Drop In Center Opening and a face with a name...

This past Thursday evening we were blessed with a visit by yet, another team....(We had two teams here at the same time!) This team was from Waco, Texas and we were so thankful to have a full evening to spend with them in our home. Perhaps the biggest treat for me (Robin) is that a couple on the team has been supporting us financially since we arrived in Mexico - and yet I had never met them! What a joy to put a face with a name and to get to thank them personally!
Then, on Friday we celebrated the "Grand Opening"of UNIFAM LaRaza (the drop-in center). It was an amazing time. First we had a short (by Mexico standards) service followed by a meal.

The drop in center will serve as the head-quarters for the Proyecto MEFI ministry.
Here is a little information about the ministry of Proyecto MEFI that will then work in conjunction with the LaRaza church that will be started in the drop-in center very soon. I have "stolen" this excellent write up from the website of Steve and Helen Cosslett - a couple funding to serve in Mexico.

Proyecto MEFI is a social outreach ministry of UNIFAM; it exists to enable the people of Mexico to reach out to the street children of Mexico City, through practical, psycho-social and spiritual means. Our greatest desire, however is to see those children come into the Kingdom of God, grow into disciples of Jesus Christ, and be filled with the Holy Spirit, so that in turn they can reach out to others.

The abbreviation MEFI is taken from the name of Jonathan’s son Mefi-boset (in Spanish), who was crippled in both feet, and who David took into his palace and treated as if he was his own son. Many of the underlying principles of the project are taken from this story which can be found in 2 Samuel Chapter 9 in the Bible. Some of these principles are spelt out in the acrostic MEFI:

M - Misericordia (Mercy)
E - Esperanza (Hope)
F - Fe (Faith)
I - Integración (Integration)

Each letter represents a different step in our outreach to street children. Mercy being our initial contact providing food, first-aid and shelter. Hope being the hope of Jesus Christ and all that it means to be in a relationship with Him, including a hope for the future. Faith represents the journey that they embark on as they seek to trust God and others. Lastly, integration back into society is our desire for these street children, so that they can in turn impact their families (if possible) and other street children by the changes they see in them.

Team visit and Drop-in Center Update

This week is an exciting one here in Mexico. This Friday we will celebrate the official "opening" of the Drop-in center and to help add some final touches and celebrate with us on Friday a team from Ardmore, Oklahoma has returned. More than half of the people on this team have worked on the construction of the Drop-in center several times in the past few years. We are beyond thankful for their help.... and we are always so encouraged by them. Last night Christian and I had the chance to eat dinner with the team and to share with them about the future plans OMS has here in Mexico. It was a wonderful evening .... what a joy to be with our friends from Ardmore!We will certainly post photos of Friday's celebration but here is peek of the Drop-in Center. The Drop in Center (now called UNIFAM La Raza) will be a church targeted toward street kids but also aimed at reaching the surrounding community. The street kid ministry (MEFI) will operate from this location as well. We praise God for the hard work by Carol and Andrew Agnew, Pati and Alex and Fidel and Juana - and the many who have volunteered alongside them to make this dream a reality!

Pati and Alex standing in the main meeting area (where church services will take place).

Christian at the front door of the Drop-in Center.

The Chandlers are Here!

We are so thankful for a visit from our dear friends Ted and Angela . We have been friends with them for 11 years now (starting out in a young marrieds class together) ... but no, they are not only here to visit us - They are here to pray through their next ministry assignment. Ted and Angela and their three girls served with OMS in Haiti for four years and now are praying through serving in Ecuador or Mexico. We are completely excited to have a visit from our dear friends. Please join us in prayer for their future direction.Ted and Angela read our kids a bedtime story.

Seminary Focus Group

This morning Christian facilitated the first of 4 focus group meetings for the Seminary. So much effort has been placed on the new department of evangelism and church planting since August. Our attention will now turn to the Seminary so that national church will have more buy-in and influence over how the Seminary operates. Our hope is for the Seminary to provide the personnel and training needs of the national church (UNIFAM).

Today our focus was starting with the end in mind. Below key stake-holders are answering the following: "What does the Seminary look like assuming we are in the year 2020?" From the answers given (and they were big!) we asked, "How did we get here?" The answers to this question will become key steps in our new strategic plan. We are excited to say the least!

Pray for us during the month of February as we consider the Lord's will for the Seminary and its role in reaching Mexico for Christ.

Happy 10th Anniversary!

On Sunday we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the UNIFAM church in LaLoma. It is an amazing, Spirit-filled church and the service was a true praise offering to Jesus. We felt so blessed to be there to celebrate all God is doing. This is not your typical American church - services usually go 3 hours or longer! During the celebration Christian brought greetings (pictured below) and congratulations on behalf of OMS. We thank you Jesus for the congregation of LaLoma, for Pastor Miguel and his family, for all you are doing in the lives of the people. We give you praise!