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!!

Home Sweet Home

It has been somewhat of a quiet summer - not just with regards to updates on my blogsite, but in general it has been, without doubt, a summer like no other. With that said, though, it has not been without its advantages. About a week ago I got back home to San Carlos after spending an extended time in Canada over the summer "inspired" by changes (for obvious reasons) resulting in no immediate need to be back here in Mexico. Many of our regularly scheduled activities were placed on hold and in their place I was able to take advantage of an extended stay in Manitoba, reconnecting on a deeper level with family, friends, and my church family - something that I had not been able to do to this extent in the thirteen years I've been down here. I appreciated very much being able to meet with people, become a "regular church member" again for a while at my home church, while also having a time to rest, read, reflect, and (p)repare (I couldn't think of another r-word...!) for what comes next.

Speaking of what is coming next, (the question that many of us have quit even trying to ask...) we are excited with the prospect of continuing with CEC's course at the end of January. Lord willing (not something that we say lightly anymore!) the conditions here in Mexico are such that will allow for, with some modifications, the next session of CEC to go forward in the New Year. Of all the years, this one just happens to be one where we have had more interest than ever this "early" in the recruitment season. We have officially received two applications but have been in contact with a number of others who are looking forward to coming. Our teachers as well are mostly lined up with a few still to confirm. Since I've been back here, though, it has been exciting to gear up for whatever is around the corner. Of course none of us know, but then we didn't really know anyways - we just thought we knew! So, Lord willing, we press onward!

Please pray for students! Pray also for us as staff as well as we make the necessary adjustments to ensure, as best we can, the success of the coming school year. Pray for a clear sense of direction and unity as well for us. It is an understatement to say that we live in challenging times, but with these challenges are also opportunities to reconsider our "status quo" and perhaps allow us to hone in on what is truly important. There is lots to do in the coming weeks - preparation for the course in general, recruitment, preparation for classes, some course homework I still have to do, and the other responsibilities, but I am glad to be back here, and also glad that people like you (not only read these updates! ;) but are also praying for me and for the work down here. God bless each one of you! ¡Dios les bendiga!