Blog 56 17 Jul Summer Service

SUMMER SERVICE

Just a few pics of my summer at Mount Hebron.

So far it has been a nice and relaxing time, mostly spent in anticipation of the start of school.  

Of course, I did have a vacation this summer (see previous Blog #54).  

Sunday School Helper

I have been helping in SS for almost a year now, but have not posted many pictures of it.  This summer I took a few:

This is Rafe (Rafael) leading in prayer for the offering.
His Mom Tanya is my friend.
Their family takes English classes from me on Sunday afternoons.

Here is me teaching Psalm 23, and yes, in Spanish.  The teen girls working in this class often help me with pronunciation.

Summer Soulwinning:

 

One afternoon in the town square of Cercado:

1. Miss Betty, one of the most faithful soulwinners I know,
leads a lady to the Lord.  She won 3 that day.

2. Louisa, my partner, led a teenager to the Lord.  She also won a 10-yr-old boy and an elderly couple for a total of 4 that day.

3. Jessica and Stephanie talked to the ice cream vendor who told them he had prayed that prayer before with someone from our church and Jesus was already in his heart.

4. (not pictured) An older gentleman stops Jessica and Stephanie to thank them for handing out parts of the Bible on paper (tracts).He read one that someone gave him and was now sure of his home in Heaven, which was something he had been questioning much lately.

5. (not pictured) I handed out twelve tracts independently and took these incredible pics!

Entire Family Turns to Christ

One Friday, Jessica was able to lead a family to the Lord.  Picture at bottom of her story: (she is wearing black)

"Thank God I was able to testify to an entire family where all together received Christ as thier Saviour.  As I began to witness to a lady, Lorraine, her four children came home from school, then also, her husband returned from work.  All came to the door and listened. At the end, each one invited Christ into his heart.  My husband Leo and I intend to return and invite them to church." ~ Jessica Gonzalez

A "Big Day" in SS & on the Bus Routes

Pastor Jonathan planned a couple of "Big Days" for our children's ministries over the summer including the Circus (pictured), and Super Hero Sunday. And, of course, there were Teen Camps and Junior Camps also.

The Circus came to town!

 

Ladies' Meeting

"Faith Unfeigned"

Jenny spoke at a church not too far away one Saturday.  She gave her testimony, encouraging the ladies to invest in the young people of their church, especially those who may come without thier parents.

She also spoke on consistency in the home and church to avoid hyprocisy.

And, Preparing for My Purpose:  

Some of us fellowshipping after
Sunday night services.

I also kept busy over the summer cleaning and organizing my classroom and office and getting the pace order ready.  I had much to do in preparation for the new school year.  Although I am of course very excited for school to start, sometimes the details can become a sea of monotony. :)

I did have a little help cleaning the school rooms.  Pictured to the far right is Ana, a NICU nurse from El Paso, TX, who spent the month of June here at Mt. Hebron working in the office, cleaning the buildings, and going soulwinning with several different ministries.  She got in a little sight-seeing and a few home-cooked meals during her stay as well.  What a blessing to have her help with whatever was needed while she was here!

And Still Time to Try a Few New Things:

A store in the Mall sells authentic foods from Oaxaca (wha-haca). The owner had me try a salsa and say how it tasted before showing me the worms that were its main ingredient! And, even after that, I purchased this tea made from avocado leaf and chile, which I actually do enjoy.

Cup already was mine

Prayer Corner

Please pray for all the ministries of our church.

Pray for me that I may learn the language and become more involved in our outreach ministries.

Please pray for Pastor Jonathan as well as for Jenny and their children.
Pray for wisdom regarding finances.
Please pray for help in our Christian School as well as wisdom in planning out the class schedule.

Pray for a successful school year.

Blog 55 20 (13) June 2017 Megan Arrives!

Disclaimer:  This entire blogpost is about Baby Megan.  From the announcement that she was coming, through the shower, and, of course, her birth, I have collected it all on this page together.

June 13, 2017 / 6.9 lbs / 19.5 inches

Everyone is Excited!!

Grammy (Jenny's Mom) is the first phone call!
Then, the family announcement when Jenny brought home the booties pictured in the FB announcement.

A Shower for Megan & Mama:

Papa & Granny and Grammy all send presents!

 The whole church is excited! 
One of our friends from LABC in Michigan was here for the occassion and brought many gifts from others there as well. And we had cake!!
Tyler and Samantha Ball were here for the week

VISITING THE HOSPITAL

COMING HOME
  

There is no doubt that Megan's much-anticipated arrival has definitely been a highlite of our summer here!  

Blog 54 12 Jun 2017 Destiny's Graduation / Arkansas Trip

Excited Over Her Accomplishment!

Giving Her Speech

Faculty Praying Over Each Student

Graduation for a Very Special Student!

Destiny Parton, Christian Ministries Academy, May 19, 2017

I do not know of any student who has worked harder to achieve this milestone.  I am so proud of all that she has accomplished; but most of all I am so grateful for her willingness to follow God's leading and to be one of those rare young people who truly desire more than anything else in life to become everything God has planned for her to become.  Destiny, I love you and I am so, so proud of you!

Destiny Parton has been an integral part of my life for over twelve years.  As a Kindergartner, Destiny was in my Junior Church and Wednesday night Pee Wee Patch club.  In First Grade, she entered my school classroom.  Her entire class was one of my top favorite classes of over (so far) 25+ years in the classroom. She was a kind and considerate girl who had to work extra hard at memorizing just to keep up with addittion and phonics.  Destiny has always been a hard worker and a determined student.  

I was privileged to be her teacher again in third grade, then again in seventh and eighth to help prepare her for high school.  Destiny's 5th-6th Grade teacher was my good friend and colleague, Miss Kristen Hall. So, between us, Kris and I were responsible for 2/3 of her school years before high school and 1/2 total. I know that Miss Hall also thought very highly of Destiny and counted it a privilege to be one of her teachers.  She often spoke of her sweet spirit and Godly attitude.  Truly, in my heart, Destiny is more to me than just a student.  I am so grateful that the Lord allowed me to be a part of her formative years.  As I said in Every Kid Is Different, Destiny has called me her teacher, but I have learned so much from her about what truly counts in life.

I wish you all the best in your new endeavours! I am excited to watch God's plan unfold in your life. Destiny plans to attend Champion Christian College this fall.  

 

 

Other Graduates: of which I was also pleased to be able to attend at least part of the ceremony:

Many former students of Gospel Light High School, May 21

Joe Pultz, Lakeside HS, May 21 (ceremonies at the Convention Center)

Congrats to Joe on earning an academic scholarship towards college tuition.  I appreciate Michaela's words of homage for Miss Hall and myself.  I was so encouraged while I was out soulwinning on Saturday with Heritage Baptist Church to see two young men out doing the same thing for GL -- Nick Cantrell and Junior.  I was amused by Isaiah's inclusion in his video clips of a memorable part of our joint 1st Grade experience.  (Disclaimer: I am 99% certain that that picture was taken on Isaiah's 6th birthday.)

Other Highlites From My Trip to Arkansas:

Heritage Baptist Church was a blessing to me.  It was wonderful to see the faithfulness of God's people in God's House and to rejoice over the blessings of the past two years.  It was great to hold the two babies born since I have been gone.

And, of course, all my crew!

Time With Friends was much cherished and too short.  I truly felt like I was coming home for a visit.  Thank you to all who think of me as family and treated me as such during my stay.

Blog 53 16 May 2017 Mount Hebron Graduation

GRADUATION CEREMONIES

 

 

KINDERGARTEN

Five students will be moving on to 1st Grade!

Aby, Javier, Jonathan,Tommy, and Samy are very excited.  Their teacher is very excited with their bilingual skills. They are learning English much faster than I am learning Spanish. 

Here is the 5-year-old SS class reciting Psalm 1, Sunday, April 30.Yes, in Spanish!
(Benjamin, Tommy, Jonathan,(?), Javier, Samy, Aby, (?), (?).
Hma Laura is their teacher.

HIGH SCHOOL

Angel has worked so hard the past two years in order to be able to graduate at the end of this school year.  He has completed 172 paces in two years which is no easy feat.

As of now, Angel plans to enroll in Hyles-Anderson College next year.  He believes the Lord would have him serve in Missions and will continue to seek His will as to where.

Brenda Gonzalez, Joel's sister, whose family are missionaries to El Salvador, finished her last semester of High School with us.  She is a tremendous young person with a heart to serve the Lord.

I was also privileged to help Joel finish his last year of High School. He will also be attending Hyles-Anderson.

The Great Commission

Bible Clubs

Our Soulwinners took Bible Clubs to many areas of Monterrey during Spring Break week and saw over 500 people saved!

Ladies' Soulwinning

I continue to go out every Friday afternoon with the group of ladies led by Jenny.  There are several other groups in different areas that go on different days.  We have had more than ten ladies every week for quite some time.  

I went soulwinning Friday with Tammy, Pastor Jonathan's sister. She saw one lady saved and one very Catholic couple promised to think about this decision over the weekend as the re-read the verses on the tract. The lady with whom she was talking had a five-year old son who interrupted them a time or two. Tammy suggested I take out the Wordless Book and go through the colors with him. I know my colors, and how to say what they stand for except for growing. I am sure my grammar was not very good, but the words got through. As he was only five, I did not pressure him to pray with me. I am not sure how much he understood, but God is. His Mom got saved, he had the Gospel story told to Him (albeit roughly), and I went through the Salvation plan for the first time in Spanish (other than with Jessica, who is already saved).

Language Update

I have gone through the basic plan of salvation with a five-year-old. (story above)

While telling the Easter story to the Kindergarteners I did very well until the end.  I said, in Spanish, "Jesus had no sin. Jesus died for our sin."  The students were listening and even moved by Jesus' death ~ until I confused the word for sin with the word for fish.  They all started laughing, and Samy said: "Ha ha - Hma Emily say 'Jesus no have fish; Jesus die for fish." The moment was lost.

I have had some trouble starting Disc 2 of Rosetta Stone. For some reason, my laptop does not want to read it.  I have taken some ribbing for taking over a year to finish the first disc, some of which I am sure I deserve; however, for those unfamiliar with the program, I thought I would share a few details.  Disc 1 was comprised of four core units each containing 32 lessons and a test: that is 128 lessons and four tests.  I had to repeat a majority of the speaking lessons numerous times.  I still struggle with the vowel pronunciations.

Finished Mural:

Easter Fun:

I have enjoyed Jon's sister and her girls being here for a few months.  She let me come and help dye Easter Eggs with the younger cousins.  

And her youngest, Grace was our only 1st Grader this year.

Prayer Corner

Please pray for our 3 graduates who will be attending Hyles-Anderson College.

Please pray for God's leading regarding help in the school for next year.

Please pray for our church ministries and the Ashcraft family.