Summer Come and Gone

Where exactly did it go?  It does still feel "summer-like" here in San Carlos, though we're all hoping that it will cool down real soon.  In fact, it has to some degree as we're only reaching the low to mid 30's - what a relief! This has been a different summer than most, but one that has been thoroughly enjoyable, and it has led into an exciting looking winter season.  Here's some of the highlights:

A SUMMER OF WEDDINGS

In the nine years that I've been down here in Mexico, this summer I spent the most time up in Canada than I have any other year thanks to a series of weddings.  Two trips up to Canada were book-cased by weddings of two of my siblings, one either end, with another wedding thrown in the middle for good measure, of a very good friend.  All in all you end up with about two and a half months spent up north, thankfully, not in winter but in summer, when it truly is a beautiful place to be.  Over the years, I have not ever felt disconnected from friends and family, thankfully, but to be able to spend an extended amount of time helps to catch up with people in ways that is difficult to do when the stays are only a couple of weeks or a month at the most.  So thanks to all the weddings, cleverly spread apart over the course of three months, I had the opportunity to spend extended time with my family, my church family, and also friends and reconnect in a very refreshing and encouraging way.  Thanks to the many of you with whom I was able to spend time with!  It truly was a blessing and a pleasure.

At my brother's wedding

A VISIT BY BENNY

Right in the middle of my stay in Canada, I had the tremendous privilege to host Benny, who pastors in Arizpe and who is planning to startup full-time the Rehab Center this coming January in Arizpe.  Several people had made it possible for him to get his US visa and he was invited to connect with people and tour the Teen Challenge in Minneapolis.  Being "just down the road" from Winkler by about a six hour drive, we did what we could to get his Canadian visa so that he could connect with many who had already gotten to know him on previous missions trips to the Mexico, and to get to meet many others who have heard so much about it.  What can only be described as "by God's grace and intervention" he picked up his passport with the newly granted Canadian visa the day before he left for the US - Praise God!  And with that, he fearfully boarded the plane for Minneapolis.

Benny sharing at my church

Enjoying an amazing fish-fry, thanks to Benny!

He spent a total of 5 days in Canada followed by several days in Minneapolis where he got to share a bit of his story and also his passion for the Rehab Center.  It's always exciting to see how God is working in different people's lives, and to connect believers from different countries but who have the same passion to serve God.  During the trip we were encouraged and sensed God's leading to to think and dream big as far as the Rehab Center ministry goes.  There is an endless need for this ministry and I can't think of a better nor more adequate person for the job.  Pray for Benny as we make some preparations to being in January.  There are a number of items that need to come together to be able to do a great job.  Also, if you want to be involved, there are many different needs, both short term and also some longer-term needs to see the ministry grow in the future.  Click here to see more about this ministry and the proposed long-term plan.

HEADING SOUTH

It would seem that travel has been a common theme this year and wouldn't you know that within a couple of weeks of being back it's time to hit the road again.  This past year we were blessed by a Mexican couple who come from Cuernavaca, close to Mexico City, Jose Luis and Chayo.  They joined our staff and were here during the school term and Lord willing, they will be coming back.  In the meantime, as they are back serving in their hometown, they have many connections to people in ministry and other churches in the area as well as the neighbouring states.  Our plan is to join them for a two week journey connecting with these churches as well as past students who come from the area, to encourage them and to share with them the vision of the school.  We are finding such a need, especially in the south of Mexico, many people who have sensed the call to ministry but have not had any opportunities to better prepare themselves.  It is especially these people that we as a school want to reach out to.  Pray for this trip that God would bring us to the people who need this time of preparation here at CEC.

PREPARATIONS

Time is running quickly and there are still many preparations and plans to make before January rolls around.  Lord willing our desire is to offer for the first time a second year course.  This will make this coming school term much more intense but, after having talked about it for a number of years we feel that we have the team and teachers in place to make it happen.  There still are teachers to iron out as well as classes but pray for us as we continue to move forward, not only for the classes and teachers but also for the students as well.

WEBSITE

One other thing that I have been working on is getting a bilingual website for CEC.  If you want to catch a sneak peak of what it will look like, just head over to www.centroeducativocristiano.com and take a look.  Hopefully by the end of October it will be fully functional.

As always, thanks for the tremendous support from each and every one of you!  It truly was a pleasure to being able to see and spend some extended time with many of you this summer.  I look forward to more moments both here and there as well as to what God will continue to do through this ministry.  ¡Dios les bendiga!