In December, we held our annual Christmas program. Some of the
families in our church performed skits, and others played special music.
We were expecting around 60 people in attendance, but we had 100! Our
neighbors came! We have been inviting them to different events for the
past 2 and ½ years that we have been living in this house, and this is
the first time they have come to a church event. Also, our water man
came to the program after several years of being invited by the Smith’s
and us. Since then, he has been open to talking about God.
This past Sunday, we had a marriage seminar at church. We also had a
new family come. There are some couples who are going through serious
marriage problems, and at least one has been talking about divorce. The
Smith’s are counseling one of these families, and we are counseling
another. Marriage problems are one of the biggest problems that we have
to deal with here in Mexico.
One family, who was very faithful just a few years ago, did not come
to church at all in 2007. We tried to visit with them and encourage
them, but they just weren’t interested in God. We praise the Lord that
the first Sunday in 2008, they came to church, and indicated that they
wanted to start coming again! We also had another family come to the
marriage seminar who also hasn’t been to church in a year!
We also praise the Lord for Noah, who has recently come to know
Christ as his Savior. He is very excited about studying God’s word and
getting involved in different activities. It is encouraging to see his
enthusiasm for the Lord.
This year, one of our goals is to get the people more involved in the
church and to rely less upon the “Gringo” missionaries. We are planning
on teaching a church integration class starting in January. We are also
planning on giving some of the men in the church the responsibility of
organizing and running the entire church service at specific times
throughout the year. We have been encouraged by the initiative that the
Venegas Flores family has shown in inviting and following up with
people. They are doing a great job.
Teresita, who is dying of cancer, is still alive. She is growing
weaker and weaker, and probably doesn’t have a lot of time left. It has
been a very difficult time on the family. Growing financial problems as
well as family problems have developed over the past few months. We have
been counseling with them.
