A Harvest at Thanksgiving in Guasave
- Ryan Van Deusen
- Dec 2
- 8 min read
Hi friends,
It's exciting to say that our Thanksgiving dinner at church surpassed our expectations in several ways. For one, we had a lot more people come than expected. I counted about 20 people who had rsvd that were not from our church. We didn't take a hand/head count of people from church who would come, as here everyone still goes to work and school. And sure enough, we ended up with a dozen from church who came and thankfully they pitched in wonderfully. They handed out over 80 plates! And those who brought food did so generously! The people loved the freedom of the buffet style; take only what you want, as much and as many times as it's available! I have to say, here in Guasave, it is not common. Usually at parties and events, there is someone assisting and handing out the food. Here, even if we wantd to, we wouldn't have had enough hands to hand out the food. Too many trays to the amount of those serving. But, the people loved it! We took the time to thank them before they formed a large line outside the building to go next door where we had all the trays of food (seeing 80 people in line outside our church was quite a sight!), and explain why we came to Guasave; how our intention was in no way to bring more religion as their city had plenty enough. But we desired for them to know God, in the personal way that we know Him, and that our hope was for them to develop a spiritual appetite for reading the bible and nourishing themselves with the Word of God with the same serious appetite they had for good food (after all, that's what brought them in!) We prayed for them, asking for God's Spirit to work in them, bring about all that He desires in their lives; that one day we could all feast together in the New Jerusalem. We had several tell us after that they were looking forward to coming to church, more so on a Wednesday night to see what church service would be like. We told them we'd be glad to have them!
Even after all the guests left (and a number of them took food with them), we still had lots of food. We sent home what we could with those who had helped (and one church member who couldn't make it but often needs help with food) and then consolidated the leftovers and packed them up. (And we still have some in our fridge!) It was a wondrous night to remember! For those who prayed, and those who financially gave, thank you. It made a big difference as we stepped out, decided to prepare generous amounts of food without knowing how many would actually come (it's also common for people to say they are coming here and still not show up), and feel the enormity and relief as it was a true time of thanksgiving for God's goodness in our lives. Thank you.
(video of the cafe and sanctuary at the beginning of Thanksgiving gathering- I forgot my phone at home and missed the opportunity to do a video of the line of people getting food)
-Highlights for December-
This month we have a couple events for outreach planned and appreciate your prayers. We will be leaving back to CA, the day after Christmas as it'll be time to renew our van's Mexican permit and our visas. The kids also have dentist and doctor appointments. If you would like to meet with us, please let us know so we can incorporate it into our schedule while we will be there.
-Police Outreach-
Since our last outreach went really well, we want to make sure we go back this month again. We appreciate your prayers as we haven't decided on a time or date. Their change of shifts is 7:00am and 3:00pm, so we are thinking to probably do a 7:00am shift on a Saturday with some coffee and sweets, as well as a time to encourage them and pray for them. The more time we spend time living here, the more we feel the weight of discrepancy with them and the cartel. Every conversation we've had with a police officer here leaves us longing that the gospel would permeate and saturate their understanding, work, and personal lives. Oh, how they need Jesus.
-Christmas Caroling-
We want to keep with the tradition we started of caroling at street corners here in the city center. We keep it simple, as it's our way to sing God's love and redeeming grace into this part of the world He has sent us to. Please pray. We aren't the most talented nor gifted in this arena but we understand the value of it. Our kids can easily chime out and just want to "go home" and yet we want to do this together as a family, and better yet, a church family. We don't want to be unwise with our kids and "force" them, we want this to be a work of His Spirit. We are trusting the Lord to guide us, provide (even the stamina, desire, and confidence in our kids), and cause us to be a light for Him as we sing about His story and glory.
-Women's Discipleship-
We were able to go through the entire book of Colossians (only four chapters) and will resume again in January. Please pray the Lord would give us insight and practical ways to keep everyone attending participating. We want these sessions to help develop that personal growth in God's Word, and their ability to read and retreive insight even as they read the Word on their own.
-Centro Cultural-
The classes for English and guitar have wrapped up for the year as Daniel and Isa have flown back to Merida to spend a couple weeks with both their sets of parents (Isa's parents are flying in from Costa Rica). The initial onset of these classes were exciting but attendance started dropping and so Daniel has decided to not continue teaching them in until there's a greater committment that is worth the time and investment. Funny how in life so many things must be tried and tested to find out what really works and is worth our time and pursuit.
-Calvary Coffee-
Ryan is encouraged that there is an incrementing clientele base. His schedule begins right after he walks the kids to school (they start at 7 am sharp) and stays and helps until the afternoon. The donuts are also gaining momentum (the ones Daniel and Isa make next door to the cafe) but there is still a larger need of cashflow to get them both on what is equivalent here to UberEats. Please keep both Ryan and Daniel in your prayers that God would lead them and they would have clarity and confidence on how to build and grow these venues of both income and outreach. As Ryan mentioned in our video update (link attached below) it really is a great source for discipleship (one on one) and building connections that lead people to understand the gospel (small talk on a daily or even weekly basis from repeat customers is a steady way to build on sharing and helping them understand the gospel and the bible). But both are doing so without much of a financial recompense, and doing so sacrificially. We appreciate your prayers that all decisions are made in wisdom and led by the Lord.
-Our Kids-
Our kids are continuing to grow some roots here, though slowly it seems. There's a growing self-awareness in the girls (even Jubilee who just turned 10 wishes she could bring more supplies to her class). To better understand the school culture here, parents are expected to chip in all almost all the school supplies. For example, last week I just picked up six boxes of kleenex and a bathroom aromatic because they had run out from the last time we parents were asked to supply them. Yesterday we were asked to pitch in with decorating their classrooms for Christmas (as well as buying them each Christmas dance apparel for their Christmas recital). And the lights and print outs Jubilee selected were not enough. She felt like others would bring more and nicer things. And between all four kids it's not long before it becomes a tug-of-war of sorts, in our conversations, as the kids feel self-conscious at times, that they aren't up to par with their classmates (praise God for uniforms). Even though our kids are dealing with these feelings (the private school they attend does attract the richer families in Guasave) we know the challenges can and should actually benefit them in the long term as we patiently and lovingly help them navigate through the differences they feel both here in Mexico and when we return to the States. But we appreciate your prayers. Below is a video of Cyrus learning to read in Spanish, doing one of his reading assignments as homework.
Reading now through 1 Samuel, I see how God over and over allows "dire" or "conflicting" circumstances for His chosen. With Abraham it was infertility, even Isaac and Rebekah had to wait twenty years for Esau and Jacob to be born. With Jacob it was his whole family moving to Egypt and letting them fall into slavery for hundreds of years. With Ruth, it was early widowhood, clinging to her mother-in-law in a foreign country with full surrender of her fate to God. With David, it was tasting the delicacies of the kings' table after killing Goliath and so many enemies only to flee and live out under rocks and caves for years without knowing when he would finally be the king God had chosen him to be. But these seasons, whether just months or many years, all were alloted by God himself. And so, we can be confident that our allotment both in success and provision as well as in need and desperation, is not by chance, but the conflicts and trials are alloted by God himself with a measure of goodness intended that's far beyond human comprehension. Our struggle is meant to produce abundant fruit that lasts. Oh Father, may it be so with each one of us!!
-Amazon Merch On Demand-
I am including what I have thus far available on Amazon that we receive royalties from. If you find any attractive and worth your buy whether for yourself or to give as a gift, please do! (Note: we don't know who buys them, we just get notified of the product sold and the amount we receive from the purchase). Also, the more one product gets purchased, the more visibility it receives when others are shopping for the same kind of product. Product reviews also help.
Coca-Cola style "Enjoy Christ the Lord"
Pullover hoodie: https://a.co/d/cUVyGLA
T-Shirt: https://a.co/d/euxrpKe
Zip Hoodie: https://a.co/d/gHMPhCl
Orange (Reese's Peices) Jesus Peace is Sweetest of all: https://a.co/d/0b85xNs
Pillow Throw (Come Adore Heaven's Breath Wrapped in Human Flesh): https://a.co/d/cGslSrT
Raglan Shirt with Santa Kneelign to Baby Jesus: https://a.co/d/cQvEP2h
Romanian Din Dragoste Curata si eu ma-nchin
Tote bag: https://a.co/d/ajqBbej
Raglan Shirt: https://a.co/d/4AbtcV0
Throw Pillow: https://a.co/d/id8H4ez
Most Wanted Husband Long Sleeve: https://a.co/d/3Mbpuzw
Most Wanted Husband T-Shirt: https://a.co/d/b3wMG5z
Respected Husband Adored Daddy T-Shirt: https://a.co/d/eMP5eQd
Merry Christmas T-Shirt (family matching from size 2T and up available): https://a.co/d/3ZjxnIE
Merry Christmas Raglan: https://a.co/d/8Kp5jPO
I am hoping to post some merchandise in Arabic too. Please reach out with any questions or comments.
For those who don't usually give but want to and don't know how, you can click on the following link and the options will be there on the same page: https://www.narrowroadorganization.com/about-7
Thank you for your support, your interest, and prayers in our welfare as we pursue to see the fruit of church planting and discipleship here in Guasave, Sinaloa. We are grateful and look with expectancy to the Lord for His faithfulness. And we truly are grateful for you!!
We wish you a very Merry Christmas!!
-Ryan and Esther Van Deusen
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