the ring" complete with the Elvish writing. She did a great job as you can see.
(sorry about the mumbled voice in the video...I was really tired as you can tell...couldn't even think straight but here it is after midnight and I'm finally getting this posted so no wonder I'm so tired...gotta get more sleep!)
(sorry about the mumbled voice in the video...I was really tired as you can tell...couldn't even think straight but here it is after midnight and I'm finally getting this posted so no wonder I'm so tired...gotta get more sleep!)
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Anyone Want To Teach In Mexico?
Puebla Christian School needs some teachers for the coming school year. Let me know if you would like more info and I can get someone to speak with you or have info sent to you.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Just a Fridge
When Jason and Kristin moved into their "new" apartment last month, the very day they moved, their 25 year old refrigerator died when a hose broke and all the gas leaked out. It was heartbreaking for Kristin as the move was very stressful since the house had so many problems and issues but was the only place they could afford. Imagine life without your fridge, especially if you have a young child. I suppose we just take such an appliance for granted but it is an important one for just about everyone.
We were wondering if or how we should help them with this problem. We have been very careful to not try to solve their financial struggles. This a chance for them to pray and to see how God provides.
Since we went on vacation last week and were a long way away, we wondered what had become of this issue. Well, they ended up going to a local store (Elektra) and getting their first-ever brand new refrigerator. Unfortunately, they didn't have any money at all to pay for it so they bought it on credit. For them this means instead of paying $4800 pesos (about $370 USD) cash, they are paying $100 pesos a week for 78 weeks. Can you imagine paying 163% the normal retail price for anything?
I feel badly for them but they are just happy to have a good working fridge and feel comfortable paying $100 pesos a week for it...in addition to the weekly amount they're already paying for the very modest kitchen table and chairs and basic DVD player which after 1 month of use stopped working correctly!
They know they don't want to live under debt and are trying to find ways to earn extra income to get out from under these things. Maybe I'll write later about a project with which I'm helping Kristin so she can possibly earn some extra money that would help them with their income needs.
Until then...have you thanked God for your fridge today?
(no...I didn't say "have you hugged your fridge today?" and if you really want to hug your fridge, then maybe you would be better off without it! ha-ha!)
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Making Disciples
It's such an amazing time for us as we see God working in the lives of Jason and Kristin. We've been working on a friendship with them for three years and to now see them both having come to faith in Christ just blows our minds.
I continue studying with Jason on Monday evenings and Beth studies with Kristin on Tuesdays. They're both growing spiritually and we're seeing huge changes in Kristin. Now we're finding that our friendships are growing too as we have a new-found connection through our fellowship in the Spirit.
They have many questions and Kristin has been asking about why she doesn't "feel" forgiven for sins committed years ago. She asked me this after my study with Jason on Monday and apparently my explanation from Scripture really helped her understand that with true confession and repentance comes true and forever forgiveness. Whether we feel forgiven or not, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us completely from our unrighteousness and this we can know. It's a truth so basic to the Christian life but so very important to grasp. She told Beth on Tuesday that she feels so free from her past sins now that she's understood this. That's so great to hear.
We're really taking seriously the idea of starting a house church this fall after our home assignment. We've never done this before...we're not church planters as you know. But the opportunity just keeps growing for the idea of beginning an English-based Bible study/fellowship that might take the form of a bi-lingual event or might be almost completely in English. At this point there are lots of ideas and we're in the process of thinking and praying them over to see what God wants.
The main purpose for this type of approach is that there appears to be the potential to reach Mexicans in an informal, English-based event that mostly would draw middle and upper-middle class Mexicans who otherwise wouldn't be interested in a similar outreach in Spanish. The use of English and the location in a private home rather than a place that may have a religious connotation to it, such as the community center, might appeal to them.
At the same time our CAM co-workers, Scott and Ruth Yingling, are beginning a new house church that seeks to target this same class of people but in Spanish. Perhaps between both of these efforts, we'll find we can complement each other and reach these mostly unreached people here in San Juan del Rio in whichever method works best.
I had reservations about this idea initially since reaching Mexicans in English seems like a cop-out for someone like me who struggles in Spanish. It would seem like an ineffective way to reach native Spanish-speakers.
However, the tipping point is the idea that Mexicans who also speak English or are developing their English skills typically want social contacts with native English-speakers. An opportunity like this would allow them a free, real-world (out of classroom) English context, while at the same time allowing us a platform to introduce these folks to the Gospel and to some believers. Jason and Kristin have made it very clear that they would be happy to attend and be a part of this.
This type of ministry has been tried before in other locations in Latin America although I don't think too many CAMers have ever been involved in such an outreach. Here in Mexico I doubt anyone with CAM has ever tried this as a regular ministry.
I don't know how it will turn out but we'd greatly appreciate your prayers for wisdom and understanding of God's will for us in this. So far we're sensing that this is the direction in which we should go for this aspect of ministry here.
Of course, we're still focusing on our primary support ministry here with MK education, but we've always looked for ways to have an evangelistic impact whenever the opportunity has arisen and to be disciples of Jesus who make disciples of Jesus who in turn make disciples of Jesus.
Thanks for praying!
Here are some recent photos of Jason and Kristin and their son Justin. He's been in the "terrible-twos" but is so stinkin' cute!
I continue studying with Jason on Monday evenings and Beth studies with Kristin on Tuesdays. They're both growing spiritually and we're seeing huge changes in Kristin. Now we're finding that our friendships are growing too as we have a new-found connection through our fellowship in the Spirit.
They have many questions and Kristin has been asking about why she doesn't "feel" forgiven for sins committed years ago. She asked me this after my study with Jason on Monday and apparently my explanation from Scripture really helped her understand that with true confession and repentance comes true and forever forgiveness. Whether we feel forgiven or not, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us completely from our unrighteousness and this we can know. It's a truth so basic to the Christian life but so very important to grasp. She told Beth on Tuesday that she feels so free from her past sins now that she's understood this. That's so great to hear.
We're really taking seriously the idea of starting a house church this fall after our home assignment. We've never done this before...we're not church planters as you know. But the opportunity just keeps growing for the idea of beginning an English-based Bible study/fellowship that might take the form of a bi-lingual event or might be almost completely in English. At this point there are lots of ideas and we're in the process of thinking and praying them over to see what God wants.
The main purpose for this type of approach is that there appears to be the potential to reach Mexicans in an informal, English-based event that mostly would draw middle and upper-middle class Mexicans who otherwise wouldn't be interested in a similar outreach in Spanish. The use of English and the location in a private home rather than a place that may have a religious connotation to it, such as the community center, might appeal to them.
At the same time our CAM co-workers, Scott and Ruth Yingling, are beginning a new house church that seeks to target this same class of people but in Spanish. Perhaps between both of these efforts, we'll find we can complement each other and reach these mostly unreached people here in San Juan del Rio in whichever method works best.
I had reservations about this idea initially since reaching Mexicans in English seems like a cop-out for someone like me who struggles in Spanish. It would seem like an ineffective way to reach native Spanish-speakers.
However, the tipping point is the idea that Mexicans who also speak English or are developing their English skills typically want social contacts with native English-speakers. An opportunity like this would allow them a free, real-world (out of classroom) English context, while at the same time allowing us a platform to introduce these folks to the Gospel and to some believers. Jason and Kristin have made it very clear that they would be happy to attend and be a part of this.
This type of ministry has been tried before in other locations in Latin America although I don't think too many CAMers have ever been involved in such an outreach. Here in Mexico I doubt anyone with CAM has ever tried this as a regular ministry.
I don't know how it will turn out but we'd greatly appreciate your prayers for wisdom and understanding of God's will for us in this. So far we're sensing that this is the direction in which we should go for this aspect of ministry here.
Of course, we're still focusing on our primary support ministry here with MK education, but we've always looked for ways to have an evangelistic impact whenever the opportunity has arisen and to be disciples of Jesus who make disciples of Jesus who in turn make disciples of Jesus.
Thanks for praying!
Here are some recent photos of Jason and Kristin and their son Justin. He's been in the "terrible-twos" but is so stinkin' cute!
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Banderas Bay and Beach
Can't say we're anything less than very blessed to have been able to drive to Puerto Vallarta last week for a few days of vacation. It was very relaxing.
The drive isn't fun but the destination is wonderful. Banderas Bay is amazing. Most of the bay is filled with condos and hotels so one must imagine what it looked like before tourism showed up. It was the beginning of the "low season" so we got a good rate. Other than the fact that our Mexican resort was probably half full, most hotels in the area in which we stayed seemed empty. Couldn't complain about that either.
Cameron was with us but he was upset that we went out for a drive around a bit of the bay rather than swim in the pool that evening. His face was worse than Bethie's and Dayton's! It was Camboy's birthday after all, so we didn't make him get in the photo. Happy 11th birthday to Cameron on June 1st! As you can see Beth's mother joined us for this vacation.
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