Baby Shower for New Nephew

Paco and I are blessed with a new nephew: Paco´s sister, Erika, gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby boy on August 25^th.  We had the movie experience of getting the 4am telephone call that she was having bleeding and labor pains, and rushing into the ER, and pacing in the waiting room for news of a healthy birth.  We loved being the very first ones to meet and hold our nephew. 

 

The ladies of our congregation had been planned a baby shower for Erika, but the baby beat us to it!  So, the baby was

 

presented at the shower just 6 days after his birth.  It was a joyous time.  We all prayed for Erika and the baby, and Erika said a special prayer of dedication of her son to the Lord.

 

Erika felt very special to be supported and loved by the sisters in the congregation.  As a single-mom, she is overwhelmed by the weight of responsibility, but I know the Lord confirmed His promise to care for Her and her children by blessing her delivery and showing her the love of His body, the church.

 

1st "Operation Christmas Child" Meeting with Churches

Our Samaritan’s Purse Tlaxcala Team held its first information meeting of the year with Tlaxcalan churches to inform them about “Operation: Christmas Child” (Shoebox gifts and discipleship program), and invite them to participate.  Pastors and teachers of 26 churches attended the meeting!

 

I loved meeting brothers from other churches.  Paco and I were already enthusiastically invited to visit two different congregations by pastors and teachers we met.  I realized that these small churches do not have much contact with other congregations, so were excited to meet with other brothers.

 

One teacher, the only attendee from her church, struggled to read and write, so I helped her to fill out her information forms.  I marvel that even believers with educational limitations such are hers are not swayed from responding to God´s call to teach His truth! 

 We are still far from reaching our goal of blessing 60 churches with the opportunity to participate in “Operation Christmas Child”, but

are struggling to find churches and missions in northern Tlaxcala, where the Gospel is very scare.  We pray that the Lord would guide us to find, invite, and encourage these small congregations. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Youth Group at House

With the new school year, we have made new changes to youth group.  We will have the gatherings at our home on Saturday nights, with is more centrally located for the youth, and better equipped for youth activities (with our kitchen

and goodies, tv and videogame console!)

In preparation for the new school year, we led a “Divergent” lesson series, based on the movie, reminding the youth that instead of following the crowd, we are called, as

Christ´s followers, to be different from the world and like Him.  Paco also taught, from the Bible, of the importance of choosing edifying friendships, now that they are entering new schools and making new friends. 

We pray that the Lord would continue to guide these youth in His Way!