I have collected some pieces from e-mails written to family and others and I share them here to help fill some of the gaps.

Washing Machine:
Thanks to all those who gave for a washing machine for us here! We were able to buy an good machine and Mom has been using it for a while already. Thank-you and blessing on you

2nd-3rd week:
…Mom is doing very well with the move. I remember this being a large concern of mine before we left-how mom would adapt –but it isn’t a concern of mine here. Maybe I should say it this way to be honest: We are prepared to adapt and we are adapting. All of us experience in our week both joys and grief. Being away from family at home is like a burden that we carry; for we do long to participate in and be with you all, but we are not hindered by that burden -sobered rather. Mom, of the three of us, has the least to distract her during the day, and her prayers always show that she has been thinking about all of you, (son-in-laws, grand children, everyone). I wish I could e-mail you some pictures already, for there is testimony that there are some good times here. I have observed Mom and Dad enjoying each other’s company with an enchantment that I do not understand but is characteristic of people in love. Their language too has been positive and appreciative of one another. They are well…
…We won’t have phone for a while yet. A good time call would be 8:30 pm (9:30pm your time) any night of week if we make arrangements, and we could go to Maria’s house to use her phone...


Oct. 6th, 2006

…Have you been wondering about us here in Vera Cruz? We have to go to a café to use internet and it hasn’t been very convenient, but we are figuring things out. I have some photos that I would like to share but at this point it takes too long to upload them…

…We gave David from Nacaxtle the bike that was given. It has fun for us to give it to him. He received seemed to be in some shock it seemed, and gratefulness. He sends “thanks to the brothers”....

We have had no trouble finding footholds for our ministry here. The challenge is to make the daily decisions about how to spend our time and efforts, and maybe say no to some things and be intentional about others. For example, the many in the church here in Hueyapan see my Dad as their Pastor. They want him to preach almost every night and fix certain issues. This week it was discussed that my Dad would Pastor under certain conditions that he would have the freedom to be away for most of the week to fulfill his calling to plant churches, train and support leaders. So far so good. But, honestly, according to my limited foresight, I am still uneasy that this will cause much distraction and over-burdening. I haven’t talked to my Dad a about that yet but I will on next opportunity. Please pray with us concerning this. I wonder if he could have an elder position instead of Pastor. The church here is under a cloud of disunity presently and we do want to help as we can. Things are looking positive. Youth have been attending church almost regularly in the last two weeks. Today we have a service for which we have invited another church group and are inviting youth from off the streets. It is amazing how such advertising here seems to have such a receptive crowd. We’ll see if it is also sincere. A group of us will be singing a song tonight and reading Psalm 119: 9-16 together.


It has wonderful for me to go to the Nacaxtle church! The building looks really good! The floor is poured and there is iron work over the window openings. It is awesome after our work here to be in the service with the residence, kids and all! Truly this has been a very satisfying project
.
Gustavo has bigger hair (needing a hair cut), but he is still very much himself. There is a difference however: dominant attention seekers are different now, and Gustavo seems to be a bit of an outsider. I think his parents are probably not among the regulars at church.

The church In Nacaxtle has expressed that they would like to have a drum set for their worships service! Apparently there are two among them who play, and they desire it. My Dad asked me to mention it to you guys for what ever doors might open.


I have to go! Any questions? Anything we could do to communicate better to people there? Please let us know.

Oct 07, 2006

…I have now talked with my Dad, about the Pastor-ship thing, and whatever the name of his role it is predictable that he will serve with both his time and energy where he sees need and right now this community is very much looking to us. This is what we will do: my mom and I try to be both an encouragement and accountability for my dad, and all of us for each other. Our vision is to express the love of God here, and be obedient daily to the guidance of the Spirit. But we agree that Pastoring should not be my Dad´s preoccupation here. So we will discuss this with the church in a very honest way, and follow through in the wisdom, discipline, and guidance God provides.
I am very relieved of my uneasiness, and encouraged rather at this opportunity to clarify the vision for our ministry and to be a model for teaching the people with whom we are working this through…

Oct 25, 2006

Update: The church here in Hueyapan would like to see themselves as support and participants in the ministry of Hope Mission 50. They do see my Dad as their Pastor, but they want to both give us freedom to do other things and help with that ministry. That was a agreed upon. Thanks to God for his provision for the people here and this our ministry! The church is experiencing renewal. But the deepest healing will take time. There is need for healing of the unity of the leadership; a breaking down of pretension.