Vive la Visión
Life In Mexico
Last December we were traveling the highway from Laredo, Texas to Mexico City, and we had never seen so many semi-trucks in all of the years we have made this trip. It aroused my curiosity, so I did a little research and found this information that I thought very interesting. If you ever drive into this country it may prepare you for the onslaught of semi-trailers and doble-remolques (double trailers). NAFTA&Transportation: Impacts on the U.S.-Mexico Border "From 1995 to 1999, US-Mexico trade rose from $108 billion to nearly 200 billion;most of those goods were transported by truck. In all,cross-border truck traffic has soared by 170 % since NAFTA went into effect,with over 4.2 million truck crossings in 1999 alone, and there in is no end in sight. There are 25 ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border that commercial vehicle traffic, but 7 of these ports carry 91% of the cross-border truck traffic." Laredo,Texas and Otay Mesa, California are the busiest. Total crossings from Laredo into Mexico in 1999 were 1,340,653." Anyway, you get the point...traffic is on the rise on highway 59 out of Nuevo Laredo to Mexico City.
Leadership Training Seminar
On January 20th, the Tierra Firme congregation in Tlalpan hosted the ongoing training seminars for the leaders in the various churches. It was well attended, and the guys from the South did a great job. They provided several information packets that are very informative. It is so important that we begin to mentor and multiply ourselves so that God can continue to use us in wonderful ways. The next meeting is March 31st and the Benito Juarez congregation will host the reunion.
Adventures In Missions Cultural Experience In Mexico
At the beginning of every year, for at least the past fifteen years, the program that trains mission apprentices (AIM) makes its annual trip to Mexico City to learn about adapting to a new culture. Ninety-two came from Lubbock, and with the guides and guests from here in the city we had close to or over one-hundred in the Pink House. We served breakfast to all these people every morning. Four-hundred eggs were cracked, swirled and cooked in various forms. Fifteen gallons of yoghurt were eaten, and I cut more fruit than I can remember ever cutting. It was good, and no one became sick, and as far as I know there were no undesireable events on the metro or buses. The first picture is of the Adventures in Missions class, and the second one is a group from Paducah, Kentucky that accompanied them.
Baptism In Cuauhtémoc
Pilar Araiza Cárdenas was baptized last week in the Cuáuhtmoc congregation. She has been attending for sometime with her sister Rosalina.
Pan de La Vida
Pedro is still working on the plans for the soup kitchen. He is also taking a course in a culinary school, preparing himself to be a chef so that he can efficiently run the kitchen. His groups are doing well.
Church Planting in Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacan
The church in Lazaro is about to open its doors to the public the first of March. Billy and I are here to aid them with the beginning. Billy will be preaching in Spanish. Please pray that God shows his power in Lazaro and that this is the beginnings for a movement of church plantings up and down the Pacific coast.
Congratulations to the Grays!
For those of you who are not aware of this marvelous news let me be the first one to tell you. Amanda and Ryan Gray are going to be new parents in October. She is pregnant. God is the giver of the best gifts. After 7 years of disappointment and finally giving up on the idea of having a child of their own...see what God has done for them! They will be returning to the states in June. Their plans are to return in the future and begin a new work in some other area of Mexico.
Family News
Well, I am one year older. We had an evangelistic event to celebrate my birthday. This is the last time I plan to do this. Thanks to Billy, Jacob, Amanda, Vero and her sons it was a great success but we were all tired to the bone when it was over. Approximately 40 people came.
Little Billy is one year old (born on my birthday) and Amanda is doing well in her pregnanc. Landon is growing taller all the time and Madison was 8 in January. Adah is excited about her baby brother and chocolate.
Prayer Request
Life In Mexico
Last December we were traveling the highway from Laredo, Texas to Mexico City, and we had never seen so many semi-trucks in all of the years we have made this trip. It aroused my curiosity, so I did a little research and found this information that I thought very interesting. If you ever drive into this country it may prepare you for the onslaught of semi-trailers and doble-remolques (double trailers). NAFTA&Transportation: Impacts on the U.S.-Mexico Border "From 1995 to 1999, US-Mexico trade rose from $108 billion to nearly 200 billion;most of those goods were transported by truck. In all,cross-border truck traffic has soared by 170 % since NAFTA went into effect,with over 4.2 million truck crossings in 1999 alone, and there in is no end in sight. There are 25 ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border that commercial vehicle traffic, but 7 of these ports carry 91% of the cross-border truck traffic." Laredo,Texas and Otay Mesa, California are the busiest. Total crossings from Laredo into Mexico in 1999 were 1,340,653." Anyway, you get the point...traffic is on the rise on highway 59 out of Nuevo Laredo to Mexico City.
Leadership Training Seminar
On January 20th, the Tierra Firme congregation in Tlalpan hosted the ongoing training seminars for the leaders in the various churches. It was well attended, and the guys from the South did a great job. They provided several information packets that are very informative. It is so important that we begin to mentor and multiply ourselves so that God can continue to use us in wonderful ways. The next meeting is March 31st and the Benito Juarez congregation will host the reunion.
Adventures In Missions Cultural Experience In Mexico
At the beginning of every year, for at least the past fifteen years, the program that trains mission apprentices (AIM) makes its annual trip to Mexico City to learn about adapting to a new culture. Ninety-two came from Lubbock, and with the guides and guests from here in the city we had close to or over one-hundred in the Pink House. We served breakfast to all these people every morning. Four-hundred eggs were cracked, swirled and cooked in various forms. Fifteen gallons of yoghurt were eaten, and I cut more fruit than I can remember ever cutting. It was good, and no one became sick, and as far as I know there were no undesireable events on the metro or buses. The first picture is of the Adventures in Missions class, and the second one is a group from Paducah, Kentucky that accompanied them.
Baptism In Cuauhtémoc
Pilar Araiza Cárdenas was baptized last week in the Cuáuhtmoc congregation. She has been attending for sometime with her sister Rosalina.
Pan de La Vida
Pedro is still working on the plans for the soup kitchen. He is also taking a course in a culinary school, preparing himself to be a chef so that he can efficiently run the kitchen. His groups are doing well.
Church Planting in Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacan
The church in Lazaro is about to open its doors to the public the first of March. Billy and I are here to aid them with the beginning. Billy will be preaching in Spanish. Please pray that God shows his power in Lazaro and that this is the beginnings for a movement of church plantings up and down the Pacific coast.
Congratulations to the Grays!
For those of you who are not aware of this marvelous news let me be the first one to tell you. Amanda and Ryan Gray are going to be new parents in October. She is pregnant. God is the giver of the best gifts. After 7 years of disappointment and finally giving up on the idea of having a child of their own...see what God has done for them! They will be returning to the states in June. Their plans are to return in the future and begin a new work in some other area of Mexico.
Family News
Well, I am one year older. We had an evangelistic event to celebrate my birthday. This is the last time I plan to do this. Thanks to Billy, Jacob, Amanda, Vero and her sons it was a great success but we were all tired to the bone when it was over. Approximately 40 people came.
Little Billy is one year old (born on my birthday) and Amanda is doing well in her pregnanc. Landon is growing taller all the time and Madison was 8 in January. Adah is excited about her baby brother and chocolate.
Prayer Request
- The seminar for the leadership next month
- The churches in Mexico
- The beginning of the Spanish worship in Lazaro Cardenas
- Safe travel for the Henderson's and the birth of baby Noah
- The annual music seminar in April
- Future plans and vision for the Pink House
- Pan de La Vida... a sponsor for the soup kitchen
- Stefanie Ponce de Leon's health
- Future plans and changes for Billy and Belinda
- For the expecting moms: Jamie Rocha, Carolyn Brednich, Amanda Gray, Lupita Partin and Amanda Henderson
5 comments:
SO, SO fun to read. Thanks for sending the update.
God bless your time in Lazaro. Too bad you and Billy really can't stand the beach. Oh well.
1 - Love the picutres
2 - Love the mission of the church in Mexico.
3 - I love what God is going through you.
4 - I love AIM. Wow, what a program. What a powerful blessing to the Lord.
Looking forward to coming to Mexico City this summer...
Blessings - Trey
hey belinda! loved getting caught up with you through the blog. loved all the pics!
blessings!
Greetings to our Family in Mexico City! Your family at North Heights is thinking about you and praying for you regularly.
Just thought you might like to know that your newsletter is printed and posted on our missions board each time it is published now.
Hey Billy and Belinda,
Blast from the past! Sorry we've been so out of touch with you guys. We have great memories with you guys.
I'm glad to read that things are going so well with you and your ministry. Mary and I will be praying for you.
Post a Comment