Blog 40 26 April 2016

School News

La Noticia de la Escuela

I am really glad the Lord sent me here.  He is using me in the lives of these young people who already have a great understanding of the importance of missions.  They realize how little hope there would have been for their families to hear the Gospel had not been for someone who was willing to leave the comforts of their home and homeland to reach them.  Three of the four teenage boys in the Christian school are preparing for the mission field. One of them believes the Lord would have him return and serve here with his Dad after Bible college.  One has surrendered to Africa.  The other is still praying about his field of service.  Although I was not influential in their lives up to the point of this decision, the Lord is using me to help them prepare to fulfill their committments.  

Church News

La Noticia de la Iglesia

Jenny has started Ladies' Meetings to encourage fellowship and participation.  Here are a few pics of our first one: 

 

My Pastor's wife {Jenny} spoke on "sowing seeds of kindness." A missionary wife from our Bible Institute gave her testimony. Since she is expecting, we gifted her with money to spend for the baby when they get to Thailand. We played some games, and afterwards, we had a buffet of fruit and desserts!

Soulwinning

Sembradoras

Friday, April 15: We finished knocking all the doors in one of the neighborhoods not far from the church.  Seven of us went out today and saw nine souls trust the Lord.

Friday, April 22: Eleven of us went out today in another neighborhood pretty close to the church.  My partner was my neighbor, Jessica. Seven people were saved.

Weather 

el clima

It has been in the 80's and 90's here for quite some time, except for a little period of rain which put us in the 70's for a few days. 
During the night it gets into the 60's and I have turned off the AC a few times.

Language

El Idioma

Jessica is back! We are regularly conjugating verbs and memorizing Scriptures.  I also continue working on Rosetta Stone. 

Horses that Ride Up & Down My Road:

 

Messy Messy Boys!

 

Prayer Corner

1. Pray for Mt Hebron Baptist Church

2. Pray for Mt Hebron Christian Academy

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 41 10 May 2016

School News                         Field Trip!

la noticia de la escuela       la salida

We had a great trip to the Monterrey zoo!  The weather was great (just a tad warm); the kids were great (no one got in trouble); we even got to hear one of the tigers roar! (just a tad loud).

Here we all are!

Church News

la noticia de la iglesia

The Baptistry is Ready!

It was quite exciting to have the baptismal service in the main auditorium with so much more participation from the congregation.  50 people were baptized on the inaugral Sunday of our new baptistry.   We are still working on changing rooms and other improvements, but are really glad to be able to have baptisms in the main auditorium now!

Here are the first couple of baptisms as well as a picture of our altar workers at invitation time and a young man receiving his BEAMS Bible.  Bibles are given to converts on their first Sunday in church after they are baptized.

Soulwinning

Sembradoras

Friday, April 29, we returned to the same "colonia" we have been working through.  We went across the bridge and found several homes with people who had not recently been visited. It seems anywhere you have a large church with many soulwinners you will often get a response to the effect that they know all about your church and what you are going to say.  Several had heard of the church but had not been personally invited.  We continue to have dozens of visitors every Sunday; it is almost impossible for me to know if any of them are the people we invite on Fridays.

Eleven ladies in Jenny's Friday group went soulwinning; the five in our van saw four saved, with eleven total for our efforts. The total saved from all the ladies' soulwinning groups this week was 33.  Over 275 souls prayed with a soulwinner this week outside of church, according to the Sunday night count from men's, women's, and youth soulwinning, as well as those saved on Bus Routes.  As you can see above, 50 of these were baptized.

Friday, May 6, we continued in the neighborhood from previous weeks.  Eight ladies in our group went forth to share the gospel and saw six souls saved.  Side note: It was really, really hot today!

Weather

el clima

It has been in the 80's and 90's here for quite some time, except for a little period of rain which put us in the 70's for a few days. 

During the night it gets into the 60's and I have turned off the AC a few times. (but not many!)

Language

El Idioma

I continue to work through Rosetta Stone and to study with Jessica.  This week I learned there are two forms of the state of being verbs.  One form means "always is" like, "She is my sister."  The other means "is right now, but may change later" like, "She is at Wal-Mart."  
This new knowledge made me even more aware of the impact and importance of statements in the Bible, especially the passages having to do with God as "The Great I Am."  He is now, and will continue being "The Great I Am."  So many verses teach us of Who and What God is, and Who He is to and for us.

Other Interesting News:

otra noticia interesante:

I got a haircut, which is as good as an excuse as any to slide in a picture of Lucas.  

Book Nook

rincón de libros

I have been diligently working toward completion of my fourth title, Things I Learned From My Parents.  I feel certain

that at least a few of you reading my blog know my Dad (or knew my Mom). Some of you were our family, or close family friends, who went through the struggles of Mom's cancer right along with us; and then, helped us pick up our pieces and learn to go on without her, taking with us the lessons she lived before us.  My Dad was, and still is, a rock of consistency throughout all of life's bumps and curves.

I hope to have this selection ready and uploaded to Amazon by July 1, 2016.  If you are interested in pre-ordering (which would be a blessing to me and also save you the postage) please email or private message me.

For a complete listing of avaialble and forthcoming works, please refer to Blog 6.

my email:  superiorscholasticskills@gmail.com

Prayer Corner

la esquina de oracion
Please continue to pray for Mt Hebron Baptist Church:
1. Jon & Jenny
2. The many people who have been saved and baptized since April 1 to continue to grow in the Lord.
And also, Mt Hebron Christian Academy:
1. For me to be the teacher the students need
2. For the students to finish the year well
3. For wisdom as we begin preparations for next year

Blog 39 12 Apr 2016

School News

La Noticia de la Escuela

We are excited to be back from Spring Break!  (Well, I am, anyway.) 

The students are excited that school is almost over. 

You can barely see our names spelled with the blocks

Church News

La Noticia de la Iglesia

A few pics of last Sunday's big day with Bro. Darrell Ratcliffe:

Hna. Rosalinda and her grandson

 

Elisa, Javi's sister

Ivan

Angel

  

My favorite part of the day :)

Soulwinning

Sembradoras

This Friday, 13 ladies went out "sowing seeds" of the Gospel.  The 6 ladies in our van were able to pray with 10 people trusting Christ as their Saviour.

Weather

el clima

As it has been warm and comfortable here in Monterrey (in the 70s and 80s), I am so sorry for my friends who live in less tropical areas.  I saw on Christy Havey's FB page that Northern Ohio, Southern Michigan had several inches of snow even -- and in April no less!

Language

El Idioma

I am [beyond] thrilled to [finally] announce that I have completed Unit 3 of Rosetta Stone!!!! This unit was on work and school; unit 4 is all about shopping ~ so maybe less tedious and more fun!

Prayer Corner

1. Pray for Mt Hebron Baptist Church

      ~ Bro. Jon and Mrs. Jenny

      ~ New ministries of the church

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 38 5 Apr 2016

School News

La Noticia de la Escuela

Besides "zooming" (a face-timing ap) with my friend's Spanish class in Arkansas, Fridays are also PE day.  I went over a few of the basic rules of volleyball, made some rough in/out lines, and we went at it.  The pics do not adequately convey how much fun we had!

Church News

La Noticia de la Iglesia

A few pics of our children's Sunday-School Classes: 

There are a few things I would like for you to notice as you peruse these pictures.  Firstly, take note of our teenagers helping in the children's departments.  Some not pictured here help in the Junior Churches. Secondly, the students of the Christian school are faithful to SS.
I would also like to bring to your attention the outdoor  

classes.  Think of these pics when you next hear a missionary announce a building program for their church.

We currently also have one set of outdoor restrooms -- (not outhouses, but one step above), and one set of indoor restrooms. I am not sure how it exactly translates, but we are in a giving campaign to improve the plumbing at our facilities.

We want to fix the pipes to the baptistry, as our baptisms now take place in the "old sanctuary" or the children's church.  In addition, we would like to build new restroom facilities.

I am encouraged by the number of our "Senior Saints" still teaching Sunday School.  Many of these faithful men and women were won to the Lord and discipled by Jon's parents.  Praise the Lord, they are helping to teach and train future generations in the things of the Lord.

Lastly, please take note of just how similar these classes are to the Sunday-School classes in your own church.  These boys and girls have the same needs as your boys and girls.  These boys and girls, by the grace of God, are being given the same opportunities to learn, grow, and serve as your boys and girls.  For those of you who are members of churches who

support either / both of the Ashcraft families and / or myself, you have a huge part in everything you see in these pictures and more.
From all of us at Mt Hebron,
"Thank you!"

Yes, that is Samy quoting this week's memory verse :)

Easter Pics!!

Here in Mexico (as well as other predominately Catholic, Spanish-speaking countries) the week before Easter is known as Santa Semana, or Holy Week.  The celebrations and American commercialism were far from anything holy.  Many grocery and convenience stores featured live bands / dancers with American music sponsored by liquor companies. But, Praise the Lord, we had a great day at church!

       

 

Yes, a balmy, rather cool 81*. Later it warmed up to 90*, which was much nicer.  As you can see, Lucas was not happy with the idea of pictures before eating. We had numerous visitors, professions of faith, and baptisms at the end of the service.  And after, I enjoyed roast beef with Jon, Jenny, the boys, and a visiting missionary.

Soulwinning

Sembradoras

On Monday, March 21: Our youth had a Soulwinning Marathon. Many people went soulwinning in different areas in or near Monterrey and saw a total of over 400 souls saved.

On Friday, March 25: As this was "Good Friday" there was much traffic and many people out. Our ladies' groups went soulwinning not far from the church to the market area.  Jessica, Jenny, and I walked to the left as Hna. Betty stopped and witnessed to a teenage boy.  The other four ladies went to the right.  The 3 of us passed out 175+ tracts and invited people to our Easter services.  

The 8 ladies in our van saw 10 saved. 

On Friday, April 1: Many families and Institute students conducted Bible clubs this week.  The public schools are all on Spring Break, so it is a good time to reach the children.  Many of our ladies were involved in these, but four of us showed up for regular soulwinning.  We went to the town square in the center of Santiago, not far from the church.  I was privileged to sit next to Jenny on a park bench while she led Victoria to the Lord who very much wants to start bringing her children to church.  We met a few people who had been saved previously, and we encouraged them to join us in worship.  Altogether, the 4 ladies in our van won 7 souls.

On Sunday, April 3:  We had a "Big Day" (Dia Grande) at the church.  Bro. Darrel Ratcliffe and his wife Buffy brought inflatables and games for the children to enjoy after church.  We had scores of visitors and many salvations and baptisms. Hopefully, a great start for our New Converts SS Class!

Other Interesting News:

Otra Noticia Interesante:

Benjamin (pronounced Ben - ha - meen) turns four!  I had to post the pics from his party because he is such a great kid, not just because Batman is my favorite Super-Hero.

Yes, that is Francisco manning the ropes of the piñata atop the neighbor's 2nd-story porch.

Who is that masked man? Not Bruce Wayne, Benjamin!

(the other one is the piñata)

Prayer Corner

1. Pray for Mt Hebron Baptist Church

      ~ Bro. Jon and Mrs. Jenny
      ~ Our many SS Teachers
      ~ Offerings for facility improvements

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.
4. Pray for Victoria and her family.
I appreciate your prayers and encouragement!