Week One

The start of a new year always brings with it a natural time of reflection, looking back where we've come from, perhaps making some needed adjustments (ie. those dreaded New Year's resolutions!) and looking forward to what's coming.

This past year has been a year of changes to say the least as many of you already know, having accompanied me in prayers, thoughts, and counsel.  And God has been good, bringing me to a new place of ministry, with new exciting opportunities.

Just before I made a surprise visit home to be with my family during Christmas, I got moved into my new place of residence, a camper just across the street from the school facility.

My home? The camper on the right.  The other camper
houses the resident teachers, Eric and Roxanna Ericcson.

It is nice to have a place to call "home" for the near future!  As I also just mentioned, I did make a surprise visit home, coming home to a pair of shocked parents mid December!  It had been three years since all of us had all been together for Christmas and I figured it was time to brave the cold and indeed by the look of unbelief and shock on their faces, it was well worth the effort!

I made it back to San Carlos on the 3rd of January, just days before this winter's school term starts.  As is often the case here in Mexico, there was little knowing exactly how many students would show up until they did in fact show up!  We did have 10 students come, really the perfect size of group for the type of school that it is.  There are several couples in the mix, one newlywed couple and another two couples with young children.  A number of single men and women round out what is a very young group this year, ranging from 18 to 28.  Often there are students in the 30's, 40's or even 50's who come.

Orientation started on Monday.  This being my first experience working here in the school I felt as though the orientation was as much for me as it was for the students as we are all figuring out our new roles, responsibilities, etc.  By Tuesday classes were more or less underway though it will still be a week or so before we all find our place!

I'm very excited for this school term though.  The term is 14 weeks long, neither long nor short, but I think the key is intense!  Students have classes throughout the morning and afternoon, Monday thru Friday.  The evenings are often filled either with group activities, or watching videos such as the movie of Matthew or, like every Thursday evening, spent sharing communion together.  Though there is lots of information that is passed along to the students, the real goal of the school and desire of each one of the staff is not amassing information but personal transformation.  The goal is that each of the students is significantly impacted in their lives by the work of the Holy Spirit and to that end everything is focussed.  

Pray with us as we enter into this new semester.  I'm looking forward to share with you as we progress through this term, sharing victories and struggles, but for now just pray with us as we pray for the students, that God would touch their lives and accomplish in them whatever it is He wants to accomplish!

Pray also for us as a staff.  Whenever their is the will and desire to serve the Lord, the enemy will do what he can to distract.  Not only that, but the students can very well come with their own baggage and issues that will need to be worked through so pray for us as a whole.  Ephesians 6 talks about this spiritual battle.  Verses 18 and 19, Paul acknowledges in specific the power and importance of prayer in the context of this spiritual battle.  So with that in mind, pray for us!