Blog 48 15 Jan 2017

Christian School News:

Christmas Pics:

Being the whiz at crafts that I am, we made Mexican Snowmen -- with paper plates and cotton balls.

The "extra" young lady pictured is Grace, the granddaughter of the Ashcrafts.  They came from El Salvador for Christmas and to celebrate Granny & Papa's 50th.

We had so much fun at our regular party, that I neglected to take pics with the big kids.

[If one of the parents or teenagers sees this, they may send me a pic or two from their phone.]

In other school news: 

I am happy to say that Javier's parents have resolved their transportation issues and have re-enrolled him in Kindergarten.

Also of note, Francisco was able to spend 3 weeks with a missionary from Mexico to Africa who was in Southern Mexico presenting his work in different Missions' Conferences. Francisco returned from this trip with an even greater burden to reach the people of Africa and a heightened desire to learn the English language, which is spoken in much of Africa.  He has expressed a desire to me that he wants to finish High School in English, even if it means taking an extra year to do so.  He believes this will greatly help him in his future ministry to the continent of Africa.  

The Great Commission!

Here is Miss Betty and one of her converts who allowed me to take his picture.  On this day, she led four people to the Lord.

Yes, those are pigs in the background! In the area we were visiting, pigs and chickens were freely roaming the streets.  This was a new experience for me.

Mrs. Betty and I were partners again on Jan. 13.  She led three more people to the Lord on this Friday.

To the right, a pic from the Christmas party for our Ladies Soulwinning Group:




The Local Church:
The Wednesday before I left for Christmas break, our church celebrated the 50th Wedding Anniversary of the Ashcrafts. Their actual anniversary was in August, but they were enjoying a trip together at that time; and, of course, all of the family wanted to be present, including their daughter and her family who are missionaries in El Salvador, and one grandson attending Hyles-Anderson.

  

As you can probably see, I swiped these photos from FB.   

             Someone caught a really good pic of me with 2 of my handsome dates for the evening.

In other church news, we are gearing up for our annual Pastor's Conference at the end of February.  I will be helping with the music ministry this year {by watching the kids during some of the choir and orchestra practices :) }.

Interesting & Exciting Happenings:

My Christmas Vacation:  

I really enjoyed time with my family ~ and being 5 minutes from the Beach wasn't so bad, either.
(forgive Dad's thumb / it was really sunny and windy / I dont know how to crop on Blogger)

During my stay we celebrated my birthday (12/22), and Dad's and his wife's, which are both at the beginning of January.



Jonathan & Tommy turn 5!

We enjoyed a super Super-Hero Party!  

Great fun was had by all.

Adapting tO my Changing Life:

This semester I will begin teaching English in our Bible Institute. I will have around 20 young adult students.  I will especially appreciate your prayers as this class meets

twice per week at 7:30am!

I recently found a remote branch of the public library while we were out soulwinning. 
[I do not think they have free wifi  :) ]

Language Update:

Jessica continues to work with me on verb conjugation and the soulwinning plan -- 

and I am continuing with Rosetta Stone as well.

Prayer Corner

1. Pray for Mt Hebron Baptist Church

      ~ Bro. Jon and Mrs. Jenny, their boys,
               and the baby on the way!

      ~ New ministries of the church

2. Pray for Mt Hebron Christian Academy

      ~ New Students
      ~ Francisco as he learns English
3. Pray for Mt Hebron Bible Institute
      ~ My English class
      ~ Students and teachers in general

3. Pray for me to learn Spanish

      ~ for me to be able to lead

         someone to the Lord soon

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

I have placed some hilites of this blog in green font.  
Please realize that every time you pray for me and the work of the Christian school here at Mt Hebron, you have a part not only in the work here, but also in the future work of the students.  
I am so excited that the Lord is using me (because of your faithful prayers and support) to furnish the toolbox of young people who have already decided to spend their lives serving the Lord.  Only eternity will reveal the total influence of the faithfulness of the Ashcrafts to Monterrey: both Pastor Tommy and Mrs. Brenda, as well as the continuing ministry of Pastor Jonathan and Mrs. Jenny.  

Thank you to each of you who make it possible for me to share in this great ministry.

Wishing You a Happy and Blessed 2017!

Blog 47 21 Nov 2016

The Christian School:

Even though Thanksgiving is not officially celebrated in Mexico, we will be off from school Thursday to celebrate. Everyone (expecially me) is looking forward to the annual American feast!

The excitement of Christmas break must be worldwide!  We will all be glad to have a little time away from classes to spend with our families.  I am looking forward to being with my parents in North Carolina.

The Great Commission!

I was hoping to be able to post the name of my first convert by the publication date of this blog.  I did not reach that goal, however, I am drawing closer everyday and am confident that I will reach it soon.  I practice every week with Jessica introducing myself and reading through the plan. Please pray with me to learn the words and phrases necessarry to properly present the Gospel.

A recent soulwinning experience:

"Be A Part of Something Big"

Praise the Lord! Jenny and Jessica were able to see Natalie accept Christ as her Saviour during Ladies' Soulwinning time! 

Jenny and  Jessica led a teenage girl to the Lord whose father said he was already saved. They were only in town because his mother was sick. Jenny listened to him talk about their family situation while Jessica witnessed to the girl. He said they were going back to their home Saturday, but agreed that he needed to get his family into church. Jenny gave the girl her NT, and information was exchanged so that they could get them in touch with a church in their town.

On a different Friday: 
Out Soulwinning today I handed out several tracts. My partner, Hma. Anita won Lorena and her two children to the Lord today. After the sinner's prayer, Lorena did the sign of the crucifix while saying, "Gracias a Dios!" I believe she was relieved to finally know she could not be good enough to save herself and now can rest in what Jesus has done for us. I would love to see her and her children in our services.

The Local Church:
"To Every Ceature" 
Our 2016 Missions Conference

Our church pledged over 50,000 pesos per month through faith Promise Missions this year.
That is over $2,500 US Dollars - in a church with about 400-500 people in Sunday night attendance.
Our people are not rich, but they love, and understand the importance of missions.

Adapting tO my Changing Life:

One thing that continues to be a struggle for me is the inability to come and go at will.  I am dependent upon others for getting anywhere outside of walking distance.  I was excited when Uber came to Monterrey, but could not set it up on my phone with my debit card (unsure if because it is stateside card which requires changing dollars to pesos?).  A few men in the church are Uber drivers, though, so I planned an outing using one of them as my drop off and pick up and paid cash.  I had a nice afternoon at the local mall which included fish tacos and a Starbucks caramel machiato!
Still cheaper than buying a car, and more independent than always relying on friends.

Book Nook:

I have just finised: What I Learned From My Parents. This is a snippet regarding intentional parenting.  Many of you reading this know my parents and so already know some of what to expect.  I wrote this with the intent of honoring two people who consistently put the well-being and well-roundedness of my brother and myself first and foremost, regardless of circumstances or what other families did or did not do.  This, along with other titles listed below, is available digitally through Kindle Direct or in paperback through Amazon.  Order directly from me, and avoid the shipping fee, $10 each.

Where's The Next Jenny?

Every Kid Is Different

365 Days of  Thankfulness

What I Leraned From My Parents

Prayer Corner:

Please pray for Natalie and Lorena.
Please pray for the families of our Christain school.
Please pray for safety of many who are traveling for the holidays, myself included.

Blog 46 01 Nov 2016

School News:

Chapel Day

I am truly enjoying teaching K4 - K5 this year, as well as the upper levels. I am teaching the older students from 8-10, we have a break, then I teach K from 10:30-1:00. The older students have their Bible and Music classes, and volunteer monitors while I am with the K students.

(I swiped this capturing pic from our substitute music teacher.   Mrs Stephanie and her husband are here to complete Language School before moving to Zacatecas, MX, as full-time missionarries.)

The Great Commission!

This past month I have partnered with Mrs. Betty (see below), Mrs. Mari, and Mrs. Jessica.  I have passed out tracts while introducing us, but do not yet feel comfortable sharing the plan of salvation.  I continue to practice on Mrs. Jessica -- She has trusted Christ five times since my last blog!  My partners have led many souls to the Lord in October.

Every Sunday night, Pastor Jonathan takes a count of soulwinning from each Bus Route and Soulwinning group.  In the month of October, hundreds of souls have been reached through the personal soulwinning efforts of our members.

The Local Church:

Our Children's Choir  

I apologize for the blurriness of the photo, but I am encouraged by our Christian School students participating in our church ministries.  All of our teenagers are involved in Bus Routes and teen soulwinning.  Two of them sing in the choir, one plays in the orchestra and helps in a Junior Church, and one helps with the sound system.

I recently started helping in the 3 year-old SS Class.  I am learning the Spanish names for many Bible characters and some simple Bible verses in Spanish.

(I am holding a visitor who stopped crying for the picture.)

Interesting & Exciting Happenings:

I have recently been helping a single lady missionary here with her prayer letters.  By her own admission, she is not very computer savy.  Miss. Betty writes down the things she wants to include in her letter, we sit down together while I type it out, then we e-mail it to her home church, where the secretary prints it out on letterhead and mails it for her to other supporting churches.

 

I have been humbled by her humility and contentment.  After a few letters in which she told about things going on at the church like big days or Bible Clubs, I asked her why she had not mentioned her own personal soulwinning.  In her own unassuming, humble way, she explained that she did not want to sound like she was bragging.  It took some talking, but I was able to convince her to include her soulwinning in the praise section of her letter.  Here is a brief summary:

     "Thank you for your faithful support which enables me to continue my ministry for the Lord through the Mount Hebron Baptist Church.  Your giving makes it possible for me to participate in Ladies' Soulwinning groups on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, as well as be involved in the bus ministry visitation on Saturdays.  This week, I was able to give the Gospel to 12 people and see 8 of them bow their heads and receive Christ as Saviour.  Praise the Lord!" 

-- Miss Betty Hall 

It is missionaries like this that give me pause when others call me a missionary.  I understand what they mean, and I realize that I also am a missionary; ministering more to future soulwinners and church leaders. But, really, I am still a teacher, teaching on the foriegn field.

Prayer Corner:

Praise the Lord for many salvations and baptisms! 

Pray for our follow-up ministries and their spiritual growth.

Praise the Lord for the scholarship students in the Christian school!

Pray for our students, myself, and the volunteer teachers.

Pray for our Pastor and his family.

Pray for our Missions Conference November 11-13.

Blog 45 27 Sep 2016

School News:

This was taken right after PE

Praise the Lord! This past month, someone contacted me to offer a scholarship to a needy student. As our tuition is very modest, it is mostly the price of the books that prevent those interested from being able to afford the school. The scholarship money was enough to purchase two sets of pre-school workbooks, and one student tuition. Here is a pic of our newest students: Aby, K5 & Sara, K4. You probably recognize Samy, and Mauricio, K4, is also new to our school this year, but he was in the first day pics of the last blog.

 

{Tommy & Jonathan are with their parents at a Missions Conference and visiting Grammy in MI}

The Great Commission!

With the start of September, I began greeting those we were inviting to church and to whom we are hoping to give the Gospel.  This is a huge step for me, as my goal is to be able to witness to someone in Spanish before the end of 2016.  Most of the time I am partnered with Jenny or Jessica, who, as of now still carry the conversation; but at least I can introduce us and offer a church tract -- small victories!

The Local Church:

September 16 is Mexican Independence Day.  We celebrated with family activities (consisting mostly of food and games) on Thursday night.  On Sunday, we had tamales after church and encouraged everyone to dress in traditional Mexican attire.

(So, much like an "Old-Fashioned Sunday" in the states.)

We all had a lot of fun and there were many visitors on Sunday.

 

Jenny & Laura in a cookie-eating contest on Thursday
 -- can you guess who won?

We continue to see many saved in our numerous soulwinning and out-reach programs.  Bro. Jon has a great vision for our church and its ministries.  

Interesting & Exciting Happenings:

The local horses have found their way onto the Mount Hebron properties.  The much rain we experienced in August and September made our grass especially appealling to them. The people here did not find this unusual at all, but I was a little taken aback at encountering horses on the sidewalk on the way to school.  Here is a pic of one in my back yard, taken from my window.  Notice the office building right behind him.

Adapting tO my Changing Life:

"Learning another language is like becoming another person."

After one full year of living in Mexico, I have noticed a few things about myself that are completely different than the "myslef" I knew from the United States.  Here are just a few samplings of instances in which I now respond completely differently:

1. I used to love to drive; just to relax and think about things.

     I no longer own a car; + driving here is very stressful.

2. I recently discovered an ant crawling on my toothbrush.

     I rinsed it off and brushed my teeth anyway.

3. One time I was awakened in the middle of the night by a spider 

     crawling on me.  I killed the spider and went back to sleep.

4. I used to make plans several weeks, or even months, in advance.

     This is no longer possible, except for grand events like

      Christmas or trips to Europe.  I am adjusting to 

     "rolling with the flow."

5. I always enjoyed a trip to the local library.

     Although I have been assured on numerous occassions that there

      is a library in Monterrey, I have yet to actually see it, 

      let alone visit it.

6. Fruits and vegetables are so abundant here that I am able to buy 

     them every week.  This makes me feel much healthier and

     stronger than the ravioli I previously used as a staple.

7.  I have not once gone out for pizza with my friends.

      I have brought home pizza from Costco: not the same.

8. I do not miss the fast-food restaraunts like I thought I would.
      We do have McDonald's and BK, but not Sonic or Chik-Fila.
      I have gotten a burger and fries a time or two, but I really don't 
      want or crave it like I thought I might.

9.  I am praying every day that the Lord helps me to adapt to my

      new life and my new lifestyle, as well as to learn the language.

      I love living in Mexico -- the pros far out-weigh the cons:
      however, it is an on-going series of adjustments.