"SUBMERGED" VBS in Tlaxcala: Lord's provision amidst obstacles

Vacation Bible School did not seem like a possibility this year- but the Lord provided in every obstacle!!

 

1. We did not have enough volunteers to lead the camp this year: multiple families at our church started new businesses or got new jobs which would not allow them time off to serve at VBS.  However, a misión

team of 6 people from California arrived to help us the very week of VBS! Plus, members of a nearby church in Puebla also joined us!  We had more than enough adults to receive every child!

2. Resources were scarce to plan a whole VBS program this year, when High Point Church of San Diego mailed us the LifeWay “Submerged” VBS package that we needed!  What

provision of the Lord!

3. The rain this summer has been more abundant than normal- covering our unfinished church construction with mud and puddles.  Where would the children sit and play at VBS if everything is covered in mud?  However, in an answer to prayer, no rain fell the couple days before VBS so we could get everything clean and decorated.  And, even when

hurricane-like rain, wind and hail fell on Tuesday afternoon, the decorations were still standing with minimal mud on the floor for VBS the next day.  The Lord certainly controls the weather!

 

60 children participated in our “Submerged” VBS week- where they “submerged” into the Word of God to

learn that Jesus goes deep into their lives: knowing them, loving them, and saving them.  They amazed me by memorizing 6 Bible verses this week- amidst the many other game, craft, song and snack activities that they enjoyed.  Many family members joined us on Sunday morning for the closing ceremony and celebration meal.  Two families have already expressed interest in joining our church- for the children’s program

and youth group. 

 

Praise the Lord for His provision to make this VBS possible, and for each life that He touched through it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gospel Concert from California!

Our summer evangelism begins!

 

Each weekend this month, we will be leading open-air evangelism events at our church plant in the Missions community.  Though our church room is super tiny, the basketball court and park directly below us offer the perfect location for open events.

Though Paco and I personally have no musical talent, the Lord sent a team from Artesia, California, to serve at our event, including two very talented musicians.  On top of the stage-platform that Paco constructed, using sound equipment on loan from a church in Puebla, Neil and Mercedes’ worship songs in Spanish rang out for the community to hear.  Mike, another man on the team even shared his testimony of Jesus Christ’s

transformation in his life.  During the concert, church members passed out Gospel tracts (sent from HighPoint Church in San Diego) to the audience.

Only 40 minutes into the event, rain poured down, forcing us to store instruments and sound equipment, and ending our concert.  However, we know that the Lord used those few minutes:

     -Both the couple working in the tortilleria beside us, as well as two men on the street, stopped us to lament that rain caused the concert early, because they had been “listening to everything”.

     -Two ladies who had received Gospel tracts, Felicia and Esperanza, talked with two church members the entire 40 minutes of the concert about salvation in Jesus Christ, and even

wanted to meet Paco to ask about church service times.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baptisms in La Trinidad

I love baptism days! (The joy of witnessing others profess their faith in and dedication to Christ always makes me  a little teary J).

 

Among those baptized this year…

An entire family was baptized!- Magali (the mother) who had been a believer for years, her new-believer husband

who had just joined the church for discipleship studies this year, and her two adolescent sons Lalo and Erick, who had been often in our prayers  as they pass through rebellious years.  My tears of joy joined Magali’s as she watched her husband and sons, for whom she had prayed for years, declare their faith in Christ.  We know this is just the start of a major transformation in these men in her life as the Holy Spirit makes them new creatures in Him!

 

Lupita was also baptized- after coming to the faith through her children when they atended VBS with us two years ago.  Her commitment

was so evidently genuine!- as she said she was giving her life to Christ and putting her two children in His hands. 

 

Of special value to Paco was his brother, Lupe’s, baptism, who, though he has been walking with the Lord for years, had never make a public profession of his faith through baptism.  Paco’s tears were just a

small evidence of the great joy he experienced of baptizing his beloved brother. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Park Maintenance in Misiones

The park beside the space we rent for our church plant in the Misiones community was completely neglected- without a single swing seat left on the swing, paint peeled off the benches, the slide rusting away…

This month we cleaned up the park!- along with the help of the brothers at Misiones and a visiting group from California.

The benches, swing set, slide, and tables were painted, and the swing seats were repaired and installed. 

While working, a couple passed by and asked if we were part of the community maintenance team, to which we responded that we were Horizonte Church showing God’s love to the community.

While Paco was repairing the swing,

three different children passed by and excitedly told their parents: Look Mom! He is repairing the swings!. 

Evidently, our small contribution was noticed and appreciated by the Misiones community!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Children's Graduation in Ahuashuatepec!

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is being taught even in the isolated village of Ahuashuatepec, Tlaxcala!

 

Paco and I were invited to witness and participate in the graduation celebration of the children’s discipleship program.  Our hearts were warmed to see the Lord’s work in this very rural area! 

 

The children’s classes there were held under a tree outside the tiny home of one of brothers, where a 60-year old man, with very little experience with children’s ministry but lots of love for the Lord, taught their weekly classes. 

 

For the graduation, a large tent had

been raised over the patio where parents (including unbelievers) gathered to accompany their children.  The pastor led the worship singing rather-off-key but full of joy. We loved to see the children recite Bible verses they had learned during the classes, and present a Bible story they had studied.

 

I shared the Gospel message with the children and their parents and Paco taught a passage from Mark 1.  They brothers there were so thankful for our participation.  But we were even more blessed to witness the Lord’s work in the children and their community even with their limited resources.