HAPPY BIRTHDAY ... OTRA VEZ

We are still in birthday mode! Today is Phil's 39th birthday. We had a nice time catching up on things as we spent the day alone without the kids. Well 5 hours. That's a day isn't it?

We bought a cheminea for his birthday. It's one of those clay pot like a vase for flowers with a hole in the front to build a fire in it. It's 4 feet tall. It cost about 12$. I guess some things are cheaper here! In Winnipeg, I probably wouldn't even looked a them!

So we had a fire in the back yard with the children after we got home. We had a good time.

Our first group is due to arrive in 2 days. Tomorrow we'll be getting the house ready. Phil has been busy all week teaching men how to build doors. They built solid pine doors for a Church here.

He has also been preaching & playing base with the worship team at "Ebenezer". They had me share a message as well on a Friday night.

The pace has definitely sped up. We have seen huge improvements in our language skills as well. We have been forced to use more working closely with locals who do not speak english at all.

Thanks for praying we know it helped!

The children on the other hand are having a harder time with school. Pray that they can quickly catch up on language as well. That would make their lives so much easier!

Keep praying for protection for our family and all involved in the work of the Lord here in Matamoros. Many men are loosing their jobs and we just heard that the city decided to start charging extra taxes to the manufactures who employ many people here. Last time the city did that they manufactures moved away, leaving many without work.

There is no social security of any kind here. Without work, things get bad. More turn to criminal options.

Your prayers are vital.

Pray for the safety of the group and for a life changing experience for them as well as the men and women they will meet here.

May God bless you as you participate from afar in the work of the kingdom in Mexico.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Today is Abbie's birthday. She turned 12. We had supper with a Pastor and his family we've been getting to know. Their sons are also teaching Abbie piano, and Jesse, drum.

We are learning much about the city, the people, the culture and still progressing with the language.

The countdown is on for the group we are expecting from Winnipeg Nov.1

It'll be our first experience receiving a group. So far, we've only had Margaret Woodason here and it was very nice to have her help in the office. She helped change the system Karen had been using for many years, bringing it up to the modern days!

Last Saturday was the mustard seed program and we helped translate some of the letters from the children to their sponsors. God has brought a young man to help teach different sports to the mustard seed kids. They all know soccer but are shy to try new things.

The kids are adjusting to school. It's not easy everyday. Your prayers help. Thank you! Keep us in your prayers. We can do nothing without God's guidance and grace.

May you be blessed!

An Update on the situation with our friends being threatened. They were on the phone for 4hrs and negotiated a deal. They were also allowed to pray with the mob on the phone. Lets continue to pray that God will use this situation for His Glory.

exciting and disturbing news

Let's start with the exciting news. It goes hand in hand with my last entry.
The pastor who showed up at our door with the youth leader from the larger Church "impacto de vida", came again today to introduce us to his wife.

Well, turns out Phil and Karen knew them from years ago, when they served in the same ministry. It was so refreshing to see God's hand again.

This pastor started a smaller Church less then a year ago, walking distance from our home here in Matamoros. It's called Cristo: La Esperanza. They put a lot of energy into discipleship.

Tomorrow morning we are going with him to a prayer meeting attended by some 40 pastors from the city.

A few hours after their visit, the coordinators from the Mustard seed program arrived for their meeting. Since Hector,the man in charge of teaching the parents of the children in the program, was not yet there, they decided to call his daughter to find out if he was on his way. On the phone, they found out that he was being held hostage at that very moment by the mafia. They were after anything he owns.

We gathered in prayer and made several phone calls. The latest I've heard is that a pastor known to the group gathered has a brother in law in the mob who had agreed to go there to negotiate with the perpetrators.

Some of you have been asked to pray for this already. Thank you! We will keep you posted as soon as we receive more news.

Please pray for a chance to win these men to God.

When God is in control

This is really neat!

We were sharing with Phil and Karen about the vision God had given us for the Churches of Mexico- to work together and help one another -as they expressed a desire for us to help with the youth in one of the Church they work with.

We had visited a larger -middle class- Church the previous Sunday. A Church God had led us to through people He had put in our path (all people unknown to Phil and Karen). As we entered that Church I really felt like the Lord wanted to use that Church to be a tool, a resource for the poorest Churches we work with.

So as we shared with Phil and Karen, we expressed a desire to go talk to the youth leader of that larger Church "Impacto de vida". Well, the next morning, arrived at our door, a long-time lost friend of Miguel, with the youth leader of that very Church!

How amazing is that!? We had an exciting visit. Margaret Woodason is here now; she can probably fill you in on it too! There are many great things God is starting here in Matamoros. It looks like we will be able to expend our sphere of influence as believers and maybe have new opportunity as a Church (COTR) to minister in Mexico!

As God lays out His plan, I'll share more with you.

We serve an amazing God!