Field Council

"I have never been to a field council like this one!" declared visiting missionary Bonnie Shrode. I smiled as I thought about about the previous two days - filled with games, teamwork sessions, planning, laughter and friendship. It was certainly not the typical business meeting - yet we accomplished much in this yearly strategic planning session. It was so exciting to hear about the direction each ministry will take in the upcoming year and the plans that Jesus has laid upon the hearts of each missionary. There is so much to do - so many people in need of Jesus - and it was wonderful to plan out how we would spend our time as we serve Jesus in Mexico.
In addition to planning we were sure to play a little with our own OMS Mexico Olympic games.... We strongly believe that Jesus will greatly use a group that is unified in spirit and that is Biblical in their approach to team... so spending time growing together is always top on our priority list!

Robin gives instructions for the first Olympic game...

Tower building using straws and marshmallows....

The bucket brigade contest....

The winning team with their medals...

A game for all - this one had us laughing and laughing!

A new MOPS group!

We praise God for a wonderful first meeting with women at the LaLoma UNIFAM church. We met to discuss starting a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group in the church and the women were excited and receptive. It is a blessing to see how MOPS is reaching women for Jesus here in Mexico!
If you would like to participate in some special MOPS projects please let us know... We currently have three projects in need of funding:
1. A car seat for every child.... we are wanting to buy car seats and sell them very cheaply to the women in MOPS so that those with vehicles can have car seats. Earlier this summer one of our MOPS moms and her 3 year old were in a serious car accident which resulted in the little boy being hospitalized for almost two weeks - all of which could have been prevented with a car seat. Our financial need here is $2000 dollars.
2. A new playground at the Campanario church.... you can see in the photo below the playground at our church is awful - and dangerous - pictures large chunks of concrete protruding through the ground. Swings made of metal with hard pointed edges, slides with a huge drop off at the end.... The MOPS moms are wanting to work to replace the equipment. We would like to raise half of the cost from donations from other MOPS or donor from the states. Our need here is $2500 dollars.
3. A new play area at LaLoma. With the start of a new MOPS in LaLoma we would like to fix up a small 12x12 area with some outdoor carpeting, some outdoor little-tykes type equipment so this area can be used by the children during MOPS and during Sunday school. The cost here is $1500 dollars.
If the Lord lays it upon your heart (or on your MOPS group, Sunday school class, etc.) to help with any of these projects please email us and let us know!

A photo of the outside of the LaLoma church where our new MOPS group will start in January.

A meeting of the women in LaLoma to discuss MOPS and to invite them to join the leadership team.

Spending time together...

On Tuesday of this week we gathered as missionaries to eat together and to hang out - for some reason we didn't have to rush off after dinner which resulted in a relaxing wonderful time together. Please continue to pray for our team as missionaries. There is such a sweet spirit of unity and friendship right now amongst our group and we are asking the Lord to protect that especially as we grow and add new members to our team!

Mexico Independance Celebration

Yesterday our church celebrated Mexico's Independence with a special church service (the focus of the message was how you can have TRUE independence if you are a follower of Christ) followed by a party complete with food , games and a mariachi band! Here are some pictures from the day....Church service (pictured above)

Here are our kids decked our in Mexican costumes....

Rich and Anita Yoder are here for a visit from OMS headquarters and they joined in the fun!

Maddie and Amelia enjoyed the Mariachi band.

Our MOPS group had a booth that sold fried bananas..... YUM!Here are three of the women on our MOPS leadership team.... it was a lot of fun cooking together.

Acapulco

Last week Christian traveled with the President (Miguel) and the Vice President (Daniel) of UNIFAM (this is the denomination we work with here in Mexico) to Acapulco. We are sure images of palm trees and ocean waves are dancing in your heads....unfortunately there was no time on the playas (Spanish for beaches). The purpose of the trip was to meet with the pastors of the UNIFAM churches in Acalpulco in order to encourage them in their work and to do some strategic planning with them for the future. It was a successful trip! We praise God for the way He used this trip to bring reconciliation among some lay leaders in the churches in Acapulco. Please join us in prayer for our pastors and churches in Acapulco.

Pictured below are Daniel, Miguel, and Carlos. Carlos pastors one of our Acapulco churches. Christian has been blessed to work very closely with Daniel and Miguel in UNIFAM leadership. We covet your prayers for these men.... For their protection and care.

Santa Muerte (Saint Death)

We pulled this story off of CNN's headlines on their web-page today. It is an awesome reminder of the voodoo that exists in Mexico and the tremendous spiritual battle that exists for the souls of the millions that live here.

CNN - MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AP) -- Investigators said the heads of 11 decapitated bodies discovered in southern Mexico may have been burned in a ritual.

The Public Safety Department said police found an altar to the skeletal figure of the "Santa Muerte" in the home of two men arrested in connection with the slayings. They also found several scorched spots in a nearby clearing.

A statement sent late Sunday said police suspected the heads were burned in the clearing, though it did not say why.

The Santa Muerte is one of several unofficial folk saints worshiped in Mexico.
Wikipedia provides the following description of "Santa Muerte":
One resource indicates that the cult of Saint Death originated from ancient witchcraft in the state of Veracruz; however, other research inclines one to question if Saint Death is in reality much older. Saint Death may have his/her roots in pre-Christian beliefs of the Aztec Native Americans who worshiped a similar figure by the name of Mictlantecuhtli, the god of death, along with his wife, Mictecacihuatl. Saint Death statues are made in red, white, green and black – for love, luck, financial success and protection. Offerings to Saint Death include roses and tequila. Public shrines to Saint Death are adorned with red roses, cigars, and bottles of tequila, and Saint Death candles burn in his/her honor.

Will you join us in praying for Mexico and the salvation of the millions who are lost and searching?