Celebrating Birthdays!
January is Birthday month for Both of Us!
Carolyn – Jan 15 & Phil – Jan 26 . . . Happy 50th to both of us!
This month we are hosting our 50th Birthday Party at our house here in Puebla. We’ve invited a whole host of people. Hopefully, many of our next door neighbors will come and visit even if for a short while. So, if you’re in the area, you’re welcome to join us for a fun time!
New Year 2019
Hi folks! Just a quick post to say . . .
We pray God’s rich blessing on each one of you . . .
for the coming year – Happy New Year 2019!
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me – St. Patrick’s Breastplate
Merry Christmas 2018
We’ve been enjoying a few days with Phil’s brother Stephen from Kansas over this Christmas season. Christmas Eve we have been invited to spend the evening with a few folks from the church we attend here in Puebla. Christmas Day we have invited a number of people over for Christmas dinner in the afternoon. We are really looking forward to spending time with all these folks!
Have a very Merry and Blessed Christmas!
Church Inauguration
This past weekend Phil and Dan traveled to Cuetzalan. On Saturday December 2, 2018 they had their Church Inauguration.
It is a Church where we have a group that is studying and the same church the Work Team from Canada came to help build their new building in 2017. Dan was asked to preach and we represented Canada and the support of churches who contributed to help build it. Thank you to Plattsville EMC and to Bethany EMC in Kitchener especially for their support.
Retreat – Ministry Trips – Connecting
Blessings in the midst!
The past several weeks we have been preparing for and involved in a number of Ministry Trips, participated in our Mexico Team Retreat, and enjoyed connecting with Pastors and leaders in the states of Puebla, Veracruz, and Oaxaca.
November 15 – 20 World Partners Director Joel Zantingh traveled to Ecuador with Dan Chapple to visit and encourage our sister denomination there. During that time we were making preparations for our Team Retreat and ministry for the next couple weeks.
November 21 – 24 we hosted Joel Z. and his wife Christie at our home and then joined the Chapples and the Ruizes for a two day Retreat at a place called Metepec about 40 minutes from Puebla. We had a really good time connecting and working through some important items.
Following our Team Retreat a bunch of us traveled to La Sierra Norte with Joel Z. to meet with the pastors and leadership of the churches there. Then off to Oaxaca and Veracruz for a long trip to visit and encourage the churches and leadership in those areas.
After a long couple of weeks we have been very encouraged and blessed in the midst of the busyness of preparations and travel. Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
Team Retreat
This week we have our Mexico Team Retreat. We are enjoying our time together at a place called Metepec, a little town right near the town of Atlixco here in the state of Puebla. It’s only about 40 minutes from the city of Puebla.
Weekend to Remember
November 11 in many countries we honour those who served and gave their lives for freedom. Many of us recall interactions with those who served in war and have been amazed. To those who have gone before we salute with gratitude in our hearts. To those who still remain, we say Thank You and help us not forget.
Here in Mexico, November 11 is not part of their history or remembrance, so life kind of continues as per normal. Phil made a trip to the Mountains and was able to connect with some new groups and receive contact information for some additional groups wanting to study with the Seminary. We celebrate the eagerness of our current students to invite others to be part of the important task of studying the Bible in a more formal way. The learning they receive through the course work they do helps to prepare these Pastors and leaders in their ministry here in Mexico.
On Saturday, Phil travelled with Pastor Sebastian, the President of the Missionary Church in Mexico to Pezmata. It was a very long trip with a lot of mud to get through. Fortunately, his vehicle was able to make it through the rough terrain.
Phil led the study for this group in Pezmata and he was very pleased to be able to hear each one of them practice their Sermon for their exam and provide some helpful feedback. Well done hermanos!
On Sunday, Pastor Bernabé and his wife had their third class with these 4 women. They are very excited to be able to begin studying and are eager to continue.
