Travel Update

Both Stephen and Marcela are in Houston this week teaching and ministering at a conference. Please keep them in your prayers as they share God's word and as they travel.

Update: Traveling

Stephen, David, and Elizabeth arrived safely home last week after spending two weeks in Chile. Their trip was the first step in forging a stronger relationship with the church in Chile, and there are plans in place for a reciprocal visit later in 2008. Thanks to all those who were praying for the trip. Stephen is heading to Houston on Monday for a conference; please keep him in your prayers as he travels and ministers there.

Student Profiles: Jesús, Luis, and Jairo Mejia

Name: Jesús Mejia
Level: Middle School
Age: 13
Jesús’ family can be seen in almost everychurch activity. The children have a single mother who works full time to sustain herfamily. Their father committed suicide a few years ago. Jesús is very active in the church and is a true worshiper. He is always in the front lifting his hands and
dancing before the Lord.

Name: Luis Mejia
Level: Elementary (Public)
Age: 10

Luis likes to play hard and is full of energy. He grew up under his father who was an alcoholic and was old enough toremember when his father died. He needs a lot of love and care as he grows into a teenager.

Name: Jairo Mejia
Level: Elementary (Public)
Age: 7

Jairo can always be seen with a smile on his face. He is in every church service. He loves his family and his church.

Student Profile: Azucena Muruaga

Name: Azucena Muruaga
Age: 18
Level: University

Azucena is in her first year of university. She is studying Business Administration at the San Pedro branch of the Universidad Autonoma de Coahuila. She can always be seen with a smile on her face and is willing to serve. Azucena is the only member of her family who is faithful to God and to the church. She is learning to be a panderista and is always ready to help, whether with the youth group, with special church events, or with the children's breakfasts in Torreon. She also attends our English school and is making rapid progress.

Trip to Chile

This morning Stephen left for a two-week visit to Chile, along with David and Elizabeth. They will be ministering in various churches and teaching and training church leaders. Please pray for safety as they travel and that God will bless their time there.

Id Pues Missions School

This week classes started at the Id Pues Missions School here at the property. We have 4 students enrolled, 3 from Templo Libertad and one from Torreon, who is staying here for the semester. We are so excited to see this project finally beginning, as it has been over two years in the making. The classes we are offering right now are: Doctrine, Old Testament Overview, Cultural and Human Relations, Biblical Missions, and special workshops in Phys Ed. and How To Study the Bible. Classes are taught by Stephen and Marcela; our assistant pastor, Jacob; Paul Ellsworth, the school director; and myself. We are looking forward to seeing how God will use the school and its students in the future. Please pray for the school, the students, and the teachers, especially Paul, who is carrying the majority of the workload right now.

If anyone would like more information about the school, you can email me at sanpedroshm@gmail.com or Paul at paulsworth84@gmail.com.

URGENT Need: Desayunador

If you are a regular reader of the blog, you will know about the children's breakfast project we run every Saturday in Cardboardland, the poorest neigbourhood in the city of Torreon. (If you are new to the blog, click on the label at the bottom of this post that says "Ministry - Children's Breakfast"to see a list of all the pertinent entries). Several months ago we obtained land to build our own desayunador, or building from which to distribute food and eventually open a medical clinic. We started building but have only been able to lay a very basic foundation. Recently we were given a deadline by the local government: we have until the end of October to complete the building or we will lose the property entirely. This is the only remaining property available in the area and we urgently need $5000 to completely construct and furnish the building. You can send donations through PayPal (see button at the top left of this page) or through regular mail to:

Seedtime and Harvest Ministries
8635 Callaghan Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78230 USA

Please help us continue this important outreach. As I have commented before, we are not only feeding the children's bodies, but more importantly we are feeding their souls.

Student Profiles: Clementina & Maria Ramirez

Clementina (Clemen) and Maria literally live in one of the last houses in town. They are part of a family of 7 children, only 3 of which are still at home. Their mother was a prostitute and their father left the family when they were still young. They came to the church when Clemen broke her arm (see other blog) and her brother brought her to church for help. Stephen and Marcela raised money to pay for her surgery and eventually both girls and their brothers, Dany and Luis, accepted Christ and became involved in the church. Clemen and Maria still attend services faithfully and are part of the tambourine ministry, and Luis is a leader in the church.

Name: Clementina Ramirez Campos
Level: University
Age: 17

Clemen is attending nursing school in the nearby city of Francisco I. Madero. She is in class from 2pm-7pm every day and in her spare time takes care of the home and participates in church activities.





Name: Maria Rosario Ramirez Campos
Level: High School (Public)
Age: 16

Maria is in her second year of high school, and her goal is to become a gynecologist. She has studied English for several years in our English school and speaks the language very well. She cleans houses to earn money.

El Calor Home Opener

On Saturday night the El Calor soccer team played their first home game of the season. The season began two weeks ago, with the team traveling 12 hours out of state. Ideally, the team arrives an hour or so before the game to warm up and prepare, but this time the bus driver got lost and they arrived at the field 20 minutes before the game! Despite the unexpected delays and rush, and a battle against altitude sickness, the team won 1-0.

This week the team played in Torreon, as their own field is not ready yet. A group of young people from the church traveled down in the bus to cheer on the team, and we must have done something right because we won 8-0! The team has been training extremely hard for the last two months and their efforts are paying off. Please pray for continued success for the team, wisdom for the coaching staff as they train the boys mentally, physically, and spiritually, and resources to equip the players. El Calor is more than a sports team; it is a ministry, and as their motto says, in all things, "To God Be The Glory". (El Calor in red jerseys)

Student Profiles: Pedro Mejia

Over the next few weeks I will be posting short biographies of the students in our Sponsorship Program so that you can put names with faces and learn about the people you are supporting.

Name: Pedro Mejia
Level: University
Age: 19

Pedro is one of the first students to be helped through the Student Sponsorship Program. Shortly after beginning high school he had to stop studying and go work in Monterrey, a city 3 hours away from his home in San Pedro. When he came back, he was too old to re-enter high school, so through the sponsorship program he was enrolled in a private high school. He has worked very hard to earn his diploma and this year he is going to university in Torreon to study architecture. He will be working in the mornings and attending the school in the evenings. Pedro is very active in the church and is one of our regular worship leaders in Sunday services and in his cell group. He also plays the drums in the church's music group, Reflejo. Pedro is excited to have the chance to complete university, and he is a blessing to us here.

Back to School

School started on Monday and dozens of children and teens from Templo Libertad have resumed their studies. There are many costs associated with school here and Stephen and Marcela help support several students in primary, secondary, high school, and university. Last year we created a Student Sponsorship Program and we would like to share with you the needs of the students involved in the program. Please pray and ask God how he can use you to help give these children and young adults a better future.

We have a complete package including student profiles, donation information, and frequently asked questions. I can't post the entire package, but here are the FAQ's. Please email me at sanpedroshm@gmail.com if you would like me to send you the sponsorship package (as an Adobe Acrobat document)

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the tuition prices for each student?

The Student Sponsorship Program places each student in a category according to their leve0l of schooling. Each category has its own cost per student. The amount will cover tuition, school supplies, and inscription fees for the students. (Note: The payments of schooling are for 10 months a year starting in August and continuing through June)

Elementary Students (Private School) – $50 / month ($500 / year)
Elementary Students (Public School)- $20 / month ($200 / year)
Middle School Students (Public School) - $30 / month ($300 / year)
High School Students (Private School) -$70 / month ($700 / year
High School Students (Public School) - $40 / month ($400 / year)
University Students- $400 / month ($4000 / year)

• How are the students chosen for the program?

Each student is a member of the church in San Pedro, Templo Cristiano Libertad. The students are chosen for the program as a result of their financial situation and the desire they show to continue in their education.

• How is the money managed?

The sponsorship donations are sent through an organization based out of Nashville, TN called Global Foundation. The money will then be transferred to the Student Sponsorship Program’s bank account and administered according to the needs of the students.

• Will I receive a report about the progress of the students?

Every month, the Student Sponsorship Team will send out a newsletter to sponsors. The newsletter will include a stories and testimonies from our students. It will also include any needs or prayer requests for the program or for the student’s families.

• Why is there the option for private or public school?

There are strict age limits in the public schooling system in Mexico. If a student passes the age limit, he or she must enter a private school to continue their education. Also, many of the private schools offer special programs or career studies that the public schools do not offer.

• How do I start with the program?

You can start, by reading the profiles of our students. Please choose a student, print and fill out the attached form with your personal information, and send it in the same envelope with your first donation.

• For all donations simply follow the steps:

Checks:
1. All checks should be made out to “Global Foundation.”
2. Place Student Sponsorship Program in the memo line.

All Donations:
3. Place the check or cash in an envelope addressed to the Global Foundation office.

Global Foundation
PO BOX 58328
Nashville, TN 37205

4. You will receive a letter for proof of your donation to a non-profit organization.

Difficulties and the Grace of God

This past Wednesday was our monthly cell group celebration, when we hold a joint service at the church for all our cell groups. The message that was shared with us spoke of how the hardships we experience in life allow God to manifest himself and show his grace. As Christians living under the authority and power of God, sometimes we think we shouldn't have problems, and we wonder why we do. In John 16:33, Jesus says, "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world." There are two promises in this verse: one, we will not always have an easy life BUT, two, God has already won the victory over whatever circumstances we find ourselves. When we have problems we often want to blame God and question his will. We need to remember, thought, that blame and doubts and confusion do not come from God, but from the devil. We might start to think that there are no solutions, that the problems we face personally and globally are too big, but these thoughts again are not from God; they are what the world would have us think. The book of Romans assures us that, "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who are called according to his purpose" (8:28). Being a Christian doesn't make you immune to difficulties, but it does guarantee that as we seek the will of God and remain faithful to him, he will provide a solution to even the worst problems and can turn them into blessings. If we did not have problems, we would not see the power and grace of God working in our lives. John 9 tells the story of a man blind from birth. When the disciples saw him, they asked Jesus what sins this man or his parents had committed to cause him to be blind. Jesus replied, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life" (9:3). In John 11 we read the story of the death of Lazarus, one of Jesus' closest friends. Jesus could have healed Lazarus easily, but he stayed away until several days after his death. This was a difficult situation even for Jesus; he wept when he arrived at the tomb. But when his disciples first told him that Lazarus was ill, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it" (11:4). Jesus knew that he and the others who loved Lazarus would have to suffer, that Lazarus himself would suffer death, in order for God to be glorified. When we experience problems we have two choices: one, we can get angry and forget about God, or two, we can give thanks to God for the opportunity to experience his grace. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." If we stop seeking God and focus on our pain, our problems will grow, but if we accept problems as part of life and thank God for giving us life, we allow him to show his grace, power, and love.

Update

Hi again! We're in the last weeks of summer vacation and getting ready for the start of school and other regular activities. The last month has been exciting and busy as we have been blessed by visits from various groups and individuals from the States. Two weeks ago a group of young people from Texas spent four days with us, participating in street ministry and also cleaning up the property. We did two outreaches here in San Pedro and the group also participated in our Friday night church service. Their ministry was unique in that they used magic tricks to illustrate the love of God and to visually present the Gospel to the groups of children who gathered to watch. The church drama team also presented several skits during the outreaches.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support. The last couple of weeks have been difficult as many of the team members here have been sick with various illnesses. We know that God has his hand on us and that your prayers make the difference for us. Please pray for renewed health and strength for all here to carry out the work that needs to be done.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:30-31)