Blog 59 16 Oct 2017

💙Appreciation 💙

Just a note to thank so many of you who continue to pray for our school, our students, and myself.  I do not usually take the time to view the stats on my blog, but this past week, I did look.  I am both honored and humbled at the number of "views."  I realize that every person may not read every word, but I trust that even those who only look at the pictures pause for a moment of a very busy life and say a prayer for Mount Hebron Christian Academy. Your prayer is much needed and much appreciated.

I also want to thank those who support our school by supporting the ministry or by giving directly to me.  In September I mailed six personal notes to different families or organizations who were a blessing.  Several others donated over the summer or will send something during the holidays.  This is not taken for granted and is very much appreciated.  Only the Lord truly knows what a difference each gift will make in eternity.

SCHOOL HAPPENINGS

Samuel, Age 6

Javier, Age 6

Jonny, Age 10

Ruth, Age 4

Sarah, Age 5

The Ashcrafts were out of town when these pictures were taken, and the three teenagers were busily working and did not have time to pose for pictures 😀

We have enlisted some young people to help us with the Kindergarten.  Bro. Mauricio is a young adult who grew up here at Mount Hebron and comes in on Tuesdays and Thursdays before he goes to work.  Miss Gabriela is a student in our Bible Institute and helps on Wednesdays and Fridays after her morning classes.  Both of these assistants speak English and are helping the Kindergarteners and First Graders learn English words and letter sounds. 
Please continue to pray for a Kindergarten Teacher.

The Great Commission

Stephanie and I have been passing out tracts in the 2 - 3 town squares close to the church here.  We go on Tuesdays in the afternoons just about the times people are getting home from school or shopping in the bodegas for the lunch hour.  One week we handed out about 50 tracts in about 30 minutes. There are not always that many people there, but the weather was nice and there were many people coming and going from the bus stops.  The following week, Stephanie's husband Trent came with us and was able to lead one man to the Lord.  

When they finish Language School, Trent and Stephanie plan to join his parents in thier ministry as missionaries in Zacatecas, Mexico.

Language Update

(or: My Trip to the Beauty Shop)

When I went to get my hair cut recently, my stylist asked if I spoke Spanish and told me her name was Kristen.  I told her a little, and that hers was the same name as one of my close friends who had died two years ago.  She said my Spanish wasn't so bad and asked how my friend had died.  I told her cancer and Kristen replied that she hated cancer.  She then asked why I was here and for how long.  I told her my friend was the Pastor of a Baptist church and I was here helping to teach their children to learn to read in English.  I asked about her family and we talked a little more.  She told me she was Catholic.

After a few minutes of small talk, she remarked that she had been wondering for a long time what the difference was between Baptist and Catholic: didn't I believe in God the Father, God the Son, and the Virgin Mary?  I said that, yes, I did believe in God the Father and God the Son, but I believed that Mary had other children.  (Yes, I said all of that in Spanish tho stutteringly and  perhaps not grammatically correctly).  Kristen replied: "Oh, so you do not pray to Mary?"  I said that no, I didn't; and also that I believed Jesus is the only way to Heaven.  When she was finished cutting my hair, I gave her a tract and showed her a few of the verses, and said this pamphlet explained what I believed about Jesus.

When I went downstairs to pay, Kristen was attentively reading the tract. Kristen was very open and receptive.  I prayed that she would accept Jesus as she finished reading the plan of salvation. Although she did not promise to come to church, she did say she would like to visit and ask more questions. *Kristen has not yet visited.*

Mount Hebron Baptist Church

Pastor Jonathan and his family were traveling for most of October.  He preached a week-long Missions Conference in Michigan and a Sunday Night Service in the Spanish Ministry of 1st Baptist, Hammond.   Foremost on the itenary, at least for the kids, was a visit to Grammy's house!!  They were also able to spend some time at Lewis Ave Baptist Church, Jenny's home church and their sending church.

Here on the homefront, we had several graduates who are pastoring here in Mexico fill the pulpit on Sundays. Our people love to hear their former Pastor, Dr. Tommy Ashcraft who spoke on Wednesday nights. Soulwinning, Bus Routes, and all ministries went on regular schedule.

Bonus Language Update:

My Dad gave me a Rosetta Stone before I moved (2 years ago).  I completed Level 1 at just past my 1.5 year mark, doing and re-doing the lessons until I got above a 90%.  For several months I have been unable to get Level 2 to work, even after starting from scratch with the the application disc.  Some friends in the states allowed me to use their application disc to try again -- and it worked!!! The program stated that Levels 4 & 5 would need updates, but for now, Level 2 is working

and I got a 95% on Lesson 1, first try! Let us pray that it does not take two years to finish Level 2, and that the last two levels will not be as difficult to get to work.

BOOK NOOK

Since school has started, I have finished one missionary biography and started another.  I wholeheartedly reccomend both of them for anyone interested in learning more about missions:

Tom and Me by Mrs Billie Sloan

To Cross the Widest Ocean by Mrs Becky Martin

Also, I have received several inquiries regarding my writings lately, so I am taking this opportunity to provide a reminder that I have several books available through Amazon in paperback, or digitally through Amazon Kindle:  

What I Learned From My Parents -- lessons from my very extraordinary parents

365 Days of Thankfulness -- an excellent devotional

Every Kid Is Different -- what they didn't teach you in college about the classroom

Where's The Next Jenny? -- effectively investing in the next generation

Prayer Corner

Please pray for the ministry: 

1. Mount Hebron Baptist Church

   a) Pastor Jonathan, Jenny, and their children who are traveling in October for Missions Conferences and visists with family and friends in Michigan

   b) Our soulwinning programs, and follow up, especially for Kristen and a couple we met at the Plaza

   c) Our bus routes and SS classes

2. Mount Hebron Christian Academy

    a) Our students

    b) A part-time teacher to help with K &/or 1st Grade.
    c) The student teachers who are filling-in until then

3. Mount Hebron Bible Institute

    a) Our students

    b) Our faculty (I teach English) 

  c) Our graduates, specifically Geno this month who ministers in the border town of Reynosa.

Please pray for me:

1. To learn Spanish

    a) To lead someone to the Lord

    b) To be more effective in helping in SS 
    c) PTL!! With a little help from friends in the states, I               was able to get Rosetta Stone up and going!

2. To have wisdom and patience with the school schedule until we have help.

3.   For finances and financial wisdom.

Blog 58 26 Sep 2017

Back in the Swing of School!

We have settled into a somewhat normal routine for school, now.  

Chapel, Music, and PE are included in our week along with  daily devotions.  We are singing a hymn in English each morning. 

The ACE curriculum calls for a Scripture passage to be memorized each month.  Although an entire chapter can be difficult in a second language (or for a First-Grader in any language), we are doing our best and working hard.  Jessaly, Tommy, & Jonathan have learned Psalm 1  ~ PTL!

Here we are learning our pledges in English:

 

And here is a pic taken after the big kickball game:

Front Row: Tommy, Javi, Jonathan, Samy
Middle Row: Me, Sara, Ruth, Jessaly
Back Row: Michael Ratcliffe (visiting), Jonny, Andrew,
                 Hmo. Mauricio (helping in K part-time), Francisco

The Great Commission

I have been going soulwinning on Tuesdays with Stephanie, our Language School student, since both of us are in class during regular ladies' soulwinning.  Neither of us are confident in our presentation, so prayers are much appreciated.

Another interesting thing I was able to do this month was to speak the plan of Salvation in English via text messages for one of our Institute graduates.  Enrique feels led of the Lord to be a missionary to the Middle East and plans to start his ministry in refugee camps in Canada.  He took my English course last semester, but clearly has had some previous teaching as well.  He has a great burden for the Arabic people.

The Local Church

We celebrated Mexican Independence Day:

The children's choir sang one Sunday night:

Johnny, the 3rd one on the 2nd row, is Jessica's youngest son.

Jonathan, Tommy, and Samy on the 1st row.

Javi is there, too, behind his Dad who is leading.

The rest of the school students are K or teens.

We had neighborhood rallies with Evangelist Darrel Ratcliff who brought along is inflatables to draw a crowd of children to hear the Gospel.  We hosted 3 rallies in different areas of Monterrey throughout the week and  promoted a Big Day in the Bus Ministry.  The total saved for the week was close to 2,000 people.  

(swiped from FB)

Language Update

(or: My Trip to the Dentist)

At the end of August I had to ask Pastor Jonathan to make an appointment for me with the dentist because I thought I had lost a filling.  Jenny drove me to my appointment and was ready to translate for me.

The first thing the dentist asked me was if I spoke Spanish. 

I answered (in Spanish) that I spoke a little, but understood more.  He replied (in English) that his English was not very good, but that he would try and practice it with me.  

Except for confusing "open" and "close" a few times while working in my mouth, his vocabulary was actually pretty good.  His English verb conjugation was about on par with my Spanish conjugation.

"Restoration" is actually the same word in both languages, so he was able to easily make it clear that it was a crown and not a filling, and that it had broken, not just come loose.  The protruding metal and not a jagged edge of my tooth had caused the lacerations on my tongue -- no wonder I had been talking with a lisp!  

He gave me a shot, dug out the remaining piece of the old crown, took a mold for the replacement, and installed a temporary cap.  This all took about 45 minutes.  When I came back out to the waiting room, Jenny congratulated me that I did not need her to interpret.  It was so tempting not to tell her that Dr. Javier spoke English.  😊

I went back the following week for the actual crown.  I know that dental work can be very expensive in the US, but my total cost for both visits was @ $145, plus pain and suffering.  

Spare Time:

And I'll not leave out the "Littlest" of My Mexico Blessings:

Besides the occasional babysitting, I have enjoyed some one-on-one time with each of these this past month!

Prayer Corner

Please pray for the ministry: 

1. Mount Hebron Baptist Church

    a) Pastor Jonathan, Jenny, and their children

    b) Our soulwinning programs, and follow up

    c) Our bus routes and SS classes

2. Mount Hebron Christian Academy

    a) Our students

    b) A part-time teacher to help with K &/or 1st Grade.

3. Mount Hebron Bible Institute

    a) Our students

    b) Our faculty (I teach English) 

    c) Our graduates, specifically Enrique this month

Please pray for me:

1. To learn Spanish

    a) To lead someone to the Lord

    b) To be more effective in helping in SS 

2. To have wisdom and patience with the schedule until

           we have help

Blog 57 22 Aug 2017 School Starts

The Beginning  of My 3rd Year at ACMH!

First Day of Classes: Thursday, August 17

Our New Computer

(provided by friends of MHCA)

Pictured are the 1st Graders (-1 absent boy).
We also have a 4th Grader, a 7th Grader, 2 seniors, and 3 Kindergarteners.  The K4-K5 make it necessary to have help, so please pray that the Lord sends the right person at the right time.

I will also be teaching English in the Bible Institute, Levels 1 & 2.

The Great Commission:

This picture of houses streaming up the side of the mountain is just above a very popular mall in an area filled with American stores and restaraunts.  
(That's Chili's in the foreground.)

This is typical of Monterrey housing: brick and small.  This is also typical of our bus route areas.
I will be soulwinning on Tuesday afternoons now that school has started. My partner will be Stephanie, who is attending Language School.  This will force us to learn the plan and to become 
the "talking" partners.  Stephanie has led three people to the Lord by reading the tract with them.  I am still working up to my first.

The Local Church:
School has started, the institute students have returned, and almost everyone is back from vacation; so our attendance is up and our ministries are back in full force.  This week we are having a family conference with Evangelist Bill Smith, and in November, our annual Missions Conference.

Language Victories!

I have continued practicing Spanish even though I have not been able to load Rosetta Stone. Here are a few examples that have been an encouragement to me over the summer:

1. One afternoon I rode with Pastor Jonathan and Mrs. Jenny to the teen camp where Jon was speaking that evening.  A youth pastor's wife from another church struck up a converstaion with me about why I was at Mount Hebron and how long I would be here.  I did not understand every word, and my grammar was not great in my answers, . . . but I asked her about her children and her time as an Institute student at Mt. Hebron.
  *Update:*
This patient lady and her husband are here for our Family Conference and we were able to talk again.

2. I am able to pass out tracts and introduce myself soulwinning.  I am still working on the salvation plan.

3.  The little corner store delivers.  Jessica has called and ordered a garafon (a large 5-gallon jug of water) for me.  I was excited to be able to do that for myself  for the first time.  I started by asking for patience with my bad grammar, told them what I wanted and that I lived next door to Pastor Tommy Ashcraft.  Just a few minutes later, my water was there!

Prayer Corner

Thank you for your faithful prayers for our school and other ministries.  Please continue to pray for the Ashcraft family, for me to learn Spanish, and for help in the Christian school.

A big "Thank You" to those who have faithfully supported Mount Hebron Christian Academy and to those who sent school supplies this year.

Also, please pray for Mrs. Brenda Ashcraft (Pastor Jonathan's mom) as she is still not able to put any pressure on her leg from her fall on the day Megan was born (June 13). For two months she has not been able to get out of bed other than her scheduled exercises with a nurse.

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.