the D.F. trip

On Monday morning at 12:00am midnight we left Leon to make the journey by bus to the "Distrito Federal", or the D.F. It is the largest city in Mexico and one of the largest (if not the largest) in the world. We got there around 4:30 in the morning and spent the rest of the day with the AIM team that is going to be coming to Leon later this year. They came all the way down from Lubbock Texas with their AIM class and all in all there were at least 70 or 80 of them. We went to the Basilica (the Catholic capitol of Mexico) and a few other places with the group so that they could get a good taste of what Mexico is like. We left for Leon at 11pm and got home this morning at 4am - it was a crazy trip! Even though we are tired, it was worth it, being with our brothers and sisters. We were blessed to have our eyes opened once again to the lost in Mexico and we came back with a renewed urge to reach them. Thanks God!

unique small group

Last night we took an hour at Omar Palafox's house to begin a new small group. Omar is leading the group at his house and the goal is to become incarnational (like Jesus) in our community. It will be based on a book called "The Tangible Kingdom", which Omar is going to be translating the study guide and teaching us the material. We invited Ivan and Isaura, our small group partners, to join us because they are a young couple who are always seeking to be more like Jesus. We are excited to see the results of the 8 week small group and please pray for us to all be more like Jesus after all of this!

family

This week, my friend Bill Calderon's mom and sister arrived to visit Bill and the work here in Leon. They came all the way from Miami Florida and have seen nothing but rain since they got here! Bill's sister Julie makes professional cakes, and she has taken the time to teach the women of the congregation here (even though in the airport they tried to take her cake making supplies away!). Today, tomorrow and Friday she is teaching about frosting, cake decorating, and baking. The women who are participating seem to enjoy all of the fellowship and fun, and Jazmin has gotten a lot of new ideas! God is working through all of this, and we will continue to give the glory to HIM!

Sundays

This Sunday was a good time to be with God's people. Our worship service has taken a new direction in 2010 and is more organized and focused towards God. The men who are leading are putting more thought and heart into what they say, and the sermons are focused on our Savior Jesus. We even had a special time of prayer for the 2 pregnant women in our congregation. Also, there is a part of the worship especially for the kids, usually a puppet show or skit or songs. Maturing takes a long time, and sometimes it hurts, but the Holy Spirit works in ways that we cant even comprehend. Please continue to pray that we are being transformed daily by the Spirit, Jesus, and His Father.

leadership seminar

Last night and tonight from 7 to 9pm we have held a mens leadership seminar at the church building. We have averaged about 15 each night, and if you know anything about us, that is great! We have always struggled with building the male leadership of this congregation and getting the men involved in the ministries. But this week has been different. Not groundbreak or lifechanging, but different. We have all been challenged to listen to the Spirit, and there are many men stepping up into ministry positions. Please continue to pray for us to be men of God and to lead others to Christ through our examples and the light Jesus shines through us.

new cell group

A few weeks ago, I was asked to assist a family with starting a small group in their house, or a "cell group" as we call them here in Leon. I am in charge of the cell group ministry this year, and have been excited to work with our existing cell and to help others with theirs. The small group that we started tonight with 2 other families starts at 8:30 so that people who are just getting off work at 8 can go. We met with the Rosas, who asked us to help them start the group and opened their house for it, and also Braulio and Sylvia, a couple in their 50's who go to church with us. We focused on what a cell group is, and started this one off by praying for eachother in a more personal and specific way by admitting some struggles we each have in our lives. We were challenged to keep eachother in our personal prayer lives and we took a look at Jesus in John 17 praying for all believers. We ended the night with an hour of just talking and eating and having a good time... the night did not end until 11pm! I mentioned in the beginning of the group that I would be there for a time to help start the group, but that eventually I would hand the reigns over to the other men so that we do not focus all of our energy in one place. Confidentiality in cell groups is key, and if someone goes to too many cell groups, confidentiality can become questionable. Please pray for this new ministry and group, and that God can continue to use us and work through us here in Leon!

fellowship and evangelism go hand in hand

This house may be familiar to you, and it should be if you read our blog. This is the 2nd or 3rd time I have posted pictures of it, and it is because these brothers and sisters love to open their house to others. Blanca's other daughter, Fernanda, turned 15 a few days ago and today after church they had a lot of people over to celebrate, including Jazmin's mom and brothers, who arent Christians (but do go to our congregation). Even though Jazmin and I are a little bummed because she is not in our class anymore (11-14 year olds), we are really proud of her and how she has grown in her faith in the past year, and she is definately ready to be with the older youth. Her father Felipe is helping out a lot with the church and this past week went with a group of men to Queretaro to help represent our congregation in the church of Christ religious association meeting (because in Mexico if you are not Catholic, your church must be registered as a religious association). He did a great job and it in charge of administration ministry in our congregation. His wife Blanca is helping Jazmin and I evangelize Jazmin's mom Gloria, who sometimes works with Blanca selling houses and properties. Please pray for Blanca and Felipe and their family and the work God is doing through them, and also for Jazmin's mom Gloria, because we think she is going to get baptized soon! God bless - Ben and Jazmin