Blog 42 24 May 2016

School News                        

la noticia de la escuela 

Graduation pictures:

Abby, who attended the evening classes

Ivan 

Karla

Francisco

Although we had no school graduates this year, we did give certificates to those who completed Level 1 of ESL.

And, a pic of our Institute lady graduates:

My friend Tania, (in the green dress) who teaches piano in the institute, and the lady graduates.

(The little one on the far right just wanted to stand by her Mama)

I was not able to get a picture of the 2 men.

Last day of school pics:

 

 

These pictures mark the end of my  20th year of teaching.

The last one of all of us (including the babies) is the one I plan to add to my collection of all of the students I have been privileged to teach. I may soon need a bigger office (or at least a new shelf).

Church News

la noticia de la iglesia

Excerpt from a recent update sent to my home and sending church, Heritage Baptist Church in Hot Springs, Arkansas:

It is certainly exciting to have the baptistry in the main auditorium and to be able to include those following the Lord in baptism as a part of our regular services.  Last week was the inaugral service for our newly repaired baptistry as well as a "big day" in the bus ministry that resulted in 50 baptisms.  This past Sunday was not a big day; it was just a regular Sunday and we had 32 baptisms.  There are literally hundreds of soulwinners in our church.  Many of our members or their parents were personally won to the Lord by Jon's parents out soulwinning.  There are always exceptions of course, but generally speaking, first-generation Christians usually make the best soulwinners because they fully realize the importance of soulwinning.  And first-generation Christians won by a missionary are also generally those who give the most to missions. At our Missions Conference we were given a list of missionarries our church supports.  This list has 58 families on it. That is 58 missionaries supported by a church that averages 500-600 in Sunday morning attendance.  

I am truly grateful to be involved in a great work of the Lord.  I am glad to be a part of the team used to train the children of these dedicated men and women and help equip them to reach their own generation.  I am truly grateful also for those faithful and dedicated men and women who see the urgency and need for me to be here, who sent me here, and who make it possible for me to stay here and help in this work.  Thank you for believing in me.

For more info about the Mount Hebron Ministries, click the link below.

http://www.jonathanashcraft.org

Soulwinning

Sembradoras

Friday, May 13, took us to a neighborhood not far from Hno. Ivan and Hna. Laura's.  It is apparantly a working class neighborhood; Jenny and I found not one single person at home.  We did give tracts to some men who were working on their cars.  Of the ten ladies in Jenny's group this week,only one lady was able to lead someone to the Lord.  The total from all the ladies' soulwinning meetings was 27.

Friday, May 20, we went soulwinning close to where we have been the past few weeks.  There were a few people home, but not very many.  My neighbor Jessica was able to talk to a lady whose daughter had just gotten home frome school.  Lucia and her daughter trusted Jesus for a home in Heaven.  

Seven ladies went out in our group today and led six souls to the Lord.  The total from all of the ladies' soulwinning efforts was 34.

Weather

el clima

It has been about 85* here the past two weeks, except for a little period of rain which put us in the 70's for a few days. 

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

Language

El Idioma

The end of the school year activities have made it difficult to keep up with my language studies as well as I would like to.  Please pray for me to get back on track and for me to remember what I have already learned.  Jessica has been very patient and encouraging with my slow progress.

Other Interesting News:

otra noticia interesante:

I lost :(

One of Jonathan and Tommy's friends, David, is about to join their ranks as a big brother!  David's Mom invited me to her Baby Shower.  There were many ladies there, a few babies, some nice presents, and some really good tacos. 

In Spanish, this event is called a "Baby Shower" just like in English, except with a pronounced Latino accent.  

New Foods

Comida Nueva

Besides cake and tacos, there was a new type of dessert served that I had never tried before. It was jello cubes served in cups of sweetened condensed milk.  It really tasted good, despite the fact that the two tastes sound like they wouldn't go together very well.

(Also, can you tell how warm it was that day?)

This will be my last official blog before school starts back

in the fall.  I will be working on the school calendar and schedule, the pace order, and other school-related activities over the summer. I will have a very relaxed schedule, though, and have even planned some vacation time with my oldest friend (oldest in that she has been my friend since we were 7; not in the sense that she is the oldest of all my friends). I also plan to get some writing accomplished and work hard toward learning Spanish.
I will post some summer pictures like I did over Christmas.

Prayer Corner
la esquina de oracion

Please continue to pray for Mt Hebron Baptist Church:

1. Pastor Jon & Mrs. Jenny

2. Church leadership and SS Teachers

3. The many people who have been saved and baptized since April      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 wisdom as we prepare for next year

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