Feb/March Blur

How can it possibly be a whole month (minus one day) since I last posted on the blog?? I know when it's been "too long" between posts because we start getting little comments like: "Haven't heard from you in a while." or "I kept checking to see if you had posted something new." Then we get the "not so subtle hints" like: "Hey, are you still alive down there?" Thank you to the many loyal readers and prayer warriors who look forward to the news of God's work here in Lazaro Cardenas. You encourage us; thank you!
As I've written before, I'm convinced that time runs faster here in Southern Coastal Mexico. It's already mid March. In Canada I would have felt that the warmer weather and melting snow would have never arrived, but here in Mexico it seems that I flip the calendar before I even become accustomed to saying the proper month. I used to do that with the changing of the YEARS. Now I do it with the changing of the MONTHS!!! Am I getting older?
We've experienced God's grace in many ways since the last blog post. Let's see if I can catch you up on a few of the events:
God continues to grow the church. Our Monday night leaders' group has grown as others have accepted the challenge to serve by leading groups. Monday night's group has also decreased as raised leaders leave to form and lead their own groups!!! Claudia and Tato are being further mentored by Ivan to lead a group for married couples. What a great need this group meets. We miss them terribly, but our goal is to mentor so that the rising leaders/servants lead others. What a joy to be used by God in this way. Monday night leaders' group is one of our most anticipated activities of the week.

Our dear sister, Blanca, has stepped out of her "authority hierarchy" background and gathered a group from various churches to teach the children at the orphanage. She had a passion for taking the good news of Jesus to these precious children, but she felt that had to "come from the leadership". We encouraged her, because of her passion, to take the lead and gather a group to meet that goal. After months of guiding her step by step, Blanca was pleased to announce that the children's activities would take place each Friday. The orphanage director is MORE than pleased to have her group come teach. We were able to pop in on the activities today and saw how bountifully God has blessed Blanca's efforts. We pray that many little hearts will be touched with the truths of God's Word. We also pray for many big hearts to be touched because the orphanage workers sit in on the lessons, too! Please pray for our efforts at La Casa del Hogar.

Our new supporting congregation, Southern Hills, in Abilene, Texas flew us up to spend a week with the church family there. This was our third visit, so we are feeling like part of the family as we begin to recognize names and faces. We first became acquainted with Southern Hills as our team regularly hosts a medical team from Abilene every six months. The week with our new family was wonderful. We were presented before the congregation at both services, as well as in several of the Bible classes. We were shown much love and support from our new family. We look forward to the many ways God will use our partnership to grow and strengthen His Kingdom. Many thanks to Gail and Bobby who hosts us so royally; to Jack Walker who organized many opportunities for the congregation to get to know us; the mission's committee and elders who have put their trust in us to partner with Southern Hills these next four years; the many who had us in their homes and took us out to eat. No doubt we were "fed up" by the time we left!

Just a few days after returning from Abilene we were able to greet Uncle Bernard and Auntie Joan Straker at the Ixtapa Airport. We have been on the go ever since. They seem to never run out of energy nor enthusiasm. They have painted at the Medical Clinic. They have enjoyed Chicken Feet Soup with Socorro's Tios. They have graciously met many of our friends who come knocking at our door. They involved themselves in whatever activity we have on our agenda. We only have them for one more week, so we want to make sure they get to see the many things God is doing here in Lazaro.

Finally, we are now into the week of the Medical Mission in Los Llanos. Because Logan is now in full-time Spanish school, we aren't able to spend the whole week with the team, but we did spend Monday helping them get organized, and the "two Bernards" and Joan busied themselves in a service project of painting the local school. Our plan is to return tomorrow as they wrap up the clinic. Extra hands will be needed as it will be the first full day of the vision clinic. We have an optometrist who will be with us Thursday and Friday. Once the people hear of free eye testing and glasses, we will be swamped with folks. Glasses are a great luxury for most and a need for many, especially for reading glasses.

Our family continues to enjoy our lives and work here on the Pacific Coast. We are ever so thankful for our team, our family within La Comunidad de Cristo, and the many in Canada and the US who make it possible for us to live and work here. Most of all, we continue to be thankful to our Father who gives is much work for our hands to do here. We are humbled to be called to His work in Mexico.
It is our vision, as a church planting movement, to plant churches in 20 targeted cities along the Pacific Coast. We enlist your prayers and networking. It is a God-sized vision that can only be accomplished with much prayer and supplication. We also need passionate people who have a heart for the lost here in Mexico. You can help us network by letting such people know of our work here in Lazaro. We would love for them to come see what God is doing so that they can pray about helping with the Pacific Coast church planting movement, too!!! We are just an e-mail or a phone call away.
Blessings to you all as you serve our Master with the work He has given your hands to do in your corner of the world!
Until the next blog,
Alicia for the Krogsgaards