Tuesday 31 March 2015

Soccer Tourney

We all know that Mexicans LOVE their soccer! So why not use that as a way to share the Gospel while providing a safe place for kids and teens to hang out and have a great time!

Last time we did a soccer tournament we had 14 or so teams...

This time...
21 teams
103 players
Various people watching

It was a great day to do it... the sun was out the skies were clear! We also had a guy who works at the rehab center (that the team visited yesterday) share his testimony of coming from the drug trafficking world to Christ.... living for the world and living for Christ.

We can not wait until our next tournament scheduled for June 13!








Kids tourney winners!


 Best Sportsmanship

Brackets




WINNERS!

Most Valuable Player





Monday 30 March 2015

We are the body of Christ

This afternoon we had the opportunity to go to the Rehab center, we have been able to go help, encourage, and chat with the guys at this place before.

It is always a good time to hear how God took these boys from a lifestyle of drugs and alcohol and bring them to Him. Some of the people they have been able to help went back to the streets and the drugs... others are living a life for God.

These guys live absolutely by faith... faith God will provide food, rent and all their needs. It is a place that is bare bones, and they are thankful for every single thing God has given them. (if you want to bring a group to this place to put windows in the house, or help in any other way, let me know!)

It is always encouraging to be there, listening to their stories, praying with them. I only hope we are as much of an encouragement to them.

The group from Chicago did a skit about the body of Christ. We are all important in the plan of God (from the high school student, pastors, missionaries, former drug addicts, business men, stay at home moms etc.). We all have a part to play.  It is important to remember that.

We also were able to listen to some incredible testimonies of how God has changed people.






WheelChair Event!

Today was the first time for us to give out wheelchairs in Las Palmas.

We were able to meet the physical needs of six people, but Mayra did an excellent job at communicating the Gospel very clearly. Two people wanted to talk more about it later too! =)

The wheelchair outreach is one of my favorite of all the outreaches. Please pray for the six people receiving wheel chairs and the family members who also heard the Gospel today!










Friday 27 March 2015

Kids Club- Las Palmas

Tonight was the last kids club in Las Palmas for this block. We ended talking about the Parable of the Lost Sheep!
Nine kiddos tonight. It was a good end to a good block of Kids Club! Keep praying for Las Palmas!







Thursday 26 March 2015

Tiempo de Vivir- Las Palmas

Tonight was the first official closing ceremony of the NEW community center in Las Palmas!

Great turnout, great people, lots of fun... even if there was a little rain!

I praise God for the connections we have made... and look forward to what He will do in this community!






Wednesday 25 March 2015

Tiempo de Vivir closing ceremonies- Jesus Maria

Tonight was the closing ceremony for this block of classes. It is always nice to be able to celebrate the accomplishments of the students! 

It was a rainy evening, but thank you to those who prayed, it cleared up JUST long enough for us to do our thing =)

Thank you to all who helped make this block of classes in Jesus Maria a success! =0)



 Chubby Bunny

Chubby Bunny winner!








Monday 23 March 2015

Look what the Lord has done.

A little over four years ago, I gave “notice” at my job that I was officially moving to Mexico in August. I said, “yes” to an adventure that I really knew nothing about. All I knew was that I loved God and He told me to go. But, past that, I knew nothing!

I came to Mexico… the same person that I have always been, with the same faults I have always had. I didn’t turn in to some super Christian… even though that would have been nice ;)

Actually, being in an unfamiliar place has a different effect on a person. It tends to reveal all of your insecurities and faults. Sounds fun, huh? 

But, it also does something else. It helps you discover gifts you never thought you had! It makes you realize that you enjoy things that you never thought you would. And all of those gifts and talents are never meant for me. They are meant to bless others and most importantly…. they are to be used to glorify God.

I realized that I love to connect people to each other. I don’t know why this doesn’t really happen more in missions. We are all on the same team. We want to see people put their faith in Christ and grow in their relationship with Him. People all over the world are doing that in some incredible ways. Why can’t we share ideas, resources, and contacts? Anyways, I love meeting people and seeing how they can help our ministry here, how we can help theirs or how they can benefit from knowing someone else that I know. 

Another one is the compassion that I have for people. God first started planting the seeds of compassion in me well before I moved to the mission field. I have witnessed and met women and girls who were stuck in human trafficking, talk to boys who lived on the street, got to know people who were bound to their house until they were given wheelchairs, got to know people who were stuck in sin, help families who worshipped everything except the one true Lord—- and the list goes on. And as I have come to know the needs not only here in Mexico but all over the world, I can not help but be compelled to help in any way I can. My heart breaks daily as I think and pray for all the brokenness of the world. 

Another part of compassion and connecting is being able to help people see the world for the first time. Bringing teams, interns, people from the United States and giving them a glimpse of not only the needs in the world, but also what God is doing in the world-- specifically Mexico. There is nothing better then watching someones life be changed by seeing the world in a new way. 

And of course, the gifts and talents that I used back in the States are still very present. I love organizing events, activities, classes. I love taking part in teaching people. I love helping with the youth group. I love people.

All of these gifts, callings, talents… it is not who I am but it is what I do now. It is what fills me with purpose and adds more joy to my relationship with the Lord. It is a calling that helps me listen and see what God is doing both in me and in the world around me. It makes me love the person in front of me and give of what I can. 


We serve a very creative God. One who can take a person and their little life and do fun things with them. His gifts are a privilege. Watching him work in our little lives is an honor. It never about my glory, I really don’t want any. It is about being able to say “look at what the Lord has done!” It is about standing in awe of God who invites us to take part in what He is doing.

Sunday 22 March 2015

The needs of the world.

I love being able to expose people to the needs of the world. Yesterday was one of those days

. I took the Jesus Maria youth to an Orphanage in Puebla (called Esperanza Viva- Living Hope). We played games, did a skit, and a craft with the kids. I do have to say, the youth did a great job hanging out and playing with the kids. 

While the kids at the orphanage seemed to love the time that we were there. My favorite part is hearing the experience the youth had. One youth in particular had a hard time understanding why people would treat kids bad. We talked a little bit and then said "we need to help with stuff more often, there are people hurting and we need to help them".

My hope in trips like this is more than just providing some fun for who we are serving. I want the people we are serving to see Christ in us... but I also want to show people the needs in the world. There are so many. One day, these youth will change the world!

Anyways, it was a good day! =0)






Monday 16 March 2015

Sendero de Vida, Jesus Maria 5th Anniversary



Yesterday the Sendero de Vida, Jesus Maria celebrated its 5th anniversary. I was unable to attend, I went to a retreat in Puebla. But, I thank the Lord for all He has done in the Jesus Maria, both the church and the community. I know that He will continue to you the people in the church to further His church there. Here is a post Rod wrote a few days ago.

Heres to Many more years *cheers*

Tuesday 3 March 2015

Coming up...





 




Having events where anyone can come to is a huge help to us when we are attempting to get to know an area and the people in it.

In the next month, we have a lot planned!

Only three more weeks left in this block of community center classes. That is crazy! It has flown by. We have been able to get to know new people, get to know other people better, and get to know the new neighborhood a little.
Closing Ceremonies will be...
In Jesus Maria, Wednesday March 25th
In Las Palmas, Thursday March 26th
It is a fun way to invite everyone who comes to classes (and their families), recognize their participation, eat good food, and share the Gospel!

The following week (which is Holy Week), we have a group from Chicago coming down. I think they just want to get away from the cold weather!
We have a lot planned for them, while they are here. We will be taking advantage of the fact that lots of people have the week off and there is no school!
We will have a soccer tournament, a wheelchair giveaway and the good 'ol easter egg hunt! Yes, all in a week.

Each event has a different target audience, a different way to show the Love of God, a different way to share a story from the bible (for example, during the wheelchair event Mayra shares about the paralytic man and the easter egg hunt we use the resurrection eggs!)

Even though we would love for a hundred people to come to each event, but we realize that it is not all about the numbers. It would be a successful event if 5 people come, they hear the Gospel, we plant seeds, we make contacts.

We would love for you to pray for these events. Please pray for the people coming, for the group coming down, for us (as we share, plan, organize, etc).