Blog 37 22 Mar 2016

School News

La Noticia de la Escuela

A couple who has worked with our Bible Institute for over 25 years has a daughter, Susanna, attending Hyles-Anderson College this year.  She and some of her friends came down over their Spring Break.  I appreciate that they took a day of their vacation to help out in our Christian school. 

(You see that I hi-jacked a few of their pictures.)

 

Mexico traditionally observes a two-week Spring-Break.  At Mt Hebron Christian Academy, we are going to try a split - week with the end of one and the beginning of the other, with Easter in the middle.  We will see how this works for our families, and adjust next year if needed.  Our 2016 Spring Break will be March 24-29. 

I will not publish a blog on the 29th, but will get some Easter pictures to post on April 5.

Church News

La Noticia de la Iglesia

The new ministries are off to a great start and many existing ministries recieved a "boost."  There is a general air of excitement about serving the Lord in whichever ministry one is involved.  Over the next two Sundays, (including EASTER) I am going to try to get some pictures of our children's SS departments.

Soulwinning

Sembradoras

Brother Francisco Aguirre (Hno. Paco), missionary to the Jews of Monterrey, has been teaching the adult SS classes about using OT verses regarding the Messaiah and salvation.  During his presentations, he stated that out of every 1,000 persons of Jewish faith with whom he speaks, only 3 will listen to the plan of salvation.  He stressed that it is only by remaining focused on the fact that God calls us only to testify to others; it is the Holy Spirit's job, not ours to convert them; every person has a free will.  

All the soulwinning clubs were encouraged to minister in this area of the city over these two weeks.  This Friday, our ladies group visited in this area.  A few accepted the literature printed with only OT references.  The 12 ladies in our group saw 6 souls saved here. Though not converted from Judaism, these are still people for whom Christ died.

Update on Caleb

Thank you for your prayers for Caleb.  He came home from the hospital last week and his skin graft is healing nicely.  Karla and Esdras are back in school, working hard to catch up on the work they missed. 

**REMINDER: Mexico observes Daylight Savings Time on Sunday, April 3.  As the US turned their clocks forward on March 13, our time will be one more hour behind yours for the remainder of those three weeks.**

Language

El Idioma

Almost finished with Unit 3 of Rosetta Stone!! This is one of my goals over Spring Break.  PTL!
Only one more unit on the first disc! Jessica continues to help me with conjugating verbs and learning my pronouns.  She is a great blessing to me. I recently asked someone to help me say in Spanish "on the car" instead of "in the car." Tommy, whom I did not even realise was listening, answered, "sobre del carro." So apparantly, I am progressing more slowly than the 4-year olds.

Prayer Corner

1. Pray for Mt Hebron Baptist Church

      ~ Bro. Jon and Mrs. Jenny

      ~ PTL! Caleb, baby with severe burns, 

              is home!

2. Pray for Mt Hebron Christian Academy
      ~ Students and Teachers

3. Pray for me to learn Spanish

      ~ for me to be able to lead

         someone to the Lord this year

It is an encouragement to me to know that you are praying for me!

Blog 36 15 Mar 2016

School News

La Noticia de la Escuela

As a result of "Vision Night" (see below) we have already enrolled one new Kindergartener for the fall, with other interested families praying and considering enrolling their children.


Here is a pic of the "face-timing" from our side, complete with something each of my students thought might be interesting to their American counterparts.  In an attempt to embarrass Angel, on whom rumor has it one of the GL girls has a crush, Francisco intended to ask "Who likes Angel?" at the end of his presentation.  Apparantly he needs to practice his pronouns, because instead he proudly announced: "I LIKE ANGEL!" Both classes were roaring with laughter at this blunder.  When he realized what he had said, it was too late.

Update on Caleb

Noticia de Caleb

Caleb, the one-year-old brother of Karla and Esdras, is doing better.  He did have the skin graft surgery and will remain in the hospital while he recovers. I appreciate your prayers for their family.

Church News

La Noticia de la Iglesia

Sunday, March 6, was "Vision Night"  here at Mount Hebron. You may have seen this announced on FB and wondered what "Night Vision" had to do with church, as that is how it translated through Bing and Google.  The leaders of different ministries said a little bit about each one and we had sign up tables across the back of the auditorium.  It was very interesting to see and hear about all that is going on.  Various soulwinning and youth ministries were featured, as well as the Christian School and the Bible Institute.
Of course, I couldn't understand all of what was being said, but I did get a program, a church calendar, and Jenny told me about some of the new ministries.  She is heading up a "Martha Ministry" of delivering food to families who are experiencing hospitalization or similar needs; we will also begin having Ladies' Meetings. Jessica's family is starting a "Mission for Missionarries" ministry, similar to that which we utilize at the Texas border, only larger, and also to help those missionarries who come here for language school.  

Soulwinning

Sembradoras

This Friday, we finished up in the same area we started last week.  One house was smaller than mine and built completely of logs.  The man who lived there accepted a tract and was polite, but did not wish to listen to the plan of salvation.  Another house was quite large, with several steps leading up to it. Here, the little girl was learning English in her school and practiced with us a little bit.  The Mom said that one of the couples in our church had invited them before and talked with them about salvation.  I hope this family will come and visit soon.  The 12 ladies who went "seed-sowing" today saw ten souls saved.

Another of the new ministries announced during Vision Night is the start of  Sunday School classes just for visitors and new converts. The teacher of the visitors' class will teach on salvation and baptism.  The new converts class will be a twelve-week course, rotating through the things like church-membership, communion, soulwinning, etc.  This will be a great help in discipling those who come and get saved, or who are saved through our soulwinning ministries.

Cuisine:

Jenny and I stopped for some pineapple water (agua de pina) after soulwinning last Friday. They were out of pineapple and Jamaica, so I tried the red fruit (fruta de roja) flavor. It was delicious!  NOTHING AT ALL LIKE RED PUNCH! It had many different kinds of red fruit, including apples, strawberries, and cherries(manzanas, fresas, y cerezas).

**REMINDER: Mexico observes Daylight Savings Time on Sunday, April 3.  As the US will turn their clocks forward on March 13, our time will be one more hour behind yours for three weeks.**

Other Interesting News:

The Phone Saga

Otra Noticia Interesante:

La Saga de Telefono

Mrs. Carrie Suhl (my neighbor on the other side), drove me to the TelCel office and interpreted for me that I had paid for service that I was not receiving.  We encountered a very nice customer service representative who kindly explained that under this plan (an international one: sin frontera) I had to dial the country code before the area code.  That was it: problem solved! She even waited while we dialed a number in the states to make sure that was the only problem.  Praise the Lord! I now can call anyone on the North-American mainland for one low price!  I just have to remember to pay the right amount, on the right day, and answer SI to my receipt. 

Note: It was only slightly more than just being able to call other numbers in Mexico; I have always been able to call the states using the MagicJack my Dad bought for me when I  first moved here.

Weather Update:

Noticia de Clima:

The end of winter came with the end of February! The temperature here has been mostly in the 80's for the month of March and even a few days in February.  I LOVE IT!! Even though I know this means some of the summer it will stay in the 100's, I do not mind.  I am thankful that I have not had to shovel my driveway once since moving to Arkansas in 1999!  
Mexico is just farther away from the snow!

Pics of the boys just because they are so handsome!

Prayer Corner

1. Pray for Mt Hebron Baptist Church

      ~ Bro. Jon and Mrs. Jenny
      ~ Caleb, baby with severe burns

2. Pray for Mt Hebron Christian Academy
      ~ Students and Teachers

3. Pray for me to learn Spanish

      ~ for me to be able to lead

         someone to the Lord this year

It is an encouragement to me to know that you are praying for me!

Blog 35 08 Mar 2016

School News

La Noticia de la Escuela

We are adjusting to our new schedule which includes my time with the Kindergarten as well as face-timing with the Spanish class in the states.  We have had much illness, and even cancelled school one day because too many people were sick.

 

The one-year-old baby brother of two of my students, Karla and Esdras, was badly burned in February.  He reached toward a cup of boiling water (for instant coffee, I think) and it somehow spilled on him.  He is still in the hospital waiting to see if his skin can be grafted.  His mother is staying there with him; his father is there as well when he is not working. Karla and Esdras are staying with family in a nearby city. They have missed two weeks of school.  Please pray especially for Caleb's healing, as well as the family in this difficult time.

Church News

La Noticia de la Iglesia

Music Ministry

Ministerio de musica

Our orchestra featuring Jenny and my neighbor Jessica

Our Song Leader, Hno. Javi

Soulwinning

Sembradoras

This week we went soulwinning to the South (the opposite direction of downtown Monterrey).  We were in small neighborhoods with homes of both rich and poor.  A large ranch house might be right next door to a small cottage or shack.  Thirteen ladies went out sowing seeds and the six in our van saw five souls reaped.

**REMINDER: Mexico observes Daylight Savings Time on Sunday, April 3.  As the US will turn their clocks forward on March 13, our time will be one more hour behind yours for three weeks.** 

(For GLCS Zooming: When it is 12:30 for you, it will be 11:30 for us, until April 3)

Other Interesting News:

Otra Noticia Interesante:

Recently, I "unlocked" my iPhone from AT&T which was quite a process in itself.  Jenny took me to TelCel here and interpreted for me to obtain a Mexican phone number.  They told me I had to "re-charge" the number monthly, or I would lose the privileges.  This seemed rather simple, and for a while it worked; I was pleasantly surprised.  Each time I put money on my account, I received a text message.  I assumed this was a receipt, as it always included the amount.  Well this past week, my phone would not call or text out.  I took it to my neighbor, Jessica, and asked her if she could help me figure out why.  She scrolled up to my latest "receipt text" and told me I had failed to answer it. Que?! {What?!} Answer the receipt?   She explained that it was asking if I wanted the pesos applied to my "plan."  (Do people give them money for other reasons??) If I failed to answer, they would just give me pre-paid minutes.  If I failed to put at least $100p toward it, I would lose it. (Of course, I had put less.) Mmmm ... lesson learned.  Emily's problems with phone companies are international and bilingual.  Though working for a while after Jessica called customer service for me, {I am certain all of you will be shocked at this news:}
my "plan" is still not properly activated ... this may turn into a saga.
Interestingly the Spanish word for "saga" is "la saga."

Prayer Corner

1. Pray for Mt Hebron Baptist Church

      ~ Bro. Jon and Mrs. Jenny
      ~ Caleb, baby with severe burns

2. Pray for Mt Hebron Christian Academy
      ~ Students and Teachers
      ~ Many who have been ill

3. Pray for me to learn Spanish

      ~ for me to be able to lead

         someone to the Lord this year

Thank you for your continued prayers and words of encouragement.