Summary of March 08 Mexico

Thanks for praying.

Some praises:

• English Camp was a great success


• Language study was productive (Gary two weeks, Kim one)


• Visited our neighbors and friends in Los Heroes (two year old relationships)


• Got to know every missionary family in Los Heroes and spend time with each


• Visited our church in Cuernavaca where we were warmly welcomed (Pastor Lorenzo asked me if I had my message with me - next time)


• Reconnected with fellow Canadians Jim and Sheri Cottrill in Cuernavaca


• Good discussions about future ministry

We took a few days for a bit of a rest in the middle, but were kept busy the rest of the time. I think we ate in 7 different missionary homes, went for coffee, visited in Mexican homes and met new friends and missionaries who enriched us with new friendships.

For the next six months, I will be preaching in Canada. Please pray that God will give us wisdom to move forward during this time. We would like to get back to Mexico in October for more language learning. Please pray about the home team we are seeking to raise up for future ministry.

Gary

Gary's Birthday March 24

After a very busy Easter weekend came Monday, March 24th. I awoke in the home of the Harer family and came downstairs to the smell of bacon and eggs and to the site of the entire livingroom decorated for my birthday. After I had gone to bed, the children came back downstairs and decorated the house.

After breakfast, Ken, Diana, Kim and I went to Italian Coffee Company for a sweet time of fellowship around some great coffee.

Kim and I went uptown to look for some coffee (beans) and had to be home by 6pm. Hummm. I got to thinking. Well, we took the bus back to Los Heroes and when we walked in the house, there sat a beautiful cake, coffee cups ready to go, soft drinks, napkins....you know. People were coming.


What a delight it was to spend the remainder of my birthday with the CrossWorld team in Los Heroes, including Jose Manuel, Paula and their three children. At one time that evening I heard Spanish, German and English being spoken at the same time. Imagine the fiestas we will have around the throne of God as one people.

Thanks to Kim and the Harer's for hosting my party. Thanks to all who attended.

Easter March 08 Photo Journal

Saturday began with Egg decorating in Cuernavaca
at the home of Marylin and Toby Casteel

Seder (Passover Diner) Saturday
Night With The Harer Family (Los Heroes, Puebla)


















Sunrise Service Easter Sunday

Coffee and Cinnamon Buns

Early Easter Morning

Easter Service with El Puente and other
fellowships Chalula






























Easter Dinner at Atlixco with CrossWorld
Missionaries

Easter Sunday Night with our other
daughter, Christina Wade

We celebrated the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ from 6pm Saturday until 10 pm Sunday night. An Easter to remember!

The Triumphant Cross

From Cuernavaca Mexico

Tomorrow we will go into the Calle (street) in front of the university to watch a procession of people making their way to a local parish. They will be carrying figures of Mary and Jesus, some will carry large crosses, and in some places, actual nails will be used to "crucify" someone representing Christ. Not sure all we will see tomorrow, but at three o'clock, the doors to the church will be shut, the hour of Jesus' death. They will reopen on Easter Sunday.




But there will be no shout of triumph without experiencing the triumph of the cross over sin in our lives. Devoted, well meaning people, will go through ancient traditions to please Christ and demonstrate their devotion to Him. But he requires our heart, our worship, our lives! And offers intimate authentic relationship. Let us draw near and worship our crucified, risen, glorious, triumphant, majestic Saviour.






May your season of Pascua (easter) be celebrated fittingly, as to a faithful Saviour, risen in power from the grave, seated a the right hand of the Father, in glory and majesty.

From Mexico

Where do you meet a German man in his sixties, who is cycling from Athens to Peking? TheMexico city airport of course. Wonderful connections have been made since leaving Dallas for Mexico City on February 29th. By the time we had traveled half way to Puebla from Mexico City, we were having fellowship with a mother and her adult son, believers, who offered their houses to us, one in Los Heroes, where we were heading anyway, and one in a small town far from Puebla. Could you see that happening in Canada?

Our first week included speaking to a house church fellowship of missionary friends, Kim teaching English to ladies every morning for a week and children every afternoon, visiting with missionaries and living in the home of our dear friends, Ken and Diana Harer.
Check out his blog at http://www.kneelingwetriumph.com



I (Gary) took Spanish classes from 11 until 4:30 each day and it was a great help. It was neat reconnecting with our very first spanish teacher, Rosi. To ride the city buses of Puebla, and to walk on familiar and yet enchanted streets again brought back so many memories. Sunday we enjoyed a lovely dinner with Ken, Diana, Daniel, Maria and Christina Harer at a favorite restaurant Italianis. We took a quick stroll through the beautiful park (remains of the original site of Puebla nearly 500 years ago), and then proceeded up the busy 5 de Mayo to catch our buss for Cuernavaca.

After a great weekend we left Puebla for Cuernavaca, arriving around 8:30 pm. It was so good to see Marilyn Casteel and to be back at La Villa Castilla once again. We look forward to a bit of rest here, and then will head back to school for another week of Spanish. We are learning!

Tonight, Kim and I took the bus (ruta 6) down town to the zocalo, where we ate supper, walked up to the cathedral, which in the dark is a lovely walk, and then caught another crazy ruta 6 back up to Subida a Chalma. Kim was afraid! Really, the driver was nuts! But people sat calmly on the bus, except for us as we hung on white knuckled.

We have had rich opportunities to meet new missionaries, reconnect with old friends, make new ones and see God working in so many lives. I'll write more another night.

Hasta Luego,

Gary