Steve and Terry's Journal

Transitions for Sarah, Mom and Dad

2006-07-20T10:01:00.000-05:00

What animal walks on four feet in the morning, two feet in the afternoon, 3 feet in the evening, yet has only one voice? (The riddle of the Sphinx)

The answer is a human being. Though this is a rather simplistic view of the transitions of life, it makes us aware that our lives have many transitions. Right now, we are going through many transitions in our family. The most visible one is our oldest daughter is entering college. She is entering a second phase of life of totally walking on her own (on two feet). We are in Denver right now helping her make this transition, but in a few short weeks we will return to Mexico. It will be an adjustment for all of us!

Sarah will be attending Colorado Film School. It is part of a University of Colorado program. She takes film classes beginning first semester at the Film School and continues there for all four years. The first two she also takes some general requirements at the Community College of Aurora; then the last two years takes more classes of UC-Denver which is right in downtown Denver. Yesterday, Veronica gave us a tour of the Film School. It was fun seeing the labs and studios and all the equipment. We were all very encouraged by the facilities and the staff. After the tour, we went to the Student Services One Stop and met with Jennifer. She is a student advisor and helped us pick out the classes and get Sarah registered. She will be taking English Comp and College Algebra as general requirements, and also have 3 classes in Film: Development of Film Expression, Video Production I, and Video Post Production. After getting registered, we went to the CCA bookstore to get her books. Logically, after that experience, we headed to Financial Aid to check on scholarships and other possibilities for aid. The area around the Lowry Campus where the Colorado Film School is located is really developing. It is right off Quebec which has development of new housing areas and shops and malls. We stopped for a break at the Lowry Plaza to eat some tacos at Q’Dobas and talked about how God has always been there for us. He has always provided for our needs throughout our almost years of ministry. Today we will look at some housing options and look at potential job opportunities for Sarah. On Monday, Sarah will get her Colorado Drivers License. We are very proud of her taking this next step. Though at times it will not be easy, we are confident she will do well.

Generation 132

2006-06-16T23:24:00.000-05:00

I will save this for some thoughts from Sarah´s graduation from High School today.

Teachers and Transformation

2006-05-30T09:22:00.000-05:00

Today I want to highlight a couple of teachers, Jenn and Adam Thomas. A year ago they were living in Canada. Jenn had a job as a high school Chemistry teacher. Adam had a job as a web designer. Both feeling a sense of God's call on their lives, moved last summer to Puebla, Mexico to teach for a year at the Puebla Christian School. I must admit that I am a sucker for changed lives and stories about transformation. Let me tell you about Jenn Thomas.

Everyone, including Jenn would admit that the first few weeks were hard. Making the adjustments to living in a foreign country, teaching in a different school to junior high kids as well as high school created a challenge both for Jenn and for the kids. Jenn loved science but was used to teaching Chemistry to high school students. So at first, life for John, our son as an 8th grader in Mrs. Thomas' science class was not good. Many others in his class were struggling and beginning to dread going to Mrs. Thomas' science class.

Mrs. Thomas though because of her love for science and for these kids, went through the sometimes painful process of change. You could say she made a kind of compromise. She put in extra time by holding sessions after school for the students who were struggling to bring their grades up and she also brought the science level down to the junior high level. I think this will be a year that Mrs. Thomas will not forget because her life was transformed by the experience. I am sure that is exciting for her, but not as exciting as what happened to John and other students. They are leaving this year with a love for science, and all because of Mrs. Thomas. Her love for science and for her students transformed this group of junior high kids who dreaded science into more mature students who are also now interested in science. And at least for John, Mrs. Thomas has become his favorite teacher!

Mr. Thomas has also become a well-loved teacher at PCS also. He teaches Web Design, Computers and Physical Education. He has had a servant heart to the school and the kids and has become a favorite teacher of both Matthew and John. Teachers have the power to transform lives. God has used Mr. and Mrs. Thomas to transform the lives of our kids and many others at PCS this year. We are sad that they will be returning to Canada in a few days. They will be greatly missed at PCS and by us, but the investment that they both made this year in the lives of the students will last forever!

Graduations and Science Projects

2006-05-30T08:59:00.000-05:00

The Puebla Christian School is winding down its activities for the year 2005-06. Yesterday was the graduation ceremony for the 6th graders. Esther, our youngest, is moving on. She is our last one to leave elementary school. Next year we will have Sarah in college, Matthew a high school senior, John in 9th, and Esther will join the ranks of junior-highers! Eshter received her diploma from PCS principal, Rich Musgrave.

Since the school is smaller, the 5th and 6th graders were together. Mrs. Blakey was their teacher. She and her husband, Joe came down last year from Cedarville College and will be returning for another year! Here is Esther's graduating class with Mrs. B.

John also completed his end of the year Science Project. Unlike the comedian Brian Regan, who turned in a cup of dirt for his science project because he forgot about it until the morning it was due, John worked hard on his project: Fruit Batteries. Did you know you could power a flashlight by connecting lemons together? Me either, but John's project was to measure the voltage produced by several different fruits. Here he is with his project.

Hats off to Esther, her class of graduates and teachers Mrs. B and Joe! Let's give a round of applause to John and his teacher, Jenn Thomas and her husband, Adam for investing a year in these kids!

Voddie's Testimony

2006-05-12T23:47:00.000-05:00

My friend Voddie's testimony from the Student Conference last month in Puebla is on line now. I was standing next to him as he shared his story.

Click on the link to listen:
http://www.vidaestudiantil.com/congreso/Oradores/VoddieTestimonio.mp3

It is english but also with spanish translation.
For more of the talks from the conference, click here: http://www.vidaestudiantil.com/congreso/Oradores/index.html

For photos of the time, click here: http://www.vidaestudiantil.com/congreso/Fotos2006/index.htm

5 de Mayo humor

2006-05-05T16:27:00.000-05:00

Just got this story from Alice regarding some interesting history of May 5th in Mexico. Most people don't know that back in 1912 Hellmann's mayonnaise was manufactured in England. In fact, the Titanic was carrying 12,000 jars of the condiment scheduled for delivery in Vera Cruz, Mexico, which was to be the next port of call for the great ship after its stop in New York. This would have been the largest single shipment delivered to Mexico. But as we know, the great ship did not make it to New York. The ship hit an iceberg and sank, and the cargo was forever lost. The people of Mexico, who were crazy about mayonnaise, and were eagerly awaiting its delivery; were disconsolate at the loss. Their anguish was so great, that they declared a National Day of Mourning, which they still observe to this day. The National Day of Mourning occurs each year on May 5th and is known, of course, as "Sinko de Mayo".

Now, here is some real history... taken from the site http://www.mexonline.com/cinco.htm Click there to read more.

The holiday of Cinco De Mayo, The 5th Of May, commemorates the victory of the Mexican militia over the French army at The Battle Of Puebla in 1862. It is primarily a regional holiday celebrated in the Mexican state capital city of Puebla and throughout the state of Puebla, with some recognition in other parts of the Mexico, and especially in U.S. cities with a significant Mexican population. It is not, as many people think, Mexico's Independence Day, which is actually September 16.

PCS Coffee House

2006-04-28T07:27:00.000-05:00

Last night the kids school, Puebla Christian School, had a talent show. The parents were served coffe, tea, cappuchino or frapuccino to drink and a variety of cakes, cheescakes and other desserts while we enjoyed the entertainment in the coffee house atmosphere.

There was everything from serious to funny skits, poetry and readings as well as musical acts. John worked behind the scenes and ran the lights and some of the "tech stuff".

Matthew played guitar and sang a song he had written. He also filled in on bass for another classmate friend of his who sang a song.

Esther and elementary group rounded out the night with several coreographed song numbers.

Terry and I were proud of the kids. It was a fun night to be with them. Sarah is a senior at the local Mexican High School, Instituto Mexicano Madero. She joined us also. Besides the entertainment, we also enjoyed being with some of the missionary community in Puebla.

If you want to know some about the Puebla Christian School, Touch the Future campaign, click here http://pueblachristianschool.org/touch.php. They need teachers and funds for the expanding school...

Ric Calhoun investing his LIFE

2006-04-26T09:36:00.000-05:00

We just had a good friend from the US visit us in Puebla. Ric and his wife Becky have been friends for more than 15 years when we began our families together in Las Cruces. You can read more about the time on the Movement Planting University blog, but I wanted to add some more personal comments here. It has occurred to me that many of you may want to contribute in ways beyond giving and praying for us. Trying to accomplish the mission that God has given us is impossible to do alone.

We are challenging many Mexicans and others in the US to consider investing their LIFE in helping us reach college students and their families for Christ and to plant movements of spiritual multiplication in every major city of Mexico so that everyone knows someone who truly follows Jesus.

LIFE is an acrostic which stands for:

L - Labor, (that is investing some time like Ric who came for a day or others who have joined us for 2-3 days or longer)
I - Influence ( many of you are in the US and in business, educators, artists or in media and you have influence)
F - Finances (we are a faith based organization and we have the privilege of developing and maintaining our own team of financial partners. If you would like to give, click on online giving site)
E - Expertise ( like our friend Ric, you have areas of expertise that can be put to use to help build the Kingdom of God in another area of the world).

Where are you investing your LIFE? What about your LIFE can you invest to help us so that we can plant movements of spiritual multiplication that will transform lives and familes in every major city of Mexico? Write me if you have any more ideas at steve.morgan@uscm.org

Puebla 475th Anniversary

2006-04-17T21:13:00.000-05:00

This past Sunday, April 16, Puebla celebrated its 475th Anniversary. Here is a little history and facts about the city where we have lived the past 5 years…

The city of Puebla – known more formally as Heróica Puebla de Zaragoza or less formally as La Angelópolis or Puebla de los Ángeles – is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of the same name, and the fourth largest city in Mexico, after Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey respectively.Puebla is located in the Puebla Valley, surrounded by volcanoes and snow-capped mountains, slightly over 110 kilometers south-east of Mexico City. The city itself has a population of 2,000,000 people, while its metropolitan area has a population of 2,600,000.The city of Puebla was founded on April 16, 1531 as "La Puebla de los Ángeles". It was the first city in central Mexico founded by the Spanish conquistadors that was not built upon the ruins of a conquered Amerindian settlement. Its strategic location, half-way between the port of Veracruz and Mexico City, made it the second most important city during the colonial period. During the seventeenth century, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz lived in the city until her confrontation with the Bishop of Puebla.Four decades after Mexico's independence, General Ignacio Zaragoza's army defeated French expeditionary forces near Puebla on May 5, 1862 in the Battle of Puebla. It was after this battle that the name of the city was changed to "Heróica Puebla de Zaragoza".In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries a number of European immigrants came to the city, mainly from Germany, Italy and Spain. Today, the Colonia Humboldt neighborhood shows the influence of the local German population in its architecture, traditions and festivals like the local Oktoberfest, as well as in the town of Chipilo, now absorbed by the metropolitan area of the city, where people speak a dialect of Venetian known as the Chipilo Venetian dialect. The folkloric Mexican women's dress known as China Poblana was created in Puebla.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puebla,_Mexico

It is Finished

2006-03-29T10:04:00.000-06:00

“It is finished,” Jesus said, referring to the work that only He could do. No one else could take away my sin. No one else could make me clean from guilt. No one else could save me from the power of sin and death. Only Jesus could do that job, and when He said, “It is finished,” He meant it. In that moment there was nothing else He could do that would make the perfect life He lived more acceptable or more perfect. There were no more “t’s” to cross or “i’s” to dot. There was nothing that Jesus had left undone in order to make a way for me to be able to stand before my heavenly Father without fear or shame. I get kind of silly sometimes. I forget there is nothing I can do to make myself more acceptable before my heavenly Father, as if Jesus didn’t do it already…because I couldn’t do it for myself. I forget my Father’s heart towards me. Nothing, nothing, nothing at all is too good for me in my Father’s eyes. There is no blessing in heaven or on earth that my Father doesn’t want to give me. And the best thing is that I don’t have to earn any of it. As far as my Father is concerned, it already all belongs to me. Every good thing is already mine because of Jesus.

Sean Erickson wrote this very insightful entry in his journal...only a few months before a brain tumor took him to be with the Lord. He was 35 years old when he died earlier this month. His parents sent us this journal entry. They read this at his funeral. Terry and I knew Sean when we were at New Mexico State. Pray for Sean's parents and family who are dear friends of ours.

Progressive Dinner

2006-03-26T22:21:00.000-06:00

All of our Puebla staff (The National Campus Team and the Puebla Metro Team) had a progressive dinner last night. It progressed until we were all bloated with so much good food.

We started off at Dan and DeAnn’s with the botanas. DeAnn cooked up some delicious stuff mushrooms, which I really like. Rounding out the selection of entradas were fruit dip and fruit, breads and spinach dip. It was good enough to be a meal. We could have ended there…

The next stop was the STINT girls house for salad. Two great salads along with bread were served up. One salad was pretty fresh garden salad with tomatoes. The other had candied pecans and raisins. Now we really could have ended, but we still had three more stops…

We hopped in the cars and drove to David and Kelly Bedolla’s house, where we watched a little of the UCLA and Memphis game and ate some Potato Soup with cheese. It was really warming to the soul for a chilly spring night in Puebla…We were really getting bloated by now, but we still had two more stops…

We drove across town, getting lost along the way to Lori’s studio apartment. Lori is our graphic designer and now web page designer! She has a beautiful artsy kind of studio and she served up some spicy pasta dish. She said she only put 3 serrano chiles in the mix, but we were all sweating and calling for more to drink.

Our last stop was our house for dessert, like we needed anything more by this point! Now this wasn’t just a progressive dinner, but it was also a surprise birthday for DeAnn. Dan surprised her with a puppy! They found this stray, lonely puppy at a Jesus film showing last week. Unable to find any owner, they felt compassion on the little guy. We all voted to name him “Chuy”, since he was rescued at a Jesus film showing. (Chuy is a nickname for Jesus, a common name here). So we all left content, joyful, happy and bloated.

Remembering Linda Morgon

2006-03-21T20:06:00.000-06:00

A good friend of ours recently went to be with the Lord. Please keep Linda's husband, Greg in your prayers. Linda was a beautiful person who suffered with cancer, but never complained and kept a joyful attitude; she was able to share her faith and give hope to many people. Here is her obituary...

Kraft-Morgon, Linda Jean

Linda Jean Kraft-Morgon was received into the arms of her blessed Savior on March 1, 2006 after gracefully battling breast cancer for three and one half years. Linda was born in Yonkers New York Christmas Eve 1950, grew up in Reseda, and lived in Long Beach before moving to Lake Arrowhead six years ago. Preceded in death by her mother, Doris Small, father Louis John Kraft, and younger brother Lee James Kraft, Linda is survived by her husband, Greg Morgon, brother Louis J. Kraft Jr. of North Hollywood, stepson Glenn Morgon and his wife Tracy of Henderson NV, stepson Neil Morgon and his wife Yvonne of Laurel MD, and niece Marissa L. Kraft of Encino. Linda retired as a Senior Investigator from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office in 1998 following a severe injury. She previously served as a Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff. Linda’s desire to serve the Lord as a chaplain led to training in Biblical counseling through Master’s College, but she was called home before completing this goal. Linda brought joy wherever she went and her constant smile shined with love for all she met. She enjoyed worship and fellowship with her many loving friends at both Church of the Woods and Community Baptist Church of Lake Arrowhead. Linda also served with the Gideon Auxiliary and eagerly took opportunities to witness God’s plan of salvation. Her zest for celebrating God’s love gave her strength to sing in the One Voice Gospel Choir despite painful infirmities. With compassion for others she enjoyed supporting a variety of Christian missions, charitable organizations and the Mountains Community Hospital Foundation.
Linda’s legacy of love, joy and grace will be remembered by her family and friends and particularly Sydney, Lori and Zoe, who knew her as Grandma. Dear Linda, rest peacefully in the Savior’s arms as He tells you well done, my good and faithful servant.

Jesus Film showing

2006-03-13T11:22:00.000-06:00

Last night I took Esther and I joined up with the Nebraska group, Santiago and his family (the Jesus Film workers and pastors in Puebla), and the Dan and DeAnn's Puebla Metro team. We arrived at the church in a barrio (neighborhood) on the edges of the city. Around 5:00 we walked through fields, dirt soccer fields, half constructed cinderblock home, and subsidized apartment areas handing out the gospel message and inviting the families to watch the Jesus Film. With a generator for power out in the open air, around 70 people gathered for the film. Santiago gave an invitation at the end, and about 25 people came forward and repeated his prayer out loud to invite Christ into their lives. He is planting a church in the area. He has two appointments with two families this week. Possibly a cell group could come out of this. Pray for the people and families to be receptive and for the growth of all these new believers.

One special treat was that Lance Linnartz and his wife, Christy and their two daughter (Kelsy and Katie) came down from Dallas/Fort Worth. They are staff with Campus Crusade and Lance helped us get some of the funding for the evangelistic CD that we made and are passing out to students on the universities. It was great to do some ministry together in Mexico.

Pizza Party Outreach

2006-03-10T15:49:00.000-06:00

What outreach with college students would be complete without pizzas? Yes, we have Dominos here in Puebla, along with a bunch of other US chains that I won't mention so as not to burst your image of all missionaries living in huts in the mountains...OK, well I will mention two others: Starbucks and Krispy Kreme donuts. OK, there. We live in a city of three million people with 118 Univeristies and almost 200,000 college students! Though some things are different, college students form a global culture all around the world. Most like pizza.

Students from Michigan Tec came down on their spring break to get to know Mexican students and share Christ with many of them. Last night we had a Pizza party at the house where they could invite students they met during the week. We also showed "La Busqueda" (film we made in Spain which is part of an evangelistic CD that we are giving out to students in Mexico) La Busqueda, which literally means "the search" is a 7 minute modern day version of the Prodigal Son. In this case it is a daughter who leaves home and after countless attempts of the father to communicate with her, she finally rides the bus home. Upon arriving, her father is there waiting anxiously to receive her, but feeling the guilt and pain of her past life, the daughter is unable to get off the bus. The doors close and the bus leaves with the father standing there. The girl arrives to her seat only to find evidence that the father is still trying to communicate how much he loves her in spite of her mistakes. It is powerful!

Please pray for the the decisions that students made last week. This week, the University of Nebraska is here and next week Kansas State group arrives. Pray for students to come to know Christ on the 6 campuses they are visiting. Thanks for your partnership with us!!!

Lent

2006-03-05T18:22:00.000-06:00

I am saving this for some thoughts about lent. I will write more stuff later, but here is good quote I found:

Prayer for Awareness of God's Presence March 5, 2006

Give us, O Lord, a vision of your presence; help us to know you are near at hand, you are not far off and you are ready to hear our prayer.May we become aware of your protection;May we know that you rescue us from darkness and guide us into the way of light and peace;For you are a loving and redeeming God, mighty in Power. Amen.
David Adam Forward to Freedom

John's 14th Birthday

2006-02-21T18:17:00.000-06:00

John turned 14 on February 20th. We spent 3 days of partying and eating cakes! First, he invited some of his friends over. Then we celebrated a couple different times with Joel and Suzi and our family. He is turning into a young man and we are proud of him.

Visit from Joel and Suzi

2006-02-21T18:09:00.000-06:00

We had a visit from a couple of our best friends, Joel and Suzi Stoltzfus from Las Cruces. We met them when we first started attending Bethel Bible Fellowship in 1987 after we moved to New Mexico. He is one of the pastors there now besides working for NASA. We have real history with them and recall the baby shower they organized when our firstborn, Sarah came into the world. They held her in their arms. Now Sarah is a couple semesters away from heading to college!

What joy and encouragement to have friends who know you and have walked with you in the ups and downs of life in ministry and raising a family. They are a couple who speak grace and truth into our lives.

One of the main reasons for their visit was just to spend time with us, provide some “pastoral care” for “their missionaries” on the field. Bethel has always done a good job of partnering with us. They not only provide financial support, but spiritual , prayer and emotional support and care for us as well. They have been a blessing to us for many years.

During their visit, we spent time on a few fix up projects around the house that have been hanging for months or years. We spent time talking, catching up, drinking coffee, sharing the Word, laughing, and playing Settler’s of Catan, and meeting our team and many of our friends here in Puebla.

They left this morning on the 7:05 Contintental Express flight that leaves Puebla each day. We are greatly encouraged by their visit and blessed by their friendship with our family.

Sacred Marriage quotes

2006-01-28T10:32:00.000-06:00

Several of us couples are reading Sacred Marriage and discussing it. Here are few quotes from the first chapter:

"This is a book that looks at how we can use the challenges, joys, struggles, and celebrations of marriage to draw us closer to God and to grow in Christian character." p12

"To spiritually benefit from marriage, we have to be honest. We have to look at our disappointments, own up to ugly attitudes, and confront our selfishness." p 13

"What if God didn't design marriage to be 'easier'? What is God had an end in mind tht went beyond our happiness, our comfort, and our desire to be infatuated and happy as if the world were a perfect place? What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?" p 13

"Romantic love has no elasticity to it. It can never be stretched;it simply shatters. Mature love, the kind demanded of a good marriage, must stretch, as the sinful human condition is such that all of us bear conflicting emotions." p 15

"If the purpose of marriage was simply to enjoy infatuation and make me 'happy', then I'd have to get a 'new' marriage every two or three year. But if I really wanted to see God transform me from the inside out, I'd need to concentrate on changing myself rather than on changing my spouse." p 23

"But what most of us crave more than anything else is to be intimately close to the God who made us. If that relationship is right, we won't make such severe demands on our marriage, asking each other, expecting each other, to compensate for spiritual emptiness." p 24

Popo Volcano covered with snow

2006-01-25T16:18:00.000-06:00

I was driving Sarah to school this morning and we saw this view of Popo Volcano near Puebla. It turned a little colder last night, so this morning it was covered with snow. It is an active volcano. Click on the link to read more: Popo Volcano

Our National Student Conference goes international

2006-01-25T14:42:00.000-06:00

Our Vida Estudiantil National Student Conference just went international. The rest of the countries in Central America and the Carribbean are now joining us. We are praying for 1000 students from all over the region. Pray with us and join us in Puebla, Mexico on April 9-14!

Check out the site that Lori Huffman did: www.vidaestudiantil.com/congreso

One of the speakers is a friend of mine, Voddie Baucham who came to Christ from the New Mexico State football team when we worked there.

Today in Nicaragua

2006-01-12T21:49:00.000-06:00

Saving this for some thoughts and activities of the day

Sign of the Day

2006-01-11T23:16:00.000-06:00

I saw this sign when we went to San Marcos , a little town about 6 miles from where we are staying. We went to visit a couple of campuses and found this little cafe.

Managua, Nicaragua

2006-01-10T17:24:00.000-06:00

Terry and I are staying at a compound in the jungles southwest of the capital Managua, Nicaragua. It is little humid but very comfortable. There are guards at the gates with rifles, which is not really that different than anywhere we go in Mexico or Central America. We do feel safe here. We enjoy the views of banana trees, coconut and papaya trees; and of course, the sunshine! We are here with several of our staff from Mexico leading a project for 6 other countries in Central America, several where the campus ministry is just starting. We are helping to set the DNA for these countries. It is a humbling and exciting privilege. Terry and I taught today on our Leadership Development Framework that we have been using to develop our staff in Mexico. The 27 staff and students from 7 countries are doing some strategic planning this afternoon on how to plant spiritual movements on three different campuses in Nicaragua.

Pray for us, as we are part of an international team giving leadership to this project. Pray also for the kids that are back in Puebla. We appreciate your partnership with us!

If you want to read more, click on the link on the right: Movement Planting University.

Packers

2006-01-06T07:31:00.000-06:00

Bowl games are done and now the NFL playoffs are beginning. My team will be watching the playoffs. This year was definitely a bad year for the Green Bay Packers, but we continue to back the Pack even while they are in the back of the pack. They finished with a win against the Seattle Seahawks 3rd string team on Sunday to finish the year at 4 and 12. I thought this recent image of the new Packer logo was appropriate for this year. Hopefully next year, the injured players and Bret Favre will return strong and motivated to turn the team around.

New Year's in Edgewood

2006-01-06T01:04:00.000-06:00

We continued our New Years tradition at Terry’s sisters in Edgewood, NM. We spend the 31st eating, watching movies, highlighted by the now scoffed video of the Chinese Acrobats, who are actually quite incredible. These inside activities lead us up the final countdown of the year. As the ball falls to midnight, we all rush outside to the cold to light fireworks, bang pots and pans and scream, “Happy New Year!” into the darkness. Why do we do this? Well, it’s tradition, I guess. The following day is the New Years Day party at the Todd’s that is always well attended and well stocked. Laura’s Green Chile Stew, Shane’s turkey and all kinds of chocolate treats are only part of the reason. It is always a good time to see old friends from Edgewood and Albuquerque.

One friend I always enjoy spending time with is Errol. He is one of my mentors. I always look forward to catching up with him. He is tall man with cowboy boots and an easygoing personality. I met Erroll several years ago when he was pastor at the Valley View Christian Church in Edgewood. He is probably around 70 but seems much younger. What impresses me about Errol is his humility and learning posture. When he handed over the pastorate of the church, most in his position might have retired. He was certainly the age and had worked his fair share of years. He is now a church planting coach and has the goal of helping to plant 100’s of churches over the next 6 years! What impresses me about Errol is that he is constantly learning and growing which is probably what keeps his youthful outlook and energy for life. He is a great example for me.

Pizza with Dave and Cara

2006-01-03T23:10:00.000-06:00

Friday night we went to City on a Hill in Albuquerque, NM. It is located in the funky area of Nob Hill near the University of New Mexico campus. We went out for pizza with Dave and Cara Bruskas after the service. The church was started several years ago in the old Lobo Theater and has kept the theater style. Dave and Cara began with a leadership team that included some long time friends of ours, Lyle and Gail McDaniels. (Terry and Gail were sorority roommates in college!) We joined the church when we were back in Albuquerque on our sabbatical 2 years ago and visit whenever we are in town. This picture is of Dave when Lyle, Dave, Randy (the worship leader) and I went fly-fishing on the San Juan last April!

Dave and his team have made very courageous leadership decisions to stay in line with their vision of reaching the non-churched. One hard decision that they made was to cancel their Sunday morning service and move it to Friday nights. Dave said that on Sunday mornings the Nob Hill area of Central Avenue is so dead that they could play their annual church softball game in the street. They wanted to be open when the people they were trying to reach were around. Central Avenue is a hopping place on Friday nights; and we have found a great community at City on a Hill to worship God.

Christmas in Albuquerque

2005-12-29T09:20:00.000-06:00

I sat there with Esther waiting for the bus to arrive. We made a makeshift cafeteria on other boxes and packages that had already arrived eating spicy chips and chocolate cupcakes. It was now midnight and our visas had not arrived. We were supposed to leave earlier the previous morning of the 21st in order to make it in time for Christmas. Up until that point we were not sure if we would be coming home. Immigration had now closed for the holidays. Finally, the visas arrived on the Estrella Roja bus from Mexico City at 12:30 am on Thursday, December 22. After getting a liitle shuteye, we packed the trailer, got Sarah a Mexican Driver License and headed north about 2:00 pm on Thursday. That evening we stayed in Queretaro and left early Friday morning, Dec. 23. We crossed the border around 5:00 pm that day and continued through the night. After 28 straight hours we arrived in Albuquerque around 11:00 am of Christmas Eve day. I don't think we would have made it without Sarah who was able to give us breaks in the driving. She drove over 9 hours of the trip in Mexico and across Texas! We are glad to be in Albuquerque with Terry's family to this Christmas.

Development Time with Our Staff

2005-12-20T22:52:00.000-06:00

We just finished up 5 days of development for all the Mexico staff. 1 Corinthians 14:8 says, “If the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle?” During these days we sounded a clear call to go and plant spiritual movements everywhere, so that everyone knows someone who truly follows Jesus. We started by talking about the importance of personal spiritual renewal, corporate prayer, and a passion to reach the lost.

After the conference officially ended, we hung out with about 12 of the staff, most of whom were students who came to Christ when we were in Xalapa and are now serving the Lord in different cities in Mexico; some are heading to Chile. We ate tacos, raided the vending machines for Ding Dongs and M & M’s, and laughed until about 4:00 am! It was a great way to celebrate what God is doing. We were reminded that we are not only an army, but a family. We experienced community as a place to belong and a place to become all that God wants us to be.

Christmas Plays

2005-12-19T00:07:00.000-06:00

What Christmas wouldn't be complete with kids' Christmas plays? First, Esther was in a musical. Here she is singing her solo, "What Child is This?" She had never been in a musical before and we had never heard her sing in public. We were amazed at her voice-beautiful, strong and right on key!

A couple days later we went to a dinner theater where John and his friend, Daniel played Zach and Josh (a mix between a security guard and shepherd). John had great, very timely, dry humor (wonder where he gets that) and we laughed thoughout the entire performance. It was great to help get us thinking about Christmas.

Welcome

2005-12-18T23:17:00.000-06:00

Hi. Welcome to our blog. We want to write some of our thoughts about what God is doing in our lives, family and ministry here in Puebla Mexico. I want to capture some of our activities and travels and interactions with people and friends. We invite you to journey with us.