Desert living

It's continuing to be another hot week here in San Pedro, with temperatures often reaching the highs 30's (high 90's fahrenheit). We have had a few thunderstorms in the night but the temperature soars back up again the next day. There is also a continued lack of water supply to the town, coming from England, I never had to worry about that problem before!! Often houses are left without supplies during part of the day, many people are having to go directly to the water plant as insufficient or no water is delivered directly through the main lines and others are getting up in the night as this is the time the water is delivered. All these can be tiring and time consuming, but are a reality of life in a desert. Praise the Lord that we have not yet totally run out of water. Please pray for continued strength for the people during these hot months.

Congratulations!

On Friday we celebrated with Timothy as he completed his university studies and was sworn in as a civil engineer!

Visit to Seniors' Home

Yesterday afternoon a group of our young people visited the seniors' home that is across the street from TCL. We held a short service with worship, dramas and teaching, and afterwards spent some time visiting with the residents. Two of them are coming to church this morning, so please pray that God will touch their lives and the lives of the people living in this place.

Outside the home.

Looking across the street to TCL.

Getting ready for worship.

Worship.

Teaching.

Visiting with the residents.

Newsletter

I have had some comments from people unable to open the link to the newsletter, so I'm posting it here in JPEG format. Let me know if this works!

Funeral

This weekend we said goodbye to one of our congregation, Alondra, who was only 15 years old. She had been fighting cancer for a little over a year and early Saturday morning she went to be with Jesus. On Saturday evening we had a small gathering at the funeral home, and Sunday the funeral was held at TCL. Alondra accepted Jesus at our youth camp 2 years ago and was just starting to get involved in the tambourine ministry when she was diagnosed. Her family went back and forth from San Pedro to Torreon, where she was receiving treatment, for many months. Please pray for her family as they go through this difficult time, and pray that her testimony will touch the lives of everyone who knew her.

Platform view of funeral.

San Pedro newsletter

Good morning, everyone!

I've just sent out our summer newsletter; hopefully the link works for everyone. If not, let me know and I will send it to you individually.

We currently have Kiara Bland from First Apostolic Church, Nashville serving with us here in San Pedro for two months. Kiara is a High School Spanish teacher and has come to serve here as well as to improve her Spanish. She is very open to how God might use her during her time here, already she has blessed us through her vocal abilities during the recent women and youth events. She is also involved helping in the adolescent girls group, bringing her experience from being a youth leader at her home church. I’m sure she would appreciate prayer as she settles into her time here.

Women's Conference, Youth Service, Baptisms....

As I mentioned in the last post, last Friday we held our first ever women's meeting at TCL. The event was attended by about 70 women from TCL, other local churches and guests. We had a time of worship, a special drama and Marcela shared a thought-provoking message about arrows (keeping with the theme of women as God's arrows). We are planning another conference in the next few months and are aiming for it to be an all-day event. Here are a few pictures (sorry about the lighting, or lack thereof, and the angles - there really were more women there than there appear to be!).

Before service.

 

Watching a drama.

Prayer after message.

Last Saturday was the joint youth service, also a first for TCL as host. About 80 young people came to the service. TCL's music group ministered and the message was given by Donald, whom many of you will know.

Donald preaching.

About 80 young people attended.

TCL youth drama team.

Finally, over the weekend we had 3 more baptisms (could it be the heat making everyone want to have a turn in the baptismal tank??) and tonight (Monday) we started a new session of doctrine classes for new believers. As always, thank you for your prayers; we are seeing the results of them every day.