A video from the Orphanage Trip

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.

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)

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*

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).

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)!