Hannah

On Saturday morning Gary and Andrew picked Hannah up at the airport at 6.30am. Hannah is from N. Ireland and was here for 2 weeks with a team 2 years ago. The boys brought her to our house (where she is staying for this week) and we had a cup of coffee before going out to La Loma. After the breakfast club we all had something to eat ourselves. Hannah didn't take long to get involved - here she is surrounded by some of the young people who were eager to know more about her. Thankfully she had 10 hours sleep on the plane so she was able to give Spanish a good go!

Hannah is here for 6 weeks and will be involved in Social Ministries (i.e. with us!). She will have a mini project to complete, will spend time at the Drop-In Centre and on the streets and will also help out at La Loma as well as seeing first hand the other ministries that go on in Mexico. Pray that God will really use her while she is here and that His purposes will be accomplished in and through her during her stay. Pray for her health and safety as she is here. We have no doubt that God has great plans for this wonderful girl.
What started out as a lovely sunny day turned into a most heavy rainstorm accompanied by thunder and lightning. It was incredible to hear the sound of the rain on the roof of the church and to see the water running down the hill like a river. We couldn't get picture that did justice to the violence of the storm! But it quickly passed and was soon lovely and sunny again!

Missionary Meeting

Every Thursday afternoon we have a missionary meeting. There is a four week cycle of themes - prayer, business, social and praise and worship though each meeting contains an element of all 4. Last week's meeting was mainly a social event as we said goodbye to a short-termer from the U.S. (Kristen has been here for 5 weeks filming and teaching English) and to Esther Lawson from N.I. who is returning home after a short holiday.

It's lovely to get together as missionaries once a week. We would rarely see some of these people otherwise as we are all so busy and our paths wouldn't naturally cross. It's also a good chance to keep up to date with different ministries and the amazing things God is doing in Mexico. People are being saved, lives are being transformed, some are being trained and equipped for service at the seminary...it's exciting - Praise God!

Office

We have a little room out the back of our house which has been used for dumping things but this Tuesday Andrew cleared it out and has set up his study. Now he has a place where he can do a lot of the organisation and planning that is so desperately needed. He is planning to spend Thursday mornings out there (Tabitha enjoyed popping in on him from time to time too!).

Not only is it the perfect place to work but it will also be a quiet and peaceful place for him to be able to seek God's face for what He wants as the ministry continues to grow and develop. Pray for sensitivity to His voice and for confidence that every decision is clearly directed by God.

A Day Away

On Wednesday Andrew and Gary left the house at 5.45am to meet Alex and Paty. They came back around 4.30pm having gone off looking for a place to have a camp for the ex-street kids. The purpose is to have some more time with them and to keep them encouraged as they struggle with various temptations and difficulties.

They didn't find anywhere really suitable in terms of cost and convenience. They did find a place that would be too expensive for a camp but we have decided that we will be able to take the kids for a day away (which will be much less expensive). Later we will have the camp which will give us more time to find a place.

Pray as the day approaches that it will be beneficial for the kids and will encourage them.

Statistics

Last week Andrew asked Paty to list the kids who have passed through the Drop-In centre to date and where they are now. The figures were amazing.

With the remodeling incomplete we haven't been openly publicising the Centre. Paty named 29 kids who have passed through. One third are still on the streets, one third are renting rooms and are off the streets and the other third are also off the streets whether in street homes, back with family or in prison (!)

We are encouraged and our prayer is that as the team go out to invite more kids to come into the Drop-In centre that the success rate in terms of seeing kids leave the streets would continue and also that those kids would find Christ as their Saviour.

On Friday night Gary babysat Tabitha and we were both able to go along to the ex-street kids cell group at Alex and Paty's house. The week before they had all agreed that each person would bring something to eat. Only four turned up this week and they think it might be because the kids had no money to buy food or didn't want to cook. It also seems that some of the guys had been drinking and so weren't able to come. Normally there are about 10 kids there. Pray as we continue to use scripture to help them see that they can overcome their temptations and live victoriously in Christ.

For those who were there it was touching to hear each kid pray out loud for individuals still on the streets in the group they came from. May God rescue their friends in the same way he has rescued them.

Mex-i-Kids

We didn't take photos this week. We had a few less kids overall but some new ones. It was encouraging to hear today that there was a mother and her daughter in church today as a result of having been at the breakfast club. There are also kids coming who enjoyed the Holiday Bible Club (VBS) last summer but hadn't been in the church since.

Some of the kids were really attentive to the teaching on 'New Life', especially some of the older ones. One of the leaders wasn't able to come so Andrew and I had to cover her spaces. We didn't find out until about 15 mins before the start of Club so we didn't like to ask others to do it. It meant I had to cover the intro and an object lesson and Andrew had to cover games. I guess that's part of the responsibility of leadership! It blows me away that kids actually pay attention and have patience to listen to us as we teach in our best Spanish. I am always reminded though that we could talk with the tongues of men and of angels but without love it's just not worth anything.

We have decided to make some changes for next week. Firstly we will have the breakfast after the teaching program. There are lots of reasons we think that's a better idea. We've also decided not to hold the program in the main sanctuary. It's much too big and noisy a space. We're going to stay downstairs in the patio and see how it goes in a more confined space.

When I met with the leaders today it was good to remind them of the important role of each member of the team. How easy it is to depend on programs and the people at the front to do a good job. The truly is that these kids will probably not remember the specific lessons we give but they will remember different leaders and their characters. They'll remember the love and care they were shown. They will remember a happy disposition and warm, friendly faces. We have found that kids have come not because of an amazing program but because they found their need for love and acceptance being met and because of their friendships with leaders and other kids attending.

Please pray that as we implement the changes they will be successful. Pray that kids would invite their friends to come. Pray too that Mex-i-Kids would become notorious in the area as a place where people find satisfaction (spiritual as well as physical!) and that lives are wonderfully changed. Pray that God would be honoured and glorified always in all that is said and done. We're in this together!

Final shots of current phase

These are just some shots we got from Jose and Audrey's camera when they were with us. They mark the end of 2 weeks of extremely hard work by 2 great teams. We have no doubt that their work will touch many lives but we are also certain, as with all teams that come out, that God touched their hearts too as they saw a little of what He is doing here in this little corner. We are so grateful for all your support - physical, financial, personal (letters, emails, presents etc.) and especially for your prayers. It keeps us going!

Here is the team and after all the hard work they're still smiling (Jose is in the middle in the black shirt)!
Here's the gate in place. It now closes off the kitchen area, offices and washing machine so that we can control that area better. Doesn't it look great?! When the remodeling is complete the idea is to put re-inforced glass behind the open panels and move it to the front. It will be painted this week.
This is the back of the Drop-In Centre. There is still work to be done! It makes the work done seem even more amazing when you think that the whole building looked like this at the start! Take note of the sink on the right...
...the same sink is now at the bottom left. We're looking from the original into the refurbished part. When we first saw the building the one concern was the poor light quality but it is absolutely incredible the difference a good clean and bright paint can make!

Our holiday

Thanks to those of you who wished us well on holiday. We had a wonderful time. The weather in Mexico City was cold and wet while we were away (we're in rainy season). Though we were just 2 hours outside the city the weather was much nicer. It wasn't very sunny but it was warm. Tabitha didn't get burnt and we were able to read lots. It was so lovely just to be together as a family and we had taken lots of stuff to do together with Tabitha. She seemed to just love having mummy and daddy around all the time.

We came back feeling rested but by the end of Saturday we were ready for bed! Praise God with us for a beneficial holiday and please pray for renewed strength and stamina as we jump back into the work again.

A holiday!

Yippee! We are on holiday! Tomorrow we are heading off for 4 nights to a little town about 1.5 hours outside of the city. We are looking forward to resting and just being together as a family as our batteries are recharged.

We'll be back in time for the weekend activities at La Loma.

Meanwhile Fidel and Juana are using our car and Alex and Paty are using our house and taking the opportunity to have a bit of a rest too. Jose and Audrey, some missionary friends, are also staying in our house. Jose led the two Drop-In Centre construction teams over the last couple of weeks. We are so grateful to him for all his hard work and energy.

Mex-i-Kids

Kids know they have found the breakfast club when they hear the invitation over the loudspeaker, see the huge sign and millions of bubbles (thanks again to the Washbasin team for the bubble machine)

And inside the first thing they enjoy is a breakfast of corn dogs and chips (fries)

The kitchen team busily get the food out to the kids and their mums.

Tabitha enjoys her breakfast too

Then everyone went upstairs for an actio-packed program of games, songs, a bible lesson and object lessons and prizes. It was great fun and the leaders did extremely well. What a great team. We had about 80 kids and 25 mums. Pray that the momentum will continue. The gospel was clearly presented and seed have been sown. Some kids left saying they would be bringing their friends.
Later I sat with Guille and Carmen as we organised more of the details for the Holiday Bible Club (VBS) in the summer when we are hoping for 200-250 kids. Then we had our music practice with our new foldback speakers which we got this week. Those of you who read the previous story on the lack of foldback will know that it was exciting for us to have the speakers!

The love of Christ

We are continually giving God thanks for the fantastic team we work with here. These people have such love for the kids. Here Alex is helping one kid who can't feed himself, probably through drug use. There is no job these dear folks won't do, from pushing wheelbarrows to scrubbing pans, to leading bible studies and sorting out clothes and talking with teams etc.

Praise God! May we learn from them.
The other day Andrew was on the Metro (underground) and a street kid got onto his carriage begging for money. He had no strength in his legs so he dragged himself along the ground on his arms. Someone said something which made him very angry and he retaliated with loud and course words. As he continued through the carriage the lady sitting beside Andrew (who had been reading a Christian book) held his arm and told him kindly but firmly that he had no need to talk like that to people. She then asked if he felt God could help him. The kid (about 17/18 years old) instantly softened and nodded. There on the carriage the woman prayed the sinners pray with him, gave him 50 pesos (about £2.50 or $5) and prayed for him. Later Andrew told the lady what a blessing it had been for him to witness what she had done. May it be an example to us all to make to most of every opportunity.

Please keep praying

This is Beto and Sandra with their little kids. Please keep praying for this little family. Just after I wrote the last blog entry on this family one of the ladies in the church came to Paty asking why Sandra wasn't getting any help from the ministry. Obviously Sandra had told her something that wasn't correct or there had been a misunderstanding. With loving care Paty and I confronted the matter with Sandra. We need you to pray that Sandra will do the right thing, whether that is to ask forgiveness from God and the lady or whether it is the set the matter straight with the lady and make sure the truth is established. Pray that Sandra will grow through this process. Sandra did say that she trusts us 100% and acknowleged that she has had a lot of help.

One characteristic of many street kids is that they know how to ask people for stuff. This is not unexpected but we have rules set in place to protect people being asked over and over again for things and to protect the ministry from over-spending. Please pray that we will continue to learn through this experience. It's hard to get the balance between knowing how much to give and when giving is does more harm than good and is creating dependency.

It was interesting to chat with Fidel who has known Sandra for many years. He hasn't seen her for a while and I asked him what he thought. He had noted a big change, even in Sandra's demeanor. Lives can be changed from the inside out and while we still struggle with some of the exteriors praise God that the heart change has happened. It's exciting! Please continue to pray as we advise Sandra how to be a good mother. She is having problems with her little girl at the moment who is proving difficult to discipline. As you can imagine this is another mountain with many difficulties to cross. Thanks for your prayers.

Foundry UMC team

Last Saturday the Ardmore team headed home and a couple of hours later the Foundry team arrived. So much has been accomplished in the Drop-In Centre in the last couple of weeks on the re-modelling project and we want to say a huge thank you to both teams - for all the hard (and most often dirty) work and for the sacrifice of resources and time to come here. We trust that the effort you have put in will be rewarded and be eternally beneficial as kids come to know Christ and grow in their Christian walk as a result of having been in the centre.

Here the air is full of dust as a wall comes down and the central area is opened up.

Who says that only men should do the heavy, dirty work?

These women weren't afraid to get stuck into anything...

...while the men were quite comfortable in the kitchen...

...or cleaning out drains! This was a disgusting job but now the water can flow through the drainage system...

...so the toilets were cleaned up and are now usable thanks to lots more hard work

More grease was cleaned off the walls. Here one of the street kids help Fidel.

Boys and their dangerous toys get ready to cut some timber.

In between all the hard work there was time to eat and for missionaries to share their ministries. On Wednesday Tabitha and I went down and here I am (back to the camera) sharing about how we got involved in the ministry and what my new role is here. You should know from having followed this blog... Following the chat with the team Paty and I had a meeting with Sandra.

Here Andrew orientates the team before their visit to the streets.

The new gate arrives. It was made and installed by one of Alex's buddies who has a similar background but became a Christian about 5 years ago. He has agreed to help some kids learn his trade and his workshop is close by the centre. Praise God for this great contact and pray for more like it as we seek places to employ kids coming off the streets.

Electricians put in lots and lots of electrical sockets, especially in the newly refurbished workshop.

I get an unexpected gift of a cookbook. How lovely that this team had brought presents for everyone they met. It made us feel loved and special.

Finally the team organised a social event for some of the kids who had helped out during the week and those who normally go to the Friday evening service. Musical chairs is a great game for any nationality and any age!

The games were followed by food and a mini service. Thank you once again Foundry and Ardmore for all your hard work and your love for us, the kids, and the ministry.
God bless you all!

Street Kids service

Andrew met with Sandra and Beto this week (it didn't work out for the ladies to meet alone). The news is so encouraging. Beto was itching to get into the bible study. He is doing really well at work and he and Sandra have been getting on much better. There has been no violence but any time they have an argument they sit together and pray it through. Even their little 3 year old daughter reminds them to pray together before her daddy goes to work and at other times through the day. There is a lot to be worked through still but we are encouraged and we need to keep praying that th planted seed will grow to maturity and not be snatched away.

On Friday night Tabitha and I went to the Drop-In Centre to eat with the team and say goodbye. Andrew preached at the special 'Street Kids service'. The location changes and this week they met in one of the kid's homes. Here they are enjoying coffee made with water heated in the pot. The blanket on the floor is a bed. It's humble but it's better than the streets and the kids are delighted.

Last invitation event

This is as much of the view that we could get into one photo from the location of the breakfast club on Saturday. We have been told there are 1 million people in the area. Looking at the number of houses it is easier to believe but still mind blowing.
When we arrived we thought this event was going to be a lot smaller but one by one they came and once again we had a great group of kids - about 70 in all and about 20 mums.

See if you can spot Andrew chatting to some of the kids as they enjoy
chicken nuggets and chips (fries).

It isn't uncommon to find family circles living together in Mexico. On entering through a common door there is usually a patio surrounded by separated living spaces (like apartments). We had the breakfast club in the patio as the street outside was a steep hill. As you can see the patio was packed and here the crowd are being invited to the church next week.
Once again it was encouraging to see how many church members turned out to help. Here they all are having a well earned break and enjoying something to eat themselves. We also had a meeting to talk about next weeks event.
Please continue to pray. During the week we are hoping to have a banner made which will hang outside the church. I had asked the guy to have it ready by Tuesday but I still haven't received the proof for approval. We have planned to hand out 800 flyers not only in the areas where we had invitation events but in other heavily populated areas. We have no idea how many kids to expect but we will be ready and there is plenty of potential. How wonderful it would be to see these hills covered with children and their families united in Christ (our church denomination is called UNIFAM (Families United in Christ)) and singing His praises.

Team from Ardmore, Oklahoma

A lot of Andrew's week was spent in DIY shops buying materials for the team who worked extremely hard in the Drop-In Centre. What an amazing job they did and what a week for them too of mixed emotions and hard work. Here are some of the pictures of their progress.

Some of the ladies looking great in their cleaning gear

The grease was think on the walls, roof and floor and everyone worked hard with brushes and detergent to get rid of it.

Holes in the wall are filled in. The team made the tables they are standing on and they will be used in the workshop for kids to work on.

Another shopping list being put together perhaps...

A horrible old window was taken away, a new wall built and fitted with a much smaller window with polarised glass.

A new cupboard is built for storing tools in.

Paty helps one of the team members mix filler for the holes in the walls.

Thankfully 3 Mexican inches are the same length as 3 American inches!

Another hole in the wall is filled up
The team take some time to pray for the work.

And then they go to the streets to visit some kids who may well benefit from their work.

Then it's back to the Drop-In Centre to meet the concrete lorry (truck) and lay a floor

This is just one of the street kids who came along to help out during the week. The team were amazed at just how hard the street kids worked. Two of the men prayed with this kid (through translation) on Friday and he re-dedicated his life to God.
With the new floor laid and dry the team touch up all the cement work etc . and hey presto - a fantastic workshop where the kids can earn money which will keep them off the streets.Obviously these are just some of the shots. We are so thankful to the team for giving their time and energy this week. As you can see from the photos their work was valuable for the present, for the near future and for eternity. We can't use adequate words to say thank you to every member of the team - that includes you as you pray for us and the work - but one thing is sure - there is a reward waiting in heaven and wouldn't it be reward enough to see some of these precious kids by our sides at that grand heavenly feast! God bless you all.

Update on Tabitha

Thank you so much to those of you who have been praying for Tabitha's health. We were glad that the cause of her tummy problems was identified when the E. coli bug was discovered.

She has now finished her course of antibiotics and seems to be doing a whole lot better. She is still fussy about what she eats (but I think that is more to do with her age than her belly!) but certainly nappy (diaper) changes have improved significantly.

We're so grateful for your prayers and for the great health system that we have access to here. The next trip to the doctors will hopefully be to have a couple of routine injections that she needs.

She continues to win people's hearts all over the place. Yesterday when the folks we were with for lunch prayed for us Tabitha joined in at the end with a loud, "Amen!" Then she got annoyed when everyone started to laugh!