Who's on first?

So, I'm still reading Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, by Joanna Weaver. Last night I was reading chapter 5: "Living Room Intimacy" (as opposed to "Kitchen Service" which is the title of chapter 6 and the other side of this Mary/Martha exploration). Towards the middle of the chapter she references a Robert Boyd Munger's article "My Heart Christ's Home" (this is the one where Munger talks about how Jesus came into his heart and set up house, redecorating and cleaning out, etc.). Toward the end of her reference, she specifically cites a portion of the article concerning the Drawing Room of Munger's heart and how he would meet Jesus in there every morning for some intimate time together. But then the business of life would start crowding in until he would miss a day here, two days there, etc. Then one morning he passes by the doorway on his way out and sees Jesus sitting there waiting for him. This is the conversation that follows:

"Blessed Master, forgive me. Have You been here all these mornings?" "Yes," He said, "I told you I would be here every morning to meet with you." Then I was even more ashamed. He had been faithful in spite of my faithlessness. I asked His forgiveness and He readily forgave me... He said, "The trouble with you is this: You have been thinking of the quiet time, of the Bible study and prayer time, as a factor in your own spiritual progress, but you have forgotten that this hour means something to Me also."

What a humbling reminder this passage has been to me since reading it last night. It is so simple, yet it calls into question my entire perspective and approach to how I live for and walk with Christ. Then this morning, during my own Drawing Room time with the Lord, I was reading in My Utmost for His Highest for today, and Oswald Chambers said this about Paul (referencing Acts 26:16):

Paul was not given a message or a doctrine, he was brought into a vivid, personal, overmastering relationship to Jesus Christ...Paul was devoted to a Person, not to a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ's, he saw nothing else, he lived for nothing else. "For I am determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified."

The verse that Chambers references in Acts 26:16 is part of Paul's speech to the governor Festus when he appeals to Caesar after being arrested. In that verse he says that when Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus, He told Paul that he had appointed him as a servant and as a witness of what he had seen of Christ and of what Christ would show him. As I meditated on all this together, it made me realize...Paul couldn't be a witness of something or someone that he didn't know. I know that seems just so obvious, but really it's much easier said than done. Just as with the conflict between being a "Mary" (sitting at Jesus feet = Living Room Intimacy) or a "Martha" (Christian activity = Kitchen Service), it's so much easier to go about a list of activities than to just sit and listen and let the activities flow from the rest. Being in a profession that is characterized by the activities and services of teaching, mentoring, serving, etc., it is SO EASY to lose grip on the personal relation part of it. There is just so much to DO, and often that busy-ness just takes over. But the Lord is calling to me from that Drawing Room door saying, "Hey! Come sit with me, talk with me, study with me. When it's time to go out and "do", I'll go with you." I find myself pleading for that....to re-learn how to sit as His feet as Mary did in that intimacy and that when it's time to serve like Martha, that we would go out together so that the intimacy and conversation will continue even through the service. Lots of food for thought!

2007 Year-End Newsletter

This actually went out in the mail with Christmas cards, but I'm too organized to post it out of chronological order. Enjoy!
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MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM MEXICO!

It hit me the other day: THIS IS MY THIRD CHRISTAMS IN MÉXICO! Wow! Yet, here we are once again celebrating the birth of our Savior, and I find myself even more conscious than ever before of how desperately I need my Savior! This year has been tough, absolutely, but God promised in Isaiah 43 that the flames would not consume us nor would the storms overcome us because He is the LORD, our Savior! Micah 5 tells us He came to shepherd His own in the strength of the Lord and to BE our peace. The storms come and go, but Christ remains forever the same! Peace to you this Christmas! Peace to you this Christmas!

FULL STEAM AHEAD!

2007 has been a full year! We saw TEN short-term teams come down to reach out to the Mexican people in this area. Their activities included aerobics, open-air evangelisms, Bible study, construction, mercy ministries, VBS, an Amazing Race/Survivor event for the youth, and MORE! The creativity and passion of the teams is contagious, but it’s the relationships that change lives as the local people not only hear about Christ but are able to see Him come to life in the team members! The youth continue to leave me speechless! This year we saw growth not only in the number of youth regularly attending the weekly youth meetings, but also in their maturity and passion to share Christ with others! This summer we inaugurated four student leaders for the first time in the history of our youth ministry! They planned and executed a one-day “welcome” camp for our new students, lead youth group studies and small group discussions, disciple younger students, and continue to dream big for the ministry!

Mentoring Sandy has been the biggest blessing in my life this year. Her growth is tremendous and I am constantly challenged by how the Lord works in her. She is one of our four student leaders, and it is constantly a treasure to have her as a partner in ministering to the other youth girls!

The local church members are also catching a fire for evangelism and outreach. They have stepped up in leadership this last year and have even begun to meet weekly in several surrounding towns to share the gospel and disciple new believers in those towns.

The growth this year has been exponential! I can’t imagine what God has in store for 2008!!!

LOOKING BEYOND THE HORIZON

In November we as a staff once again spent several days setting goals for the future. A primary goal was setting fund-raising goals for the ministry budgets currently in place. I thought I would take this opportunity to share those goals with you and ask you to pray with us for the Lord to meet these needs. For the 2008 year, our needs are:

• Ministry Leadership: $1650
• Church Budget: $9400
• Property Expenses: $3600
• Youth: $8900
• Indigenous Ministry: $2600
• Church Construction: $12,100
• Radio Ministry: $3100

The grand total budget for the 2008 year is $41,350. The Lord is always faithful to provide our needs. We, however, must also continue to be faithful to seek that provision wherever we can. We face a formidable fund-raising goal. This ministry functions because of people like you who believe in the work being done and desire to partner with us in that work. Please pray about whether the Lord is calling you to become our newest partner with a one-time gift or, even better, with a monthly commitment.

Thank you for your continued prayer support! Thank you for harvesting with us!

"LOVE AND JOY COME TO YOU..."

The year has been one of adjustments. The honeymoon period has ended, and the rubber is hitting the road. The Lord has been faithful to challenge me to grow in many areas: the way I live, the way I communicate, my paradigms and methods of understanding the world around me, even my sleep schedules and concepts of work! Nothing has been left untouched.

I am learning all over again that to surrender myself to the Lord completely is to let go of my false securities and find true security in His goodness and grace. I keep thinking of Mr. Otter’s response to Lucy in The Lion, the Witch, & The Wardrobe when she asks if Aslan the lion is safe:

"Safe? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the king, I tell you."

In Christ we cannot hide anything from His gaze, and while His love for us is secure, He simply is not content to let us remain as we are because He has so much better in mind for us! It is never comfortable to let the Lord refine me, but it is GOOD, and in His goodness the Lord guards my heart in Christ’s peace. May the Lord touch you deeply this year, and may you find true security in His goodness and grace!

HOW CAN YOU BE INVOLVED?

Please continue to keep me, the other staff members, the ministry, the churches, and the Mexican people in your prayers. If you are interested in being involved in any way, whether by receiving email updates, providing financial or prayer support, or perhaps visiting or bringing a team for a short-term trip, please contact me! I pray that you will get to experience the Lord’s work in Cofradía for yourself!

Praise the Lord

• I'm almost at 100% of my budget for the coming year!
• For raising up local leaders within the church!
• For raising up four incredible student youth leaders!
• For continued blessing in mentor relationships!
• For provision in our church construction project!
  

Please pray for

• Financial provision for the ministry areas currently in place. We need to raise $41,350 this year!
• Strength and wisdom both personally and for the rest of the staff as we press onward!
• Deeper commitment in the hearts of the youth.
• The 2008 Short-term Mission season. The first team arrives on Jan 6, and we currently have teams booked through August!
• Increased intimacy and devotion in my personal relationship with Christ! I want to be refined!
  
• Increased intimacy and devotion in my personal relationships with Christ! I want to be refined!
  

December 2007 Monthly Update

Well, this update is a little late, but here it is!!

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Happy New Year!!!

Welcome to 2008! And what a year this has already started to be! January has kicked off with a bang, and December was just as eventful! Between Christmas, church events, and my sister’s visit, I had no problem staying busy. But it was a precious Christmas celebration. And as the new year began, the Lord impressed yet a further call to closeness with him and to sit at His feet enjoying His presence daily! I pray that your new year has started off well and that 2008 will be a year of continued growth and celebration of God’s work in your life.

Deck the Halls

December started off with a lot of girl fun. On December 1, I hosted the second annual Youth Girls Christmas Tree Decorating party at my apartment. Last year four girls came to help me put it all up. This year, however, I NINE girls arrived!! We had some great goodies and Christmas music as well as a DVD fireplace to create the ambiance. Just as with the girls last year, most who came had never decorated a Christmas tree. So, they had an absolute blast! In the end, my tree turned out exquisitely!! I’m not sure I’ve ever had a tree so stunning, and I’ve enjoyed sitting under it’s light this Christmas season! When the decorating was over, the girls decided to watch The Chronicles of Narnia. They really enjoyed the food, fellowship, and fun, and in the end relationships between them were deepened. If you would like to read more and see more pictures, click here .

Family and Christmas

What a special gift I was given this Christmas with the visit of my sister, Heather, from Virginia! She arrived December 22, and although our travel plans didn’t go quite as we’d hoped, we still had a safe and wonderful trip back to Cofradía from Guadalajara where she arrived. The night she arrived, we enjoyed a fun Christmas celebration with La Carpa church in Guadalajara and my friend Erika and her family! We arrived back in Cofradía on Sunday, Dec 23, just as worship was ending! And from that point on it was a full week of fun and activity. Sandy, Mily, their family in Arrayanes, Ana, and many other of my good friends all had such a wonderful time getting to know Heather and being able to spend time with my family. They were all in agreement that we look nothing alike and that Heather is a ball of fun and joy! Her presence here added a special excitement and joy for me as I introduced her to my life and my loves here in Mexico! And what a special time of year to be able to do so! I couldn’t have imagined a better Christmas gift from the Lord! Now, I just need to get the rest of my family down here! :) To read more, click here and here.

The Christmas service was a precious time of remembering and honoring the Lord and His birth! I especially enjoyed the children’s presentations. They recited a poem and sang Away in a Manger as they did last year. However, this year they also presented a small “play” in which they shared about how we can live their lives and do our jobs for Jesus. It was truly precious and a wonderful reminder that we don’t need special gifts or talents to be able to honor and serve the Lord with all our hearts, souls, minds, body, and strength! Following the children’s presentation, the older kids (grades 4-6) recited a Christmas poem. On of our youth leaders has taken over this class in the last 6 months, and he did a wonderful job choosing their presentation and preparing them. They did a great job, and had a good time.

Finally, the youth presented their Christmas sketch. Julio and Mily were our two angel narrators, Cecilia and Fran played Mary and Joseph, and Ruben was the donkey who gave Mary a piggy-back ride to Bethlehem where Martin was the inn keeper who offered his stable! Ana, Gabriela, and Chuyito were our shepherds while Goyito and Roger were sheep. And Cintia, Cheche, and Pedro played our wisemen who followed the star, played by Aide, all the way to the manger. As the play ended, the youth stayed posed in a living nativity scene as Dave came forward and led the congregation in a simple rendition of Away in a Manger. Our sketch ended with the hope that all would find rest in the peace that was promised in Christ in the prophecy of his birth in Micah 5. That seemed to be the theme for our Christmas celebration this year, or at the very least for my own Christmas celebration: resting in the peace of Christ and His promises fulfilled. :) Take a peek at my blog entry about this service!

After the service was over, Heather and I enjoyed a “Family Christmas” with Mily, Sandy, Favi and her son Joan, and Lupe and her son Angel. We enjoyed some light finger foods and desserts as well as coffee and apple cider. Then we moved into the living room where Heather and I had prepared stockings for each girl as well as 2-3 gifts that were waiting for them under the tree. It was an indescribable joy to be able to share with them some of our Christmas traditions this year, especially as they were already sharing theirs with us, and to watch their eyes light up and listen to their exclamations of joy and excitement over the small gifts that they received. They all had such fun, and it was such a privilege for Heather and I to bless them in this way. Mily received some much-needed and totally fun school supplies; Favi and Lupe received clothes for the babies as well as some pampering items for themselves; and Sandy received a pocket Bible that she has been wanting for quite some time as carrying her heavy study Bible has become cumbersome with all the traveling she does between towns. It was so much fun, and words cannot describe how my heart felt to be able to pour out on these girls that I’ve come to love as my close friends…and to share this with my sister…well, my heart was overflowing from fullness! Praise the Lord for His goodness to us!

Togetherness

The day after Christmas we began our second annual Christmas Youth Soccer Tournament! This was a huge success last year, and this year it was a ton of fun as well. Chuy and Martin (two of our student leaders) were in charge of all the planning, preparation, and execution of the tournament. They did such an amazing job taking care of every detail, and the boys who participated seemed to really enjoy themselves. It was great to see new faces on some of the teams, and we’re hoping and praying that the friendships they made on their teams will bring them to youth group in the future where they can continue to hear about the Lord and His love for them! For more reading on this event, click here and here and here.

The men of the church also held a soccer tournament during December that culminated the same day as the youth finals. So, Pastor Goyo planned a whole-church potluck picnic day for December 29, which was the day of the men’s finals and the youth finals. It was such an added bonus of excitement and fun to have all the church there to watch the games and cheer on children and husbands and friends! The woman all took care of the food, and we enjoyed a wonderful lunch of birria and rice and veggies and jamaica (to drink). At the end, awards were presented for the winning teams as well as for the most goals made during the tournament and the best goalies!

Then on December 30, Sandy and I hosted a baby shower for Favi after church. We had planned some light food items and several really fun games, and we invited the whole church as well as family and friends of Favi's who don't attend. It was an added bonus that her sisters-in-law were in town from Tijuana visiting for the holidays, so they were able to attend as well! Our desire was to bless and encourage Favi after the baby was born during a time that can be difficult with adjustments and changes, and the Lord certainly did that! When it was all over, Favi was glowing with joy, and Sandy and I were filled to overflowing with the joy and blessing that comes from giving to others!

Happy New Year, 2008!!

On December 31, Heather and I headed back to Guadalajara to stay with my friend Erika for New Years Eve because her flight back to Virginia was the next day, January 1, 2008! Our trip was fairly uneventful and pleasant, and we had such a good time celebrating with Erika and her extended family on New Years Eve. We had a wonderful dinner of shrimp prepared several different ways with coffee and Jamaica, and we had a blast playing various kinds of card games with Erika, her brother and sister, and all her cousins! We rang in the new year with a time of prayer, and then Heather and I headed back to Erika’s house to sleep since we had to head to the airport at 5 am. On New Years Day I arrived back in Cofradía exhausted but content. This December was quite full of activity and fun and celebration, but more than that it was full of Jesus, of His joy, and of His peace! God made a promise long ago, and then He fulfilled it in Christ! Jesus lives and continues to reign on His throne. We are safe and secure in His hands, and that is cause enough for honor, celebration, and joy daily! I pray that as we continue into this new year of 2008, this will be true for you daily! Happy New Year!

FACE TO FEET
ams

Cy-Fair Ladies -- First team of the year!

Well, our first team of 2008 has just wrapped up: the women of Cy-Fair Christian Church in Houston, TX. They came last year for the first time and ministered to the women of this area. This year, only three of them came back, but they did such a wonderful job, and the women of Cofradia, Santa Fe, and Arrayanes, thoroughly enjoyed having them here. I admit wholeheartedly that I did as well. It was wonderful to see their familiar faces and have the chance to catch up and continue building friendships, and I feel so spoiled to be able to watch them shower love and affection on the people I love!

During their week with us, they visited each one of the three main towns in which we minister: Arrayanes, Cofradia, and Santa Fe. They had an open meeting for the women that wanted to attend in each town. During that meeting they shared testimony about how the Lord worked in their lives and spiritual growth through their involvement in small group ministry; their testimonies then naturally led into a talk about the benefits of small group ministry and teaching on how to maintain healthy small groups. This was their focus because the women of the church are going to start a Bible study in which they will complete the lessons at home on their own and then meet weekly for small group discussion, fellowship, and prayer. Every other week those small group meetings will be corporate for all three towns, and each town will take turns hosting those corporate meetings. The Bible study is called He Speaks to Me by Priscilla Shirer, and it looks great. The Bible study books have also been provided by the ladies ministry at Cy-Fair, and one of the women even shared testimony about how the Lord moved in her life through this very study.

With the women in Arrayanes

Aside from testimony and teaching, they also did crafts and had time of fellowship with the women of each town. After the morning meeting, they had the opportunity to have lunch in the home of one of the women in the town. This is always a treat for our short-term teams because they get the chance to see the church members in their own homes and experience a taste of what their lives and culture and food are really like! Of course, it's also a really great time of fellowship and to get to know one-another better.

Crafts in Arrayanes

The ladies of Arrayanes

Lunch in Arrayanes with Pola

Hanging out in Arrayanes

Crafts in Cofradia

The ladies of Cofradia

Then in the afternoon, the three ladies spent time with the small group leaders in each town. They shared more details about the study and gave more pointers on leading small groups. They also had time for the small group leaders to ask questions or share their concerns, etc.

Finally, at the end of the week, they had a corporate meeting in Cofradia for all three towns. They shared about a woman named Acsah, who appears very briefly in Joshua. They shared about this woman and her boldness to ask her father for her portion of the land that he received as his portion when the Israelites began to inhabit the promised land. They used this brief story of boldness in this woman to illustrate how we ought to be with the Lord. We should come to him as our loving Father and make known our needs and our desires to Him. We need to open ourselves up to ask for what is on our hearts and then be ready and willing to receive from Him, and we should continue to ask until He has satisfied our hearts. It was a very encouraging message, which was followed by a time of communion.


It was quite clear that the women of Cofradia and the surrounding area really enjoyed having these ladies back again, as did we as a staff. They are such a joy to work with, and we are looking forward to how the Lord works through our ladies as they participate in this Bible study and open themselves up to the Lord as they never have before!

Christmas Take 2

So, yesterday a package arrived from my friend Christina! It happened to contain a birthday present, several Christmas presents for me, and even a Christmas present for Sandy!!! I was overwhelmed when I broke open the box to find it stuffed full of colorfully wrapped gifts! She had written to let me know that a package was on the way, but I never imagined that it would contain so many things! I quickly unpacked the box and put all of the lovely gifts under my tree, which OF COURSE is still up and shining brightly in my living room.

Then last night, Sandy came over, which was really good because I was too excited for her to open her gift to be able to wait very long. I was literally about to bust! So, we opened them all. There were several individual servings of EasyMac (which I can't get here in Mexico!), a beautiful silver and white Christmas house ornament (which is exquisite on my tree!), a cd called "Glory Revealed" (which is quickly becoming my favorite cd ever!), the dvd of Oceans 12, a package of Jello No Bake Oreo Pie (my favorite!), hand sanitizer (wonderful with all the dust around here!), and a package of candy-cane Hershey kisses. Sandy was totally excited to see the dvd and the Jello No Bake; she has come to love oreo pie since I made it at Christmas, and we love watching movies. But her favorite thing was her gift: a beautiful photo album for her photography. She immediately wanted to look through all her photos and start picking out and printing her favorites so she can start filling up her own private collection of her photography.

Sandy opening her gift

Wow! I am just totally overwhelmed with the generosity, careful thought, and love of my dear sweet friend. We have been friends since move-in day freshman year at Mary Washington College, and I know that my friendship with Christina is nothing short than a gracious and unmerited gift from the Lord.

It's like Christmas all over again! Thanks Christina-Sham! Merry Christmas to you too!!

New Years Call 2008

So, I was sitting in that bus terminal on New Years day with a couple of hours to wait for my bus to leave. I didn't want to sleep because I knew I'd miss my departure, so I pulled out my Bible and began to read...seems a little ironic as I type it now, since you always hear people say that's what they do when they WANT to fall asleep...HAHA! Isn't it amazing how the Lord changes things in us...

Anyway, so I found myself thinking back to the challenge the Lord gave me on New Years last year to live every day for Him and to have an undivided heart (Psalm 84-86). This year, I ended up in Psalm 45:10-11:

"Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear: Forget your people and your father's house. The king is enthralled with your beauty; honor him, for he is your Lord."

The Lord made it clear that this year we’ll be continuing to work on having an undivided heart (Psalm 86), but part of that process is “forgetting your people and your father’s house”, or rather all the things I cling to instead of holding onto him. I found myself asking, “Lord what am I holding onto that you want me to let go for you? What am I looking at instead of looking at you? Help me to let those things go this year and fix my eyes on you, to HONOR you and really let you be LORD in my life this year!”

So that’s my prayer for 2008: to truly HONOR the Lord; to choose the “one thing that is needed”, what is better, as Mary did at Jesus feet; and to love Him and Him only.

2008....ready...set.....GROW!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Well, it's 2008! Phew! 2007 definitely went out with a BANG! It was so great having my sister here to visit! I can't even tell you! I try so hard to explain to people what it's like to be here and do this and know these people, but it's something that can only really be understood by experiencing it! Now, I just have to get the rest of my family down here! (Yes, daddy..that's more than a hint!)

So, for New Years Heather and I were in Guadalajara because her flight home left early on New Years Day. So, on December 31, we grabbed a bus to Guad and headed over to my friend Erika's house. She was really sweet and made us a quick bite to eat to hold us over until "dinner", and then she let us take a nap. We were both so tired from our extremely busy week, and plus we were up late the night before and had to wake up early to catch the bus in Penas half an hour away.

That night, the New Years celebration took place at Erika's aunt's house a couple of blocks away. So, we all walked over there and then proceeded to have a great time playing cards and various other fun games with all of Erika's cousins. WOW! Does she have a lot of cousins -- and those are just the ones that live in Guad! Around 10 pm, they served dinner. They made three different shrimp meals that were totally delicious! And then we played more games until midnight. When midnight hit, everyone hugged everyone and wished them a Happy New Year, and then the family said a prayer together as their start to the New Year. Shortly thereafter, Heather and I walked back to Erika's house to get a couple hours of sleep before our morning travels.

We caught a taxi around 5:30 am on January 1 and headed to the airport where Heather checked in for her flight. I then grabbed another taxi back across town to catch my bus home. The bus ride wasn't very pleasant. They played three rather violent, R-rated movies, and there were various other "mishaps" along the way, but I finally arrived back at the base in Cofradia just in time for our weekly staff meeting. Exhausted as I was, I made it through the staff meeting only by the grace of God. But just as we were finishing up, a young lady from Mojocuautla showed up at the base with her 2-week-old baby girl in her arms. Turns out the baby was quite ill with a fever of 103, but the lady (her name is Simplicia) didn't have money to get to the hospital in Rosa Morada. So, I had the privilege of driving her there. She is a sweet gal, and has two other children besides this little baby, who doesn't even have a name yet. I waited at the ER for her while they gave the baby something to lower her fever and waited to see results. Then we drove through town until we found an open pharmacy where she could buy the meds she'd been prescribed, at which point we headed home.

It was a whirlwind New Years, but it was a lot of fun, and what a precious way to be able to start a new year -- making sure that a new life has the chance to keep living, and getting to know someone new.

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!