A Bold New Future

Tracey and I along with many Latin America Mission missionaries met with our new mission, “United World Mission.”  I was anxious about the merger of the two missions and the resulting feelings to this new organization as the LAM closes its doors.  It was a wonderful introduction by its president and staff to a new partnership that will benefit us all and give us a new and long future reaching the world for Christ.  The LAM will close up at the end of 2013, but UWM will not lose a beat in the transition.  Those giving can continue to give to the LAM and UWM will get the funds to the right place.  Thanks for your prayers and we appreciate your faithfulness.

On her own…

 

Due to some important meetings that Tracey and I had this week, María was left on her own to lead the women’s Bible study as well as visit some of the families we usually meet with on Wednesday.  While I’m sure it was a busy day, I’ve heard back that many were pleased with the outcome, the conversations and the encouragement.  Thanks to both Maria and Jasmin, our partners in the work, people have felt cared for and listened to.

Preachers of the Month

Finishing off this month of invited speakers, Tracey shared about God’s handiwork through his description of “bread.”  She began with “manna” in the Old Testament and then went to the “bread of life” in the new.  It was a whirlwind adventure through the scriptures to see how God has provided for his people through the ages.  Thanks Tracey for your hard work and your continued dedication to the growth of the congregation.

A Special Guest…

 

Liz came and visited us this weekend.  Stopping over in Mexico City, Tracey took her to the church she helped start.  Bet-lehem Baptist Church is the one we’re working with to start new churches.  After that she joined us in our service in 1 More 4 Christ.  Finally we went out for some locally made burgers and then took her back to her hotel in Mexico City.  It was wonderful to see her and the pics she brought of her family.  Trust she has a safe journey home.

What’s left?

Our youth went out on a local scavenger hunt with their cameras looking for the old and used in groups of 3.  Here’s our partial list: a man with gray hair, a woman with wrinkles, shoes hanging from wires, broken toy, flat tire, graffiti on a wall, brown grass, puddled water, old coke can, old glass bottle, oxidized metal, dead plant, discarded food, broken plastic, faded sign, weathered wood.  And here are some of their pics.

Preachers of the Month

With very little experience, Jasmín is willing to learn how to share God’s word with a larger group of people.  She once said, “I don’t mind teaching one-on-one, but when it comes to larger groups, I get flustered and lose concentration.”  She’s been working hard on a message from Exodus 14 dealing with the God who protects us.  And I trust that she’ll learn how to let God use her to share his word to his people.  She did!

Youth Actors

 

So we’re getting a bit of a late start on this, but the youth are participating in a Christmas skit that just began its practices.  “We need to schedule more practice dates,” Keila pulled me aside to comment.  She’s directing the play.  Amidst overgrown grass and its mosquitoes, a cool breeze and the background noise of a freeway; we pulled off a quick practice at the tail end of youth group.  While the lighting was interesting, I can’t help but think that it would be an interesting effect to have “on stage.”