New Member of the Family

His name is Poco. He came to live with us about 5 days ago and we have fallen in love. Just over 7 weeks old, he weighs 3 lbs and just learned to climb two sets of stairs from our back yard to the upper deck; a very determined little fellow.

He is a West Highland Terrier and will grow to be about 15 lbs. Our son and daughter-in-law, Dan and Grace, have one and we fell in love with Bunch quite some time ago. Since that time, we have wanted our own. So, now Bunch has an "uncle"? Wow, we dog owners go nuts really quickly.

July 09

Dear Friends,

New everything! Good thing Kim and I have never been too bothered by change.

New Ministry: June 15 we began our new positions in Heritage Park Alliance Church; Kim as Administrative Assistant for Adult Ministries and me as Pastor of Connecting Ministries. Our joyful task is to connect people to Jesus and to one another. We will do this through intentional hospitality and various events. We will also work in the area of strengthening marriages. At HPAC we have a ton of new people coming each month and we want to reach them for Christ and see them in a process of discipleship.

New Home: We are getting settled and are really enjoying our garden. In fact, our entire back yard is garden and deck. You are welcome to come and sip some tea with us! Enjoy the flowers and the quiet of our neighbourhood with us. We have met so many of our neighbours. We believe God has placed us where we can impact them with the grace of God.

Hermanos Nuevos: One of the special treats has been meeting numerous Spanish speaking people. We have gathered one group in our home already and will have another gathering in August. The folks want to share testimonies and to reach out to their other Spanish speaking friends. We are hearing accents from all over the Latin American world. Pray for us to get back up to speed and to progress in Spanish. I would love to get back to Mexico for a month of intensive study.

New Possibilities: Kim and I just returned from a week of conference with a mission organization. Our hearts were blessed and challenged by the richness of sharing life together and of feeding on the Word. We are considering a ministry of member care with this organization. Pray with us for God’s final green light on this opportunity.

New Family Member: Yes, the Lidstone family is going to grow. This time it will be the gift of a grandchild for Kim and me. Daniel and Grace are expecting a little girl in December. Just knowing how handsome our son is, and how beautiful our daughter-in-law is, I am already making the claim that there has never been a baby girl so sweet and so cute as our granddaughter will be. Has anyone else ever said anything like that?

New City: We are getting to know our way around Windsor and LaSalle. Actually, we live in LaSalle. As you know, we have a 19 foot Bayliner and we are really enjoying being 10 minutes from the beautiful turquoise water of the Detroit River. We have discovered quiet bays and isolated beaches, and we have just begun.

Hmmm, New Jeep. No, we are not rich. But our old Jeep is getting a number of ailments. It is a 1996 and has 260,000 MILES on it. After giving up on finding a newer car, the Lord seemed to plant a Jeep Liberty right in front of my eyes. We felt it would be good stewardship to buy it and stop pouring money into the old one. So at the moment we have both. Two black Jeeps! Same colour interiors too. Nice to have air conditioning again.

Well, that is about it. We have just begun, which is what you do at the beginning. But we need God’s grace and strength to carry on. Please pray for us as we adjust, learn, wait, serve, submit, rest and build ministry. Coming into a church of 1,100 people is not easy. We are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of names. Pray that God will help us connect with those who really need to be connected. We must rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us and to give us wisdom.

Our heart for missions remains intact and we thank God for leading us to a church that will give us time for this passion. Pray for us to know the best way to use this opportunity. Our heart for Mexico and Latin America has not diminished.

Thanks for your friendship and prayers. Thanks as well to those who stand behind our missionary efforts financially. You have blessed us and given us a whole new dimension to our ministry. We are so grateful to all of you for your part in our lives.

Let us know how you are doing. We love to hear from you.

With our love,

Gary and Kim

May 09 Tons of changes!

I feel like a spy that “went dark”.  Our plan for the winter changed with my mother’s injury and hospitalization.  The day before we were to leave Mexico for Windsor to preach during the last weekend of January, Mother fell and broke her leg, much more seriously than one might imagine. As Dad’s primary care giver this created a double challenge. These events “delayed” our return to Mexico.  And every date we set for returning had to be changed for one reason or another.  All we can say is that while our hearts remained in Mexico, and we were making huge progress in Spanish, God would not let us return.  So, while I wanted to communicate that “Gary and Kim are back on their way to Mexico to do…and will return at the end of May” God was leading us to make some very important decisions at home and  that decision making needed to be quietly done.  So, we “went dark”. 

So, what is up? 

Kim and I have accepted positions at Heritage Park Alliance Church in Windsor that will leave us time to stay involved in missions as God opens the doors for us. We continue to have a passion for Latin American people and interestingly, the weekend I preached at HPAC we were surrounded by Spanish speakers after each service (three).  I will be called the Pastor of Connecting Ministries and Kim will work with me and in administration and ESL outreach.  When describing what we were looking for in future ministry we said, 1. It needs to be together, 2. It needs to give us flexibility to be involved in missions and 3. We want to be a part of a healthy, growing, passionate body where we can develop long term relationships and use our pastoral gifts.  Our passion in ministry has been couples, young families, marriage ministry, mentoring and teaching. At HPAC we will have ample opportunity to do all of our favorite things in ministry!

On May 25^th we take possession of our new house in Windsor.  It has an unfinished walk out basement which we will begin to finish immediately with hospitality in mind.  It will have a beautiful full bath, bedroom and large family room area for entertaining with a walk out to a completely landscaped back yard where we hope to bring new folks from the church to welcome them and get them connected to the church family and ministry.  Our house is surrounded by young families and we are   so excited to meet them. 

There are some things we would welcome your prayer for:

1. 1.       We have $1,000 of outstanding expenses from our time in Mexico. I can tell you that it was one of the most fruitful times we have ever had.  We feel more equipped to minister to Spanish speakers here and around the world.  It was a great investment.
   
2. 2.       The move.  It is expensive to move and set up and it is a lot of work!   We are funding it all. Please pray for our strength. 
   
3. 3.       The learning curve. We are joining a staff of 18 and a church with regular attendance over 1,000 people.  While that is all very exciting to us, we have a lot of people to meet and a whole new church culture to adapt to. 
   
4. 4.       Pray that God would give us supernatural power to begin our ministry in Windsor.
   
5. 5.       We are working through the details of a possible position in the missions world.  Pray that the Lord would guide us and make the way very clear.
   

Hopefully that turns the light back on. Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement in so many ways. Thanks to all who have asked, “What is going on?  Update us!”  Your interest and investment in our lives is of value beyond calculation. 

God bless you all.

Gary and Kim

 

PS. gifts can be sent to: 

 

CrossWorld - Canada 
1020 Matheson Blvd. E. #11
Mississauga, ON L4W 4J9 
Phone: 905-238-0904
info.canada@crossworld.orgCrossWorld 
 
CrossWorld USA 
306 Bala Avenue
P.O. Box 306
Bala-Cynwyd, PA  19004 
Phone: 610-667-7660
info@crossworld.org

From Cuernavaca to Cambridge, via Austin TX and Chicago

We left Mexico City on January 17^th and made our way to Canada via a previously arranged visit with Krista and Sarah in Austin Texas. Sarah was there with the African Children’s Choir and Krista was on the beginning leg of her journey to Australia for 6 months with her husband, Jonathan. After a couple of great days with our girls, we flew to Chicago where Daniel and Grace were keeping our Jeep. It was so good to reconnect with them and to spend two nights in their home with Bunch, their little Westie.  

From Chicago we drove to Windsor where I preached at Heritage Park Alliance Church.  I preached a message on the Bumpy Roads of Life where I shared a little of my experience three years ago with burnout and depression. It was so cool that throughout the weekend we met people who were looking for someone with whom they could share their struggle with depression, someone who could understand. Permission was granted for people to come forward and unveil their fears and struggles. It was a very powerful weekend. Kim and I were invited to a New To HPAC luncheon after the 11 am service.  A couple was standing around the perimeter of the café after the service and we invited them to join us at an empty table. After lunch and pleasant conversation, the woman said that it was her husband’s first time out to HPAC and that he was going through what I had experienced. He opened up and we could share hope and mutual things with them.  The following night they both attended a Love and Respect marriage evening at the church. The man was 48 when his burnout experience happened. I was 48 as well.  I think that is pretty common.  Love to hear from anyone about their experience moving into midlife and running out of energy. 

We had a great weekend with Garth and Patty Leno, the senior pastor and his wife at HPAC.  We felt a real connection with the body there in Windsor. Thanks to Garth , Patty and so many for making us feel so welcome.  HPAC has just had its property purchased by the Ontario  Government and is planning a move to a brand new state of the art facility.  The plans look awesome! 

Last Sunday we visited West Highland Baptist Church in Hamilton. I did an interim ministry there , finishing 15 months ago.  It was so good to get back. John Mahaffey, their senior pastor, preached a powerful message.  The music was awesome and we were greatly enriched to have worshipped with our friends at WHBC.  Sunday night John called and asked me to preach there this Sunday and so, with Great Joy, we will be back at WHBC this Sunday. The following weekend I am speaking at a youth service at the church I grew up in, Temple Baptist, Cambridge.  I will dye my hair and try to be cool for my nieces and nephew.  Again, a great honor.  The following weekend we hope to be in Chatham and then back to HPAC for more fellowship. 

Mom Lidstone is coming along well in hospital, exceeding expectations for her recovery. She is doing rehab at the moment with the fracture and wounds healing well. We anticipate she will be discharged from the hospital on the 19^th of February.  We are moving her bedroom things into the dining room and she will have nursing assistance for a while.  We are praying for a good long term care room for Dad.  Right now I am his roommate and personal valet. He is so good, so easy to be with,  and I consider it a tremendous honor to get him prepared for each day and put to bed each night. He loves Peter Sellers and so we have been howling together watching old Pink Panther movies and “The Party”.  Two mornings ago, I was sleeping in the bed next to his with the covers over my head.  Dad was awake and didn’t know what time it was and wondered who was sleeping in the bed next to his. So, I felt someone giving me gentle nudges and when I pulled the covers down, there was Dad looking at me, eager to get going for the day.  How can you be mad?  “Dad, it is early”   “OK Son, I just didn’t know who was sleeping in the bed. I’m going back to bed!”  We laugh a lot and have great moments of sharing. While he is so easy to care for, his needs are becoming more “hands on” and it has come to the point where Mom cannot do that.  She will have all she can do to care for herself now. Your prayers are appreciated in finding the best care for Dad. We love him so much!  He has handled Alzheimer’s with incredible grace.  Thank God that Dad continues to be very happy and to be his old self. If there is any mercy in this disease, we are grateful that he has not become hostile or violent. 

Kim and I are hoping to return to Mexico for a couple of months in March. Our goal is as much fluency as is possible.  We had the joy of meeting Spanish speakers in Windsor all weekend.  They are so thrilled that we are learning Spanish and will continue ministering in Mexico.  Some want us to call on relatives on our next trip. 

We are blown away by the provision of God for us. Thank you to all who pray and all who give and partner with us.  We are without adequate language to say, “thank you”. 

All for now.  

Boxing Day Gathering

December 26, Debbie Murphy (CrossWorld Missionary) drove over from Puebla with the Cepeda Family, Jose Manuel, Paola, Geovani, and Waldo.  

It is always an exciting thing to "Conocer" a new place or city.  That means to experience it and to get to know it personally by being there. This was the first visit for the Cepeda family to Cuernavaca.  After a great pancake breakfast we began our day of getting to know Cuernavaca by walking to catch a bus downtown.  Buses are called "rutas" here in Cuernavaca. Every city seems to have different names for their public transportation buses.   (I think all of the drivers go to the same school, basically training for the Indie 500) 

Gary sat with the boys on the ruta and enjoyed watching them take in the very different sites of Cuernavaca.  The city of Puebla, their hometown, is basically flat and dry, a high desert.  Cuernavaca is built on the side of a mountain and has three different temperature zones, depending on how high up you are, or how far south you are in the city.  It is called the city of eternal spring and thus is green all year long with flowers everywhere.  Streets wind around hills and valleys and it is hard to get where you are going unless you are a genius.  Someone told me that Cuernavaca was God's first attempt at designing a city.  (Heresy I know)  After a bit of walking we came to a waterfall in the center of the city.  Quite stunning, even if the water going over the falls is a bit blue/grey looking.   

In the picture below we are sitting in the Zocalo enjoy coffee drinks from the Italian Coffee Company.  

Gary gave Waldo and Geovani the camera and they headed off to take pictures.  Jose Manuel decided he should follow and after a while I caught up to them in front of the Palace of Cortes.  Yes, the Cortes from Spain.  He liked Cuernavaca too. One of the boys took a picture of Gary and Manuel in front of the Palacio de Cortes.  

After walking throughout downtown we were getting tired and hungry. So we caught a couple of taxies and came home for a BBQ.  Manuel did a great job of cooking up burgers, arrechera (kind of thin steak) and hotdogs. We invited Pastor Lorenzo and Mari Carmen to come for a visit and we all enjoyed quite a BBQ feast together.  

Here we are watching Jose Manuel do all the cooking.  

Around 5:30, it was time for our guest to head back to Puebla.  Harley got back in his tavel bag and Geovani was so proud to carry the little pet on his lap all the way home.  

A final group foto.   How precious to share our Boxing Day with dear friends.  Jose Manuel is a leader in Puebla with the CrossWorld ministry there.  

We love hanging out with Debbie any chance we get. Debbie has the Christian bookstore in Los Heroes and leads a number of Bible studies with ladies in the community.  Thanks for coming Debbie and for bringing our precious Mexican friends with you.

Hamburguesas-The Best Hamburgers in the World

Quiet Streetcorner in Cuernavaca

There isn't anything that I can compare this hamburger stand with in Canada. It is completely mobile and sets up and tears down every night. It is famous in that there is always a line up, but you won't find it advertized anywhere that I am aware of. It is a word of mouth kind of famous. And I guess, that is really the best kind of famous.  The owners are believers and play Christian music over their two speakers. The meat is absolutely fresh, the fries are to die for, and the burgers, seriously, are the best I have ever had.  And I have eaten a lot of burgers! 

All told, it took two cars and a taxi to get us there. Fourteen people, three families, and a handsome young novio from Puebla.  The Servin family (our pastor), the Harers, and Kim and I met on this magical corner to renew fellowship and just to celebrate friendship and the love of Christ.  

The ambiance is really incredible. You just feel like you are somewhere ethereal. It is dreamlike, yet sublimely real.  You don't want to leave.  But you can only eat so much and others are waiting for a table, since there are only four. 

How good it is to be with brothers and sisiters in Christ, to laugh, to love, to bless, to eat good food together. 

When we had eaten all the burgers we needed ( I did want another), we caravaned back to the Lidstone house for good coffee, fresh from the market, pie and icecream and chocolate chip cookies. The Servins have been such a help to many missionary families, including Kim and me. 

That night, both the Harer family and the Lidstones got to hang out with some wonderful people, some of our favourite people.  

Just imagine when we all gather around the throne together, from every tongue and tribe and nation.  We can at least dream about it. It will be unlike any moment, magical or not, that we have ever experienced.  We won't want it to end, and it won't.  Even so, come Lord Jesus. 

A Mountain Top Experience - Tepoztlan

One of the ministries we hoped to have while here in Mexico was to provide a place of refreshing for missionaries.  What a treat it was to have our friends come to visit; Ken and Diana Harer with their great kids Daniel, Maria and Cristina. After convincing them to stay a second night, we shared a mountain climbing experience together in the town of Tepoztlan, just 30 minutes from Cuernavaca. Below is a photo blog of our day.  

Driving into Tepoztlan

Walking through the narrow streets to the base of the mountain

Stopping along the way for a Quesadilla - a bit of energy with which to climb the two Kilometer trail

Only 70 minutes more of climbing!

Ya, we have to climb through there...the steepest part of the hike. 

Why build a temple on top of a mountain in 1200 AD?

Kim and Ken chatting inside the pyramid, just in front of the altar. 

Gary and Maria standing in front of the pyramid.

From the back side of the pyramid as the afternoon sun was lowering. 

Back in town, it was hard to believe we were up there. 

Zooming in as the sun was setting.