On Tuesday we were blessed to have some English-speaking visitors!  We became friends with the Evans family in language school, and we graduated together in May of 2009.  Rioverde is the halfway point between the Border and the Evans’ new home in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, so they split up their trip by spending the night with us.

We decided to surprise Grace and Lydia and not tell them that their friends, Hannah and Josiah, were coming for a visit.  They knew we were having visitors, and they begged for clues all day.  They were so excited to see their old friends, and the house was chaos for hours.  But it was wonderful!

So few people really understand what we go through as missionaries, and it is always nice to be able to talk intimately with others who understand our situation.  The only problem is that the time seems to go by way too fast!

Please pray for the Evans family as they begin their new life in Mexico!  They will be working there with a team that is developing a camp in Ticumon.

Last Friday, January 15th, I began my trip to visit with Paul Wilson, who has almost 30 years Christian camping experience, his family, and other missionaries just south of Mexico City in Ticuman, Morelos. Paul and I met in language school; he and his wife Roxanne graduated a semester before we did. They work at a Christian camp named “El Monte”, and trust me, the name fits. The trip was wonderful! Paul and I had some awesome discussions, and I was able to discover ideas for construction designs, camping, and other activities at our properties. For good measure, we threw in some fun visiting with friends and a little sight-seeing.

One of the most important discussions that Paul and I had was about the development of a Christian Camp & Conference Center. Paul brought many years of experience to the table and helped me get started on the development of Ministerios Maranatha, our ministry here in Rioverde. Before I left, he told me that some of my questions even made him think of ideas that he needed to put on his to-do-list.

I was also able to see some of the construction methods and materials that the staff at El Monte have used with their buildings and structures. I have heard for two years about the different palapas, cabins, and staff housing built, but it was great to finally see what I had been hearing about. These ideas and I knowledge I can now take with me to Rioverde and use, or even make better, for our properties.

Please pray for the ministry in Ticuman at “El Monte” as it is a fairly new ministry. However; there are many experienced missionaries that God has placed there. The plan is to have a Christian Camp, Pastors Retreat Center, and a Missionary Training School for Mexican missionaries going to other places. They have started the Camp and the Missionary Training School, so please pray especially for those two ministries. Also, please pray for the missionary families who minister there.

I returned from Ticuman Tuesday night to two extremely happy little girls and one relieved wife. Thanks especially to God for this wonderful trip that He allowed me to go on. It allowed me to receive much needed ideas to further advance the ministry here in Rioverde. Many of these ideas will help to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ through Mexico.

We are living in the town of Rio Verde in the state of San Luis Potosi.  We are about 9 hours “south of the border”.  We cross the border at Reynosa/McAllen.  We are also about 4 hours from the beach at Tampico; a little less than two hours from the state capital, San Luis Potosi; and about 5 hours north of Mexico City.  We haven’t ventured there yet, but we hope to soon.

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It takes us about 4-5 days and 2850 miles to drive from here back to our home in South Carolina.

The closest airport is in San Luis Potosi.  It is relatively new and has, I think, four gates.  Short term mission groups that come to Rio Verde usually fly into San Luis.

We have room for lots of visitors. Come and see us!

For the most part, church services here are the same as what we are used to back home.  The one big difference is the addition of praises and prayer requests.  At some point in the service (it doesn’t always seem to be at the same time every week), members of the congregation are given an opportunity to share prayer requests and praises.  Everyone starts with a praise and then shares their requests if they have any.  Sometimes only a few people share, but sometimes it seems as if the entire church has something to share.  As you can imagine, this can take some time.  Otherwise, we sing songs, pray, take offering, etc.

Sunday school (escuela dominical) begins at 10:00 AM.  The adults meet together in the sanctuary, the children and youth in their respective classes.  The church service starts at 11:30 (or 11:45 or 12:00…), and we’re usually done around 1:00.  Afterward everyone shares a snack and visits in the courtyard:

Before leaving church, everyone shares a special greeting.  We learned it quickly at our church in Texas.  “Dios le bendiga” means “God bless you.”  It’s not uncommon for us to share this greeting with everyone in attendance between the end of the service and the walk to our car.

The church has been very open and inviting to us.  We understand most of the service (when cars aren’t driving by with their music blaring), and we are feeling more and more at home at the De Cristo church.

In February of 2006 we began the journey that would lead us to full-time ministry in Rio Verde, Mexico.  This month we take the final step and drive across the border and to our new home.  We have survived the application process, the interviews, raising support, speaking at 50+ churches, cultural training, language school, selling and relocating our belongings, and more.  In some ways it feels like we have been on this journey forever; however, at the same time it’s hard to believe that the time is here.  Please join us as we share more of our journey.  I’m sure we’ll have some amusing anecdotes for you, but I really hope that you will be able to see the Lord working in us and through us as we join another culture.