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. 

Christmas Day with an International Flare

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

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

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
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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.