Please pray

For those of you who have followed our involvement with Mexico, you will know that we are still involved from afar, and in regular contact with the staff at the Drop in Centre. We are asking for prayer since one of the staff members who helped in the kitchen has contracted Covid-19 and now one of the main workers, who lives in close proximity has come down with a fever. Please pray for these wonderful people, that their bodies are able to fight the virus, and for God's total healing. 

Thank-you for your prayers and I'll update again next week.

Drop in Centre Closed during COVID-19 pandemic

For those of you who get updates from this blog, could I ask you to pray for the MEFI team and the street kids that usually come to the drop in centre? Following the closure of the schools in Mexico, MEFI has understandably had to close the doors of the drop in centre in La Raza. In a time of uncertainty for all concerned, please pray that God will use this time to allow the MEFI team to pray, plan and develop the ministry, and for God to have mercy on those street kids who rely on the drop in centre during the week.

Please pray too for God to provide for this ministry, as with any faith based ministry, MEFI relies on the giving of faithful people. If you would like to consider supporting this frontline work, caring for some of Mexico City's most vulnerable, please get in touch by clicking the link on the side - OMS UK.

Gracias and God bless you.

Still going strong

If you have known the Agnews you will know that they hold Mexico City very dearly to their hearts. That's because of some exceptionally amazing people, who have dedicated their lives to love some of the most vulnerable in the City.

Here's a video of some of the lives that have been changed over the years. More updates to come.

Our kids feedback at church.

Something that we have started to do since we came back from Mexico is to help our kids to 'de-brief.' It was important when we came back from Mexico almost 8 years ago, as it helped us to process the time that we spent and prepared us to live in the UK again.

For our 3, we have been thinking about things that we learned, and things that we loved. This Sunday past, it was time to let them share some of their own thoughts with the church, just with some questions. We didn't script them or tell them the kinds of things we wanted them to share, but Carol did take some notes from their dress rehearsal in the house, in case of stage fright in front of the church.

It was amazing not only to watch them share what they felt was important, but as a dad, and someone who was pushed to the front at a young age to sing and act, it impressed me how they felt comfortable, and how the congregation enjoyed listening to them too.

The memories we will have as a family are precious. The way God worked in us and taught us things will last for a long time. I think too it will have been a special time for our kids to understand their mum and dad just that little bit more and why we are the way we are watching us in the MEFI ministry, and with friends in one of the biggest cities in the world.

Our prayer going forward is that they might have been excited for the world wide church, and missions abroad as well as at home. Maybe they will take a year and go somewhere to serve, maybe they will feel that they need to help in the UK. Wherever God wants them.

Next Sunday, our friend Heather, who joined us for the last 2 weeks will be sharing, and then in 2 weeks, we will get a chance to share. Join us if you want to hear more...

Thank-you & we're home.

We really felt that we needed to go back to Mexico this summer. It all started 2 years ago when our old Spanish teacher from Mexico came to visit and commented that she was surprised that we hadn't lost much of our Spanish. We decided that we needed to start saving to finally go back, with Zara finishing Primary 1, and Tabitha getting ready to start High School.

Now we are flying back, and it is hard to believe that years of saving and planning are over and we returning to our home. Of course we come back just that little bit changed, but we are so grateful for so many who not only followed and read what we got up to, but got in contact from time to time, and especially who prayed for us. A special mention needs to go to the Wallyford Livingroom Church leadership and members who worked to fill the spaces left by Carol and I for 6 weeks.

We felt safe. We felt useful. We were healthy for the most part (and we don't take that for granted) and we had so much opportunity to share Jesus as well as to deepen friendships there. Our Spanish held up, and the kids learned so much Spanish too. As I write, we are 50 mins from Edinburgh, and Zara is 'out for the count' and I have half feelings of guilt for dragging her half way round the world, and yet hoping that she will have many amazing memories.

So, hoping that I didn't write too much, and state the obvious too often, thank-you again and again and again for reading this blog this summer. Our 6 weeks in Mexico was never to be a holiday, it was to work, and as we come back it isn't just to get back into the routine of family life again, it is to get back to work in Wallyford, being a blessing there, helping those who need, sharing Jesus and praying for our home village.

God bless you,

The Agnews

What do you love about Mexico?

That's a question we ask the kids all the time. Sometimes the answer is the food, sometimes the answer is the heat and sun, and sometimes it is the friends that they have made.

There is no doubt that we have tried to give our kids a diverse and cultural experience. They have picked up loads of Spanish words and been confident to use them in public. They have endured hours upon hours of traffic, and learned about Mexico while we have been driving.

They have been read a life story of David Livingstone, which told them about a father who had to leave his family behind most of the time he worked in Africa. How missionary life has changed! They have had a good taste of Missionary life with Sunday mornings at the La Loma church, and MEFI drop in centre.

And there have been the day trips, this time we went to the largest stepped pyramids in the world. An amazing trip just outside of Mexico City.

But now the suitcases are being packed and we have one last trip to the city centre and a Christian bookshop in the morning, before we get on our flight at midnight tomorrow night to fly to Toronto and then on to Edinburgh.

This is me signing off for the Agnews until we get home now. We hope you've enjoyed the blog while we have been away. Thanks to those of you who have let us know that you have been following, and we look forward to de-briefing with OMS Mexico and UK when we get back, never mind sharing a little at our church in Wallyford.

God bless you, and now that this blog is back up and running, we'll keep you up to date with what's happening with the Agnews at the Livingroom Church.

The Agnews...

Hasta la vista MEFI

It has been a time never to forget. Kids who are feared on the streets became kids who looked after our family and played with Tabitha, Oscar and Zara. Kids who didn't need to bother with us, allowed us to be part of the MEFI family.

They are never to be taken advantage of, and we didn't want to ever take close up pics, BUT, as family, many wanted to have a photo taken with us, and so, just as a little example, here is a kid who loved to make our kids laugh, and who our kids loved to be around.

It's very Mexican to not smile, although we'll always remember him for his laugh and jokey nature.

Friday was the street kid church service, and Heather shared some of her life story and why she became a Christian. It was especially interesting for the kids to hear about how her Dad had lived on the streets in his younger days, but how he found hope in Jesus.

Thankfully Carol translated. She's so much better at switching between languages than I ever was.

Then it was time for the Agnews to do their Von Trapp time and share a song, and after some group singing, for me to preach for the last time here. I shared about a Parable that Jesus told from Luke 14. It's about a Master who has a feast and invites people to come who end up making excuses not to attend. This Master then sends his servants out in the streets to bring in the poor and disabled. Even as there is more room, the servants are sent to bring people in so that the banquet is full. It's an amazing story that teaches that God wants His Heaven full, and everyone is invited, you and me. A terrific thing for these kids to hear.


As we say 'hasta luego' to the drop in centre, memories will be of the singing. Not as tuneful as you might like, but full of passion. The food, corn tortillas, the pool game and the table football that we bought about 10 years from a donor, and is still going strong. The bible studies, when kids asked questions not to be difficult, but genuinely because they wanted to know more about the God of the Bible. The prayers every meal time for other street kids, people in hospitals and prisons.

MEFI is one special ministry, which provides a family for those who have run away from their own. A safe place for those who sleep rough. Hope for those who for the most part have given up. Praise God for this team, and place. We will truly miss you.