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.
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
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!
