Back to the Routine of the Unpredictable

I think the longer we’re in Mexico, the more we expect the unexpected. We can still be surprised and disappointed but I suppose that like a pier that makes a stand out in the surf, waves of all sizes and velocity come to be expected…even on calm days.

I suppose that’s a little like what we’ve experienced in the week we’ve been back in Mexico. In fact, we had just crossed the border when we learned over our Mexican cell phone of a very serious situation back here in San Juan that was going to need our immediate attention. One thing we’re learning about discipleship is we have to deal not only with the good times but the bad times too…and this was sounding about as bad as we could imagine.

I can’t really even go into detail about what occurred. I can say that after arriving home we had some very critical conversations with some folks we know and even a deep conversation with a Mexican man we had never met and may never see again. The bottom line to all this is that we’re trusting that through God’s grace, mercy and strength, we’ll see a true work of repentance and forgiveness…not just on the outside…but a very real change. It seems we’re on the right path (and I mean “we’re” as in the people directly involved…not us personally…but we’re holding hands through this). I’m sorry I can’t spell this out. It is very sensitive, very serious and very private. Please pray for God to be honored and glorified in the aftermath as it unfolds or rather as lives continue forward from this point.

Other than that situation, pretty much everything else has been much more of the type of routine that we like to share with you.

On Thursday we helped start up the educational co-op for this school year. What a GREAT day it was. We sincerely missed the Downs and Le’Ann’s leadership and encouragement, but everyone pulled together and got it moving. Parents did their part in teaching their classes and the students all seemed to enjoy the classes and especially the social interactions with other MKs. It was very encouraging to watch it all happen! (sorry…we were so focused on the day we forgot to take photos!)

In all we had 3 students from San Juan del Rio (3 more were missing for the day), 3 from Amealco, 6 from Celaya, and 12 from Queretaro (3 more were missing for the day). That gave us a total of 24 students this first day and with the 6 that were missing, we’ll end up with a full “enrollment” of 30 students! Wow! Praise God for making this such a great ministry to these families.

26 of the students are North American missionary kids, 2 are Mexican missionary kids and 2 are Mexican kids from a Christian family who are trying to homeschool their two girls in English. It is quite a challenge for them (using mostly aBeka), so we’re happy to have them come for as long as we have room for them to join us.

Finally, today we began our new Sunday fellowship! Jason, Kristin and Justin joined Beth and the boys and me for a very “homemade” church service…in English! It was our first time ever doing this so we were curious and apprehensive about how this would look. I was struggling to even figure out how to put the “service” together. Finally, I got out of the way, the Lord took over, and it was an awesome time of worship and teaching.

Beth ended up taking Justin outside b/c as a rambunctious 3 year-old, he just couldn’t sit still nor do anything quietly! I was prepared to just try and talk over him but Beth realized that J&K really needed to be able to listen and hear God’s Word and the lesson on joy. It was a strange place to start but it turned out to be just what the Lord wanted for us all. It was really a kids’ lesson but with digging into some Scripture and a little amplification of the theme, it was an excellent lesson for these young believers and the rest of us as well.

Afterward, we enjoyed a good meal of BBQ pork (compliments of some recently imported Sweet Baby Rays!) and some time for conversation and friendship.

We’re looking forward to getting back into our weekly Bible study times with Jason and Kristin individually as well. We have a conference the next two days and this leaves the rest of the week filled with perhaps too much for me to fit in the study with Jason. Beth and Kristin have a plan though. Jason read all the books I left with him so I need to come up with a new study.

Pray that I’ll understand what the Lord would have us study together next. Please also pray for Jason, Kristin, and Justin and our family as well as we continue these Sunday morning times of fellowship and worship.

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