NewSeason

New Member of the Family

2009-07-28T18:59:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-21T13:43:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-05-11T10:36:00.000-07:00

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. 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. 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. 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. Pray that God would give us supernatural power to begin our ministry in Windsor.
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

2009-02-12T11:54:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-06T07:27:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-05T13:48:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-05T09:59:00.000-08:00

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.

Christmas Day with an International Flare

2009-01-03T06:54:00.000-08:00

Christmas Day was a gathering of a few friends and a teacher from the university where we study Spanish. Kim prepared an outstanding Christmas turkey dinner, Canadian style! Pictured below is Gary with Sanne from Netherlands.

How does Kim keep her cool when dinner is ready and we are waiting for our Mexican friend/teacher to arrive....2 hours late?

Sanne and Cristina (Mexicana) chatting with Timothy(hands) as we await dessert.

Timothy(USA) and Luca (Switzerland) chillin' before dinner. Both before and after dinner we had wonderful conversation with these new friends.

The group foto! Timothy had enjoyed a wonderful conversation with a youth pastor who was staying with him and continued the conversation with Kim while helping with the dishes. We will keep up via Facebook, etc.

How special it was to lead this group from different parts of the world in a prayer of thanks for the birth of Jesus. It was difficult to be away from our family over Christmas, but Kim's plan for a dinner for those who did not have family made our day very special. Thanks Kim!!!!

Christmas Eve - Noche Buena

2008-12-28T18:25:00.000-08:00

In December of 2006, we arrived in Cuernavaca on Christmas Eve with Krista and Sarah. It was too late to learn what happens on Noche Buena. But this year we were invited by Pastor Lorenzo and Mari Carmen Servin to their home for Christmas Cena. As you can see in the picture, it was time for some family pictures in front of the Arbol de Navidad.

Then it was time for a fantastic dinner perpared by the Servin ladies. Everything was delicious and especially, the dressing for the turkey. It was a combination of ground beef, bacon, nuts, peaches, hmmm, I'm forgetting some ingredients, but wow, what a treat, a traditional Mexican dish.

After good conversation and lots of laughter, mostly at my expense, (I just can't stop talking even when I make really funny mistakes) we went outside to watch some fireworks and just enjoyed being outside on a really quiet street on a really peaceful evening. Near midnight, we finally caught a taxi to go home and the first thing the driver said to us was, "You are going home early!" We reminded him that we were Canadians and that we could not stay up all night.

After arriving home, we prepared for bed with the windows open. People were lighting fireworks well into the early hours of the morning. We closed the window and went to sleep. Thank you Servin Family for taking us in on Christmas Eve. We were reminded of what varioius taxi drivers had told us as we approached Christmas without family near, "When you are in Mexico, we are your family!"

Christmas Greetings

2008-12-20T08:30:00.001-08:00

Very Sweet Invitations

This will be our first Christmas ever with just the two of us. Daniel and Grace will be in Chicago, Krista and Jonathan in Langley, BC, and Sarah will be in Texas with the African Children's Choir. One evening Jesús (our taxi driver) after explaining their family tradition on Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) asked us what we would do for Christmas. After telling him our story, he became quiet. A moment or two later he said, "You are invited to our house Christmas Eve. We have a small house but please come." Then, a few days ago as Gary was walking to catch a taxi, he passed the propane delivery man. He recognized Gary and as they chatted he wanted to know where we would spend Christmas. After hearing our story he said, "My house is not far. If you are alone, please come." How can you NOT love people like that? Poor, humble, but unwilling to leave complete strangers alone on Christmas Eve
.
What of the heart of Jesus Christ for Mexicans, Canadians, Americans and indeed the entire world. He was not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. So He came to be our Lamb, our Sacrifice, our Salvation, and our Hope. He is the Word of Life, who was with the Father and has appeared unto us. (1Jo. 1:2) I am convinced that the heart of Jesus is also stirred to see so many people spend Christmas outside of His family. May God renew our love and passion for souls and deepen our desire and resolve to make Him known.

Making Ponche and Serving at the Posada

2008-12-19T22:30:00.000-08:00

Some Posada Pics

2008-12-17T21:39:00.000-08:00

A Few Pics Approaching Navidad

2008-12-17T08:19:00.000-08:00

Fruit beinging washed for Ponche tonight.

Mariachis singing to the Virgin of Guadalupe on December 12, The Day of the Virgin

Gary preaching on December 7, at Pastor Lorenzo Servin's church in Cuernavaca.

The General Hospital where we went to pass out tracts and pray for people. Kim and I plan to go back over Christmas and take a few treats.

Where do I begin?

2008-12-16T19:48:00.000-08:00

Wow. So much has happened, and I have gotten behind. I'll start from tonight and begin to go backwards for a few posts.

Tonight, Kim and I were walking to get some coffee for the morning when we came upon our first Posada. It is a tradition that goes back to Spain I was told. For centuries the neighbors have gathered for 9 evenngs before Christmas to share ponche (a lovely drink made from a number of different fruits and sugar cane), sweets and to have the children break Piñatas. The nine evenings are to remember the journey of Mary and Joseph as they went from house to house looking for a place for Mary to give birth. So, for nine evenings our neighbors are gathering to sing, be together, share candy and Ponche. Needless to say, we didn't get coffee. We were snagged by the Dentista who is organizing the neighborhood. Tomorrow Kim and I are to make the Ponche and buy the little cookie and candy bags that everyone gets. Another neighbor will provide the Piñatas.

Last night was really cool. We took the bus down to the General Hospital and met some folks from the church. We met in the Sala de Esperanza, waiting room in the emergency department. It was full of people, inside and out and we were to give out scarfs (bufonda) and tracts and we were going to share Christ and pray with people. There were two groups there when we arrived, Christians, who had brought coffee and sandwiches for people who were waiting for loved ones to be treated, or who were at the hospital because of relatives who were admited. The gospel was preached in the waiting room and outside on the sidewalk. We were left to find people to talk and pray with and to share Christ with. It was somewhat caotic as you might imagine. Kim found a lady and began to share Christ with her. I found two fellows to chat with and to pray with. It was an absolute delight to carry the love of Christ to those precious people.
We walked part way home until we could catch a bus. It was a night to remember. Since we will not have family to spend Christmas with, we are thinking to go back to the hospital to share and pray with people. Perhaps we can take some treats.

A couple of weeks ago Gary preached his first Sunday morning in Spanish. By God's grace it went well, or so the folks said. They appreciated the message.

We continue to study and attend school this week. On Saturday we will attend our first wedding in Mexico. Next week is Christmas. We are missing our kids and family. Love to all.

I will try to catch up some more items in the next day or two. Appreciate all who pray.

Memories of the last weekend of November

2008-12-02T17:38:00.000-08:00

Thirty days after packing our house into our "bodega" storage unit on Richmond Street, we closed November in Puebla, Mexico. The stretched weekend began last Thursday, riding the bus to Puebla with Toby and Marilyn Casteel, and concluded with a delayed bus trip back to Cuernavaca yesterday, delayed because one highway was closed for repairs and all the traffic funneled onto our road. The bus terminal in Puebla is massive, called, CAPU. You see people from many stratas of society. And according to your means, so is the bus you ride on. Some buses that pull out of CAPU, I would not want to ride. Others are luxurious, state of the art technology without equal in Canada. Enough on buses.

Over the weekend we stayed four nights in the team house called, "Tim's House". Keith and Dawn Goodling offered us turkey dinner, pumpkin pie, turkey sandwiches, and wonderful fellowship. They are members of the CrossWorld Puebla team and come from Pennsylvania. We had coffee with other members of the team and got a peak at newborn twins, sons of Danilo and Ingrid Paulk. It was great to spend some time with Ken and Diana Harer and Debbie Murphy as well. How blessed we are to have such wonderful friends.

And as an added treat, we got to sit and chat a while with Jose Manuel and Paola, Mexican leaders in Los Heroes we have known and loved for three years.

Sunday included worship at El Puente (The Bridge) with Steve and Blanche Bell followed by an awesome lunch together.

It was really cool as we walked down the street in Los Heroes in the dark, to come upon a family that Kim knew. Kim has taught the mom twice and we got to meet her husband and two daughters and chat a while.

The weekend was rich and full, and we are catching our breath as I prepare to preach this weekend. Kim is studying at home this week as well.

God is good. Thanks for your prayers and notes. Keep us up to date with what God is doing in your life. Blessings.

Gary

Patriotic Delight de Puebla

2008-11-30T21:48:00.000-08:00

From Puebla from Kim

2008-11-29T10:56:00.000-08:00

We thought it was time for Kim (me) to take a turn at a blog update. So here goes!

We have been so blessed to have incredible opportunities here in Mexico. We thank all of you that support us by prayer, finances, thoughts and concerns, from the bottom of our heart. We feel so privileged to be here.

Yesterday we met with the new director of FEB International here in beautiful downtown Puebla. We had a delightful Mexican comida meal together in an authentic Mexican restaurant and it is nothing like Taco Bell!!! Dan was a great encouragement to us.

We spent a delightful few hours showing Dan around the downtown of Puebla. You might recall that the first time we came to Mexico we lived in Puebla for 3 ½ months and got to know the city with our language guides from the Spanish school we attended. We love the “centro” of Puebla. The city is 475 years old and so very enchanting!

As we stood at entrance to the “gold” chapel where the ceiling and all walls are overlaid in gold, the beauty took my breath away! It is very sobering to ponder the spiritual condition of the people’s hearts. Do they have a relationship with our Saviour? They are very spiritual people, but are they trusting in their traditions for their salvation?

We are so grateful for those we meet along the way that are a blessing and an encouragement. There is a house here in Los Heroes, Puebla, which missionaries have prepared for visitors to stay in. The house is lovely and it is such a blessing to have a place to retreat to after busy days of visiting and meeting with dear friends. We appreciate the way the missionary team has made us feel so welcome.

Would you pray for Gary this week as he prepares to preach this Sunday, Dec 7 in Spanish? He will get help with his preparations, but needs our prayers! We both covet your prayers as we continue to work hard on learning this beautiful language. We need well tuned ears and well oiled tongues!

Many blessings to you and your families. Thank you to those that email us and let us know your needs and prayer requests. We are glad to partner with you in these matters of prayer. We love to hear from you.

Kim

Ahorita, estamos en Puebla

2008-11-28T08:33:00.000-08:00

After a two hour bus ride with our friends, the Casteels, Kim and I got off the bus in Las Animas, a Zona of Puebla. After a bit of a break, we took a taxi to Los Heroes and wandered to Keith and Dawn Goodlings house where we were graciously offered a reheated and Delicious Thanksgiving Dinner, complete with Pumpkin pie and whipped cream.....did I mention the pie came with Starbucks coffee? Later we settled into Tim's house which Keith and Dawn had graciously prepared for us, complete with two Hershey Kisses on each pillow. We have a big day planned. We'll share more later.

Empty house and pizza

2008-11-27T07:54:00.000-08:00

What blessing it was to taxi over to our friends' house on the other side of town. The plan was to await the moving truck together and visit a while. As we arrived Toby was on the telephone to the movers, who were now stopped by the police on the side of the road in Mexico city. The decision was made to come this morning to load the truck. This is so Mexico!

After wandering around an empty house, sitting and chatting, we decided to go for pizza to Armando's, owned by a Canadian from Windsor, Ontario. It was a great opportunity to catch up with dear friends, Toby and Marilyn Casteel, to share what God has been and is doing in each of our lives. While Kim and I are just nicely into our 50's and excited about what God has before us in this decade of our lives, Toby and Marilyn are just moving into their 60's decade. For us, they have been an inspiration and heroes at the same time. No one can count the ways God has used them in the lives of so many as they have shepherded CAM missionaries and graciously blessed CrossWorld missionaries just arriving in Mexico for language studies.

We left Armando's last night in separate taxis, Toby and Marilyn back to a nearly empty house for one more night, and Kim and I back to the house we are renting from missionaries on home assignment. We will be staying a while longer and Toby and Marilyn will be starting life anew in Texas.

Do you ever have an evening that you suspect will be a treasured memory.....

Thanks Toby and Marilyn

Life in Cuernavaca

2008-11-26T16:38:00.000-08:00

As I write this blog, our friends are across town awaiting the moving truck, which was supposed to arrive at 10 this morning. Apparently it broke down in Mexico City and will arrive sometime this evening. They wait in a near empty house I'm sure reflecting on the many precious memories that have been made over the last 8 or 9 years. When I am finished this blog, we will take a taxi across town to wait with them. Eventually, we hope, we will come back to our house to spend the night and then will travel together tomorrow to the city of Puebla by bus. They will carry on to the state of Veracruz for a missionary field conference and we will make our way to Los Heroes, a large housing development in this city of over 2 million people. If all goes well, we will have pumpkin pie by tomorrow evening with American friends and will celebrate with them American Thanksgiving.

This week we began formal language classes and have had a good week. Of course we have been learning new things every day since arriving and have done everything we can to saturate ourselves with Spanish, even to watching a TV program similar to American Idol. It goes for hours it seems with rapid fire Spanish, but this is a good way to tune our ears. It is interesting to understand what the distorted voice over the Walmart loudspeaker system is saying now, for the most part. And we overhear people talking and understand more of what they are saying. We praise God for the increase in comprehension and capacity to communicate.

With God's help, I will preach on December the 7th in Spanish. We plan to involve ourselves in the activities of the church and just be with the people as often as is possible. We are looking forward to a Christmas party on December 19th.

People are asking us what we will do for Christmas. This will be the first Christmas ever without any of our children around and without access to any family whatsoever. We are not feeling sorry for ourselves but rather look forward to entering into the joy of celebrating Christ's birth with friends and brothers and sisters in Christ here in Mexico. Who knows what will happen?

I should close. Your prayers for strength, stamina, agile minds and liberty in talking as well as for wisdom in relationships and in counselling and encouraging our friends here are deeply appreciated. I will write more soon.

Blessings,

Gary for the both of us.

Home in Cuernavaca

2008-11-13T10:51:00.000-08:00

Five days ago we touched down in Mexico City, Nov. 8th. The night before we celebrated Kim's birthday with Daniel and Grace in Chicago at a good Mexican restaurant called, "On the Boarder". Our Mexicana server had family in Cuernavaca and it was a neat point of conversation.

We traveled Sunday, Nov 9th, by bus to Cuernavaca (2 hours) and took a taxi to our house from the bus terminal. We didn't know how we were going to get in because we didn't have keys, nor did we have a telephone card with which to call the man (Osvaldo) that did have the keys. Our taxi driver found the house after a little while and "coincidently" Osvaldo and his wife, Veronica, and their two children were at the house watering the lawn and cleaning up a bit of dust in the house. It was a neat "God Moment" to be welcomed by our brother and his wife, whom we knew already. After helping us get our bags into the house, and lighting the water heater and turning on the gas, we went for supper to La Tortuga for wonderful tacos al pastor, our favourities. After supper they took us to Walmart (about a 15 minute walk from our house) to buy a few groceries and then brought us home. We had a delightful time with them.

Monday, Nov 10th, Osvaldo brought his coworker by the house during lunch (2-4pm) and he cut the grass and trimmed the bushes. We set out on foot to buy a mattress cushion and some new pillows and walked back from Walmart with arms full. We got a bit lost but that only added to the fun. After work Osvaldo came by and took me to get some keys cut so we wouldn't lock ourselves out of the house.

Since then, we have been coming and going, cleaning the house, shopping and just trying to catch our breath after a very busy October. We are so grateful to be here in Mexico. Tonight we will have coffee with Pastor Lorenzo Servin and his wife, Mari Carmen. Tomorrow night, CAM missionaries and fellow Canadians will come to spend the weekend with us. Jim and Shari and their children are precious to us. They serve in a suburb of Mexico City, so we look forward to learning all about their new ministry.

We are trusting God for this season in Mexico. Please pray for our minds to be quick, our hearts to be patient, and our tongues to be loosed as we work on Spanish. It is coming.

November Newsletter

2008-11-05T17:04:00.000-08:00

Leaving Chatham Behind

2008-11-02T16:54:00.000-08:00

How do you leave six years of your life behind? They have been six years of incredible change in our lives. God has enriched us greatly with our time in Chatham. He has used friends, pain, adversity, triumph and overcoming, His Word and Spirit and time. I was reminded this past week of a message I preached during my closing months at Emmanuel on the life of Joseph. God's work always requires time and grace.

During our time in Chatham, God took our delight in missions and made it a reality in our lives. We have spent over 8 months of the last three years in Mexico and God brought Pastor Miguel and Gladis Mahecha into our lives to keep Spanish alive and and a love for Latin American people growing.

Over the last three years Chatham has been our place of refuge. From here we have struck out on preaching ministries, made countless new friends abroad and have added West Highland Baptist Church and Oxford Baptist Church to our list of churches we have fallen in love with. We have been amazed at who God would touch to support us in our endeavors and adventures for Him and we have been humbled by the love of many and the faithfulness of God.

I'm feeling a little sentimental as I write this entry. Until now I have not had time to feel much emotion but it seems to be catching up. Our ministry in Chatham is not finished, but our time to live there is completed. We know God's peace at being homeless and at not being sure where we will eventually live. One thing we do know for certain; God knows and he is working. We have seen his hand in the sale of our home and in divine appointments that only he could have orchestrated in the last few days and months.

For now we prepare to head to Mexico with excitement. We cannot wait to renew fellowship with our missions family there and to make new friends. Pastor Lorenzo thinks he can find something for us to do in Cuernavaca! And we look forward to visiting missionary friends in Mexcio City and Puebla as well as other cities.

We do appreciate all who uphold us in prayer. Dale and Audrey Groombridge (above) and their small group have supported us in prayer over the last three years. Two weeks ago they prayed for a buyer to act within 48 hours and our house sold less than 48 hours later. We visited with them last week to thank them for their concerted effort in prayer. It was an incredible joy to be with these wonderful friends from Emmanuel.

As we put our boat in storage for the winter and drove out of Chatham, the sun was setting and I got this picture. It is kind of fitting as God was saying, "this day is closing and so is this era in your lives".

We rejoice that his mercies are new every morning and so we move on in his grace and strength.

The LORD Reigns

2008-10-28T08:22:00.000-07:00

Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.

Psalm 93:1,2

I cannot help but feel anxiety in the air these days. Markets are plummeting, pension funds are shrinking, governments seem helpless to stabilize an "out of control" world economy. Massive companies like GM are on the verge of bankruptcy. I find it interesting that we are so shaken by economic "shaking". It seems like God knows that we are most attached to our security and material things and that the way to get our attention is to put a hole in the bag of silver we find such security in.

I am reminded this morning of the sovereignty of God. "The nations mock" but He is still God. It is good to be reminded during times like this that our help comes from the Lord, who's throne is established from of old. God has seen economic downturns, shifts in the way the nations of the world relate to each other, and superpowers come and go. But, HE is not wringing his hands.

In a microcosmic kind of way, the world of Gary and Kim Lidstone is also changing. The "only" secure thing in our lives for the last three years has been that whenever we came home from wherever, our shelter was at 21 Villa Court, Chatham. As the Lord has brought us on the journey of the last three years, he has given us assurance that only He is our shelter and that we can uproot from Chatham and wait upon Him for further instructions.

I will say to the LORD,

"My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Ps 91:2

The Keys to our New Place

2008-10-22T16:31:00.000-07:00

Last night the conditions were removed from the offer on our home and so we began packing and emptying our house at 21 Villa Court. This morning we rented our new house. It has two doors, both garage doors, one at the back and the other at the front. It is thirty feet long and 10 feet wide. That is bigger than some of the houses in Los Heroes, Puebla. Today we pretty much emptied the garage and tomorrow we will keep going with storage room stuff. Pastor Miguel and his daughter Melissa will help us tomorrow. Melissa stores some of her things with us and we have plenty of room in our new casa for her things.

We are becoming excited about getting back to Mexico. God is opening doors for us already. This will be an interesting sojourn without a house to think about in Canada. In essence, when we return from Mexico, we will not know where home is. We trust the Lord to make that clear to us.

Partnering with Financial Support

2008-10-18T11:04:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends,

As the Lord leads you, you can partner with us in Mexico by sending gifts to CrossWorld at the following addresses.

We are leaving after the 31st of October and will be there at least until the end of January.

CrossWorld - Canada 1020 Matheson Blvd. E. #11Mississauga, ON L4W 4J9 Phone: 905-238-0904info.canada@crossworld.orgCrossWorld

CrossWorld USA 306 Bala AvenueP.O. Box 306Bala-Cynwyd, PA 19004 Phone: 610-667-7660info@crossworld.org

The House is Sold

2008-10-18T09:58:00.000-07:00

Quite a 12 month period. Last September we began a four month interim ministry at West Highland Baptist Church in Hamilton. January and February (08) we did some preaching elsewhere but capitalized on a quieter schedule by finishing the lower level of our house. This was to 1. enjoy the entire house and 2. to prepare the house to sell. We finished the room just in time to list the house and leave for Mexico in March. We had a lot of interest in the house and accepted a conditional offer that later fell through. After returning from Mexico we took the house off the market but continued to dialogue with our Realtor and good friend Dale Groombridge.

In April we began six months of interim ministry in Woodstock at Oxford Baptist Church and decided to put our house back on the market later in the summer. We hoped it would sell before October so we could go to Mexico with the house sold. Finishing at Oxford at the end of September, we had three Sundays committed in October to ministry and travel, and then we were leaving for Mexico sometime during the week of October 20. Then an offer came, a really bad offer, but a purchaser that could close at the end of October. As we left for Chicago last Thursday, we dismissed another lame attempt to purchase the house by the same buyer. This week we gave her 24 - 48 hours to meet our price or we were going to leave next week for Mexico and she would not get the house. I had my doubts she would come through.

Unknown to us, a small group from Emmanuel, filled with dear friends, began to pray in earnest Wednesday night for our house to sell. Thursday the call came and after a bit of back and forth, we learned at 5 pm yesterday (Friday) that the buyer had accepted our terms. We rejoice at the wisdom and faithfulness of God. We now have two weeks to pack up and store our stuff and then leave for Mexico.

It is time to move on! The cloud is moving. Where it will lead ultimately is not our concern. That is the Lord's. And he will direct our steps. The fact is, we are more flexible now than we have ever been in our lives. Our home will be wherever the Lord has us. He will be our refuge, as He has always been. Our plan is to buy again as soon as the cloud settles. The prayer and encouragement of our friends and family are of such importance to us. We are grateful.

Gary

No Sale

2008-10-14T12:30:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Thanks so much for praying and then asking, "Did it sell?" The answer is no.

We left Friday morning for Chicago to see Sarah and the African Children's Choir at Wheaton Academy that evening and returned Thanksgiving Monday night around 2 am. During the weekend we spent one night with Sarah in a hotel and enjoyed Giordano's Pizza for supper. Daniel and Grace joined us for the concert Friday night as well as a number of Sarah's friends from her Chicago/Moody days.

Saturday night, Daniel led worship with Andy Rozier at Harvest Bible Chapel, Rowling Meadows and sang "Song of Hope" as the special music. At the end of his song, James MacDonald got up and asked for them to sing part of it again. It was powerful. We returned Sunday morning for the second service to worship again with our favorite worship leader.

We are back home in Chatham, deciding on which day to travel to Mexico next week. This Sunday, October 19th, we will visit a church that may play a role in our future. Will you pray for this weekend.

Also, our house will remain on the market while we go to Mexico. We would love for some reliable couple or single to rent it until the end of January. We have heard from our pastor in Mexico and they want to put us to for work. Excited!

Thanks for all who prayed about our house. Your emails and contacts mean so much to us. Let's stay in touch!

Grateful for you,

Gary and Kim

Sale of House

2008-10-14T12:22:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Dear Friends,

This morning we received an offer on our house in Chatham. It was a good offer in so much as the buyer wants to close at the end of October and does not have a house to sell. But it was 14,000 below our asking price. We have countered with what would be fair and are awaiting news. Perhaps Thursday we will know how serious this purchaser is. Please pray for us.

We have a few commitments before heading for Mexico and would covet your prayers in these days. They are days of waiting and yet of seriously considering what the Lord is directing us to do. We do not lack opportunities. Just wisdom from God. We would love to hear from you as to how you are doing. We want to stay connected with your lives!

Warmly,

Gary and Kim

No Sale

2008-10-14T11:17:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Thanks so much for praying and then asking,

"Did it sell?" The answer is no.

We are back home in Chatham, deciding on which day to travel to Mexico next week. This Sunday, October 19th, we will visit a church that may play a role in our future. Will you pray for this weekend.

Also, our house will remain on the market while we go to Mexico. We would love for some reliable couple or single to rent it until the end of January. We have heard from our pastor in Mexico and they want to put us to work. Excited!

Thanks for all who prayed about our house. Your emails and contacts mean so much to us.

Let's stay in touch!

Grateful for you,

Gary and Kim

Day One Kelowna Krista & Jonathan

2008-05-15T21:53:00.000-07:00

Krista, Kim, Sarah

Family Day with Krista was spent with both grandmothers, Helen and Joan, Kim, Sarah and Gary

Summary of March 08 Mexico

2008-03-27T12:48:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-27T09:11:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-27T08:05:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-20T20:26:00.001-07:00

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

2008-03-11T21:08:00.000-07:00

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

Pastor Miguel and Gladis Mahecha to Hamilton with Us

2007-12-15T06:25:00.001-08:00

Pastor Miguel and Gladis travelled to Hamilton with us this weekend to minister. These faithful servants of God fled to Canada from Colombia where their lives were threatened by organized crime. They are learning English and trying to find their place in Canada. They have a tremendous ministry of prayer and encouragement and have blessed Kim and I richly.

We wanted to honour them for their faithfulness and wanted the West Highland Church family to meet them.

They have patiently helped us with our Spanish and we have been of some help with their English.

We are so blessed to have these dear people in our lives.

Perparing Our Hearts for Christmas

2007-12-12T16:33:00.000-08:00

Preparing our Hearts for Christmas
The following meditations are meant for quiet conversation with God. I encourage you to write preparations you might want to make in anticipation of celebrating the birth of Christ this Christmas. May the Holy Spirit use these seeds to prompt you to make personal preparation for a fresh encounter with Emmanuel.

Scripture texts incorporated in these meditations taken from Matthew 1:18 - 3:17, Luke 1:5 – 2:40, John 1:1-34, Hebrews 2:14-18; 4:14-16; 10:19-22.

Day One
Saviour, it is right to celebrate the example of Mary, your mother. She willingly complied with your sovereign choice for her to be the mother of God the Son. Young and afraid, yet trusting in your faithfulness, she willingly conceived and gave birth to the God Man, Jesus Christ, and was a faithful mother. Her song was, “the Mighty One has done great things for me – Holy is his name”. Oh that my heart would sing with Mary in praise and adoration to the Might One who is mindful of the humble and exalts them in due time, Who extends mercy to those who fear him, Who performs mighty deeds with His powerful arm, crushing His enemies and helping His people. Lord, you delight to lift up the lowly and exalt the humble. You are glorified when the poor in spirit are made rich in you and live like it. Lord, I want to be humble so that I might be filled with your presence and power. Then I can sing with the humble, “The Mighty One has done great things for me – Holy is His name!”

African Children's Choir for Sarah in 08

2007-12-11T19:42:00.000-08:00

Just a note to share that Sarah was recently accepted to work with the African Children's Choir beginning in July 08.

She will travel to Uganda for training and to meet the children before they leave for North America. This is a year long commitment of living out of a small suitcase with vibrant children.

We are very excited for her.

By the way, she is leaving for Ireland and the south of France December 26th for 10 days. Lucky!

On Being Filled with the Holy Spirit

2007-12-11T11:53:00.000-08:00

"Before a man can be filled with the Spirit he must be sure he wants to be...Are you willing to let your personality to be taken over by another, even if that other be the Spirit of God Himself? He will be jealous over you for good. He will take the direction of your life away from you. He will reserve the right to test you, to discipline you, to chasten you for your soul's sake...Through it all He will enfold you in a love so vast, so mighty, so all-embracing, so wondrous that your very losses will seem like gains and your small pains like pleasures."

- A. W. Tozer

Christmas Celebrations Begin

2007-12-10T14:30:00.000-08:00

This morning Kim left with her mother for Florida. It is just a matter of driving her mom down and flying back this week. I'm hoping to pick Kim up at the Detroit airport Thursday evening.

This was the first weekend of Christmas celebrations for us. We had lunch yesterday with our nephew Kyle and his parents Gloria and Ed along with Kim's mom, Joan. Then we drove two hours west on slippery roads to Chatham. Yesterday's drive means three weekends in a row of driving on "black ice" on the 401. Today was much better as the temperature rose above zero.

This is a picture of Kim and I at our Christmas Ballroom Dance. It was an elegant evening of fun with good friends.

Kim's Trip to Mexico

2007-12-09T06:36:00.000-08:00

Kim left me for a week of ministry in Mexico with CrossWorld in a retreat center called Metepec. In total 30 people were present. She was able to reconnect with dear friends and ministry colleagues. God used the time in Kim's life to give her courage to travel in a Spanish speaking country alone, not relying upon me to do most of the talking.

Kim continues to be the administrative assistant to the Latin America Director, Mark Hedinger, for the Puebla ministry focus. She develops ESL material for the English camps held in Los Heroes and coordinates teams and personnel visiting the field. Her contract with CrossWorld concludes in the summer of 08.

30th Anniversary & Kim's 50th Birthday

2007-12-05T10:46:00.000-08:00

The Richness of Friendship

2007-12-04T08:55:00.000-08:00

This morning I am preparing for the return of my sweetheart from Mexico. As I recover from a wintry weekend that kept me in Hamilton until Monday, I am thinking of my wealth in terms of friendships. I overnighted because of the storm with Bonnie and Allan Gallant in Hamilton Sunday night, having warm fellowship and a hot tub in the freezing rain. Love their kids! On the way home Monday I passed through Brantford and stopped for lunch at my dear friend, Alan Rietberg's, favourite haunt. Sure enough he was there and we had a great visit.

As I get back to normal with cleaning up from a week of being without my Kim, and hoping to surprising her with some Christmas lights, I just checked my telephone messages. There were three. My dear friend Deric Bartlett called to encourage me with the reports he is hearing about our ministry in Hamilton. Pastor Miguel Mahecha called to give greeings as they wait for Kim to come home from Mexico, in Spanish. And moments ago my dear brother from Senegal called to greet and to express a desire to get together while he is in Canada for a few weeks.

Then there is the church at West Highland that has embraced us like we could never have imagined. We envy John and Andrea Mahaffy has they begin their ministry there in January.

God has been pouring on his kindness. And this is just a taste of all he wants to show us for all of eternity.

Ephesians 2:7 "...that in the ages to come he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus."

Why Newseason?

2007-12-01T09:52:00.000-08:00

My experience and the teaching of scripture is that God leads us through seasons of life; childhood, adolescence, university, dating, marriage, parenthood, midlife freedom, and finishing years. It seems like the transition from one to the next is a kind of birthing experience. While we have become comfortable in one, we don't belong there any longer, and God is leading us into the next.

I think there are parallels in our spiritual development. Paul said, "leaving these things behind, I press on..." Following Christ is a journey, and we move from destination to destination. We cannot stay in one place spiritually. And often there is a correlation between new spiritual seasons and the seasons of life.

Recently I have been reading John Piper's book, "Future Grace". My heart has been so challenged to move into the next season of my journey with new confidence in Him and the promise that "my grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in your weakness".

God is calling us to deeper communion, a new passion for holiness, and a fresh desire for the glory of His name. I'm convinced that God is calling each of us to a newseason of experiencing Him, enjoying Him, and allowing Him to flow through our lives. May we respond with "Do it Lord, I am willing to move on."