Community Centers!

Over the past several years, we have talked (and wrote) about the uniqueness of the community center approach to church planting.

It is interesting because it gives us (missionaries and other believers who are a part of it) a fun, non threatening way to get to know the people and the community. We get to laugh, have fun, and learn something new all while initiating a friendship with new people. Eventually from that friendship we can start talking about spiritual things.... share the Gospel, start a Bible Study etc.

So, what is new with the community centers...
1. Well, we started a new community center in the new neighborhood (Las Palmas). It is actually in the bottom floor of my house.  It has been a little over two months, already relationships are being formed. It is fun to hang see new friends when walking around my neighborhood, getting invited to homes to share meals etc.
Things are happening in this neighborhood, already (Kids club, classes, sports outreaches etc)! I can not wait to see what God is going to do in this place.
By the way, people in the new neighborhood... people love my silly dog again.-- maybe more than me =)

2. We are still having classes in Jesus Maria. We want to move that location to the upstairs of the church (eventually), have people from the Jesus Maria church to teach classes etc. Those classes will obviously change... maybe not english but maybe carpentry and plumbing. Still reaching people for Christ.... just in a different way!

Things are happening, we are busy, and we could even do more!

There are some things you can do to partner with us...
- PRAY! Pray for us. Pray for the community center, the classes, the teachers and the people that are coming. Pray that we can effectively be a light in these neighborhoods.
- COME! Bring a team. Help us with VBS, help teach classes, do a sports outreach etc. Your team can be your family, your friends, your youth group, your church, your small group, just you! E-mail me if you are interested and we can talk more specific details!
- GIVE! We can do a lot on just a very little bit of money. But, the reality is we want to continue to do more and we need the funds to do that. If you would like to give to these projects (helping move the community center to the church, buying things to improve the community centers, buying soccer balls, wheel chairs, help with rent etc.) Go here! We appreciate it =0)

Kids Club- Las Palmas!

We have started a kids club in Las Palmas. It is actually in Las Palmas 3, in a house of a lady we have come to know!

Rod teaches the adults and then the rest of us work with the kiddos!

Tonight we learned about Noah and the Ark (complete with making marshmallow animals)! 

Good times!

Please pray for this kids club (and parents study)!

Wheelchairs

Thanks to all who continue to give in order for us to continue giving wheelchairs to the people who need them the most.

(thanks for the pics Rod!)

New Neighborhood, New Opportunities

Part of moving into a new neighborhood to start a new work, is getting to know the needs, the wants and the desires of the new place.

Las Palmas has a very different feel than Jesus Maria. It has different needs.

We are planning on trying anything we can to reach the people of this new neighborhood. We have started community center classes, we are starting a bible club this Friday, soon we will give out our first wheelchairs here, a soccer tournament, and trying the oh so popular easter egg hunt!

Would you like to be a part of what God is doing here in Las Palmas and in Ixtapaluca?
We are open to (almost) anything. Some ideas?

- Skate boarding ministry. Come, demonstrate, teach, share the Gospel
- Some sort of dance ministry.
- kids ministries
- Fairs
- Youth outreaches

Does your church, your small group, your youth group, your group of friends want to come down for a week or so? No matter what your talent or passion is....We would LOVE to have you!
E-mail me for more information!

Just a small update!

I have been at a loss to what to write on here because I do the same thing a lot... teach classes, hang out with people, a couple bible studies a week etc.  Lately nothing super exciting, except for classes and stuff has happened around here... So i didn't want to bore you with the weekly photos of the classes. I know there is only so many english class pics you can stand to look at!

Anyways, classes are going well. Between Jesus Maria, Las Palmas, Ixtapaluca and Acozac I am teaching 17 hours of english, crafts, etc etc. In Las Palmas there are several families we are getting to know, its a great start.

In a few weeks we are starting a Kids Bible club on friday nights.

I am getting braver with driving a stick, just took some practice. I have loved having my own car. It has already given me more flexibility and time! Maggie loves it too.... she missed car rides. =)

thoughts while walking the dog.

So much to say and so little time to write blogs these days!

Anyways...

The other day I was walking around my new neighborhood. Some thoughts crossed my mind...
----- The first, is that this neighborhood is not use to seeing white people... yet. They definetly do not cover up the fact that they are doing a 180 degree turn to watch the white girl walk by. Soon they will be use to seeing missionaries, teams and interns!
----- The second..... why is my dog so popular. People stop me... just to know about her. It has happened since I got here, and still amazes me.
----  I really miss all my friends in Jesus Maria... seeing them everyday while walking my dog, getting invited to have coffee or share a meal, etc. But, I am impressed at how fast I can get to know some people here. It is encouraging.
---- This is really home. Of course, I have called Mexico home for over three years. But, I feel comfortable here. There are always going to be situations which will be new for me here. But, that is part of the adventure called life.  This is life. This is where I want to be, in Mexico. Maybe getting a car made everything seem so permanent, maybe I am more comfortable with the language, maybe it is just a God given feeling.. or all of them!
---- I am thankful and blessed to be living the life that I am living.

Life right now is busy! The community centers are going well. Jesus Maria Church is packed. Sunday schools are going well. Can't wait to see what the future holds.