Are You a Dull Axe?

I was encouraged by Ecclesiastes 10:10 this morning, it says "If the axe is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success." It really made me think about what areas of my life am I feeling dull....its not hard to figure out that we are costing ourselves time, energy and success in whatever it is we are facing. Why do we insist on taking the hard way? on wasting our energy on doing things in our own strength and ability? Oh the amazing things we are kept from experiencing and seeing because we insist on chopping wood with a dull axe. Find out what sharpens you, doing everything you ever dreamed you couldn't do! You will be amazed how courageous you feel when you allow yourself to be sharpened, there is no tree too big! You can be used to create something beautiful out of something ordinary..or you can keep swinging that dull axe till you have completely mangled that piece of wood and what's left is only useful for throwing into a fire. The things that sharpen me are guarding my heart, my thoughts, being quick to say sorry (not too quickly Canadiense!) to keep a clear conscience and heart and to remember to rest and allow my creator to refresh me and inspire me with the beautiful creations he wants me to be apart of.

The picture is of two women that I love in Abbotsford Lori and Brenda, they both are women who sharpen me just by being with them :) Remember iron sharpens iron!!

love Me

So much to look forward to!

Its been a while since our last post :) thanks for bearing with our craziness. We just returned from Canada, it was a great time of reconnecting with family and friends and enjoying the opportunity to share our lives in Mexico. Its always a little harder for the kids to leave but they are doing good. We came home to great news that we have a teacher coming to teach the kids!!!! The girls also started Jazz classes today so we are thrilled that they will be able to meet some other kids in our area. We have so much to be thankful for! We missed our team and our Mexican friends while we were away. We are excited to be where our hearts are surrounded by new family and friends. We are also excited that our team members found an apartment right across the street what a great way to beat Mexico city traffic.

These pictures are of our last day in B.C. Julia enjoying White Rock, Nathan visiting at a BBQ and part of the Napoleone clan, we were lucky enough to enjoy home made pizza and a visit with family from Toronto, Winnipeg and B.C.

Girls Night In

We are continuing to be blessed with different ways to get to know our Mexican friends. They are so full of culture and love to have fun! Last weekend we had a girls night at our house there was 11 of us. It was just a great relaxing way to hang out, spend time together, and have fun, some of us even tried kareoke and learning the salsa :) Please pray that in whatever we do, whether, eating or resting our lives will have the essence of love and peace that will reflect our heart and the Lord's heart for Mexico.

VBS anyone?

Ok I can honestly say that I am a little overwhelmed as I usually would take almost a year to plan a VBS well ok drum roll please......We will be running our VBS or Campo de verano July 20-24. But as much as I hate to say this its an opportunity for me to be stretched :) We are planning on having it in a park near by, and advertising the two Sundays before all dressed up and giving out information about it.

1. please pray for Pati and Yvonne the two Mexican ladies who I am meeting with Saturday to hear their experience and suggestions.
2. Please pray that they would really get excited and take ownership :)
3. Pray that we would be able to have one of the other Alliance church help out as well such as Atizapan with music.
4. pray that we would become familiar faces in our community and connect with many families.
5. Pray that we would see connections from VBS come out to La Conexion and Alpha

I picked a soccer themed VBS thinking well we are in MEXICO CITY!! its called Training to Win Entrena para Ganar. Can't wait to post pictures of the event.

hey if you have any soccer themed ideas I would love to hear them, snacks, crafts......
Those pictures are of Carmela's 7th birthday party last friday.

Moving Slowly But Surely

It is so amazing to be apart of what God is doing here in MC. We really are in awe of the privilege we have to live here, meet amazing Mexican friends and plant a church here. Right now our schedule looks like two english classes and a thursday night prayer night to build our foundation for our future ministries here. As well as our Sunday morning group that meets in our home. OH and yes can not forget spanish class :)We are encouraged that God in his perfect timing will bring a people to himself. We had the privilege of having my twin sister Claudia and her family out here as well in May. What a gift to be able to introduce them to our new friends and give them a look into our life here in MC.

Please continue to pray that God would open doors and and lay a foundation that will last here in Del Valle. We are praying expecting BIG things for Mexico just living our lives having the privilege to love people one person at a time. The pictures are of one of our English group giving Claudia and Andrew gifts from Mexico and the other is of a run away turtle we saw last week :)

Picking a Church Name

Ok that is our job for today, we have been praying and trying to come up with a name. As we are meeting acquaintance's we thought it would be great to be able to give out a business card with some information as to who we are. So if you have any ideas for a name, obviously it has to be in Spanish :) We want it to encompass who we are and want to be;

Worshippers of the living God

Ministers of reconciliation

Ambassadors of peace and hope

ministers of healing

A place where people can experience real community from wherever they come from

A place to enjoy the deeper life

I think that pretty much sums it up!

We would love to hear from you

Here is a picture of Hector and Patti a Mexican couple that was commisioned last week from an Alliance church here in MC to come and plant a church with us.

Julia

Well after much thought and consideration we have decided that the best thing for Julia is to not attend school anymore and instead spend some more time with us. Julia's has sensitive lungs and is very susceptible to chest infections and asthma, so with the influenza virus still present we thought we would rather keep her home.