July-August Monthly Update

Happy Fall!!!

The weather is certainly turning chilly here in Virginia, and the leaves are beginning to change color. Fall is finally in the air! The last couple of months have been hectic and full of activity, including preparations for and travel to Virginia for two months. I must apologize up front for having not sent out a July update. Evan after being in the states for over a month now, I'm only just beginning to be able to sit down and think through the events and activities of the last 2 ½ months. I don't want to leave too much out, but since this update will encompass July and August, I will also include links to where you can get more details about all that went on. So, sit back with a mug of something warm, enjoy the cool weather, and hold on for the roller coaster ride you're about to read!

Jumping into July…

Shortly after I returned to Mexico after my brother’s funeral, we headed to Tepic, the state capital of Nayarit, for a 1-day camp planned and executed entirely by our four student leaders: Jesus, José Luis, Martin, and Sandy. This activity was intended to welcome our New Generation of students: the rising 7^th graders who would be joining the youth group. All of the activities planned by the four leaders were intended to help the new students get to know each other and their student leaders, build a sense of community, encourage teamwork, and welcome them into the youth group. We headed to a public park where they played several team-building games and then spent some time debriefing in small groups. While the kids were playing, Steve, Geña, and I prepared lunch. After lunch Martin shared a devotion that He had prepared, and then all four leaders gave short testimonies about what it was like for them when they first began attending the youth group. They encouraged the kids that things were going to be different but that the Lord was going to teach them a lot and that they were going to have a lot of fun in the process. It was truly a great day. After the organized activities were over, we headed to the mini-zoo that is next to the park and then spent some time playing soccer before heading home. The kids seemed to have a really great time, and we’re excited to see how completely they have jumped into youth group activities since their “induction” as the New Generation! We are excited to see how the Lord will begin raising up yet another generation for Him among the youth of Cofradía and the surrounding towns. We were also thrilled to see how the four student leaders took ownership of their first task as leaders, which was this camp. There have been other tasks that have followed, and with each one their dedication and passion for how the Lord is using them grows.

A couple of weeks after Camp New Generation, we hosted another speed soccer tournament. It was a really exciting time, and the young men who participated as team captains and as team members played hard and glorified the Lord with their attitudes and leadership. One of the goals for these sports tournaments is to draw in more youth that are not part of the church yet and to encourage the current youth group members to reach out to their friends and to be leaders among their peers. Just as in our Christmas tournament, the youth went above and beyond as they lived out this vision. If you want to read more, please check out Steve’s blog at http://thesilbermans.blogspot.com/2007/07/summer-youth-soccer-tournament-report.html. At the end of the tournament we had an awards ceremony (winning team to the right) and a LIFE NIGHT event. The church in Arrayanes was packed with all the youth that attended, and it was the first official event for our New Generation. In addition our four student leaders were introduced to the youth for the first time as “Pastors”. It was a very exciting night!

In addition to these youth group activities, at the beginning of July we delivered 2 of our youth, Mili and Julio to a 5-week intensive mini- DTS (Discipleship Training School) hosted by the YWAM bas in Culiacan. During this program they spent 3 weeks in lectures on subjects such as intercessory prayer, doctrine, and missions, and they spent 2 weeks doing outreach missions and evangelism in surrounding areas. These two young people graduated from that school as completely different people than who they were when they began. They have a new confidence in their identity in Christ and a new fervor and passion that drives them forward in leadership among their peers and in the larger church body. We are excited to see how the Lord will continue to grow and use them to impact Mexico for HIM!!

August Whirlwind…

From July 31 through August 4, twelve of our youth (plus Mili and Julio who were already there with the mini-DTS) attended a yearly youth camp in La Cruz, Sinaloa about 4 hours north of Cofradia. We camped in tents and enjoyed relay games/competitions, solid preaching from several dynamic guest speakers, passionate youth-led worship, and fellowship with youth from all over Mexico and even from Texas! God moved in powerful ways among the youth present that week, and not one of our youth returned unchanged. It was exciting to see the differences in them as we returned back to life at home. They were bolder and filled with a joy that radiated from their hearts. Their testimonies of the Lord's work in them are powerful. God is certainly preparing for something in our area, and I'm beginning to think that it is starting with our youth! So much happened during that week that there really is not room enough to share it all here. Please go to http://amberinmexico.blogspot.com/2007/08/harvesting-destinies-with-firm-step.html to read more and see pictures.

Two weeks after we returned home from camp, our youth went out to three different surrounding towns to do open-air evangelistic programs for the youth of those towns. This has been a dream of our four student leaders for some time, as well as of many of the other youth. I took over the organizing of this event while Steve and Gena got some much needed family R&R in Mazatlan before returning with Julio and Mili upon their graduation from the mini-DTS. All of the program elements were student-led and student-taught! We had testimonies, dramas, choreography that was learned at youth camp, worship, and of course fellowship time before and after the program when they got to just hang out, play with, and get to know the youth who came out for the event. The first town was Agua Aceda, an indigenous village in the mountains. The next day they went to Santa Fe, and the final day was spent in Pilas. In each town the youth went door to door to personally invite everyone to come, and then they played sports or other games with those who arrived to watch the program. Their testimonies were powerful, and their enthusiasm was evident as they acted out silent dramas about how Christ wants our true hearts and not our masked selves and how sin traps us and only Christ can free us from that trap. When the programs were over they spread out to pray with the folks who wanted prayer, and we saw people come to know Christ through this event and the prayers of our youth. This has truly energized them, and they continue to plan similar events in other areas surrounding Cofradia. They are excited to see how God is fulfilling their dreams for Him and not just the dreams of their leaders, and they are catching the fire of God's heart for the lost around them! There is so much to share about this event, so please go to http://amberinmexico.blogspot.com to read more and see pictures!

Jiggidy Jig…

Well, my trip back to Virginia wasn't so quick as "jiggidy jig", but it was definitely blessed. I left the same week as the same week as the youth evangelism outreaches, so that week was quite hectic as I was putting finishing touches on the items required for the dramas and choreography, accompanying the youth to the towns to execute the programs, and packing. In addition, my good friend Erika from Guadalajara was visiting that week. But after very little sleep and three days of traveling, including an all-night flight from LA to DC, I finally made it home. To top it all off, in the process of trying to get home, the Lord provided an opportunity for me to volunteer for a later flight and receive a travel voucher from American Airlines that has paid for most of my plane ticket back to Mexico in October. PRAISE THE LORD!!! His perfect timeing and provision never cease to amaze and overwhelm me!

My first month home has been quite restful and enjoyable. I was able to visit family in Minnesota and spend time with my family in Richmond. For my last month in the states, the Lord has again graciously provided me with a place to stay in the Fredericksburg area so that I may be more involved with my church family, receive some mentoring, and spend quality time with my friends while taking care of the tasks ahead of me before returning to Mexico on October 16. I am feeling very rested and am looking forward to the activity of fundraising and preparing to return to Mexico. Please continue to keep me in your prayers during this time that the Lord would provide the rest of the funds I need to meet 100% of my budget, and please keep the rest of the staff in your prayers as well:

Dave, Kathy, and Jonathan Elias are currently in Canada and will be driving back to Mexico in October. They will be accompanied by a couple from their church, Pete and Faye, who will be working with us for 6 months as they wait upon the Lord to know if they should go full time with our staff or not. Please keep their travels and the impending transitions in your prayers.

Jay, Faith, Isaiah, Elizabeth, and baby Kai TenBrink are currently in Washington state. Jay will be attending a linguistics school at the end of September before they head back to Mexico. This program should help him to more effectively learn the Cora language. After returning to Mexico, their family will be moving up to Mojocuautla to live full-time so that they may better learn the language and culture of the Cora in order to learn how better to bring Christ to the Cora nation. Please keep their travels and the impending transitions of their move and the effects on our staff and ministry in Cofradía in your prayers.

Doug and Jan Taylor are currently in Canada. They are nearing the end of their six months in Canada and will be returning to Mexico (driving) in October for six months. Please keep their preparations and travels in your prayers.

Steve and Geña Silberman and their daughters are still in Cofradía, while the rest of the staff is not. This means that they, along with the pastor and his wife (Goyo & Mati), are the only ones there to keep the ministries running. They are also in the midst of a very involved, month-long youth activity called THE CHALLENGE that requires a lot of volunteer staff, organization, and planning. They are looking forward to a break state-side in November. In the meantime, please keep them in your prayers for rest during this time, wisdom in the decisions that must be made daily, patience, endurance, and energy!

Thank you for your patience with me and for your continued support. The Lord has done much over the last year, and I’m looking forward to the “even more” He has in store for the upcoming year!

Blessings to each of you!!!

Jacob's 3rd Birthday

Just after I returned from my trip to Minnesota, my nephew Jacob had his 3rd birthday party. He actually turned 3 on August 29, but we waited to have the party until I returned so that I could be in attendance. This is the first birthday that I've been able to attend in his short life, and I didn't want to miss it! It was fun. He had a Little Einsteins party. My sister, Jenn (Jacob's mom), set up a pool that someone had given her, and she also set up the slip-and-slide that she bought for him for his birthday. So all the kids had a good time getting wet and playing in the pool. Jacob had fun opening his presents. He got lots of cool stuff including some water toys. But his favorite gift by far was a mini acoustic guitar that he received. It wasn't long after the presents were opened and the cake was cut that Jacob was off to one side playing that guitar and singing at the top of his lungs. He gave us a great concert! It was totally precious because all of the songs he sang were about praising Jesus!! I swear this kid is going to be a great musician for Christ one day!! I took a video, so enjoy!!

The Land of 10,000 Lakes

I was home in VA for one week before I flew to Minneapolis, MN to visit my family there on Aug 24. My aunt and her family live on a lake there, and my grandmother is currently living with them as well. Grandma used to take my sister and I to visit my aunt for the whole summer each year when I was in middle and high school, and the last time I was there was the summer before my junior year of high school. I was 16. I've been trying to get back ever since. 11 years later, not much has changed, and yet everything has changed! It was a surreal experience, but it was a great 2 week vacation!

I arrived late on Friday night, and spent some time visiting with everyone before hitting the sack. On Saturday, we all headed to a park in a nearby town for the engagement party of my cousin, Chris and his fiance, Jenny. Then on Sunday afternoon, my aunt, my cousin Lindsay, and I met Jenny and her mom and best friend at David's Bridal to watch her try on wedding dresses. Afterward, we met up with Chris, my uncle, Jenny's dad, and her brother at the Mall of America for a little window shopping before we headed to dinner at Buca's, a family-style Italian restaurant.

Mall of America

The family at Bucas. From L-R: me, Grandma, Aunt Susie, Uncle Carroll, Matt (Jenny's bro), Jenny's mom, Jenny's dad, Jenny, Chris

Monday evening we met Jenny at a different bridal shop for more trying on of wedding dresses. However, she ended up choosing her dress from that shop, so it was neat to be able to see the dress she'll wear on the day she becomes Mrs. Chris Arnett. Very exciting! Afterward, we ladies headed to Dairy Queen for some celebratory ice cream and then home for some rest. Lindsay and I stayed up late playing Zelda on Super NES since that was my favorite game as a teenager, and I hadn't played it since my last summer there. Zelda ended up being our nightly ritual...lots of fun!

The next several days we ran various errands or just hung out at home. Then Friday, we headed to the state fair. My aunt had entered several craft items, so we went to the arts and crafts building first. We were very excited to find that a cross-stitch/hardunger piece she made for my grandmother's 90th birthday won a RED RIBBON (that's second place) for it's class!!! Lindsay and I had a good time looking around that building and then out on the fair grounds. We stopped at a henna stand, and we also saw a group of teenagers who had a drum line to various recorded songs. They were performing as we walked by, and we had a good time watching them!

Over the weekend we all headed to the Arboretum. My grandma was particularly excited about this outing because she loves that sort of thing, and Lindsay asked Chris and Jenny to bring their cameras to take pictures for her senior portraits. We had a good time walking all around the arboretum and taking pics. Lindsay was beautiful of course, and so were all the flowers!

Chris, Jenny, Lindsay, and I also hit the Renaissance Fair, which was a very interesting experience. I got to eat funnel cake and I rode an elephant!

Lin and I are the front two (first me, then Lin)

Here I am after the ride all wet from having been sprayed by our elephant transport!

Those two weeks were definitely jam packed with activity, but there was also a lot of quality time with my family, family I don't get to see very often. Before this trip, I'd only seen my cousin Chris one other time in the last 11 years. Aunt Susie and Lindsay come to VA often, but now that I am in Mexico most of the year, I have fewer opportunities to see them. I was especially excited about meeting and getting to know Jenny. I have never had the opportunity to know Chris's girlfriends in the past, but she is now more than a girlfriend, and it was neat to get to know her BEFORE the wedding! I'm looking forward to having her as a cousin-in-law.

Wait! We're not ready yet!
(Me, Lin, Jenny, and Grandma @ the Arboretum)
I know this shot looks posed, but it SOOO wasn't! So funny!!

Grandma & the grandkids...we're only missing Heather!

The week after I returned home, Chris, Jenny, Lindsay, and Uncle Carroll came to VA for a week before heading to West VA for a wedding. I got to tour DC with them the day they flew in, and my sister and I were able to meet them in Williamsburg for the night one night that week. We were supposed to tour those historic areas with them the next day, but I pinched a nerve in my neck pretty severely upon waking up that morning. So, Heather and I headed back to Richmond and my doctor. However, it was neat to get some more time with them here where Jenny could get to know our favorite family "haunts".

It was a great couple of weeks, and I'm so thankful the Lord made them possible. I don't know when I'll see my grandmother next now that she's living in MN instead of with my parents, and Lindsay will be starting college next year making it less likely to see her as often also. Thank you, Lord, for my family and for time with them!