Back to "Normal" Life

The Krogsgaards had a wonderful week visiting with long-time friends, Chadd and Nancy Schroeder and their three girls in Guadalajara. Our lives have passed like two ships in the night since I first met Nancy in the Adventures in Missions Program in 1985/86. We both had plans to work with Gary and Danita Jackson in, what was then, Yugoslavia. My plans changed as Bern and I married and went to Mexico City, and Nancy decided to do her AIM work in New York. She met and married Chadd, then they took up residence in Mexico City just about the time we left Mexico to return to Canada in 1992. They have now been working in Mexico almost 20 years. After many years of being so far away from each other, we find ourselves only 6 hours from Guadalajara; however, Chadd and Nancy have made the decision to return to Texas this summer. As I said, two ships passing in the night!!! One of our highlights of the week was getting to know their girls. Natalie and Morgan are sweet 16, and their precious adopted daughter, Ceci, is 8. She and Logan had a grand time together. Nancy, her team mate, Toni, and I flew to Cancun for a four-day Mexico missionary retreat. We were treated like royalty by an organization called Women of the Harvest. They loved on and pampered all 50 of us missionaries. It was wonderful to meet many other missionaries who are working throughout Mexico with various denominations and churches . It was an honour to be a part of the retreat!! Each participant was there because of individual and congregational donations throughout the United States and Canada--Amazing!!!!
Now we are back home and ready to start another week here in Lazaro. Missing our church family last Sunday, we were "eager beavers" this morning, arriving an hour early for our Celebration Time. No one told us it was the day to set back our clocks!! (oops) Guess it's better than arriving an hour late, as we did once in Dauphin, Manitoba!! I like the good old consistent Saskatchewan time where we never have to worry about changing our clocks.
Our week is full with continuing to read with some of Wade and Richelle's Let's Start Talking readers, visiting a few of our family members who are struggling or just need a bit of encouragement, and our regular Bible Studies. We thank you for remembering us in your prayers. Thanks for reading. Until next blog,
Alicia for the Krogsgaards

Thanks, Wade and Richelle

How quickly time flew with our first Let's Start Talking team, Wade and Richelle Grocott from Saskatchewan, Canada (Regina/Moose Jaw). They served the people of Lazaro Cardenas well, as they conducted three weeks of English conversation classes with Mexicans who have varying levels of English skills. Their schedules were full, and as always, God sent such wonderful people. They read excerpts from the book of Luke with six readers in the morning, then came home for lunch, and returned again for their other eight to ten readers. Because they read with most of their readers every day, they were able to accomplish in three weeks what many teams usually accomplish in six!!! They became good friends with quite a few of their readers. As always, it was hard to leave some of their new friends. It's amazing how close you get to some readers in just a few weeks. Yet, it's not surprising, because from the very beginning of your friendship, Jesus is the focus of the conversations. Rather than lingering over surface conversation, the LST program provides an atmosphere that allows transparency and deep-seeded conversation.

Richelle with
Camela








Richelle
with
Lety











Wade with
Gustavo




One of the bridge-building aspects of Let's Start Talking is the parties. Their purpose is to allow the readers and the church family to meet and build relationships. The three parties were a big hit, and served their purpose. We had good participation from the church; everyone had fun playing silly games together.


Richelle greets,
reader, Aldolfo.








Readers,
Lety and
Nely get
better
acquainted
with an
ice-breaker





Reader, David translates
for those who don't
speak English







Happy
Birthday
to Jr.
at the
Canada
party.






Readers act
out one of the
stories from
Luke.






Wade
explains
the "Wink"
game
ONE
MORE
time!



Now that Wade and Richelle have done in three weeks, what would have taken us three months, it's our turn to take over the studies with their readers. Bernard stays busy with continuing one-on-one sessions with several of the men readers. Most have continued their studies in English, while one is more interested in hearing about Jesus in his heart language, Spanish. Please pray for David, Gustavo, Javier, Miguel, and Jr. Others are continuing to meet with us during our Sunday Celebrations. Several joined us two Sundays ago when the church flocked to a nearby beach for fun and fellowship. Our plan is to continue group conversations with the use of a weekly conversation club. We want to keep contact with our new friends so that we may give them what they desire, English practice, while exposing them to what they need, Jesus!!!
Wade and Richelle have paved a path for future LST teams. Let's Start Talking is a wonderful tool for the missionary. Many thanks to Andrea Muirhead, director of LST Canada for all she did in getting the Grocotts to Mexico. We're thankful for all of Wade and Richelle's supporters who made it possible for them to be in Mexico. Most of all, we thank God for orchestrating all things for the success of the project, and the Grocotts for blessing the lives of so many. Our prayer is that many of these seeds that have been planted in readers' hearts will germinate and grow into a full-grown faith!!!
Until next blog,
Alicia for the Krogsgaards

Some great news

I've forgotten the number of times one has to perform a task before it becomes a habit. Nor do I remember how long it takes to "get out" of a habit. However, I do know that I went almost two months without blogging, and now, after getting back to normal, everyday life, I have written one blog, with the intention of again writing each week. Alas, one week was not enough to get me back into the habit. The next week, I had completely forgotten to set aside time to blog, and worse, did not realize it until mid-week. However, I have had some news that I have wanted to share with you for some weeks, now.
Several months ago, I sent out an "urgent need" e-mail explaining two medical situations that were happening with two of our families at Comunidad de Cristo. Little Alex was suffering from, what was tested to be TB and Eliseo was in need of surgery due to Prostate Cancer. Many of you promptly replied with monetary gifts. Since then, Alex has undergone treatment and is doing very well. Eliseo's surgery was a success, although he continues to battle with painful bones and joints. While we were in Canada, we received the good news that Eliseo and his daughter, Lulu, had decided to come under the authority of Jesus in baptism. This family was one of the first families that Malcolm and Tammy met when they first moved to Lazaro Cardenas almost five years ago. They have been a part of many Bible Studies and groups. However, when this family saw love in action and the sacrifice of Canadians to help people they didn't even know in another country, it made a huge impact on them. This family is forever grateful for the help that fellow Christians gave them. Knowing that Eliseo has been given a "new life" when he was sent home to die, has helped the family understand Christ's love. Thank you to all those who helped financially, and with prayers. We never know how God will use the circumstances in our lives to bring about good for our souls. I've included photos of the baptisms as testimony of God's goodness, especially in times of trial.
Until next week,
Bernard, Alicia and Logan

Eliseo



Daughter,
Lulu






Rejoicing together