Vida en México

It's been one the busier fall seasons that I can remember, and the busiest winter season is just around the corner!  Here's a recap of what's going on (what you're prayers have been invested in!) and what's around the corner.

CONSIERVOS

The first ever missions-training program Consiervos (Bondservants) is approaching its final days.  Six students from all around Mexico have taken part of this 10-week cross-cultural missions training program.  This Friday they will head back to their respective homes further equipped with many tools and a deeper understanding of the challenges that lie in fulfilling the Great Commission, going to the ends of the earth until people have responded to the call to discipleship from every nation (literally every ethnic group.)  Many of these students are CEC alumni, so it has been a privilege to continue to walk alongside them and to see how the Lord is fanning into flame a greater desire for and sense of the need for cross-cultural missions.  Even within Mexico there are still a number of unreached ethnic groups who are in need of evangelical churches being planted within their remote communities.

Bondservants Class of 2019!

MOUNTAIN TRAINING TRIP

Along this line, there has been a cooperative effort between local ministries (Casa de Esperanza) and local churches to strengthen a young church in the southern mountain region of Sonora amidst the ethnic group called, the Guarijío.  Over the past few years a number of teams have travelled to some of the villages, accessible only on foot, to share the Gospel and encourage the church there.  Directly related to this work there, one young man, Juan David, came and studied at CEC this past year.  He is from one of the villages, and came down with the goal of strengthening his foundation in the Bible so that he could be a greater help in the church and in his communities.  I had the chance to see him a week ago and "had my socks blessed off" seeing how his hunger for the Word has only increased and how God is using him powerfully, even despite his age, 23 years old.  He shared how he had completed a 40 day partial fast for the purpose of digging deeper into the Word as he passionately shared verse after verse and how the Lord was working through him in different situations in his community.

From December 16-20 there is a trip planned that will focus on a more systematic teaching for the believers in these villages - laying down some foundational truths that will under-gird and reinforce the message of the Gospel.  About a dozen people (myself included) will spend 3 days of teaching through Genesis 1 through 4 in one of the villages.  Pray for us as we seek to be as relevant as we can be in a cultural setting that we are only beginning to understand.  Pray that the people would be receptive and would be able to capture (in their second language, Spanish) these foundational Christian teachings.  We are excited, especially having seen how God is at work in this people group, and to know that we are a part of what He is doing.

CEC APPLICATIONS

We got our first CEC application for January 2020!  This may sound like it's on the late side, but I think this might be one of the earliest applications we've ever received!  There are a number of people who are very interested in coming and in the process of filling out application forms; we are excited with the prospect of adding the second level this coming March.  There are a lot of exciting things around the corner - we just need students!  Please pray with us, that God would open the way for those He wants to come, and that whatever obstacle might be in the way, each prospective student would trust Him and see Him make the way possible.

As always, thanks for your continued prayers!  God bless!  !Dios les bendiga!