We were given lots of blankets and clothes from Canada and US to hand out to the families-- they were very happy to be blessed this way!!
Sharlene speaking with the daughter of one of the students (Lourdes). She lives in San Diego and speaks some English so between the languages they were able to have a conversation!
This is Caleb abd on eof the pastor's kids "Chico Nico". Chico Nico is 12 and about the same height as Caleb (9). The Mexican people are amazed at how big our kids are for their age! In Canada, McDonald's are usually amongst the smallest kids in class- here they are among the tallest!!
Marisella (Far right) and Cynthia (middle) are in the class. Marisellas husband is a pastor and she has been praying for a long time that she'd be able to go to Bible School and get her diploma! On the left is Marisella's daughter.
Pastor Ramiro and his Wife Catalina (both with guitars) are in my class- they came with their church band and lead the worship!
One of the pastors kids. (Cute!)
Pastor Feliciano and Marisella giving testimony. Feliciano teaches for me when I can't be at the class. He has a diploma already, but comes to class anyway because he says he is learning more!
Arnulfio (left) receiving a gift of books. A family sent down enough books for all of our students to get 5 Christian books! On the right is Ivan, my translator.
Comida!! Food! We had a feast of tamales, champurrado (Chocolatey drink with corn flour and sugar) salad and flan (desert)! We ate till we were stuffed!!
David- one of the kids of a student of mine- David is the happiest, smiliest kid i know and always seems to be on the verge of a laugh attack!
Pastor Feliciano showing off his cast. He broke his foot in an accident at work as a tractor was backing up and narrowly missed crushing him. He fell down and the small tire drove over his foot- breaking it.
Eating Tamales! They are corn flour filled with beef or chicken or pork or chile peppers and cheese, wrapped in a corn husk and steamed. A traditional party food- espescially around Christmas and new years-- we had a feast of them!
Me eating with Pastor Javier and Odillia. We have class at their church in Rojo Gomez, East Tijuana.
Leonard Janssen, YUGO president, came to give the message to us. He has been working in Mexico longer than I've been alive and connected very well with the class! It was good to have him out.
Thanks so much for praying for us- esp. the Bible Institute work in the Colonias of East Tijuana. The students gave great testimonies about how much God is teaching them and how thankful they are for the opportunity to dig into the Scriptures together!
Just yesterday I heard another story of why this ministry is so important. A lady in a local church who is a self-proclaimed "prophet" told a friend of ours to return to her husband- who had been abusing her and whose family had been abusing her kids- even to the point of selling the pre-school girl to a man for a night!!!! Absolute evil and deprivation to the highest degree. But the "prophet" told her it was best to take her kids back to that situation because God hates divorce. Our friend quit her jobs because the "prophet" was now going to find her work and find her some land to buy and had all things under control. Our friend (a new christian) has broken off relationships with everyone else to follow the "prophet". We so need our pastors and leaders to understand their relationship with God and their grave responsibilities of leading humbly and with servitude, the sheep God has given them!
Please continue to pray that God will speak tous all as we search His Scriptures together!
Bless you all and Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad!
Mike for the family
1 comment:
Merry Christmas McDonald Family! Miss you guys and hope you are having a blessed time of remembering our Savior's birth!!
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