It's All About People!!!!

Having traveled and worked in many parts of the world, it is easy to see that people are people wherever you go...We may speak different languages, live in different cultures, even believe in different gods, but we all share the need for relationships and to feel loved. Our week has been all about people...getting to know them, being interested in them, and loving them.
We have joined a wonderful team that has vision and insight to the needs of the baby church. Home groups have been a part of the church from the beginning. There are three groups that meet during the week. We have been trying to attend all three so that we can come to know those who attend, as well as be a help to the leaders.

Wednesday night group is with Salvador and Georgina. Logan's soccer is on Wed. so we've only been able to attend this group twice. It is a group of lively talkers. Salvador and Georgina, although only baby Christians, are learning well how to share Jesus with others as Malcolm leads the study.

The Thursday afternoon group meets about an hour from Lazaro Cardenas in a village called Feliciano. Salvador and Georgina take the lesson from the night before and present it to a clan made up of three families: Pedro (g'pa), Antonia (daughter), Santiago (son) and wife, Erica and their six children. The dogs, chickens, roosters, pigs, and donkey are around too, but don't know how much of the study THAY are comprehending!!! Sometimes there's quite a ruckus around us. We enjoy a lovely time together. It was Sol's birthday last week so we shared cake, and I was able to take some photos. We are quickly realizing this poor family is so very happy and love to have visitors to their hill-top shack to sing praises to God and spend time in His Word. How did we get to be so privileged to be chosen to be a part of their lives??? It's an honour!!!

The men in deep conversation
Precious children enjoying a rare treat

Leaders of the group teaching many skills

Soon as we leave Feliciano, we head for Lazaro Cardenas to a 7:30 study at Rigo and Yessy's house. This a young couple that first met Malcolm through the land business. Rigo is the architect for many of the land buyers. He and Yessy lead the praise team...What a gift they are to this baby church!!! They are full of talent and love for the Lord!!! Daisy, their neighbour, has been coming to the study, as well as to our celebration times on Sundays. Oni, well on his way to becoming part of God's family, spoke publicly, for the first time about his addiction problem and how difficult it has been to change habits and friends. He knew the first time the Holy Spirit had touched him...it was a turning point in his life. He desires more than anything to know God and follow His ways...Extremely encouraging!!!! We pray that our groups will touch many people as we continue to invite our friends and neighbours to join us.


The other highlight of the week, especially for Logan, was Halloween. It has only been in the last 10 years or so that Mexico has adopted the North American tradition of trick-or-treating. The traditional festive days are Nov 1 & 2 when the dead are honoured by their family members. Flowers, food, and superstitions are plentiful. We decided to plunge in head first and have our first fiesta at our home. We invited the church and walked around Play Azul inviting some people we have met within our first month of being here. We had a howling time!!! Kids came out of the woodwork!!!! People brought food, decorations, and their swimsuits!!! The kids went around the town asking for candy, then had a great time busting the pinata. We thought it was a good start in bridging our church and community. Logan said it was more fun here than in Canada on Halloween. That's quite a compliment since Halloween trick or treating has always been one of his favourite holidays.

Our final highlight came this afternoon as we visited the enramada of our friend, Rosa Elena. We had promised her that we would come and eat at her place...after a month of living here, we decided that today was the day. She was so very excited when we walked into her outdoor beach restaurant. We were treated royally. We ate the most wonderful fried and garlic shrimp we have EVER eaten!!! I'm sure she must have loaded our plates higher than what she gives to other customers. It was a real treat for us...(and not something we can do very often because, contrary to most people's thinking, it's not an inexpensive meal...It cost our family about $30 for our two plates). We feel it was time and money well invested to see Rosa Elena's face light up when we told her it must be the best food on the beach. Afterward we strolled down the beach and watched the sun set. Logan met a friend and they swam in the waves a while. Now all is quite. The geckos are scurrying, the mosquitoes are buzzing, the music is blaring from the enramadas down the street, and the boys are snuggled, all too warmly in their beds....AHHHHH...we love it here!!!! Until next blog...We love you. Ya'll come see us now, ya hear????