YoungFriends Come and Go

A highlight of our work here in Lazaro Cardenas is welcoming various groups to walk with us for a week. One of our favourite groups is the YoungFriends from the Let's Start Talking Ministry. Andrea Muirhead and Deanna Cook brought seven high school teens from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada while Kim Lambert brought a friend and their sons from California. The teams melded together right away as if they had trained the whole year together. The week began with Sunday worship and a pizza lunch with the youth from La Comunidad de Cristo, followed by the information meeting of those who wished to participate in the English practice during the week. Monday morning had the YoungFriends playing in the park near our house, getting to know many of Logan's friends, neighbours and school mates. The team organized basketball, soccer and dodge ball matches. The neighbourhood kids didn't quite know what to think about the YoungFriends, but it didn't take long before they all joined in and had a great time every morning. Afterwards, one of our neighbours cooked lunch for the team--good Mexican cooking! The afternoon was dedicated to the English practice in conversation groups. The three groups were made up of 14-16 youth (and some of Logan's friends from the park), including the youth from the team. The team led the youth in meaningful conversations after reading various passages from the book of Luke. Because few of the youth from Lazaro speak a high level of English, several of the church youth, Logan, and participants from last year translated. It was during this time each day that the Mexican, US, and Canadian youth developed close friendships. After a short rest, the YoungFriends returned to the building for an evening of fun and games where 50-80 youth laughed, played and practiced English.

Because the team works and plays hard all week at a vigorous schedule, we plan one day to take them to the ocean and show them various sites around our city. It was so fun watching some of the prairie kids see and swim in the ocean for the first time. They enjoyed some boogie boarding and eating seafood under the palapa of a local enramada on the beach. They were refreshed and renewed to face their last day of marathon English groups, fun and games, and the sad good-byes. I marvel that friendships grow so close in so short a time. The YoungFriends go home changed because of their experience. The Mexican youth lament over the departure of their new best friends.

We thank the YoungFriends for spending their vacations in service to the youth of Lazaro Cardenas. We appreciate the adults who trained and led the group, as well as the supports who made the mission week financially possible. We admire the parents who allowed their teens to travel to and work in Lazaro Cardenas, in spite of the negative media portrayals of this area of the world. Most of all we continue to be in awe of our God who orchestrated all the efforts to bring together the Mexican, Canadian, and US youth. His name was glorified; His reputation was enhanced. Please pray that our follow-up English classes and Youth Group activities will be successful in retaining many of our week's participants. Last night at Youth Group, it was decided that the YoungFriends should not be a yearly activity, rather an activity every three months!! Some have even decided that they are heading to Canada "wetback" to get to their dear friends in Regina. I commented that rather than swim, they would have to skate or ski because the rivers haven't yet melted! haha Thanks, YoungFriends, for sharing yourselves with us here in Lazaro Cardenas!

Other news, here on the home front, includes the announcement that we have a new family member in La Comunidad de Cristo. Hector and Olga first met Ivan and Stef at Olga's sushi restaurant. Nurturing that friendship over many plates of sushi, Hector and Olga began worshipping with us. After many group and personal Bible studies, Hector made the decision to put his life under the authority of Jesus. It was a day of celebration! Our prayer is that he and Olga will continue to grow in the ways of their Master.

Until the next blog,

Alicia for the Krogsgaards