Support Raising

I don't normally write about support and giving money on here but today I am going to!

As most of you know, I have been in Mexico for the last 2.5 years working on a church plant team in Ixtapaluca (right outside of Mexico City)! I came here and kept extending my time =0). God has called me to go full time and I am working on raising the required monthly (and onetime) support that is needed to do so.

My current need is $1900 a month (more) to continue my service here after August 5th. My desire is to continue living and working here without interruption. I will have to do a small trip in the fall to the states for connecting, asking and sharing the story of what God is doing here.

While 1900 dollars a month SEEMS like a big number, if you break it down, it isn't bad at all.
19 people (or churches or groups) at 100 a month
28 people at 50 a month
76 at 25 a month
95 at 20 a month
190 at 10 a month
OR any combination. See, not bad!

Anyways, would you like to partner with me and what God is doing here in Ixtapaluca?
Are you in a church who would like to hear more?
How about your bible study?

Please let me know if you have questions, suggestions, comments. My e-mail is tbarham@caminoglobal.org

HERE Is my giving link! (if you want a paper form, let me know!)

Tiempo de Vivir

This week was the first week of our new community center block of classes. We never really know how the classes will turn out.... but so far so good!

All classes have been just the amount that the teachers can handle. Rod having like 8-10 guitar students, a room full for english classes, 4-5 for keyboard, 12 for kids craft class, and 12 for country dance class... oh and 2-6 for the everyday exercise class.

The best part of it... there is a great mixture of people we know (whether through the church or through other community center activities) and people we have never seen before!

Please pray for these classes this year. That we can not only provide some new knowledge, experience etc for the people attending but that we can gain relationships with the new people. We know relationships is the first step in being able to share the Gospel.

Greetings are Important

Growing up in the USA the typical greeting was a quick hello, a handshake, a nod. But, here in Mexico it is more customary for people to take the time to stop, say hello, give a cheek kiss, a hug, etc. You are actually a rude if you don't acknowledge the person.

Sometimes I mess up. I get in a hurry or am in my own little world and don't greet someone. I am sure my face turns red when I realize that once again I broke the greeting etiquette and slip back into my American ways. I am a work in progress, i guess. 

It is not just the greetings that are different, but also the goodbyes. You can not just say a blanket goodbye or open the door. You need to again go around to everyone and give individual goodbyes. 

For an american who is always in a rush and focused on the next task, I find this way of living to be refreshing. It causes me to slow down. To enjoy the people and the relationships around me. People are truly acknowledged, like they should be, instead of a quick exchange that barely makes notice of the person.

Greeting people, as I have come to realize, is important. People are not meant to be overlooked and you shouldn't be too busy to invest in that relationship. 

Fremont Alliance Trip

I am fortunate to be a part of a church that sends people. A group of seven people came to Mexico the for the last few days (actually they are still here, just with the Prusias). 

Last minute before they came, we found out that they could ACTUALLY do something on the land (property for the church building). They dug holes and helped get things ready to put in the poles that will enable us to have a second floor on the part of the church property we are currently working on. It was a lot of back breaking work... and they did it all with a sense of humor and a smile on their face!

Also during their time here we were able to do THREE wheelchair outreaches (two here in Ixtapaluca and one in a near by community). 

You can read about the wheelchair outreaches HERE, HERE, and HERE (haha).

They helped changed lives... giving the gift of mobility. 

I am thankful for each one of the people that came down ---Tim, Randy, Dan, James, Willie, Jo, and Ken!--- COME BACK ANY TIME!

I am also thankful that they got to see what our ministry is like here in Ixtapaluca and how God is changing and transforming our community.  

Wheel Chair Outreaches =)

Today was a pretty amazing day with a team from my home church- Fremont Alliance Church. They came down to work on our church property.... but we threw them into one of my favorite things, wheelchair outreaches! 

The morning we had about 75 people (including us and the team-- so 50 people we didn't know), gave 8 wheelchairs and Mayra gave an awesome devotional. 

This afternoon, after an amazing lunch, cooked by our amazing women in the church... we did another outreach. The goal was to delver the six wheelchairs. Well two people showed up and we left one chair. But, the small group was what God had planned. The people there touched our hearts and I think God touched some of theirs too! Pretty cool experience! 

Both outreaches are in new neighborhoods. But, we now have an open door! Praise the Lord!

More to come with this team! 

13 in '13

As the year come to a close, it is fun to reflect on the last 12 months of my life.  I made a list of the thirteen things I learned, relearned, or continued to learn in 2013.

In no particular order.

1. People change, yet God still does not.

Of course, I have known that more than this year... But, it was a common theme this year. Even when people around me change (maybe for the good, maybe not ), but God is still faithful .

 I am also thankful, continually, that God is God... That I serve The One who is forever the same, but is changing me.

2.  Extend grace to myself.

Although I am not the perfectionist that I once was, I struggle with nothing ever being good enough, whenever I finish something, I spend time thinking about what was wrong and what could have been better. (Not always bad to do that, you know). But this year taught me (sometimes the hard way), that I can give myself grace the way I try to give it to others.

3. Live for the moment

Even though I need to think and plan the future, I can not let worrying about what is going to happen over shadow the present.

4. Take new risks.... by myself.

I have never had a hard time trying something new or being adventurous.... And I admit usually it's more fun with a friend. But when no one else is around, why not do something crazy alone. It usually won't kill me, but will make life more fun and make me more interesting. 

5. God isn't in a hurry, even when I think He should be.

His work belongs to Him. He sets the pace. He leads. He guides. He provides. I can not make Him go any faster than His will.

6. Be thankful.

Even when having a tough day/week. In the little things and the big. It is the clue for thriving in life instead of just surviving.

7. Sing in the shower so your neighbor can hear it, it's fun!

8. if you don't know... ASK! 

Don't go around assuming you know or understand something or someone. Also (almost) no question is stupid and you can always learn more. 

You know what people say about assuming.

9. Be good to my body.

Eat right, exercise, relax, sleep.... All make me feel better.

10. Excuses, don't use them.

With the exception of excuses like "my _____died" most excuses  are not legitimate and lame... For everyone involved. 'I don't know where to start', 'I'm tired', 'it's too hard'. They all usually mean,  'I am not making it a priority'

11. When in doubt, make an effort.

I will never regret doing something I think I should do but it might be a little scary. If I fail, at least I tried.

12. Take a day off.

When I stay in my pj's a bit longer, watch a movie, talk to friends on Skype. And do not allow myself to feel guilty about it.

13. Uncomfortable underwear ruin your day, so don't wear them. ;)

14. Set realistic goals

It's easy, for me, to set goals that are far fetched and unrealistic. But, that leads to disappointment and not getting anywhere. But setting realistic small goals aNd accomplishing them feels great.

Eight Reasons I Enjoy Christmas!

in no particular order...


Number One: Christmas Cards
Good Old fashion send-in-the-mail Christmas Cards. They show the families personalities and leaves me feeling closer the family and friends in the States. Plus there is usually a unwilling family member in the picture. The one who is crying, not looking, making a face or not dressed in the matching attire that was mapped out ahead of time. Always entertaining.

Number Two: Ugly Christmas Sweaters.
You know the ones that your grandma still wears but you secretly borrow for the party? Although I didn't get to participate in any ugly Christmas sweater parties this year.... I did see plenty of photos on facebook that kept me smiling.

Number Three: Tacky lawn decorations
Really the possibilities are ENDLESS. A giant inflatable santa clause that takes up a quarter of your lawn, a moving nativity scene, a giant snow globe, a few dozen extension cords that millions of lights are connected to, candy canes lining the path to the front door. Oh don't forget when you can sync music to your lights. You can turn your lawn into christmasy-winterwonderland-youcanseeitfromspace extravaganza. Not done to the extent around here that it is in the US. But, some of my favorite Christmas memories include driving around looking at christmas lights. (by the way,... my grandpa fills every inch of his lawn, beat that!)

Number Four:  Christmas Movies
Nothing says Christmas like HOURS of movie marathons. Including but not limited too---- White Christmas, Charlie Brown Christmas, Home Alone, miracle on 34th street, A Christmas story....... etc. Oh and don't you dare forget about the claymation christmas specials!

Number Five: Gift Exchange
Those famous white elephant gift exchanges. I have been to some that get dangerous. People are stealing peoples gifts, small kids getting the ONE thing they wanted taken away from them, but at the end everyone is laughing and having a good time. You  usually leave with something you have no use for, but thats not the point. Fun is the point, and that was accomplished. 

Number Six: Food!
Turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, salads, pies, cakes, egg not, candy canes, hot chocolate, mint everything... all the things that make you wish, at the end of the day, that jeans with elastic in the waist were still in fashion.

Number Seven: Friends and Family
Nothing like the holidays to remind you how truly blessed you are. Friends and family, all over the world, that you love. You may not get to see them very often, but they are a part of who you are and you miss them- especially at Christmas. I thank God for all the people He has brought into my life.

Number Eight: Jesus!
Best for last right? Jesus, the reason we even celebrate Christmas. Thank God for sending His son to this earth, to live among us and eventually die for us, lowly sinners. That, in and of itself, is a reason to love Christmas and have joy in our hearts.

Anyways... MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!!!!!!