A Half-time Break

It's amazing to think that we are now exactly halfway through this year's course. Though week 1 feels like ages ago, the prospect of graduation approaching quickly is hard to imagine. This update has been too long in coming, but at the same time, I appreciate your faithful prayers for myself and for our students this year.

CLASS OF 2023

Meet our class of 2023!  Fabián, Bryan, Yino (back); Blanca, Rafael (Middle); Julio, José (Front)

Every class is so distinct, though each one, in their own way, shows evidence of how God is at work - and in the lives of each one of the students. Some come from fresh encounters with God, such as Fabián, who, although he had spent many years in a church setting, ended up coming back to God after having fallen into a season of addiction. His hunger and thirst for understanding who he now is in Christ is refreshing to see. He, along with others, are finding their grounding in Christ and what He has done for each one of us. Others, such as Julio, has spent many years in ministry, yet too has come through a difficult season. The grace and mercy that God extends to each one of can be difficult to comprehend in the midst of our failures and weaknesses, but it is precisely in those moments that we most desperately need it. To discover this in a community setting, such as during this course in CEC, is both a blessing and a challenge. On more than one occassion some of the students have expressed the desire to leave at some point, yet little by little, each and every student is "growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18) - and us as staff as well! This year has come with its own set of challenges as we navigate a season without Howard and Susan involved (thankfully he is making slow but small and steady progression in his health). All in all, though, we are excited to see God at work in each one of the students and in our lives as well.

SEGUIMIENTO (2ND YEAR)

This past week we saw 5 past students join the ranks to take part in the 2nd year ("Followup") course. The first time around, in 2020, our time together was cut short after merely 3 weeks together. Three students from last year and two others from previous years have joined us for a time of continued learning and fellowship together. They bring such a great perspective and maturity to the group as they can share from not only their previous experiences at CEC but also their experiences after having left CEC. Classes for this group are arranged more as a "round table" affair where indepth study of different topics and books look to further equip them for the ministries they are involved in. I will be leading them in a study of 1 John where we look at what our intimate life with Christ looks like (or ought to look like) in our daily lives.

First year students in back; returning students (L-R): Elías, Adán, Javier (2022), Abraham (2020), Manuel (2017)

At this point in this 14 week marathon, many of us are tired, staff and students alike. The returning students and provided a breath of fresh air but their is still a tendency to lose some of the focus that the course started with. At the same time, relationships are forming not only between us and the students but within the group itself - relationships that are being tested in many ways, but also providing opportunities to give and receive the same love and grace that God gives to us each day. Aside from all of the invaluable truths that are learned both in and out of the class, the opportunity to be a part of a community where these things are also experienced is part of what makes this time together with the students so special. It is a learning process for all of us. This week I get to finish up a series of classes that focus exactly on these principals - the class is called Principals of Grace.

Thanks for your ongoing prayers for us! We feel the effects of these seven weeks under the belt but we also look forward to what God will continue to do in the time that remains. God bless each one of you! ¡Dios les bendiga!

Ready...Set...

Monday, January 23rd has loomed on the horizon, where everything must be ready to GO! Of course the majority of things are in place, teachers are set, students are confirmed, preparations are being made on site, our staff has all come together. Yet, perhaps more than any other year, I don't know that I feel ready (though I'm not sure if I ever do completely!) There are, of course, the usual uncertainties - Who are our students? How will they respond? What will the challenges be this year? Then there are the new uncertainties with Howard's (our director) health slowly, slowly improving, though he still a long way to go; this means, though, that both he and his wife, at this point, will largely be out of the picture for the next while course. We are grateful that both he and his wife Susan were able to make the trip from Canada and are now at home here in San Carlos, already seeing fruits of the care he is receiving here - we continue to pray for his recovery.

We are encouraged with the team of staff that we have in place this year. It includes the help of some new participants, Jake and Ingrid who come from my home church outside of Winkler, Manitoba. We have already been impacted by them, the meal invitations, the projects that are underway, their hearts for the school, and the ways that they are looking forward to contribute to CEC this school season. They will be helping in various roles, filling in some of the gaps left by the absence of others as well as contributing to the ministry with the students, both being Spanish speakers.

We are encouraged, too, with the eight students we have confirmed for this year's course. We have a bit more of a mature group this year, the majority being in their 30's and 40's (one 19 year old, and another who is a retired school teacher, the only female this year). Many come from backgrounds that were involved with various addictions but have come to know the Lord and are now serving in some form in different ministries or churches. Most come from the state of Sonora, with one exception - a young many who is from Honduras yet came up through Mexico a number of years ago with the goal of getting to the US only to come to know the Lord and settle down in the state of Chihuahua.

Every year is so distinct and different - it is difficult to even imagine what each season will bring. We have learned over the years to try to not come with too many expectations - we come with plans and ideas, things that have worked and others that haven't, making adjustments. Yet at the end of the day there still is this sense of, Are we ready? Do we know what's coming? Of course we don't and the "planner" in me wrestles with that! So, we meet, we pray, we plan, and we wait to see how God will work in our own lives and in the lives of each of the students. That's of course where you all come in as well! We invite you to pray for our students and for us as staff as we start a new school season, this coming Monday, January 23rd. Some things you can specifically pray for me would be:

* As I teach, though I have taught these classes before, each year is distinct as I find I myself have changed and learned new things; especially in the first group of classes, Spiritual Disciplines, I want to reflect what I've been learning and experiencing with those in these classes.

* Peace in the midst of uncertainty - as a "planner" and chronic worrier, this is perhaps an ongoing prayer request!

Thanks again for your continued prayers for myself and for the ministry of CEC. It is greatly, greatly appreciated! I'll keep you updated with how our school season progresses and introduce some of the students along the way as we get to know them. ¡Dios les bendiga!

¡Feliz Navidad From San Carlos!

As this year so quickly draws to a close, I wanted to thank each one of you for your ongoing participation in all that goes on down here in San Carlos!  Your prayers and your generosity continue to spur us onward in what God is doing here in Mexico, especially through CEC and the many students whom we've been able to get to know over the years.

Many continue to ask how Howard Dyck, our director, is doing - he is continuing to fight, though it has been very much an uphill battle and likely will remain so for a while.  The family is working hard to bring him down here back to Mexico, as this familiar setting will significantly help in his recovery, Lord willing. One of the hurdles is the cost involved in transportation - if you would like to contribute, please visit:  https://gofund.me/028ccecf.  Your continued prayers are greatly appreciated in his recovery!

Others have asked if we plan to carry on with our school year this coming year.  The interesting part is that we were already planning for Howard and Susan to not be around for a significant part of this coming course as they were required to be in Canada for six months, bringing them back halfway through the course - and this was all already in place before any of these health complications arose.  Thankfully, we have a great team in place of fellow administrators and teachers who were and are prepared to move ahead this coming January, though, without doubt, a heavy heart.  We are grateful at the interest there is and the students who have already confirmed - not only for the first year course but the second year as well.  We begin in one month, Lord willing, the 23rd of January!  It is just around the corner and we covet your prayers as we prepare.  Specifically pray for those students whom the Lord would have be a part of CEC 2023.  It is often a challenge to set aside the time and make arrangements to be here - there are often many obstacles, but these too become opportunities to see God's faithfulness in their lives.  It is looking like a good group of students is slowly but surely coming together.

HIGHLIGHTS

It seems that I'm in a little bit of a calm between the storms as this fall has been quite busy.  Here are some highlights from the past couple of months:

Bethel Church Group

We don't receive many groups from outside of Mexico as that is not our primary ministry focus.  However, Bethel Church, located just outside of Winkler, MB, has sent a group before.  My parents led this team which was was supposed to come during the covid pandemic but for obvious reasons had to postpone their trip till this year.  They came this year, however, armed with hearts for service - all 24 of them - and left their impact not only here at the school but with a local church ministry that has a significant ministry in their surrounding, troubled neighbourhood.  The group poured cement, laid block, and served at the church's children's ministry - and they did it well outside of their comfort zone.  Laying block and mixing cement are not commonplace skills for us Canadians, like they are for many down here in Mexico, not to mention the significance of a language barrier.  As the saying goes, though, actions speak louder than words and perhaps that holds true to an even greater extent when there are very few words that you can share!  One of the Mexican workers on the project told Rafael, one of the church's leaders (whom many of you know and have personally met when he accompanied me with his family to Canada a few years ago) that he was greatly impacted by the team's dedication and effort as they took their time to work alongside them, of all the other things they could be doing or places they could go - it left a deep impression on him.  In the end, their actions spoke volumes, communicating how we are serving God together and caring for one another, even when words fail due to language barriers.  

Consiervos Missions Training Program

It was no small feat for the Bethel group of 24 to find space in CEC's facilities because during that time there was also a group of 25 or so students/staff with the Consiervos cross-cultural training program - we had a full house!  Consiervos spent just over two months in an intensive training course aimed at equipping lay-missions workers to serve along side cross-cultural missions teams.  Two of our previous CEC students were a part of this course and it was a pleasure to continue to interact with them and encourage them in their walk as they consider serving in missions work.  The program runs very similarly to CEC's program and featured 20 different missionaries participating in classes during this time.  It is a relatively new program, this being only its 2nd time running.  It complements our training program in many ways and actually fills part of the vision that CEC has had, having a "3rd year" program that focusses in missions.  It is a great experience to collaborate together with others in this way, and I have enjoyed greatly being able to be a part of this program as well.

CEC 2023

With all of this said, it has been a busy fall season, and the busiest is yet to come!  Please pray for us as a school and as a staff as we navigate these difficult times.  It seems that over the years we have had to work through some significant health issues within our full-time staff - in a sense this is not new, but each one comes with its own set of challenges and discouragements.  We pray for Howard's return to San Carlos and for his recovery!  Thanks, as always, for your continued prayers!  I am grateful for each one of you.  ¡Dios les bendiga and feliz navidad!