May News

And He said to him, 

"I assure you: Today you will be with Me in paradise."

Luke 23:43

Here in Mexico, it´s common to place a black ribbon over the door of your home when someone has died.  When it´s a child, a white ribbon is hung. 

In the last blog I mentioned Diego.   He is now pain-free and at home in heaven. 

When I texted his mom, Yazmin, to say hi early this month, she broke the news.   I was shocked.  She’s obviously heart-broken. 

I asked Yazmin for her address.  On Sunday the 19th, Xaume was invited to preach a our friend’s church.  I knew that was the part of the city where Yazmin lived. So, after the service, I mentioned it to our friend Pastor Gaby and the two of us went to find her house.   God is definitely into details. This "section" of town, Ecatepec, is BIG - population is over 1.6 million!  It turns out Yazmin lives just across the street from Pastor Gaby’s house and right around the corner from the church.  We were able to share God’s promises and to pray with her. 

During our visit, Yazmin told us how Diego had come down with pneumonia and how quickly the doctor’s urged her to give the go-ahead for life-support.  She did not want that for Diego.  The day of our visit was the Sunday exactly two-weeks after he had passed.

Please pray for Yazmin to open her heart to God’s Word.  Pastor Gaby offered to come to her house and lead her through reading scripture, but she has not yet said yes.    

Xaume preaching at Jesus the Good Shepherd, Pastor Gaby´s church 

Another tidbit about Mexico: Mother´s Day is an especially important day. Maybe it´s due to the heavily matriarchal culture - tied into the Virgin of  Guadalupe worship...regardless, Mother´s Day is a big deal.  

So, it´s a great time to connect with moms.  At two of the Twist Kids´ Clubs, we had a special day for them.  Xaume shared the Word of God with moms at Twist Chalco.  It was the first time many of them had come into the church building.  

We had a special visitor this month! Fang, a friend from Columbus had business in a nearby city and came down to see us for a couple days.  She came with us to Twist that Saturday and prayed for the mother here below, greeted the kids in Chinese, and told them briefly about how she came to know Jesus. 

Please keep these moms in prayer - that they and their families can find hope, purpose and fullness of life in Christ. 

This is Nitzia.  At fourteen, she arrives early every Saturday morning to Twist Kids’ Club Ixtapaluca.  She started attending as a student but now spends part of her time at Twist volunteering in the 7-9 year-old classroom.  

She and several others her age are transitioning out of just participating in Twist and are now taking on leadership roles and responsibilities. Nitzia has also decided to make her walk with God personal and to come to church on Sundays.

Please pray that God will rise up specific leaders who are apt to shepherd this age group. 

Of course Mexico is known for its drug cartel infamy.  This month Xaume and Jesus were invited to minister in a part of Guerrero (southern state) where drug trafficking is a common way of life.  Praise God for a safe trip and that they were able to do the first-ever children´s ministry training in the community.  

Xau asked one of the young men what most people in the area do for a living.  His response: narco.  It´s definitely a heavy environment.   One young man who was involved in trafficking came to Christ and, obviously wanted out of the business.  Contrary to the local pastor´s advice, he decided to stay in the area.  He lost his life. 

Tlapa (lower red circle) is where Xaume and Jesus were early this month.  Then to end the month, all of us went to San Luis Potosí (upper red circle).   Our friend, Paulina is the children´s coordinator for the church.  Recently, she joined the city´s pastoral network and extended the invitation for the children´s ministry seminar to many other churches! 

All-day training on Saturday with over 180 teachers and volunteers from around the city.

Pau! Children´s coordinator at Agape Christian Center  - one of the biggest church movements in San Luis. 

Sunday lessons at Kids´ church! 

And... you may have seen posts on Facebook announcing the Youtube Video Blog.  We don’t have a lot of material yet, but uploading Children’s Ministry tips, choreographies, interviews, and even parenting tips is one of our goals for the ministry.   We figure it’s a way to reach a greater audience, and… we like doing it!

Thank you, once again for reading!   And thank you for praying, supporting and caring about our work.  Specifically, we´re asking God for wisdom in time management and to always be filled with more of His Spirit!