October in Puebla
SURPRISE!!!
Want to know the best way to throw a surprise birthday party… to be sure it will be a surprise? Throw the party a week after the birthday! Everyone here on the Puebla team, and a number of brothers and sisters in Christ here in Los Heroes put together a birthday surprise party on September 27th, seven days after my birthday. Neil and Cheryl were traveling to the border on the 20th, so they had a pretty good reason. I didn’t even bother to tell anyone that my birthday was coming up, and they still remembered! It was quite a surprise. (A lot more people arrived after I took the picture of the cake)
Bible Studies, English, etc...
While each day is packed full of work on Jovencio’s house, it leaves the evenings free for rest and relaxation, right?... Wrong. Mondays evenings I meet with Eduardo to help him with his English and math homework. Wednesday is our men’s group at my house. I usually cook Hamburger Helper for them (imported from the United States). They love it and wish they’re wives would learn how to make it. I tell them that it would be just too difficult to translate the recipe and that it takes too long to cook anyway. Thursday is the prayer meeting at C.V. Pastor Juan has asked me to give a brief 10 minute message during the hour of prayer. I told him that every other week would be fine. The message might be brief, but the preparation is not! On Friday I began a study of the book “Una Vida con Proposito” (“A Purpose Driven Life) with two college students who live here in Los Heroes. I spend Saturday evenings with the youth group and Sunday, well… Sunday’s Sunday. During the week, as I come and go from my house, one of my neighbors, Manuel, comes over for help with his English homework. He was put in a level much higher than he was prepared for because he changed schools and was getting 5’s and 6’s (F’s and D’s) on his homework. Now… all 10’s!!!
The Building Project
The work at Jovencio’s house has been going very well. I have been learning so much, not just about construction, but about faith, humility and culture. His wife, Matiana, brings us a cooked meal almost every day of the week, which is a huge blessing because I don’t have to plan ahead and pack a lunch. The past two weeks we’ve been finishing the foundation, and installing plumbing and electrical conduit. We finally began laying block on Monday. The days have been flying by. Jovencio has commented to me a number of times, “Hermano, I don’t understand why the brothers from Pennsylvania are giving to help build my home… I can't even talk to them in their own language.” I respond to him that the brothers from PA have seen his faith and dedication to the church and the Lord while working along side him and his sons year after year at Cristo Victorioso. When the brothers from PA found out he had a very legitimate need, they gave because they care about him. Even people who have never met their family, have given to support this project. He is truly amazed and thankful.
We currently have over half of the estimated funds to get all the way to a roof on the house, no windows, dirt floor. That was my goal in the first place. I never really specified here on the website how to give towards this project, which in a way was a lack of faith on my part, thinking that no one would be interested who didn’t know the family. If you do feel led to give, please let my dad know, Douglas Mountz. He has been keeping records of the funds and sending them to me here in Mexico. I have been keeping records of all purchases here on this end as well.
Praises:
1. The work project has been going very well! We’ll be close to finishing all the walls next week and ready for the roof and some other necessary details.
2. For the opportunities God has given me to serve here apart from the construction work.
3. My little Toyota has been holding up marvelously, driving through fields, carrying materials, and even the roads of Puebla!
Prayer Requests:
1. For Neil, who had an accident with his hand while helping someone with their car. It will take a long time to heal.
2. For Omar, who wants to attend a Christian school here in Puebla because he’s in a tough public school where his testimony is really put to the test.
3. For the Lord’s continued guidance on what I will do after I return to Pennsylvania.
Thank you all so much for your prayers and encouraging emails!!!