New Ministry Opportunity and a Pleasant Surprise

While I don't want to go into too much detail (as our January newsletter will be focused on these two new ministry opportunities), I want to briefly explain the significance of one.

Due to certain circumstances which we will not relate, Troy has agreed to serve as interim pastor in one of the UNIFAM churches. He will serve in this roll until we return to the States on our Homeland Ministry Assignment at the end of May, first part of June.

There is something very precious about this particular church, however, that makes this opportunity to serve a real privilege for us.

In June, 2008 when we first visited Mexico City with the family, our first church visit was on a Saturday morning. We accompanied a missionary couple to the church they attended for their MEXI-Kids program (very similar to a weekly VBS program). Before the trip, Troy and I had been very concerned about our kids and how they would respond to living in a new country/culture/language. After all, we believed we had a call to Mexico, but it was one we'd received prior to our children's births. That day, however, the kids welcomed our children into the various groups they were in and made it an extremely enjoyable experience for our kids. We didn't understand how much they'd enjoyed it until later, however.

Upon arrival back home, almost the first thing the kids started asking us was, "When can we go back?" Not, "Do we have to go?" Troy and I were thrilled, of course, and so thankful for their positive attitudes. We realized that the kids' experience at the church greatly influenced their desire to return.

This is the very church we have been asked to serve in.

On Troy's first Sunday preaching, we showed the congregation some of the pictures I will post below. A couple of the children and leaders are still in the church--5 years older, of course, as are our kids. They helped us put names to the faces and enjoyed seeing themselves 5 years younger. Sharing the pictures and the story about our kids I just mentioned above has helped link us to them in a way nothing else could have. There are still challenges, naturally. But we have felt welcomed from the very first Sunday.

All those months when we visited church after church, praying about which one God would have us serve in, we never dreamed He would place us here. Where our kids' excitement to serve in Mexico first was nourished. And for that, we feel so blessed.

(Yes, I know I promised pictures. The internet is acting up in our house, so these will have to wait. Sorry!)