Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Blog 51 21 Mar 2017

Christian School News:  

It is difficult to describe how quiet the classroom is while all the students are working on their paces.  The high schoolers are all working diligently toward finishing the year out strong!

This pic is from the first day of spring, which also happens to be Francisco's birthday.
Feliz Cumpleaños, Fran!


It is equally difficult to describe how loud the Kindergarten classroom is with most of the students repeating most of the directions while attempting to learn all the new English words.

In this pic, (also 21 March) we are learning the long sound for my favorite letter, "E!"




The Great Commission:
We continue to have a large group of ladies at our group each Friday.  We are still taking two vehicles, and still seeing many saved each week.  Of note since my last blog is the fact that my friend Lydia won her first soul to the Lord! Also, Stephanie and her husband Trent, who are here at Mount Hebron attending Language School, each won thier first souls in Spanish.  Praise the Lord! 

Stephanie, with kids from the Bus Route
Lydia, on the right












The Local Church

The Conference is over, but our fervor and commitment for service is still strong.  During March we have had a Vision Service highlighting various opportunities for ministry at Mount Hebron, and a Missions Emphasis service.

I am still helping in the 3-Year-Olds I am teaching (learning) the 23rd Psalm (in Spanish).



Interesting & Exciting Happenings:

I appreciate the blessing that Heritage Baptist Church has been to me since my moving to Mexico.  Most recently, the Lord has used them to make it possible for me to buy much needed new glasses.  

Adapting to my Changing Life:

I have finally finished Disc 1 of Rosetta Stone!!
I definitely feel as though another dimension is being added to my life as I absorb more and more of the culture and language of a foreign country.


Prayer Corner:

Please pray for:  

Mt Hebron Baptist Church
        Pastor Jonathan and Jenny Ashcraft and Family
        Mrs Brenda (Jon's mom) who is seeing a health specialist in the states
         New and existing outreach ministries

  Mt Hebron Christian Academy
         Students
         Teachers (help for next year)

  Miss Emily A Knight (yes, me :) )
         As I learn Spanish
        Wisdom regarding finances

== March Adventures ==

The weather has been incredibly beautiful here, much more like Spring than winter.  On one of these beautiful days, we had a great time kite-flying in the big field.  It was well past dark when we stopped.  

On a different evening, one of the college students came to ask me if they could borrow my softball equipment.  I said yes, but asked if girls were playing, too.  He said yes and some of the kids that live on the property. So, of course, I went and joined them -- sorry no pics.  :)
{FYI: The 1st video starts with Lucas running, but has the best view of all the kids.  The 3rd one is me :) }








Monday, February 27, 2017

Blog 50 01 Mar 2017

2017 Pastors' Conference

Mount Hebron Baptist Church hosted over 1,000 delegates to this year's conference.  Here are some thoughts, highlights, and pictures of our week:

And what a conference it was! There were so many churches and ministries represented. Over a thousand people were here. 

Soulwinning:

On Wednesday, all delegates and church members who were not watching a nursery went soulwinning. In the service that night, Pastor Jonathan took the count of souls saved like we do every Sunday night; over 300 people had trusted Christ that afternoon, and twelve were baptized at the close of the service. Praise the Lord!
 These pics are of the ladies in my group.  In the pink sweater is my friend Lydia who sits with me in church and who also speaks a little English.  Her partner, Paula is in blue, and my partner, Luisa in gold and black.  Luisa led two people to the Lord and had another lady promise to be in church on Sunday.




One of the twelve people saved and baptized on Wednesday was a homeless man, Ceasar, who on Thursday surrendered his life to do God's will.  The teens of Mount Hebron took up an offering to cover his first month's rent while he looks for a job in a place near enough to church he can walk to services.






Pastor Louis Ramos of San Louis, Mexico.  
He was my Division Leader in college.  It was a great honor to hear of the faithful service he and his wife Mrs. Karen have devoted to God's call on their lives.  They have a large church as well as a Bible Institute to train young men and women as Christian leaders. 

Pastor Kevin Wynne, Missionarry to Mexico City.
Pastor Andres Gomez, FBC Hammond, Spanish Church
and of course,
Pastor (emitrius) Tommy and Pastor Jonathan Ashcraft.

Ladies' Sessions:


Mrs. Billie Sloan

Widow of Dr Tom Sloan
Missionarry to South Mexico
Sister of Pastor Tommy Ashcraft
Mother of 8 children, all serving the Lord today.

I have ordered her autobiography and am looking forward to being encouraged by it. If you would be interested in reading it, pm me for details.









Mrs. Elizabeth Sloan Martinez
Daughter of Mrs. Billie
Missionarry to Israel
Mrs. Carrie Kaeghan
Pastor's Wife, Connecticut
Mrs Jessica Gonzalez
 Missionarry Helps Ministry
It was also great to hear Mrs. Billie's youngest daughter, Elizabeth; Mrs. Carrie, back for the conference with her husband; Mrs. Jessica was featured this year; and also Mrs. Brenda with her daughter,  Tammy who serves in El Salvador.
Mrs Jenny
I am listening to Jenny teach the Ladies' Session in Spanish. I have no idea what she is saying, but so many ladies are listening intently as she shares her heart.  She occassionally stumbles through a longer, unusual Spanish word in the Bible verses. The ladies seem to hear her love and her desire to serve more than the words.  I cannot help the swell of pride I feel as I remember the many times of teaching and learning we have shared together over the past 20+ years.  I am so grateful the Lord has woven our lives together and allowed me to see some of the fruit from seeds sown so many years ago.



Language Update:

I was encouraged that I could understand a lot more of what was being preached this year. Pastor Jonathan preached one sermon in which he repeated "Don't Change" numerous times -- "Don't Change" your message, "Don't Change" your convictions, "Don't Change" your standards, and "Don't Change" a few other things I didn't catch.

Other Excitement:

 I spent Tuesday and Thursday nights helping in the nursery. The ladies who work with the children are amazing.





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


Saturday, February 4, 2017

Blog 49 7 Feb 2017

Christian School News:

This week Bro Jon took the school kids (as well as Jenny & me) to "The Flag." It is an enormous Mexican flag at the top of a very high mountain from which you can see the entire city of Monterrey. It is the spot where my picture was taken for my post cards. Afterwards, we went to a park
           and enjoyed a picnic lunch.
 


Francisco took the placement test for finishing high school in English through ACE. It would take him 3 years (conservatively) for which his family would have to pay not only tuition, but the price of the paces as well; as opposed to finishing next May (2018) with free resources and one year of tuition. I believe he will just increase his English studies, but go ahead and start in the Bible Institute in Fall 2018. I am glad I was able to share with you where his heart is in relation to the Service of the King.  I am so proud of the attitudes of all the students God has given me here.


The Great Commission!

At soul winning yesterday 13 ladies showed up for our group. We believe every week since the new year, we have had to take two vehicles out to our soulwinning area. My partner Louisa led two souls to the Lord. One man with whom she prayed said he rode the bus to Mt Hebron a few times as a boy with Jon's grandfather, "Popsy" Ashcraft.


Jessica's husband Leo led a Jewish man, Abram, to the Lord a few months ago who has been baptized and faithful to church services since the new year.  This has been an encouragement to Bro. Paco, our missionary to the Jewish community of Monterrey.  
(For more about his ministry and burden for the Jewish people, see Blog #37 from March, 2016.)


The Local Church:
I continue to help in the 3 year old SS class.  Mrs. Lily (our original K4-K5 school teacher) is currently teaching the class since the young lady who was teaching it now teaches in the high school department with her fiancee.

Also, we are all still preparing for our annual Pastor's Conference at the end of February.  The men are building a new restroom facility of which we are in great need.


Interesting & Exciting Happenings:

A special personal blessing this past month was the gift of an upgrade to my phone.  I brought my iPhone 4 (which I bought for $1.99 when the 5S came out) with me to Mexico two summers ago.  With birthday money from my Dad and another family who has always treated me like family I was able to get a much newer model.  Jenny did all the "leg-work" for me, searching Amazon, EBay, and other sites to get the best deal and Bro. Jon did the technical set up of anything that required more than importing from the cloud.

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
4. Pray for our Pastor's Conference

Saturday, January 14, 2017

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!