Monday, April 27, 2009

BENDICIONES DE DIOS EN MEXICO

"Heavenly Father, what are you doing?"

On April 19, a couple (Joe and Carmi) attended the morning celebration of La Comunidad de Cristo. (Carmi has just returned to Lazaro Cardenas to be with her recently widowed mother.) I was curious to know how Carmi and Joe (whose spiritual heritage is with Churches of Christ) had been able to locate the church. They said that Carmi's mom had told them where we worshiped. When I asked how she knew where we worshiped they indicated that Carmi's mom had visited with our family. Amazingly, when we step out our front gate, turn left, take twenty-three steps, turn right and walk another forty steps we reach the entrance of Carmi's mother's house. We simply never know how God works as we go about being light and salt in our community.

Such occurrences force me to stop and ask, "What is God doing?" It was only two months ago that Comunidad de Cristo moved down the street from Carmi's mom, and our family relocated just around the corner.

"Okay, what's up?"
Carmi-middle in white shirt
Carmi attended last Thursday's small group. Yesterday (April 26) she joined us for worship along with her brother, sister-in-law and their five children. WOW! Then, last evening while Logan and I were out for a stroll, we met Carmi and Julia (who also worships with us and attends Thursday's small group) visiting at the entrance of Carmi's mom's house. They were discussing details from Malcolm's April 19th sermon, and they had questions. Carmi's mom came up from behind with a chair and for the next thirty minutes we sought spiritual guidance from Carmi's Bible. Julia & girls

Upon arriving at home I shared with Alicia the joy of our circumstance when God provides us opportunities to help searchers on their spiritual journey. With a spark in her eye, Alicia then turned to Logan and asked, "What was our devotional story about today?" Logan smiled and said, "Philip, being led by the Holy Spirit, stopped the chariot to talk to the Ethiopian (he had trouble with that word). Alicia then asked, "Does anything like that happen today?" "Yeah", he replied, "it just happened to Daddy."

"Thank you, Father! What a blessing that I just "happened" upon searching believers.
OH BY THE WAY...Carmi and Julia, acquaintances from the past, have been reunited because of Jesus.

ADDITIONAL BLESSINGS...

Following our encouraging Sunday morning worship, our family enjoyed an afternoon of Mexican hospitality (barbecue) in La Mira with Maria Socorro and her husband, Martin. We were accompanied by Rodrigo and Kenia (Maria Socorro's daughter) and Blanca. Before we knew it, the evening hours had arrived, and we began our trek home via Playa Azul.

While the world was dealing with the stress and concern of swine flu, we had been graced with hours of building relationships and meaningful conversation - much of which was focused on God.

Martin has only once visited Comunidad de Cristo, yet he willingly talked about his spiritual journey and various life struggles.

"Thank you, Father. April 26 was a sweet day. Thank you for counting us worthy to such meaning interaction with your child, Martin, who struggles to know you."

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is a great Blessing.I can just vision Logan excited as he tells this to his friends at camp some day and sitting down fifty years or so telling it again to his grandchildren.
You are all in our prayers especially at this time.
God bless.Ruth

Anonymous said...

Bendiciones to all of you! We think of and keep you all in our prayers. Keep on serving well!
your LST family in Texas. ;o]

Maxine said...

Thanks for your blog. It is such an encouragement to hear of your life in Mexico as God opens doors and you walk boldly through them! We'll continue to pray for your good health through this flu scare. May God continue to bless you daily.

Ian said...

Thanks for the encouraging message that you bring. Yours is the next blog I check after my grandchildren!
I suspect the flu stuff is overblown since worldwide ordinary flu claims about a half million lives. Oh well, the reporters need something to keep their papers going. Love you guys.