Lots of littles at Sunday School!

We are excited about the plans that the Lord has for our church, Calvary Grace and Truth, this 2020 year!  Already this first month, we have witnessed God directing multiple new families to seek Him.
I was shocked (and a little nervous) this last Sunday to have eight littles in my nursery Sunday School class (ages 1-4 years).  However, the Holy Spirit was also present because the  children were happy and calm and even attentive to the Bible story! (I know classes like that are not thanks to my skills as a children's teacher- I know my own limitations!)  I was floating with joy all day remembering my fun class with the toddlers.  And, Paco and I are praying for more wisdom to guide these new families in His truth.

Pastor and wife from Ixcamilpa visit us in Puebla!

Only one pastor ministers in the isolated county of Ixcamilpa.  Pastor Domingo, with his wife Liovi,  teaches only 1 to 10 people on a given Sunday.  Paco always meets with Domingo and his family on his visits to the Ixcamilpa communities- to encourage and bless this pastor who, in his isolated area, has limited access to Bible resourses, teaching or experience. 

For our servant conferences this last month, we invited Pastor Domingo and his family to join us (obviously offering to fund their trip).  Our desire was to bless this family of Jesus' servants, as well as encourage them in their work by gathering with brothers and pastors from multiple other churches. 

Domingo, Liovi, and their 22-year-old son, Eli arrived by bus for the weekend with only one bag in hand.  We realized later that the bag held candied pumpkin which they had prepared as a gift for us as hosts! They had not brought a single change

of clothes with them for their 2 day stay, nor sufficient outer wear for our much colder temperatures here. Paco gave shirts and vest to Domingo, recognizing that they would be cold.

During the conferences, Pastor Domingo was invited to share his testimony. His very humble and honest experience of coming to know Jesus was a clear reminder to us all of the power of the Holy Spirit to save people anywhere- even in isolated communities. 

Paco also set up a table with information about Ixcamilpa and his ministry in the region, so that conference participants could be informed and sign up to join the ministry on future trips!  We were especially pleased a couple physicians approached with a desire to lead a medical missions trip to the area.

After the conferences, we took the family to a fast food rotisserie chicken restaurant. However, even at such a simple

meal, the couple was shocked at the cost of the bill, which for them was extravegant. 

Though the family could not stay more than two days, we hope to receive them again, as together we pray for God's work in their communities!

Liovi, in Ixcamilpa, about to prepare this chicken for lunch!

Domingo and Liovi's grandson outside their house.

The church building in the county seat of Ixcamilpa.

Hosting Ministry Conferences- in our new BIGGER space!

We have a BIGGER church building!
Actually, it is the same rented building, but, through a loving donation, we built a tent struture over the outside patio. Now, our church space practically doubled in size!

More size obviously means... more people capacity! 
For our first time ever, we organized and hosted conferences open to multiple churches in our area.  Members of 7 different churches joined us, y 6 pastores served as conference speakers. 

The conference theme: Serving like Jesus. 
Paco is passionate about discipling/training

members of our small church as a ministry team: a committed group of servants, after Jesus' own heart.  The conferences were geared toward applying  Christ's life example of service to ministry in our own congregations. 

It was FABULOUS to get to gather with brothers from multiple churches, and be challenged by Bible teaching from other pastors. 
We are already witnessing the fruits of the conferences in our church body- as brothers are

starting to arrive earlier to church, staying longer after service to help clean, and offering their time mid-week. We marvel to witness the work of the Holy Spirit in the people He is raising up for Him. 

Gifts of Food from Jesus to a hungry people!

I love all of Paco´s stories when he returns from ministry in the villages of Ixcamilpa! I have to share…

As soon as he arrives, Paco feels like a sort of Santa Claus in the villages-

When passing on the street, he overheard one child remark: “Momma, momma, look! It’s Hermano Paco! The one who brings gifts!” Though his donations come from many of you, he has the joy of delivering them to grateful people, along with the Gospel message.

Many children recognize Paco from our discipleship classes a couple years ago. One boy,

Alan, excitedly insisted his grandmother invite Paco to their house for lunch!  Alan shared that he had read his discipleship book many times since finishing the classes. (I praise God for lasting fruit in some of the kids there!)

The food bags were greatly appreciated. The village president and nurse helped Paco make a list of the people with greatest need for the 73 bags he brought in our packed car (so jam-packed, in fact, that 3 food bags had to stay behind). Paco reminded each grateful person who came for their bag that it was a gift from God who loves and sees them, and who is also offering them a greater, more lasting gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Two elderly ladies arrived during the distribution who were not on the food bag list- one actually started to cry that she would not receive food! (these were obviously coveted gifts!) However, Paco rushed to reorganize the situation and made sure each lady received groceries. They left smiling!

In gratitude for all of his visits, Doña Mari tried to insist that Paco take one of her newborn piglets home with him! Paco was able to politely decline (I don’t know what I would do if Paco brought a pig to our house! We don´t even have a yard!). However, her gratitude was very sweet.

One couple told Paco there were down to their last bag of corn. However, it has not run out!  Don Chava and Doña Selerina have been receptive to the Word of God ever since Paco first arrived in their community- Chava is one of the blind men who faithfully listens to the audio Bible that we gave him. They testified that, in

answer to prayer, the Lord has faithfully provided food for them. They had expected their last bag of corn to run out over a month ago, but there are still a few cups left!  Paco left them money for another sack of corn and we pray that the Lord will multiple its contents in the same way.

Witnessing Chava and Selerina’s faithfulness in their desire to know God, Paco would love to stream our weekly church services to a screen at their house. The couple joyfully agreed to open their home as a mission to others who want to study the Bible. Paco said he did find a slight cell phone signal there (very difficult to find in the villages!) so he thinks it may be a possibility-

with lots of prayer and research and the right equipment.  Please pray with us for this goal for 2020- to set up a “tele-mission”!

New year, new mercies ... even in poor villages like those of Ixcamilpa...

We are so thankful to all those who minister alongside us! (even from far away!)

Kids' Bible Club- New Year Movie Afternoon

I love my kids!! We always have a blast at our mid-week Bible club.
We started the new year with a study of our freedom in Christ, illustrated with a movie- "Ben Hur"!  Of course, the movie was complete with popcorn and pizza!!

Church packs FOOD for poor communities

The ministry in the isolated communities of Ixcamilpa is truly a work of the Body of Christ- with financial donations internationally sent to us to purchase food and goods, which are then packed locally by our church family.
Many in our small church rejoice to participate in the Ixcamilpa mission by packing the grocery bags- though most of them scrape by day-to-day themselves, they are blessed to be able to serve others in even greater need. 

(Paco's faithful shopping buddy for Ixcamilpa groceries!)

Operation Christmas Child EVENTS and JOY!!

Oh the joy!!
Gospel of Jesus! Gifts! Happy children! Active churches!
During the end of December and begining of January, we "event-hop" around the state to assist and join churches in their Operation Christmas Child events.
Jemina and Asher love to join us to visit all the children (and get sweets at some of the parties ;) )
However, Jemina herself will tell you that the gifts are "for the children who do not know Jesus"- as we pray that each child at these events will recognize Jesus as Savior and Lord!