New Beginnings

It's amazing to think how much has changed in the past couple of months in my life but of one thing we can always count on is that God always remains the same!  I have shared with many of you of some of these changes, but for those with whom I haven't been able to, God has opened some new doors of ministry here in San Carlos.

After spending some time with family and friends in Canada this summer, I came back to San Carlos to put the new plans in motion and to get adjusted to these new ministry opportunities.  I've started a new position at a ministry called Centro Educativo Cristiano, Christian Education Center.  It's a bible school  that started four years ago with the purpose of preparing Mexican leaders to go out and reach their own people with the Gospel.  This is accomplished through an intense 3 month term of classes focussing on teaching, discipleship, and ministry experience, as well as various retreats and conferences throughout the rest of the year.  My role in this ministry will have several parts including the following:

Administrative - helping in the organization of events and various aspects of the school term; also helping out with the website and things like designing brochures, etc.

Construction - helping to organize some of the upcoming construction projects; as the school is growing and expanding, some teams are coming down to help with some of construction projects to help facilitate the growing ministry.

Teaching/Music - helping with daily devotional times during the school semester, teaching guitar to interested students, leading worship throughout the term.

The school was has run for four years and was started by a missionary couple, Howard and Susan Dyck.  They served in Venezuela for 20 years with New Tribes Missions and came to a mission center here in San Carlos about five years ago.  They saw the need for training local pastors and leaders as many people here do not have access to any type of Bible training or education and God began to open doors through the mission center.

I'm excited for what God has in store!  I've enjoyed the five years I spent and Casa de Esperanza and look forward to these new opportunities.  I'm excited to still be working in San Carlos and continuing to be able to serve and work together with many of the pastors I've come to know over the past years.

UPCOMING HAPPENINGS

I'm sure a lot of you still have many questions, and for those of you who want to know more about the school, you can check out their website at: http://www.centroeducativocristiano.com for more information.

Here's some stuff that I've been keeping busy with and things we're gearing up for as a school in the next little bit:

October 26 - November 4: Group from Salmon Arm, BC, coming to help with some small building projects
November 18-23: Conference (Themes: Stewardship, Spiritual Gifts, Spiritual Disciplines)
November 24-25: Marriage Seminar
January 7 to April 19: School Term

The group that's coming from Salmon Arm, BC will be helping to construct a small storage room as well as another room which will be used as an additional classroom and a nursery.  They are coming with about 20 people and will spend 10 days here painting, building, and also be a part of some other ministry opportunities.

Something else that's been exciting has been being able to walk alongside a pastor and his wife who were students during last year's school session.  Sadly, the lost their house and many of their possessions when their house came crashing down due to some severe flooding this past summer.  A situation that would have left many people down and deeply discouraged have left them positive, hopeful, and joyfully trusting in the Lord.  In turn, many brothers and sisters in the Lord have responded helping them with purchasing materials and donating various household items; slowly but surely a new house is coming up!  I have had the privilege of visiting them a couple of times and appreciate their passion for reaching not only those in their own community but they also are actively involved in planting churches in neighbouring communities.  To see them continuing to do this joyfully and humbly despite that hardships that they have endured is inspiring to see!

Finally, I'm preaching not this Sunday but the next one, Oct 21 and am preparing for that.  I'll be preaching in English, thankfully, at the San Carlos Community Church.  Please pray with me as I prepare as it's been a while since I've preached!

PRAYER REQUESTS

Thanks for all of those who have been praying with me!  As God puts these thoughts in your mind please continue to pray with me in the following:

- Pray through this transition: change is often not easy but knowing that it is God who is in control makes a world of difference!  He has been good and given me a temporary place to live until something more permanent gets worked out here at the school, and He's also given me a wonderful team to work with.  Pray as I find my new place and new roles in this new ministry.

- Pray also for the events that are coming up, not only the team coming down but also for the conference as we prepare; Pray also that those who need to be at the conference we be there!

- Pray for October 21st as I preach!

Please feel free to write me an email if you have any questions!  Thanks to the many who have supported me so faithfully!  I enjoyed connecting with many of you this summer.  For those of you who want to continue to support me financially, please just send me an email and I'll send you the information.  God bless you all!  Dios les bendiga!