Goodbye Bear
Yesterday we said goodbye to our best friend, Bear.
We are so grateful to God for the opportunity to have taken care of one of His most amazing creatures. Bear was among the most loving, gentle, and calm dogs. Everyone loved him! From him we learned so much more about unconditional love and the need for companionship. We thank God for all the fun we had with him and how he was always there to be a friend, more than anything. There are countless people we have come to know and become good friends with through his presence with us. Thank you everyone for loving Bear and being part of our lives!
The last month in particular has been difficult. After a number of Vet visits to deal with a build up of fluid, Bear was diagnosed with a tumor in his thorax which was causing the fluid build up. Test results came back saying that it was cancer. He was 11 and a half years old and had a really good life.
Below are some of our favourite photos of Bear. We are missing photos of some of his friends. Goodbye to his Lakewood friends, Charlie, Jazz, George, Pepper, Mac and Nugget. Goodbye to his Mexico friends, Canela, Jasper, Ruby, Kori, and Dakota. The individual photos below are also in this PPT – Bear
Bake’n Take
This past week was a busy week preparing for the weekend. We hosted the October Bake’n Take on Saturday and Carolyn was asked to make the Anniversary Cake for the church we attend here in Puebla. See photos below.
Ministry Trip
Just a quick update from last weekend.
Carolyn made some delicious cakes for the monthly Birthday party after church on Sunday. They were just amazing of course – evidenced by their quick disappearance! It was fun and they really enjoyed the colourful flowers!
Phil went with Dan to a Pastor’s meeting in San Miguel de Progresso in La Sierra Norte of the state of Puebla. They had a great time!
Sunday they visited Pastor Rubén’s church and were then invited to take home some Guayaba fruit from one of the local farmers who attends their church.
Tampico, Mexico
This past week Sept 22 – 25 . . .
Phil travelled with Dan to Tampico in the north of Mexico.
They had a really good time connecting with the Pastors, churches and groups that are studying the SEAN material in Tampico, traveling in the states of Tamaulipas and a small town in the northern part of Veracruz, Mexico.
It is so amazing to visit places where groups are excited about studying God’s Word. Seeing and hearing testimonies of what God is doing, how their knowledge and understanding of the Bible is transforming their lives – words cannot fully explain. Below are some photos from the trip.
This older man in the photo to the right gave testimony to the benefit of studying with his group. He is blind and told us how having spent over 60 years of attending church religiously, he learned nothing. Now, being part of this group, he studies with his wife and their lives are filled with joy to learn more and more about Jesus. Pastor Jaime standing behind him leads this group and travels over 2 hours from his home in Tampico over very rough roads to minister at his church in Paso Real for 3 days each weekend.
Their travels took them to a very small church where they were able to encourage the people. Below is a video of the building they currently meet in and the work they have started on building a church. They are looking for assistance to be able to finish the work.
Another 2 groups study in Tampico under the direction of Pastor Bernardo. The more advanced group is in the Second Level of the Seminary Program and the other group is almost finished the First Level.
We are so grateful for these groups studying. Our mission organization World Partners has a fund that we use to help the students with half the cost of the materials for the Seminary Program. This fund is getting low and we ask that you consider a contribution of any amount to help students. Go to Project Leadership Development for more information and how you can make a financial contribution.
Here are a few more pictures from the trip, scroll over for caption.
We made it to the Beach in Madero which is really part of Tampico. It was so hot we could only stay for an hour or so and walk the pier.
Independence Day
Yesterday, Monday, Sept 16 was Mexican Independence Day.
On Sunday, we celebrated after church at the church we attend here in Puebla. Everyone was grateful for Carolyn’s offer to make a cake.
The cakes were fantastic! The big one was a vanilla cake coloured in the colours of the Mexican flag! Not only was it visually cool, it was so moist and yummy!
The other one was a Tres Leche cake. It’s certainly the “best we’ve ever tasted!” At least that’s what we’ve been told!
Groups Growing & a Visit!
It was a fantastic visit!
Last weekend Phil traveled to La Sierra Norte with our friend David from Canada who came to visit and see our ministry. There were a number of highlights from the ministry weekend, but below are a couple of interesting ones!
We visited the group in Aocotzota where Phil led the study. This group is doing very well in their studies. We look forward to them finishing book 2 of the Introductory Level and getting into Level 1.
We also traveled to Cuetzalan where the group continues to grow! They now have 20 people in their group and it is a bit large to keep at that size. Once we see who all is committed after the first few lessons, we’ll see about making it into 2 groups.
We’d like to say Thank you to David for the visit! Missionary work has many challenges and a the visit was such an encouragement to us.
