Pressing On For the High Calling

As the shortest month of the year began we were holding only our second service on Sunday evening in a scarcely prepared room. Now we are seeing the projects come to completion, and rejoicing in those who are being added to our number weekly. God is bringing men of God who are excited to be in a Bible-teaching church. Please pray for those who are being added to the church.

Currently we hold services on Sunday and Wednesday Evenings at 7:30pm. This allows to stay in connection with the Calvary in Los Mochis on Sunday Mornings. However, we are prayerfully considering starting Sunday morning services at the end of March on Easter. Semana Santa as they call it here, is a big time of either vacationing or working for most, and thus we want to invest our time wisely in where and what we ought to be doing.

Palos Verdes

We also continue to go each week to the village of Palos Verdes. The name frames (giving the definition of each child/youth's name with an applicable bible verse) has been well received and it definitely seems to help our connection grow stronger with them. Jasper is stoked that most weeks now, there is a pony that she gets to ride around there in the village center (and we are thankful it seems to have softened up more as at the beginning the pony seemed to try and bite whoever tried to get on it)!

Please join us in prayer that God guides our interaction and friendships with each of the people. We see that for the kids, it's a big deal for us to be there and spend time with them. Sometimes there are more than we expect, and it can leave us stumped into what activities to do with them besides giving them a hot dog or some cookies and soda. Our prayer is that we can connect with each of them in a way that allows the Holy Spirit the freedom to penetrate their hearts with the gospel, and that God's calling and purposes are brought to fruition in their lives. These youth need to hear of the one place and Person they ought to seek after with all their heart, and find true contentment and purpose in their Creator, Savior, and Redeemer. It makes sense that as these youth are converted and find their identity and worth in Christ, that the Lord would use them to go into the nearby villages to make disciples and start other fellowship gatherings, bible studies, and churches.

We all had a bit of a scare one Friday before heading out to Palos Verdes as Esther called me saying that Jubilee had a metal spring from the trampoline stuck in her foot and wouldn't come. God is good. He really helped come to peace with the medical services available here. We took Jubilee to the Red Cross only a few hundred meters from our house, and few screams from the numbing shots, 20 minutes, and a couple hundred pesos later we were on our way.

Mazatlan

Once again Mazatlan was a great time for the kids again as I (Ryan) attended the church planting conference. What was really encouraging was to be returning this year not on my own, but with Daniel and Kevin. Apparently, according to the kids, we've created a tradition of attending the Mazatlan Aquarium which received a massive update over the past year.

May the Lord give us wisdom, endurance, and the tenacity to tap into all that we have thru Christ for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Without people finding Christ here in Mexico, and people finding Christ whatever country they are in, they (those that live in foreign countries with varying problems) will no doubt be tempted to think that America is the place they need to seek after (so long as America continues to stand as a free and blessed country against all that powers at be that seem to attack all the good things that made it a great nation). And living here and understanding better now the socio-economic troubles, especially for those that live in the village (jobs are available but the pay usually is low), it makes so much sense how the fear of God and keeping his commandments is what makes a nation great.

Lighting in the church building in Guasave is mostly complete, but we've yet to get microphones and the sound equipment. For now, it works fine without as the sanctuary is not very large and we don't have it filled up with people and so there isn't a huge need for amplification as of yet, but it should get done soon. The painting has come a long way with only the bathrooms to finish for the most part. We are glad to see the coffee cart coming together having used it a couple times now.

We are praying and trusting that God will bring the children that need to be a part of the church in His timing, especially once we begin holding Sunday morning services. Our girls, especially Jubilee, are anxious to make a friend in the city. While she's getting to know a couple of the girls in the after-school classes, she longs for a friend she can feel comfortable talking with. Just today she was feeling low and needing encouragement. And how thankful I am that I could offer her that in Jesus and how He does answer the desires of our heart, even when we must wait.

Please continue to pray for the laborers that God has brought alongside of us. Daniel and also Kevin (he will be in charge of the coffee cart, especially during the week). And as the Apostle Paul asked for prayer in being bold to share the gospel, please pray the same for us!! There are frequent times when the opportunity arises as we run errands in the city center here, and oh, how amazing and great the need is to share and not be timid about it! That day of redemption is coming, and we must share while we have the opportunity.

Thank you friends, for reading our posts, for praying for us, and for all those who financially support us in this calling and ministry. We deeply appreciate you and we are thankful we are not alone in this work! May the Lord strengthen you and cause you to feel His nearness as you go about your day to day. Shalom shalom.

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FROM DANIEL

Praise Reports

God continues His work faithfully. We had our first Sunday meeting on February 18! Day by day, the church facility is in better condition, and day by day, the Lord has brought the first people to hear about His love. This month I also had the gift of attending the pastors' conference at Semilla Cuernavaca and, a few days later, the church planting conference at Calvary Mazatlan.

Words of Reflection

The core of everything we do is to carry the message that can save and transform us. Jesus died for our sins. There is no better news! So wherever we are, we are God's provision to carry that message in word and deed. The lesson this month: "Abide in my love, stay close." How can we live to love others if we don't know His love?

I encourage you to read 1 John 3:16, Ephesians 3:17-18, and John 15:9, 11-12.

Prayer requests

First, may God's love abound in our hearts. Unity. May our minds be kept on mission, sensitive to opportunities to share the message. May the Spirit continue to guide us in making decisions, and may we not resort to human methods, ideas, or programs to establish His kingdom. Pray for the event for young people that we will have on March 16 "The Narrow Road".