A new MOPS group!

What an incredible joy to report to you that the second MOPS group started yesterday at our church in LaLoma. It was a wonderful first meeting! The team of Mexican women who have gathered to provide leadership are incredible and they did an amazing job. Alicia, the woman who co-coordinated our first MOPS group with me spoke at the meeting and her words touched my soul. She is our pastors wife and she shared that of all the ministries they are involved in (and there are a ton) MOPS is her favorite because it has ministered to her as she mothers three small children. She shared about the blessing MOPS has been to our Campanario church, to the moms that attend from the community.... My heart was filled with praise to God for the amazing gift he has given us to serve the Mexican people over these last four years! A group of moms meeting together for the first time....

Alicia sharing a message about the blessing of motherhood and the blessing of being in MOPS.

Craft time! The women learned to make little bunny rabbits from cloth.

The team had so many creative ideas! Each mom was sent home with a box of craft supplies. Their assignment was to go home and make something with their children and then bring it back next time where the "most creative" project will win a prize. They even included an announcement inside reminding of the next meeting date!
The children had a blast as well. Amelia, who does not often enjoy going to the nursery was very happy and even participated in getting her face painted. Here she is pictured with Carol, the missionary coordinator for MOPS LaLoma. Carols philosophy is that if the kids are happy and having a blast the moms will keep coming back! I can definitely say that these kids were thrilled and I am certain the women with return - and bring their friends!

Urgent Prayer Request

Please pray for the son of two of our church members. The day before his 16th birthday he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was mistakenly arrested and has now been in prison for 2 weeks. His conditions are terrible and today a ruling was made that means he will be kept in prison for at least another 6 weeks. Although there are many inaccuracies in the accusation made against him he is up against corruption.

We know of no higher authority than our God and so we want to make an earnest plea that you would remember this kid and his family (We are omitting his name for security reasons). Please pray for his safety and for a quick release contrary to normal procedure. He is an amazing kid and has been part of our English classes ever since we got here. We need to pray for a miracle for God's glory. Please stop now to pray and then ask your friends and prayer groups to pray.

A Whirlwind.....

Things have been so absolutely crazy lately that we have gotten behind on providing ministry updates.... Here are a few of the highlights of the last few weeks....
1. Christian recently traveled with two or our pastors, Miguel and Alfredo to help celebrate the 11th anniversary of the UNIFAM Renacimiento church in Acapulco. There they installed Carlos Ramirez as Head Pastor and the church was officially handed over to UNIFAM - meaning it is no longer under the governance of OMS but is now governed by the national denomination. This is our goal with all churches started by OMS here - that they will become self-sufficient, mature churches and that they will move from under the leadership of OMS to the leadership of Mexicans. The work in Acapulco is incredibly hard and our churches there need prayer coverage.
2. We praise God for continued fruit from our church planting teams... we are desperate to see the effort explode.... we are praying for revival for Mexico.
3. Next week, the second MOPS group in Mexico will open at our LaLoma church. We are praising God for all He is doing through this ministry which continues with much fruit at the Campanario church. Thursday is the first meeting of LaLoma MOPS. Please pray for the leadership team as they finalize details.
We praise God for your interest and prayers in the work here in Mexico. What an honor it is to serve here and we are very aware that we could NOT be here without your prayer and support.