Boxes, books & beaches

Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.  -Psalm 90:12

Father, as we commence this new year, help us to constantly take inventory as to Your heart and how we can cultivate it in our own! 

As the January rush comes to a close, I aspire to evaluate each month how we're doing on our new-year's resolutions - the goals that God moves us toward: to be conformed into His likeness every day...

January has been full of Christmas boxes, donations, starting  Twist back up, looking to the new year for Crece church-plant, an impromptu ocean getaway, new-years' goals and vision casting, colds, back to school, etc.!

Our living room and offices were packed with Operation Christmas Child boxes, toy and clothing donations from a friend, and a whole stockpile of toys from a big toy drive from King's Day (January 6th - still a big toy-giving day in Mexico).  So we had the joy of giving boxes at Twist and delivering boxes & goodies to other Twist clubs :) 

Seeing the kids open their boxes is super fun, but getting to share the Gospel message is the long-lasting gift we get to witness.  This young woman, Berenice and her daughter, Xochil are just one story. Her mom, Nayely came to Crece one of the very first days after opening - she burst into tears telling of how she hadn't heard from her daughter for many months and knew nothing of her whereabouts. Some time later, Nayely shared the good news that her daughter had called and was expecting! 
Young mom Berenice has only visited the church once before, but was there for the Christmas boxes. She heard as Xau shared God's plan of salvation. We're praying that she give her whole heart to Jesus (she's currently involved in the "saint death" movement). 

Xau's gone out a couple times to work on some aesthetics (a constant struggle 😅).  Physical space aside, one of our goals this year is to have intentional time with leaders and to continue delegating. We had our first leaders' meeting and have set up a rotation schedule for one person being in charge of Twist each Saturday. Please pray for each person in leadership (and in the church) to deepen their personal walk with Jesus and, specifically, take quiet time with Him every day.  

A seminar downtown! Christian bookstore Maranatha invited Xau to teach and lead a workshop spotlighting a book series and training kids' leaders. Praise God for these childrens' ministry leaders and workers - hungry to continue the Great Commission. 

Here a church in Iztapalapa had their boxes outreach and invited Xau to teach the lesson and minister to the young ones. (Kai here in front got to share in the excitement.)

And yes! We had the gift of going to the beach! Tere, Xau's mom celebrated her 77th, and we felt it was important to take this time with her and to do so while Yazna was here visiting from Peru. Praise God for His provision to make this possible - and the beauty of being together in His amazing creation.  (For you geography buffs: we flew to Ixtapa Zihuatanejo - Pacific coast a little ways north of Acapulco)

Thank you for reading!

Thank you for praying!

Thank you for giving!

Thank you for loving us!

We're in awe of your hearts. Thank you. May His grace and power continue to overwhelm you. 

Sending our love.

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