On The Road Again...

Though the song doesn't reflect our sentiment ("I just can't wait to get on the road again..."), it sure has reflected the last two weeks! Four of us, all staff of CEC, hit the road exactly two weeks ago, on the road heading for Cuernavaca, Morelos, just south of Mexico City, where three will be dropped off at their home. On the way we are taking our time, visiting past CEC students, and making new connections for the school, in search of prospective students. We've come across 8 students so far ranging from having studied in 2011 to this current school year, and have made many new connections.

There's perhaps two things that stand out on the trip so far. The first thing is the tremendous hospitality that we have had in each place. I remember years ago as kid, those “dreaded” family reunions where seemingly hundreds of people would gather together, all supposedly family, but many of whom you had never met before. Perhaps it was because I was more on the shy side, but for whatever reason I never did really enjoy those encounters. I’m not sure what made me think of those experiences, because this trip has been nothing like that, except for the similarity in finding “long lost family,” brothers and sisters (in Christ) whom I had never met before. But any correlation ends there because it has been a blessing to experience the feeling of being in family wherever one goes! There is a familiar saying in Mexico: “Mi casa es su casa” which means, My house is your house; without a doubt we experience the warmness of this culture wherever we go, but there’s something beyond that, and it becomes evident as we get the chance to worship together with our family, fellowship around the table (Christian language for eating!) and just enjoy the company. Sure, not everyone are strangers as we get to reconnect with students who have studied with us in CEC, but as we get to know their families, the congregations, and the communities in which they are serving, the family continues to grow.

Beyond the hospitality, we've been very encouraged to see some of our students in their home environments, faithfully plugging away in their churches and communities, serving the Lord - seemingly tirelessly so. Trini and Lidia (pictured below with their family) are an example of such a family who studied in CEC in 2011. They live in the town of Tecuala, Nayarit, about 12 hours south of San Carlos.

Trini and Lidia with their family, who all attended CEC in 2011.

Over the weekend we were there, we had the chance to tag along their intense ministry schedule as they, along with their church, are involved not only in their community, but also in 3 small villages, all within an hour. Saturday morning began with breakfast served to about 30+ kids from the neighbourhood, followed by a time of teaching. Sunday morning also began serving breakfast to a number of children before church in a different part of town, followed by the church service. In the afternoon we split up into two teams to head out to to small villages, one about half an hour away, the other close to an hour, where services where held, and teaching both for the children and the adults. Monday evening we were in another village doing the same. The pictures below are from the town called El Naranjo, where we were Sunday afternoon.

Preparing for "Church" in Naranjo.

Teaching the children.

We are currently in a town called Atotonilco el Alto, in the state of Jalisco, just outside of Guadalajara. Over 20 years ago a missionary from the US arrived here with the burden to plant a church because there simply was no Christian church here nor in any of the surrounding communities. There's a saying as you enter the state of Jalisco that says "Jalisco is Mexico" as if to say, it doesn't get much more Mexico than Jalisco. It is traditionally a very conservative state and thus very Catholic. Through much persistence and despite much opposition, a church was planted here to the point where there is a thriving community of believers. Close to 100 met Sunday morning, in a town of probably over 10,000 people. Statistically according to the last census there were a mere 0.05% of the population Christian (not referring to Catholics). The statistics in the surrounding areas are even lower - 0.03%. But over the years members from this congregation have been going out to surrounding communities, where there also are no Christian gatherings, and planting churches. Currently throughout the state of Jalisco, there are 17 congregations now formed as a part of this church's missionary spirit - and there are still many communities that don't have a Christian church. From this congregation here in Atotonilco, two young men have come to study at CEC, one from this year and one from 2017. What a privilege to see the church that they are a part of, and to see them active back in their home churches. Not only that, but we have talked with a number of people, both people in leadership as well as young people who are very excited about one day coming to study in CEC.

We probably have about another week or so of travel before we arrive at our destination - more connections to be made. Thanks for your prayers for protection - and that God would continue to guide our steps not only to promote the school but that we can be a blessing wherever we go. ¡Dios les bendiga!