There is a Street Child Ministry (in its beginnings) in Mexico City. There are a group of nationals who weekly go to various metro stations to do a "Vacation Bible School" type program. I had the privileged in participating the last few weeks and just loved it! The kids are rough, and not well behaved, but the are precious and full of joy. For a lot of these children (ages 3 to 13ish) school is not very important, drugs deals are already a way to make money, and their parents give them little to no supervision or discipline.... they are essentially on their own. The ministry group that visits the metro stations weekly has built relationships with the children and have "regulars" that come back every week.
La Risa
Experiencing the journey God has long before planned for me...while attempting to joyfully smile all the way!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
CURICONCERT: Piano Style
For our CURICLUB last Friday we had a concert. One of our English Club attendees (Alitzel) and one of our RUF members (Uziel) are both studying at the National School of Music via the UNAM. They both study piano... and it is an 8 year program for a degree! So we had a concert. We used the piano and facilities at our church and it was awesome!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Thankfully Suffering
In Thessalonians 5: 18 it says "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
I've been thinking a lot about this verse lately and especially in the times when I'm finding it hard to be thankful. Before, when reading this verse, I always thought the '"for this is the will of God" part was referring to the fact that His will was for us to be thankful. I still think that is his will, but even more so, I think the "for this is the will of God" is referring to "all circumstances". All of our situations (happy, sad, difficult, fun) are God's will for our life... and that is why we should give thanks in each one of them. In each and every situation God is forming us to be more like him. God allows suffering and hard times in our lives (whether caused by external factors or our own personal sin) to teach us, mold us, humble us, and remind us of our need for His grace.
Suffering is a blessing, and that is why we should give thanks! God not only allows suffering to change and teach us, but also to grow His Kingdom. I'm currently reading the book "Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands" and the author Paul David Tripp, when talking about using our suffering to witness to others, says this:
"God has brought me through sin and suffering, not only to change me but to enable me to minister to others. My story is a small chapter in the grand story of redemption, and Christ is on center stage. My story is much more about him than it is about me. In this way even my failures result in his glory. In my own weakness, foolishness, and inability, I have learned the truthfulness of his promises and the reality of his presence. This makes my story a vehicle of change in the lives of others."
So, we can be 'thankfully suffering' because our suffering has grand and eternal purposes, for our hearts and even the hearts of others.
I've been thinking a lot about this verse lately and especially in the times when I'm finding it hard to be thankful. Before, when reading this verse, I always thought the '"for this is the will of God" part was referring to the fact that His will was for us to be thankful. I still think that is his will, but even more so, I think the "for this is the will of God" is referring to "all circumstances". All of our situations (happy, sad, difficult, fun) are God's will for our life... and that is why we should give thanks in each one of them. In each and every situation God is forming us to be more like him. God allows suffering and hard times in our lives (whether caused by external factors or our own personal sin) to teach us, mold us, humble us, and remind us of our need for His grace.
Suffering is a blessing, and that is why we should give thanks! God not only allows suffering to change and teach us, but also to grow His Kingdom. I'm currently reading the book "Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands" and the author Paul David Tripp, when talking about using our suffering to witness to others, says this:
"God has brought me through sin and suffering, not only to change me but to enable me to minister to others. My story is a small chapter in the grand story of redemption, and Christ is on center stage. My story is much more about him than it is about me. In this way even my failures result in his glory. In my own weakness, foolishness, and inability, I have learned the truthfulness of his promises and the reality of his presence. This makes my story a vehicle of change in the lives of others."
So, we can be 'thankfully suffering' because our suffering has grand and eternal purposes, for our hearts and even the hearts of others.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Guanajuato (Spring Retreat)
We had our RUF Spring Retreat in Guanajuato, Mexico (about 5 hours from Mexico City). Guanajuato is a smaller city know for its relaxed atmosphere, Spanish style architecture (it was founded by the Spanish), and its romantic setting. We did visit downtown one afternoon; however, our retreat took place in the countryside at a “retreat center” owned by Mission to the World. We had about 25 students go on the retreat; about 8 of them non-Christian. Our theme for the retreat was “Vision through Scripture”. Our speaker, David Green (the U.S. North-East Coast/Mexico RUF Director), began by talking about the authority, reliability, and story of scripture. In later talks we looked at practical ways to apply scripture in our lives, through workshops on “how to study your Bible” and “how to make decisions based on God’s will”. The retreat was also filled with small group discussion times, games, great food, team competitions, and very little sleep!
This is a sort video of the group during worship one day...
Downtown Guanajuato!!!!
Crepes
One of our English Club attendees is from France. He is at the UNAM working on his doctorate. For our CURICLUB a last week he taught us the authentic way to make crepes from scratch. Our topping options were: jelly, chocolate syrup, caramel, cajeta, peanut-butter, marshmallows, almonds, chocolate chips, nutella, strawberries, bananas, mango, powdered sugar, and pecans!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
My Mom in Mexico!!!
She walked on the cobble stone streets
In Toluca she visited the Botanical Gardens, Cathedrals, ate Local Chili-Mango Ice Chilaquiles, Pozole, and Fresas Con Crema
She rode the metro, learned to fight for seats, got her arm stuck in the door, and was tough with the crowds
Of ALL the places in the BIG city that she traveled, she was "injured" in Wal-Mart (ask her the story)
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