December 15th in Puebla
The Bookstore, The Jesus Film, and the 4th Grade Sunday School
This past month, among other projects we have been painting, installing lights, bookcases and other display mounts in a new Christian bookstore here in Los Heroes. Debbie Murphy, a veteran missionary from Brazil who joined our team here in Puebla in April, had the vision for the project which is now up and running.
When I returned from my Thanksgiving trip to the states, my mom gave me about 12 new Jesus films that had been bought with the tithe money from the kids who attended the summer vacation Bible school. One by one I had been giving them out when I decided to give two to Debbie’s bookstore. Before she even had time to put a price on them, she had three people interested in buying them! So I gave her the few I had left and kept two to give out myself. In another week all of the original 12 videos will be in the hands of Mexicans. Way to go VBS kids!!
The House Project
The Jimenez family is almost ready to move into their new home. It now has a secure front and back door and two windows installed. The remaining 3 window openings will be boarded up for the time being. That is a perfectly normal temporary covering until they can buy more materials in the months to come. In the states we would be shocked at seeing a house 80% finished, with no stucco and windows boarded up. But here in Mexico, especially in the region where the house is, it is common. Actually what the house does have right now (in the way of walls and roof) is more than any other house on the block (there are only 3 others right now, but there will be a lot more soon). Dirt floor and no electricity is only a temporary inconvenience, which is overshadowed by their delight in just being able to have a place they call their own.
The Friday night Bible study
Hector and Paula are my two regular attendees for the Friday night study. It has been a growing process for me because I am still learning a lot about how to teach in Spanish. Understanding Spanish is one thing, speaking it is another, but teaching in Spanish, well, it can be challenging. We continue weekly with daily Bible reading, prayer, memory verse and a few pages a day in, “A Purpose Driven Life” (Una Vida con Proposito). I’ve enjoyed the study, the discussions we have and the questions they have about scripture and spiritual matters.
The Medical Caravan
In a week we will be traveling to the state of San Louis Potosi, about 9 hours away, to work with doctors, nurses, missionaries and many other people on the medical caravan. This will be my fifth caravan that I’ve been on. They’re a lot of work, but a great blessing. We will be there over Christmas and New Years before returning to Puebla. The whole purpose of the caravan is to provide much needed medical aid, while using the open door to present the Gospel all who come.
Spinning?... Jon?
Living in Mexico provides an infinite number of opportunities to “try something new.” New sports, new fruits, new soda flavors, new holidays, you name it. On my recent visit to Pennsylvania I saw the doctor. He prescribed a medication for my back that helped a lot and he gave me some “exercise” tips as well. One of those tips had to do with strengthening my lower back and legs by riding a bike. I have a bike, but in the winter, (even here in Mexico), it’s just not the best time to ride it. When I returned back to Puebla, I saw that a gym was about to open in a structure that was being built across the street from my home. Great! I looked a little closer I saw exercise bikes in the window just as the workers were hanging the big nylon tarp sign that said, "Spinnig" (that’s “Spinning” in English). It’s basically aerobics on an exercise bike. Ugh… what a waste, I thought... and it’s so close. Only women go there.
A week later I was checking around town for other gyms. Nothing was open. It was a holiday for the Virgin of Guadalupe. I knew I had to get some exercise to keep the back pain from returning. When I returned to my home, Spinning was open, for men and women. I hesitatntly went in. Even though it’s supposed to be mixed, there were all women… and me. The class was an hour long, and very exhausting. I paid, snuck out and ran across the street to try to get in my house before anyone saw me. Too slow!… two neighbors stopped me to talk. I was caught. They knew. There was no hiding it. I returned two days later. More people found out. Now it’s a known fact. I go to Spinning. But apart from being good exercies, do you know what the strangest thing is? I like it!
Prayer
1. For wisdom from the Lord in what to focus on for these last five months and peace and direction for what is next after I return home to PA.
2. That we would be willing instruments of the Lord for his Gospel on the medical caravan.
3. Continued boldness and opportunities in witnessing for Christ here in my neighborhood.
May you all have a wonderful Christmas filled with joy, rest and a blessed remembrance of our Lord Jesus Christ. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6
Blessings in Christ,
Jon