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May 24, 2005
ALPREPA on family guard
While SNTE (National public school workers syndicate) went on strike for indefinite time and has it been 3 weeks so far, Palenque Presbyterian churches gathered dozens of parents for a 4 day seminar on "Blessed Parents."
A family ministry team (rep. John & Shirley Winds, CRWM missionaries) from Merida, Yuc., facilitated us the subject "as clear as crystal water" on how to raise our children feeding them Christian values and learning from them our parental identity. What importance do we have as parents of 21st century? Pastor Alejandro Estrada & Marilu who raise 3 teen daughters extolded the seminar to the skies and made decision to improve their upbringing tasks. Pastor Adarcilio Hernandez (3 yrs of ministry in Palenque) unhesitatingly stood up to share his stubbornness to father his 3 teens who daily learn to adjust to different cultures. Sister Nicolasa encouraged herself to become a better mother. Turning the leaves of the Bible, every participants came to agree on its teaching. They made a parental vow to acknowledge and exercize this indisputable priviledge of being parents. We witnessed pleasant moments session after session.
In the next room, VeggieTales movies attracted children from toddler to early teens. They enjoyed fresh popcorns and orchard water. Brian(2), among others, caught my attention. He was laughing at personified veggies; crying as the story develops into scary-scenes; and most of time he ran in between settees causing his mom chase after him. She was playerful with him, a good mother. This is God's family.
[click on the top picture for more pictures]
Posted by nanana | Comments (0)
May 15, 2005
Gallery Updates
Naomi is 8 years old. Her classmates and church friends joined her birthday party. Thanks to the Winds and their Family Ministry team for being with us at the event.
Posted by nanana
2005 May Prayer
Many Mexicans had a hope that the next Pope will be Mexican. The day before the death of John Paul II, the weather in Palenque appeared to be very strange. The sky turned dark and seemed like it was going to rain and it did. Many people hurried to interpret it that the very nature knew his death. They recalled the phenomena during the last day of the Christ on the cross relating to JP2.
Please pray for the following ministry items in May
Amextra, a relief organization, and Christian Reformed World Relief Committee(an agency of CRC) will have leadership training for Chol people which entitled “Community in Development and Transformation” from May 10-12. Abraham will participate in the training. Pray that they experience the power of the Gospel that is sufficient to transform our society.
ALPREPA (Presbyterian Alliance of Palenque) will have the second activity of the year. During May 11-14 there will be a workshop on “Blessings of being Parents.” We pray that many parents come to understand what the Bible teaches about their roles in both marriage and child upbringing.
The Reformed Bible Institute of Chiapas(RBIC): Palenque Center: May 16-20. 1st year students will study Evangelism & Catechism; and 2nd year, Revelation & Liturgy. Tocob Center: May 23-27. They will study Intro. to the Old Testament. We now have 6 students at each center. Our former students Rogelio, Luis, Pastor Jose, and Pastor Cristobal will be our teachers of the month. Pray that they prepare and teach the classes effectively.
Efren and Melinda, graduates of All Nations Seminary in Ciudad Juarez, Chiahuahua. They are planning to be in Palenque from the end of May. Praise God for answering our prayer and their commitment for a long-term ministry among Chol people. Pray specifically for their urban ministry in Palenque and teaching at RBIC.
The sisters who participate in Elaine’s Bible study on Wednesday are maturing. Continue to pray for Nicolasa, Deydri, and Rosvita.
Our children, NaNaNa, are doing a part of our ministry in their own ways. They have effectively shared the Gospel without words at school, Taekwondo, and churches.
Thank you all for your constant prayer for Chiapas ministry. Your prayer make difference our Chol churches grow.
Posted by nanana | Comments (1)
May 01, 2005
Ch'ol RPCM in Chiapas
The Ch'ol presbytery our local mission-partner covers NW region of the state of Chiapas. Today, there are 160,000 Ch'ol people in this area. The presbytery has about 900 members in 13 organized churches. Click to download the map. Each church has a handful congregations (classified as 'non-organized church') and newly planted missions. It is a must-system to sustain their pastor financially due to their instable financial maturity. FYI Some churches have up to 12 big congregations in different villages.
It is the main reason for organizing another presbytery. Few churches it will be consisted of, but an effective stewardship on financial matter is anticipated, since no more offering will be spent for the relatively expensive travel expenses as it had been the case comparing to their living cost.
Within a year or two, the presbytery will definitely function under two presbyteries. Each of them will have a governing center: Palenque and Tocob. The center line indicates how the current presbytery will be reorganized into two. On both corners, there are Palenque city and Tocob village. Both will have about 400 members at 6-7 organized churches. It will be fairly distributed in numbers of pastors and members. Please join us in prayer for this big upcoming event.
Posted by nanana
Mexico Map
We are now relocated from Palenque, Chiapas (far south of Mexico) to Cuernavaca, Morelos (2 hour south from Mexico City). The city is the first stop from Mexico City on its way to Acapulco City. Due to its climate among other reasons, people in Mexico City are attracted to have an extra home for short weekend breaks or vacations. The living cost in this city comparatively high and her citizens are gentle in general.
May the Lord extend His hands and bear the city in His heart for good!
Posted by nanana