Evangelism Sunday

   Yesterday morning, instead of our regular church service, we went to the plaza and held a special evangelistic event. We were divided into teams; some of us handed out pamphlets and flowers, others prayed with the people we found in and around the plaza, we offered manicures and hand massages, and we presented dramas and music.

Face painting.

Reading pamphlets.

Manicures and hand massages.

Prayer.

    I was part of the team that gave out flowers, and it was almost funny to see people's reaction when we stopped them - they didn't believe that we were giving the flowers away, and many were reluctant to accept them until we told them clearly that it was a gift. I say it was almost funny, because to me it was sad to see that people really don't expect to be given anything for free; there always has to be a catch. 

 

 

Flower!

    

Come for your balloon! It's free!!

It was also sad for me when we gave out the flowers because we said to each woman that the flower was from someone who loved her very much, and then we asked if she had someone who loved her.   I was expecting everyone to say, "Yes, my spouse, my children, my parents...", but the number of women who didn't have an answer to this simple question was surprising. Maybe the women were embarrassed to be asked this question by strangers, but maybe they really didn't know if they were loved.

Afterwards I thought about our role as Christians and about what Jesus says to us in the Bible, and I thought of what he said the greatest commandments are: first, to love God with everything we are; and second, to love our neighbours as ourselves. How are we doing this in our everyday lives? Are we doing it at all? I know these aren't new questions, or even complicated questions. Sometimes the simple things cost us the most work, but they are the things that matter the most.

   We are hoping to see great results from yesterday's work, and we're hoping to hold another event in a couple of months. I'll keep you posted!

Teeth....

Another rainy day here in San Pedro, which thankfully has brought some relief from the heat! We're getting ready for our evangelism Sunday, where we will be spending several hours in the plaza downtown instead of holding our regular morning service. We have different groups with different activities planned, including prayer, making balloon animals, hand massages, giving out flowers and washing cars - anything we can do to interest people in hearing the Gospel. I'll be posting pictures likely on Monday or Tuesday.

I'd like to share briefly a need and a prayer request. Stephen needs some dental work done; one of his front teeth fell out suddenly and we are praying for $2800 to replace it and to take care of other work that needs to be done as well. Thanks first and foremost for your prayers, and if anyone feels led to give an offering, it can be sent through the PayPal link on this page or through regular mail at the addresses on the left sidebar. I'll keep you updated (and maybe Stephen will let me post a picture....or maybe not!).

This week...

...and some of last week, too! Happy May, and just like every year, with the start of this month someone turns on a switch and it's HOT. Right now it looks like it wants to rain, but we'll see if it's water or dust that falls.

El Calor's season ended on Saturday with a 2-0 loss in Cancun in the first round of playoffs. One of the players suffered a broken leg and was operated on but is recovering well. Please keep praying for the team and this ministry over the summer; the boys are still here training and we are still hoping to find some partners to help with the expenses in the coming season.

In Cancun attending to our player with a fractured leg.

  Club G-VI celebrated Children's Day on Saturday (Children's Day is a big deal here, lots of games, candy (sometimes for the adults, too!)). We had a good turnout, and the kids had a break from their regular classes and enjoyed games and fellowship.

Minute to win it activities - wrap someone in toilet paper without it tearing - easier said than done!

Desserts! Cupcakes and Jello cake.

We're getting ready for a special outreach service in 2 weeks. Our Sunday morning service will be held in the main plaza downtown, and we are preparing groups to minister in different ways to the people we find throughout the morning.

El Calor

Pre-game prayer, April 19, 2014.

El Calor played away this weekend in San Juan de los Lagos and lost 2-1, but they are assured a place in the playoffs. They are set to play in Cancun, and Stephen is off to Mexico City to a meeting to decide on the exact schedules. Please be in prayer for him and for the team, and that God will provide the funds for plane tickets, refereeing, food, and all the costs associated with playoffs.

During the game.

Camp 2014

We're in the middle of spring break here in San Pedro and as we do every year, we held our youth camp from Tuesday-Thursday last week. We had over 100 youth from ages 12+ attend the three days of activities and services and God moved powerfully in the lives of many. Here are a few pictures; I will be posting more over the next couple of weeks as they get organized.

Day 1: So. COLD. No, really, it was freezing cold and windy but we were out at 7:30 running around the property to wake up.

Cross the ropes without falling....

Through 2 hanging tires...

Across the monkey bars...

Down the slide...

After crawling under a muddy log....

Jump!

Tire run, which is harder than it looks!

Across the pole (again, no falling!)

Under the ropes...

Running back from the park...

Through the spiderweb...

 Day 2: Weather still cool, time to play!

Throw and catch water balloons without breaking them (not done very successfully!)

Hug a water balloon and drop it in a bucket...

Just like this...

Crawl 15 feet without dropping the balloon....

Group prayer in Bible study.

 Day 3: Photo rally! Each team had 2h to take 34 photos and videos.

"I can't believe we all fit here" (20 people in the baptism tank)

"Picture of all team members in a tree"

"Picture with firemen" The San Pedro fire department are always good sports about this one!

Kick a soccer ball across a wet, soapy piece of plastic, score a goal, do not fall.....

Happy April

It's April! We're getting ready for the switch to Daylight Savings Time this weekend (I know, a month behind the rest of the continent...). We're also gearing up for our youth camp from April 14-17 (15 hours a day of running! yelling! playing! competing! and very little sleep....).

This past weekend El Calor traveled to Guadalajara and won 2-1 against Atlas, bringing their season total to 6 wins, 4 ties and 0 losses. They're in 2nd place in their group and are guaranteed a place in the playoffs, which are coming up in May.

Post-game prayer in Guadalajara.

Club G-VI had another successful session on Saturday (in spite of heavy winds and dust. Lots and lots of dust). We're planning a special event for Children's Day at the end of the month and are hoping to invite all the parents to see what their children are learning and doing each week.

Aslan and Club GV-I kids waiting to go to their classes.

Very happy with his craft!

Please...no pictures!

Explaining a group competition.

Update!

Just a quick update for you as we're nearing the middle of another dusty, windy week here in San Pedro. This past weekend El Calor played their 9th game of this season and are still unbeaten, with a 2-1 win over Necaxa. They are in 3rd place overall in their group and will be traveling this weekend.

Starting lineup against Necaxa, March 22, 2014.

Our children's club, G-VI (Generación de Vida) continues on Saturdays from 10am-1pm and is growing. We have at least 80 children attending each week, and this after a month of sessions.

Last Saturday, playing games in G-VI.

Please keep these ministries in prayer!

Evangelism

Last week we held two special events, a youth outreach in the village of Nueva Candelaria (NOT Candelaria, as we found out after heading down the wrong side road......) on Friday and a women's event at TCL on Saturday afternoon. In Nueva Candelaria we presented dramas and music, painted faces and handed out balloon animals to the children who came. At the women's event we had a time of fellowship with hairdressing, manicures and hand massages, as well as praise and worship and a message.

Mostly women and children attended the presentation.

An action song for the kids.

Youth drama team.

Face painting!

Prayer.

Watching dramas outside a local primary school.

 And some images from the women's event....

Manicures.

Professional hairstyling....

More manicures and hand massages.

This week

Yesterday was another busy day in San Pedro. El Calor played and won 3-0 against Santos Mochis, and are in 2nd place in their group of 14. Next week the team travels to Guadalajara to take on the current #1 team.

Also, yesterday was the second week for our new children's club, G-VI (Generation of Life). We had another great turnout of over 50 kids who enjoyed sports, Bible stories and cooking class (cupcake decorating this week!). Please keep praying for the ministry team and the children who attend.

Upcoming Events
This week: On Friday the TCL youth group are planning another outreach to a local village with music, dramas, testimonies and ministry time. On Saturday we're holding a special women's event at the church, a mini spa day for any woman who would like to come and be pampered for a couple of hours (who wouldn't??) and also receive encouragement and prayer from the ladies of TCL.

April: Please keep our upcoming youth camp (April 14-17) in prayer as we are planning and preparing for the over 100 12-18 (and older!) young people who will be taking part.

May: On May 11, instead of our regular morning service, we will be heading downtown to do ministry in and around the town square. We have groups that will do face painting, music, prayer, car washing and in general minister to the people who we find.