¡Feliz Navidad y Año Nuevo!

Between posadas (Mexican Christmas parties...), services, homework, planning & preparation, the time has flown by and we're almost into the New Year - it's hard to believe!  Three weeks and counting (down) until our first day of classes for CEC 2022 begins (my fingers accidentally typed "2021....").  I owe you all a bit of an update as it has been a while since the last one.  I was hoping to be able to do this in person (for those of you in Manitoba) but it didn't work out - in hindsight, it would have been difficult even if I had been able to get out there.

Last time I had written, we were anticipating a reduced session of Consiervos, the missionary training course that was to take place during November.  Unfortunately, for various circumstances we weren't able to move forward with it this year, but in its place we were able to spend a couple of weeks together with some of the leadership spending extended time in prayer, planning, and refining the program's vision for the future.  Our hopes and prayers is that it will be able to run this coming year in May, following CEC's training program.

This, however, has allowed me to focus on my online studies through Briercrest.  I was able to take in three courses this past year and just finished up a final paper on Romans 12:1-2 on the importance of the mind in the process of transformation.  If I could boil it down to one sentence it would be the following: Knowing who God is, and who we are in Christ is the key to living in a new way.  While we often focus on what we should do, we forget that the power of living in a new way comes from what God has done and continues to do in us.  Having grown up in a Christian setting, these are things I know - sometimes the challenge is to deeply rest in and live out of these truths, these "new realities" for us as believers.

With only 19 days to go till classes start we are confirming students, putting the final touches on the teaching schedule, and looking forward to another season of CEC.  Thankfully, the atmosphere in Mexico, while taking precautions, still allows for flexibility to continue with another session of classes - we are very grateful that classes have not been interrupted since they were first cancelled in 2019.  We have four applications in, another several on the way, and others who will likely wait until the last minute (keeping us on our toes in anticipation!).  I met with a pastor a couple of weeks ago who had heard about CEC from one of our alumni from last year.  He was someone who "found" himself pastoring; by "found" himself, I mean that he responded to God's call on his life beginning a small church plant.  Not having had any training, he heard about CEC and came to see what it was all about.  As he talked about what he was looking for, biblical training, tools for ministry, growth in his relationship with God, it was as though he was already describing the program.  He left excited to come, whether this year or the next.  As it turns out, he will likely be sending one of the leaders of his church with the hopes that he will be able to come the following year.

We are also looking forward to offering the 2nd year program, with a strong interest on the part of a number of our past students.  In all honesty, as I'm putting together our schedule, I'm already feeling the weight of it, not just the extra organization that it will entail, but also in light of how we are missing two staff members from last year, both Jose Luis (who passed away last March) and his wife Chayo (who has decided not to return on as staff).  They have been an integral part of the CEC leadership, not only as teachers but as mentors, coworkers - as members of the CEC family for a number of years now.  The one thing I'm realizing, though, as every year has demonstrated, change is the only constant!  It's not a matter of if there will be big changes, it's just a matter of what they will look like.  And usually they are of a kind and magnitude never expected.  It seems that change is the norm!  (By the way, I don't like change!).  Yet, every year, whatever the unforeseen circumstances have been, they have worked out for good and helped us to remember to place our confidence always in God.

Thanks, again, for your continued prayers and support.  As another year approaches it is easy to get overwhelmed by all that still needs to happen, how many students there will be, etc., etc.  But at the same time the excitement to experience another season together with a new family of CEC students, watching them grow while also being challenged in the process, (etc., etc.!) is always worth it.  I wish I could have seen many of you in person this year, but I look forward, Lord willing, to the opportunity to do so in the coming year.  God bless each one of you this Christmas and New Years seasons!  ¡Dios les bendiga!

Perspectives

"This look different from up here!"  No one really has the opportunity to say that where I'm from, in southern Manitoba, unless you drive up what we call "The Pembina Hills" not too far from where I grew up.  It is really the only place where you get a vantage point to see how flat the land really is!  I think that is a large reason why I enjoy hiking the hills that surround San Carlos, especially the iconic Tetakawi peaks (I know many of you have climbed it as well!)  At a 1000 foot vertical hike, it really does bring perspective.  The odd thing about how God works, though, is that perspective perhaps comes more from the low points or challenges rather than (or maybe in addition to) the high points.  I think this year has been one of those perspective-shaping years - or maybe we are still grappling to find perspective with everything that is going on.

A view of San Carlos with Tetakawi in the background

Among the perspective-shaping events that we as a staff and I personally have experienced was the passing of one of our dearly loved co-workers, José Luis.  A couple of weeks ago a dearly loved friend also passed away, someone whom I had the chance to work with regularly in the worship team here at San Carlos Community Church.  About a month ago a young man who was battling cancer, someone well known here in the Christian community, also passed away.  Maybe there are few perspective-changers like death itself.  It was actually two weeks ago when I had the opportunity to preach about our citizenship in Heaven - it just "happened" to be the morning when we got news that my fellow worship-leader, friend and sister-in-Christ, Becki, had passed away early that very morning.  The message that God had already placed on my heart months ago was perfectly suited for the occasion, seeing how Christ's death and resurrection was a shocking and unforeseen upending of reality.  Actually it wasn't reality that changed so much as it challenged people to see things as they really were.  Even the disciples didn't see it coming, really - it was hard for people, at first, to grasp the significance of what God truly accomplished on the cross.  What it meant, though, was that our true identity was shown not to be defined by anything found solely in "this world."  Rather than "accepting yourself" or "embracing your dreams" we are invited to and encouraged to embrace Christ, really knowing Him - then one begins to understand that our citizenship is in Heaven, and that Heaven, more than a place to go to one day will be an all-out reunion with Him.  Having this perspective will change the way that I live here, not as a citizen but as a foreigner who is passing through. It is things like death (or pandemics, restrictions, or really anything that shakes me out of my comfort-zone) that help me grasp a little bit deeper my true identity in Christ and my real home in Heaven.  (If you want to hear both this message and the one following it, you can do so here: Living as Citizens of Heaven Part 1 and Living as Citizens of Heaven Part 2.)

While the pandemic continues to disrupt regular activities, we continue to look forward, Lord willing, to another season of CEC this coming January.  Normally we would be travelling extensively, both recruiting and connecting with students, but that has, for obvious reasons, been put on hold for another year.  Several activities that would take place in fall (a conference, a missions module with Millar College of the Bible, Consiervos missions training program) have had to be cancelled or reduced in time (Consiervos will be running for about a month instead of two).  This has enabled me, this year, to have some time to do a lot of reading as well as studying in addition to other, regular activities.  I am enrolled for a third seminary course this year through Briercrest (one of the few "blessings" of covid - all of the classes are now being offered online!) on the book of Romans.

As for many of us, it has been a different kind of year, but one that has brought its own kind of blessings.  It has been a year of learning, but not only "theological concepts" (though many of the classes I have taken have helped shape and reinforce both the classes I teach and the overall shape of CEC's program); it has been a year of deeper learning.  Different circumstances have shown me, or maybe better said, have brought to the surface where some of my deeper allegiances have been...and sadly to say, they have not been entirely in God Himself.  For me it has been the difference between wanting what God has for me (or wanting Him to give me something), to just wanting Him...it can be a subtle but significant difference that makes all the difference!  I wish I could say that I've figured it out (not even Paul could say that!  See Phil 3:12), but I think I'm slowly getting my bearings as I learn to more deeply value Him and my relationship with Him more than anything else.

Thanks for bearing with me on this reflective rant!  (Congrats to those who have made it this far!)  In the midst of all of this, we continue to march onward, looking forward to the coming year.  Three months out, I have been working together with the team on planning out the classes and arranging teachers.  We are also starting a more dedicated campaign (FB, word-of-mouth, etc.) to recruit students for this coming year.  Thankfully, we are largely in "green" in Mexico (though even in "red" we continue to live life fairly normally with restrictions) and we foresee no major obstacles for running CEC this coming year.

Please pray for:

    * Students for both first and second year

    * Continued unity for us as a staff as we navigate making plans

    * Please continue to pray for our students who are on the field living out what they learned and experienced here at CEC.

Thanks for your continued support and prayers!  ¡Dios les bendiga!

Rain in the Desert

Para ESPAÑOL, haz click aquí

If you were wanting to enjoy the desert right now (dry, arid, nothing but sand dunes!) you might be a little disappointed here in San Carlos.   Right now it looks nothing like a desert after the rains that we have had over the past couple of weeks.  I'm always amazed at the transformation that takes place in the summer.  Last year was exceptionally dry which makes this year's transformation stand out that much more, as you can see below.  Dry spells have a way of doing that - making one appreciate even more what otherwise might have been taken for granted.  

To say that this year has had its elements of "dryness" would probably be an understatement (perhaps for many of us).  For us, it has meant the suspension of many activities that normally would have taken place (such as travelling around visiting students, making new contacts for the coming school year, events such as conferences, etc.) to the loss of one of our staff members this past school year.  They say that, when watering trees, it is best to do it less often, but when watering, to give it a good soaking, so that the water soak deeper down; this, in turn, helps the tree to develop deeper roots which will also help it during dry times, as the roots themselves will have a greater, deeper reach.  As much as anyone of us would love to avoid any sign of drought in our lives, it seems that these cycles create (hopefully!) a deeper root system in our lives and in our faith.  Yet even in the midst of any drought, there are things that happen which show us that God is still working things out for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28).  Here are a few of those things:

Connecting With Past Students: Jesus

One of our past students, Jesus, has made the habit of calling many of the staff and students (usually on a Sunday morning).  This may not sound like a big deal, but he has to climb up a hill to where there is cell coverage to do so.  Actually, none of us heard anything from him for about a month following school's end.  His phone had died and he wasn't able to purchase air time.  None of these sound like huge impediments until you realize that he literally lives in the middle of no-where, in villages that are accesible only on foot.  He is from one of the indigenous tribes of Sonora.  He came to school with Spanish as his second language, and though he continually apologized for his "poor" Spanish (as he routinely claimed), he asked many questions and shared with us some of the many things that he was learning; on paper, he expressed himself even better.  Having had extensively read the Bible, he came to CEC in January with an appetite to learn more.  He, probably more than any of the other students, faced an uphill battle, having little in the way of Christian community in the area where he lives.  He left CEC equipped not only with a greater understanding of the Bible itself, but a passion to bring what he was learning first to his extended family, and then to neighbouring villages.  So, when he was able to make contact with us again (now we hear from him just about every week), we were excited to hear how he is continuing to learn as well as share with others what he has learned.  It's always a joy to hear from our students how they faithfully keep marching on following their time with us.

On BEING a Student

One of the "advantages" of the season we are in is that many things are now available online - including all of the courses offered by Briercrest.  I have slowly been plugging away at some courses over the past years and took advantage, specifically of two classes (which normally would not have been offered online) over the past couple of months.  Discipleship and Mentoring followed by Theology of Missions and Evangelism have been very practical, challenging, and very relevant to what we try to do with the students here at CEC.  The course on discipleship was especially encouraging and enlightening, in many ways affirming what we try to accomplish with the students during our 14 weeks together, while also offering incites for things that we can do even better.  Perhaps one of the ways in which I was specifically challenged was in realizing that I had often thought of discipleship as my following after Jesus.  While there definitely is a (very important) personal aspect to following Him, there is also an unmistakeable corporate aspect to following as well.  Discipleship is as much about growing together with others (in a variety of ways) as it is about one's personal walk - it goes far beyond what could possibly be accomplished on a Sunday morning.  As part of the post-course homework, I had to write a "Theology of Discipleship."  I'll include a link to it, if anyone is interested in reading it.  (I would love any thoughts or comments...)  You can read it here: Theology of Discipleship.

On The Horizon

With all the restrictions and complications in place, it has made it difficult to make plans of any nature.  With that being said, however, we are looking forward to, Lord willing, have another session of CEC this coming January, with plans for a second year.  As we make the appropriate plans, finding teachers, encouraging students, we are excited with the interest that is out there, both for new as well as returning students.  One need that we have identified is an additional classroom that will better accommodate our second year program.  While we made use of a provisional area two years ago, when we first started offering the second year program, we feel that an area dedicated to this will make it work that much better.  We've come up with plans to construct an additional suite (for either students or staff) with a classroom on top.  If you would like to be involved in helping with this project, please let me know.

As I finish up the last of my homework from the courses I've been taking, experiencing what it is like to be on the other side of the desk, so to speak, I also look forward to the coming opportunities with both Consiervos (the mission training program later this fall) and CEC in the new year.  While I would normally be heading up to (or already in) Manitoba by this time, it's looking like it won't work out this summer with travel being as complicated as it still is.  I hope to, Lord willing, come up for some time in December.  Thank you for your continued prayers for my ministry and for the ministry of CEC in general.  Please continue to pray for staff and students.  ¡Dios les bendiga!

Lluvia en el Desierto

Si querías disfrutar del desierto en este momento (seco, árido, ¡nada más que dunas de arena!), es posible que te decepciones un poco aquí en San Carlos. En este momento no se parece en nada a un desierto después de las lluvias que hemos tenido durante las últimas dos semanas. Siempre me sorprende la transformación que sucede en el verano. El año pasado fue excepcionalmente seco, lo que hace que la transformación de este año se destaque mucho más, como puede ver a continuación. Los períodos secos tienen una forma de hacer eso, haciendo que uno aprecie aún más lo que de otra manera se hubiera dado por sentado.

Decir que este año ha tenido sus elementos de "sequedad" probablemente sería quedarse corto (quizás para muchos de nosotros). Aquí, por ejemplo, ha significado la suspensión de muchas actividades que normalmente se habrían realizado (como viajar para visitar de ex-alumnos, hacer nuevos contactos para el próximo año escolar, eventos como conferencias, etc.) y sobre todo la pérdida de uno de nuestro colega, y hermano. Dicen que, a la hora de regar los árboles, es mejor hacerlo con menos frecuencia, pero a la hora de regar, darle un buen remojo, para que el agua penetre más profundamente; esto, a su vez, ayuda al árbol a desarrollar raíces más profundas, lo que también lo ayudará durante los tiempos de sequía, ya que las raíces mismas tendrán un alcance mayor y más profundo. Mientras que muchos de nosotros le gustaría evitar cualquier signo de sequía en la vida, parece que estos ciclos crean (¡con el favor de Dios!) un sistema de raíces más profundo en nuestras vidas y en nuestra fe. Sin embargo, incluso en medio de cualquier sequía, suceden cosas que nos muestran que Dios todavía está obrando para nuestro bien y para Su gloria (Romanos 8:28). Estas son algunas de esas cosas:

Conexión con Estudiantes Anteriores: Jesús

Uno de nuestros alumnos anteriores, Jesús, tiene el hábito de llamar a muchos miembros del equipo y estudiantes (generalmente los domingos por la mañana). Puede que esto no parezca gran cosa, pero tiene que subir una colina hasta donde haya cobertura celular para poder hacerlo. En realidad, ninguno de nosotros supo nada de él durante aproximadamente un mes después del final de la escuela. Su teléfono había muerto y no pudo comprar saldo. Ninguno de estos suena como un gran impedimento hasta que te das cuenta de que literalmente vive en medio de la nada, en pueblos a los que solo se puede acceder a pie. Es de una de las tribus indígenas de Sonora. Llegó a la escuela con el español como segundo idioma, y ​​aunque continuamente se disculpaba por su español "no tan bueno" (como decía habitualmente), hizo muchas preguntas y compartió con nosotros muchas de las muchas cosas que estaba aprendiendo; en papel, se expresó aún mejor. Habiendo leído extensamente la Biblia, llegó a CEC en enero con el apetito de aprender más. Él, probablemente más que cualquiera de los otros estudiantes, enfrentó una batalla cuesta arriba, teniendo poca comunidad cristiana en el área donde vive. Dejó CEC equipado no solo con una mayor comprensión de la Biblia en sí, sino con una pasión por llevar lo que estaba aprendiendo primero a su familia extendida y luego a las aldeas vecinas. Entonces, cuando pudo ponerse en contacto con nosotros nuevamente (ahora escuchamos de él casi todas las semanas), nos emociona saber cómo continúa aprendiendo y compartiendo con otros lo que ha aprendido y sigue aprendiendo. Siempre es un placer escuchar de nuestros estudiantes cómo siguen marchando fielmente después de salir de CEC.

Sobre SIENDO Alumno

Una de las "ventajas" de la temporada en la que estamos es que ahora hay muchas cosas disponibles en línea, incluidos todos los cursos que ofrecido en un seminario en Canada. Lentamente he ido haciendo algunos cursos durante los últimos años y aproveché, específicamente, dos clases (que normalmente no se habrían ofrecido en línea) durante los últimos meses. El Discipulado Y El Mentorado, y luego La Teología de las Misiones y el Evangelismo han sido muy prácticos, desafiantes y muy relevantes para lo que intentamos hacer con los estudiantes aquí en CEC. El curso sobre el discipulado fue especialmente alentador e instructivo, afirmando de muchas maneras lo que intentamos lograr con los estudiantes durante nuestras 14 semanas juntos, al mismo tiempo que ofrece incitaciones para las cosas que podemos hacer aún mejor. Quizás una de las formas en las que fui desafiado específicamente fue darme cuenta de que a menudo había pensado en el discipulado como el seguimiento personal a Jesús. Si bien definitivamente hay un aspecto personal (y muy importante) en seguirlo, también hay un aspecto corporativo de mucha importancia en seguirlo. El discipulado se trata tanto de crecer junto con los demás (en una variedad de formas) como del caminar personal de uno; va mucho más allá de lo que podría lograrse un domingo por la mañana. Como parte de la tarea posterior al curso, tuve que escribir una "Teología del Discipulado". Incluiré un enlace, si alguien está interesado en leerlo. (Me encantaría cualquier pensamiento o comentario ...) Puedes leerlo aquí: Theology of Discipleship. (Disculpa, solamente está disponible en Inglés...)

En el Horizonte

Con todas las restricciones y complicaciones vigentes, ha sido difícil hacer planes de cualquier naturaleza. Dicho esto, sin embargo, esperamos, si Dios quiere, tener otra sesión de CEC en el próximo enero, con planes, también, para un segundo año ("Curso de Seguimiento"). A medida que hacemos los planes apropiados, buscamos maestros, alentamos a los estudiantes, estamos entusiasmados con el interés que existe, tanto para los estudiantes nuevos como para los que regresan. Una necesidad que hemos identificado es un salón de clases adicional que se adaptará mejor a nuestro programa de segundo año. Aunque hicimos uso de un área provisional hace dos años, cuando comenzamos a ofrecer el programa de segundo año, creemos que un área dedicada a esto hará que funcione mucho mejor. Hemos elaborado planes para construir una suite adicional (para estudiantes o para el personal) con un salón de clases en la parte superior. Si desea participar para ayudar con este proyecto, hágamelo saber.

Mientras termino los últimos deberes de las clases que he estado tomando, experimentando lo que es estar al otro lado del escritorio, por así decirlo, también espero con ansias las próximas oportunidades con ambos Consiervos (el programa de capacitación misional a finales de este otoño) y CEC en el nuevo año. Si bien normalmente me dirigiría a (o ya estaría) en Manitoba en este momento, parece que no funcionará este verano con viajar siendo tan complicado como todavía lo es. Espero, si Dios quiere, venir durante algún tiempo en diciembre. Gracias por sus continuas oraciones por mi ministerio y por el ministerio de CEC en general. Continúe orando por el personal y los estudiantes. ¡Dios les bendiga!

Summer's Here!

It doesn't often happen where I read about tempuratures in Canada that not only rival San Carlos but surpass them! That's happened on a couple of occasions now, both in Manitoba and now in BC. It's almost like you're down here (at least identifying with me...) for a few days! For us its the beginning of several months where the common greeting now becomes, ¡Qué tal el calor? How about the heat? I guess talking about the weather, even the most obvious aspects of it, is something universal... There's been lots that has gone on since school was out at the end of April. Here's a bit of a recap over the past couple of months: 

 BONDSERVANTS (CONSIERVOS) ENGLISH COURSE 

Five students all involved in ministry here in Mexico (mostly in cross-cultural missions) have spent the last eight weeks at CEC for an English course offered by an organization of missionaries called Consiervos. If you remember from two years ago, they ran a program out of CEC's facilities aimed at equipping people involved in missions to help orient them to be better equipped to serve in a cross-cultural missions teams. We are looking forward to another group of students coming in the fall (October-November) for another Consiervos orientation. 

CHIHUAHUA TRIP

Speaking of cross-cultural missions, I recently had the opportunity to join a group of young people who headed out into the mountains south of Cuahuathemoc (the Mennonite area in the state of Chihuahua) to a village of one of the indigenous people groups in the area, a part of one of the largest of such groups in Mexico, spread out through the mountains of southern Chihuahua. Our contact was someone who runs a school for adolescants and youth of the same people group within the largely Mennonite-populated area for people from this indigenous group who have settled in that area because of the large amount of work available in the campos (work fields). 

One young lady became a believer about a year ago and we were invited to go with her into her home village. During the couple of days that we spent there we invited the members of the community and spent time with the kids in various activities, sharing the Gospel with the adults there, and also having a meal together. There were probably close to 40 people who came and spent a good part of the day together with us. One of the comments that the young lady shared with the youth was that the people not only went away happy but were also struck by how the youth got in there, sitting on the ground with them and in general making an extra effort to identify with them in many different ways. As important as sharing the Message is, it is often what is communicated without words that can make just as significant an impact, bringing validity to what is being shared. There are not Christians (yet) in this village, but our prayer more than anything else is that this woman's testimony was affirmed by our presence and our time spent there with them. 

There are many, many such villages within the mountains of Chihuahua, who have no believers, let along established churches. In fact, there are still many unreached communities within Mexico, not only remote indigenous groups such as this, but even within the populated areas of Mexico as well.

BACK IN SCHOOL 

Speaking of missions, the topic has been front and center for myself lately as I just took another online module on the Theology of Missions and Evangelism this past week through Briercrest. One of covid's benefits has been that all of the courses have been offered online instead of on campus, and I've been taking advantage of that as much as possible along with my other on-going responsibilities. I also took another course about a month ago called Discipleship and Mentoring. Both courses have been immensly practical, Discpleship and Mentoring helping to fuel ideas for and reinforce many aspects of the course offered by CEC and Missions and Evangelism offering many ideas for my teaching participation in the Consiervos course later this year. More than ideas for these programs, though, both courses have been very challenging and refreshing personally. While Missions was a reminder of how God Himself is a God who is on a mission to rescue fallen humanity (myself included!) and how I am a part of that same mission, the focus on Discipleship reminds me how we are all on mission every day in every moment - it has nothing to do with the fact that I am in Mexico, or a part of a "full-time ministry." It is just simply my calling to walk along with others as we follow Jesus together. 

UP AND COMING 

These modules always have a fair bit of homework so the next coming weeks will be spent in finishing this up. In a couple of weeks I will be heading out together with a representative of the Consiervos course, making some contacts in new areas for CEC, and hopefully recruiting students for the coming school year. I hope to get up to Canada at some point this summer, and just have to see how that will work out with all of the restrictions, etc. Once again, I greatly, greatly appreciate your prayers! You can pray for us as a school as we deal with constant changes, finding teachers, and recruiting students.  It seems like every year brings its new challenges and changes. God bless each one of you. ¡Dios les bendiga!

Exceptional

Every year is exceptional.  It is exceptional not only in seeing how God works in the lives of the students, but every year has its "exceptional" circumstances as well.  We always wonder, "What is it going to be this year that will set it apart?" never being sure exactly what will be around the corner.  These exceptional circumstances are often not "positive" things in and of themselves - they are in fact often very difficult - and this year was one of those years.  Yet, now that the dust is settling on the Class of 2021 (we had grad just a week and a half ago...), some perspective helps us to see a little more clearly God's hand at work in the midst of it all.

José Luis and his wife Chayo, members of our full-time staff.

JOSÉ LUIS

One of the hardest things that we have gone through as a school was saying good-bye to a dearly loved colleague, teacher, husband, mentor, and friend, José Luis.  He, together with his wife Chayo, have been a part of our team for the past 5+ years, both faithfully fulfilling all of the above-mentioned roles.  He passed away about two-thirds of the way through the course this year due to complications with covid.  Not only was the immediate impact of the loss hard to bear, but all of the areas and ways in which he is and will continue to be missed make one wonder what God has in mind.  

They have both had a tremendous impact on my life over the past years, essentially adopting me into their family.  Aside from working together during the school season at CEC, we've made a number of trips over the years across Mexico, visiting past students and promoting the school.  It was with them that I made the trip to Brazil a couple of years ago to visit their son.  Yet, in spite of it all, or, even through it all, there were ways in which God worked things out, taking care of minute details that showed His presence in the midst of this painful process.  From their son being able to come out from Brazil in order to be able to care for him while he was sick to many other little ways in which God showed us all His faithful presence.  

For those who had the privilege to get to know him, he brought joy and spontaneity to everything he did, both inside and outside the class.  He always encouraged those around him to live in the fullness of our Christian walk, and to live it out fully and practically.  One of the main classes he taught was Family, where he literally brought Christianity "home", stressing the importance of living out one's faith first and foremost at home.  He is a tremendous loss to us personally and for the school.  Please keep his wife, Chayo, in your prayers as she will be facing a difficult summer, re-adjusting to what life will be like without him.  

Staff, support staff and students (marked by *)

Back (L to R): Denver, *Francisco, Tim, José Luis, Alex, Guillermo, Rubi, Brian, *Adrian, *Fernando, *José, *Jesús, *Santiago, Ryan, Howard.

Front (L to R): Katie, Noel, *Abram, *Sandy, Chayo, Keka, Caleb, Carmen, *Ketzia, *Jael, *Betsie, *Nayeli, *Mateo, Maribel, Susan.

THE CLASS OF 2021

Often the "exceptional" situations take place in the form of dealing with issues in the student's lives.  This year, however, the students truly were an exceptional bunch.  All 11 of them finished the course, and finished well - almost every year we have at least one student who leaves partway through for various personal reasons.  This group, however, maintained the same hungry, positive attitude from beginning to end, without any mid-course waning.  Considering all that took place this year, I don't know if we could have made it with different group of students!  From beginning to end this class was deeply engaged in the classes, asking many good questions, and maintained a desire to learn right to the final days.  Outside of the class, we could count on the students to do their part, because of their commitment to God and to desire to get everything they could out of the course.  It's not that this isn't normally the case, but often partway through there is a waning in ambition and commitment.  Yet, despite the young group that we had this year (ranging in age from 20-46), they demonstrated a maturity beyond their years.  

One young man comes to mind in particular - Adrian - who comes from the neighbouring city of Hermosillo.  Just 24 years of age, coming from a background of drug use, he was one of those students who, every time he would share something, would do so directly from his heart, sharing what God was showing him and speaking to him.  As the Gospel truths sank deeper into his heart, one could see the weight of obligation fall from his shoulders as he saw the depth of the powerful work of the cross and how it has changed his life.  To put it simply: the grace of God freed and transformed him - he left with a desire to share this message first of all with his family, and then to wherever else God would lead him, likely in the area of drug rehabilitation.  There is something special to see these transformations take place and transparently shared through someone's life.

Jesús and another one of our students, Fernando.

JESÚS

I had the privilege of walking together with Jesús, a young man who comes from an indigenous tribe here in Sonora called the Guarijio.  He lives with his wife and two kids in a remote hilly region about five hours south east of San Carlos.  There is road access to the first village in the area where he lives, but from there it is another 8+ hour hike to get to his village, accessible only on foot.  Spanish was not his first language - barrier number one.  The culture and religious background as well is very different - barrier number two.  Yet one thing Jesus had was a desire to learn more and to be able to bring back whatever he learned to the people in his community.  Though there is a Christian presence there, many are not Christians - largely the Christian presence there is very legalistic and has more to do with an emphasis on what a Christian should not do as opposed to understanding what being a Christian is about.

Coming in as a relatively reserved guy (in large part, a of their culture), Jesús left transformed in his demeanour as he was embraced by the rest of the group, and he in turn embracing each of the others.  Though there were many points where he obviously struggled with taking in so much teaching in a second language, and there were times where we wondered how much he was capturing, we would capture glimpses of how the Word of God was taking root in his understanding - a foundation was being laid underneath the Gospel message he had already believed in.  In the final days of CEC he was ready to head back to his family, beginning with them, to share all that he had learned, and from there, to the surrounding communities, being a loving witness for Christ to many others who were caught up in alcoholism as he once was himself.  While others have routinely gone into this area to share the Gospel, they now have a home-grown missionary who will be able to more effectively share it and live it amongst them.  In fact, you might remember Juan David from a couple of years ago who studied at CEC and comes from a village in the same area.  There are now two full-time, homegrown missionaries working with the Guarijio!

What's next?

It seems that there has been little down time, as things just pick up where they left off before school started.  I'm continuing to plug away at some online seminary courses through Briercrest, with a classed called Discipleship and Mentoring in a couple of weeks.  There are possible plans to do some travelling this summer throughout Mexico, visiting with past students and doing some recruiting for the coming year.  There will be a missions course offered (not organized by CEC itself but at our facilities) of which I hope to be a part of again - it was last offered two years ago - in the months of October and November.  And aside from that there is the ongoing involvements here at the school, in the area, and at the local church.  

I want to say thanks in a big way for the continued prayer support - this has probably been one of the more trying school seasons for a number of reasons.  I regret not keeping you all in the loop and realize that it has been way too long since I last connected with all of you.  I know that you have been praying regardless, and for this I am very grateful.  Keep especially the students in your prayers as they make the transition back into their homes and communities.  It is often a difficult transition, going form the "highs" of the CEC community to now having to translate those experiences, and the things learned, into their lives.  Each of the students have been changed in many ways and it can be a challenge to translate those changes into their "old lives" because they are no longer the same "old" people.  Thank you for your continued prayers and I wish you all the best wherever you are.  ¡Dios les bendiga!

Renewed Vision

Vision 2020.  I can still hear the optimism and hope we had one year ago, many taking advantage of the convenient slogan to realign our focus, to readjust our goals in light of what God has called us to do.  I can't help but wonder if that is exactly what we were given opportunity to do, though not in the way that we expected!

Making plans has taken on a new challenge, even in this new year.  But in the midst of it, there is a sense of excitement and hope when we realize that neither the government nor the news headlines have the final say, but rather God Himself, who is above all things and who "works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Rom 8:28).  We have seen Him working as we get ready for another school year.

In fact, there often comes a point about one month before classes are supposed to start where we as a staff wonder, "Will there be school this year?"  It is due to the fact that, at that point, there are often few students who are actually registered (maybe two or three).  Sure enough though, by the time classes are supposed to start, the registrations come in and we breathe a sigh of relief.  (It is the same story every year - you would think that we would have gotten used to it by now!)  Well, this year, we were again wondering, "Will there be school this year?"  The reason for the question, though, was anchored in the current crisis that is affecting Mexico as much as any other country.  Yet in the midst of all the uncertainty, God saw it fit to make sure that we wouldn't lose sight of what we are called to do: by mid-December we already had seven students officially registered, with a number of others in process of getting their applications in!  Maybe it doesn't seem a like something big, but for us it was that boost that we needed, that confidence to help us to move ahead, even amidst all the uncertainty, and to see how God would take care of the rest.

In one sense, it not only causes us to depend even more on Him, but it also helps us to rethink what it is we are actually about as a school.  There will be adjustments that need to be made (for example, students will not be heading out to different ministries on the weekends as they usually do), but one thing that has become clear, especially for myself in being directly involved with planning the program and the schedule, it is not the program itself that is the important thing.  To clarify, the classes, the themes that are covered, the structure, these things are important.  The time spent studying the Bible is of utmost importance.  However, the way that all of this takes place, the details of the schedule, even which teachers end up being involved, etc., all of this comes under something else that we hold as of utmost importance: discipleship.  What we tell our students is that discipleship is not a program (it is not a method or Bible study that someone is taken through, or even a program one attends).  It is simply walking together with others as we follow Christ.  There is a tremendous amount of flexibility and freedom when we primarily see the 14 weeks that we spend together in this light.  Suddenly the details of how things need to work out fall into the background, because the key is not the product itself (ie. the program) that is offered, but the fact that we desire to intentionally walk alongside these students, centred around the study of the Bible, with the sincere desire that they will be strengthened in their walk, and so further empowered to help strengthen others.

To be sure, there still are details to figure out (I'm still trying to nail down some teachers and dates).  But we are greatly encouraged to be able to move ahead.  Thank you all so much for your continued prayers and support!  In exactly two weeks we will embark on another journey with a new group of students.  Pray for the students already as they prepare for their time here.  Pray for wisdom for us as we make the necessary adjustments.  Pray that nothing would impede us in fulfilling our VISION for this coming year.  ¡¡Dios les bendiga!!