I can’t believe this will be the final update for our trip.  Although it is nearly time for all of you to be waking up on Saturday morning, and really time for me to get to bed, I wanted to make sure that I updated you on our final day here in Monterrey.

Our final day in Monterrey was full of emotions, happy and sad, from us and from the Mexican believers.  Taylor, Colin, Duncan, Ragan, Bethany and Kelsey have all had an amazing time getting to know and work with the youth from Encuentro Con Dios. Each day there were more and more smiles on their faces.  The ladies (Jennifer, Suzanne, Lori, Marilyn and I) have been enjoying getting to know the Mexican women that we are working with. Many of them came to us this morning and told us how wonderful our meal together was. Jessica was able to make a friend her age that doesn’t speak English. She also had some special moments with the 3 year olds in her VBS class.  Travis and Don were hanging curtains and replacing the kitchen countertop.  Don was busy helping with the snack when he wasn’t with Travis.  During the game times we practiced which song and verse we were going to say for the parents.  They came at 12:30 for a closing program.  Many hugs were given and goodbyes said with sadness.

Glenn, Bob, Mark, Duncan, Dan and Scott, though, head a tough time leaving their projects for the day because they were working so hard all week there were just a few more things they wanted to get finihshed.  We are excited to see the before and after pictures that they took.  Glenn reported tonight that they got the electrical wiring finished.  The dry wall is hung, so it just needs to have the door frames hung before the basics were finished.  They were able to come to the closing program to see what our week was like.

Following lunch (which was a very interesting chicken salad sandwich caserole and salad) we went to the River Walk to check out some street “vendors”.  It seemed like a big farm market but under tents and and with not as much food.  Most of our souveneirs came from there.  However, a few of us did manage to save enough for shopping down town. Our evening activitiy (goodbye dinner) was supposed to start at 7 and we didn’t get back to the hotel until 7:25.  We had until 8 to get ready for the fiesta.  What a fiesta it was.

We had tortas(like a very small taco) and bean soup.  Much to our surprise, a mariachi band came up the steps and played for about 30 minutes for us.  It was really neat to see how much fun everyone was had.  Travis gave a testimony of the week and several of the Mexican church members gave us gifts as well.  Each church received it’s own copy of the entire group of VBS.  We are hoping to stop by the construction sight in the morning so that we can see what the guys have been up to all week. And though VBS was tough to end, tears began to flow as we REALLY had to say goodbye after the fiesta.  The youth from both mexican and american have already exchanged all the social networking information they needed to stay in touch with one another.  Jorge and Maricela Aleman (our Mexican team coordinators) have two teenage daughters who ended up spending the night tonight in the hotel with our Ragan, Kelsey and Bethany.  That is how close they got this week.

To all of you who have continued to pray for us, thank you.  We have seen God working things out and teaching us things we didn’t necessarily want to learn right now, but things that He knows are good for us.  God is good.

Please continue to pray for us as we come home for the following:

1. Safe and smooth travel for all of us
2. That God will continue to finish the work he started in us long ago.
3. Good rest in our own beds.
4. Clear minds and open hearts as we continue to process everything that has gone on.

In His Service, for His Glory!

Crystal (for the team)

Good Morning friends and family!

Yesterday was a beautiful day full of ministry for all ages.  Our Bible lessons for VBS was Jesus death and resurrection and the hope of the good news of Christ’s work of forgiveness on the cross.  Again we had about 52 in attendance.  And once again everyone stepped up even though we were tired.  We got lots of group pictures and very much enjoyed spending time with our Mexican brothers and sisters.  Marilyn is doing extremely well.  The bandage covering her two stitches has been covered with a bandana, so she just has a large headband.  Her arm and shoulder are bruised but her joy and laughter fill the air.  God has been working out many things behind the scenes that we just haven’t been aware of.  For that we are grateful.

All of us were able to come back to the hotel for a brief rest following VBS.  By 4 pm the youth joined forces at a family’s home to spend some time together swimming and fellowshipping.  The women (Marilyn, Suzanne, Lori, Jennifer and Crystal) went to a home to have a pie-cake baking demonstration.  They had it set up like a workshop and we distributed the gift bags sent by Mrs. Korb as we asked questions about family and church involvement.  Crystal ended up translating for the demonstration and for the devotion time.  By God’s grace, I think they got it.  The men spent some really good time with Jorge, one of the pastor’s at the church.  They have thoroughly enjoyed their time.

Today we are off to VBS, our final day.  We are sad to have this final day, and yet we have all grown and been stretched in ways we never thought we would. Following VBS we will be going to down town Monterrey for souveneir shopping.  Tonight the church is giving us a good bye fiesta.  We are excited about that.  Tomorrow is our travel day.

Please pray:

1. For resolution to concerns we have had among our team
2. For the growth we have experienced will carry over to our daily lives at home
3. That we will finish well
4. That the children of VBS will understand the truth of the gospel and parents will come to church
5. For renewal of our minds and hearts as we finish today and tomorrow.

Serving with humility and in need of God’s grace,

Crystal

P.S.  Some of you are wondering why I have not mentioned Sean Cliggett’s name in these updates.  Days before we left, Sean developed a pretty severe infection and was unable to travel.  Pastor Dan Kiehl of Meadowcroft was able to make arrangements to come with us in his place.  While we were very saddened to lose Sean as a member of our team, we have been overly blessed by Dan’s presence with us.

What a day in Monterrey!!!

We have many praises and some prayer requests.  Our afternoon was full of adventure as we were able to drive an hour away to get to the caves.  We had to ride a cable car up to the middle of a mountain to get in to the caves.  ALL 19 of us were able to go.  Some overcoming great fears of getting up, others overcoming physical discomforts inside the caves.  God has been so good to us in giving us victory over these challenges.  While we were resting a bit after coming back down, Marilyn slipped and bumped her head.  Praise God for Kelsey running over and taking care of the First Aid part in getting her cleaned up.  We are especially greatful that Pastor Rafael’s brother who “happens” to be a general practitioner that was visiting his parents who live about 20 minutes from the caves in the same direction as “home” was available to take a look at the scratch on her head.  He gave her two stitches but she has been laughing and joking around with us just as before. Praise God for his protection and provision over us today.

VBS went smoothly.  We were back up in number of children (52?).  There was a change in the schedule for snacks, so Suzanne and Don were a little scattered at first until things got moving and they got adjusted.  The Mexican teacher for Lori’s group was in a car accident but is doing fine.  She has a neckbrace but needs to stay at home for rest.  So another Mexican young adult has joined Lori with the 12 older elementary students (ages 11 and 12).  Crystal and Kelsey are working with Lucy.  We have some really neat kids in our group.  Alfonso is our mildly autistic child and Kelsey has been jumping in and interacting with him in such a way that even our Mexican team mates have commented on how impressed they are with how well she knows just what to do with him.  She is gaining more and more confidence each day in her role and in her spanish.  Jennifer and Jessica have been working with the preschoolers.  Jessica has been able to connect more with the little ones and continues to just love on them when they need a friend.  Taylor and Ragan continue to improve in how they are running the games and involving the children.  While Taylor is gaining more of a “groove” in feeling more comfortable explaining the directions and leading the games, Ragan continues to grow in her outreach to the children.  On several occasions this week, we have called on help from someone to see if they have anything and Ragan has been there.  “Ragan to the rescue” has come up several times.  Bethany also helped with games today.  She has been very willing to step in and be moved around to whereever she is needed.  Following dinner, when it is available, the youth have been able to play some kind of games with the local neighborhood kids.  Travis and Don finished the shelves.  Travis has had many good talks with Jorge, one of the teaching elders (and Mexican team leaders).  It has been wonderful to see him more balanced in working and fellowshipping.  Marilyn continues to step up and bring us great joy as she enjoys just being here helping with crafts.  Her Mexican helper was not feeling well today, but that didn’t stop her from doing what needed to be done with the crafts.  Colin helped with games today again and was a big help even though he was so tired.

The construction team (Bob, Glenn, Dan, Mark, Duncan & Scott) got quite a bit more done today.  There are always things that could go better, but they are all encouraged by what has been going on at the work site.

Please pray:

1. For peace and unity among our teammates
2. For strength, wisdom and godliness as leaders and teammates and servants
3. For good health.  Some are still struggling with headaches and allergies, but are mild.
4. God’s grace in our lives that He will accomplish HIS purposes for each one of us here.
5. Praising God for his hand of protection and provision over us today with Marilyn’s fall and how it all worked out.

Serving because He loves us all,

Crystal (for the team)

It is morning here in Monterrey and we are about to embark on a long day of hard work and hard play.  Sorry the update didn’t come last night.

Tuesday’s VBS went much more smoothly than Monday.  While we only had 49 come, we were encouraged about our language confidence and our interaction with the Mexican believers and the children.  Taylor and Ragan seemed to really get into the groove of the games and the followup questions that applied the Bible lessons.  Bethany did some behind the scenes (literrally) work helping the students in the Bible lesson to feel the water of the Jordan River as we walked through it as the Isrealites did with Joshua.  Kelsey began to feel more confident with her spanish and was able to interact on a whole new level in our group.  I also felf more at ease actually talking to the children about the Bible lessons and applications.  Our mildly autistic child named Alfonso was also able to interact with the group and didn’t have to leave the areas so much.  Jessica and Jennifer have really been able to connect with the young preschoolers and their Mexican teachers.  Jessica has made a friend her age in one of the groups and after VBS has been able to play a bit.  Tuesday they even had their own language training session as Ingrid does not know english and Jessica does not know spanish.  Don and Suzanne have been helping with snacks and are feeling like they are able to communicate better than before.  Travis and Don also were able to complete the shelves in the storage room and the Mexican coordinators are extremely happy.  Colin was able to help out in games and was a huge help to Taylor and Ragan.  Marilyn is having a great time with her Mexican leader in crafts.

The construction team at Cumbres (Scott, Glenn, Dan, Mark & Duncan) were able to get a lot of the building in the rooms done yesterday and feel really good about how things are going. A much more productive day than Monday.  Today after VBS is touring the caves, going to the flagpole and out to dinner at a restaurant.

¨Please pray for team unity, focused priorities on what it is that God wants us to learn and strength of character to handle unexpected and hard challenges that we face that we just weren’t expecting.

Loving Christ and His people,

Crystal (for the team)

Hello Family and Friends!

We have come to the end of our first day of VBS and Construction. VBS was exciting, fun and very tiring. With many of us not knowing Spanish very well, we did a lot of hand gestures and used a lot of sounds to communicate. There were 55 children today and we expect to have several more tomorrow. Taylor and Ragan Trotter are working with the games and doing a great job. Each session they say gets easier, so tomorrow should go much better. They are working with another Mexican youth who translates for them when they need the help. Marilyn is helping in the craft room, Bethany, Kelsey and Lori are working as helpers with in school age groups and Jennifer and Jessica are helping with the preschoolers. Suzanne worked in the snack area. Crystal has been asked to step in as a “lead” teacher or guide for one of the groups. Colin was a spy today in a skit for the Bible lesson of Rahab and the spies. Travis and Don helped out getting things set up (Don mostly with snacks and Travis just all over). The other men (Bob, Glenn, Mark, Duncan & Scott)went to Cumbres del Rey for their major renovations of taking an empty space and turning it into 5 different rooms. They are working with another group from the States.

We were not expecting to have much time to just sit and “relax” but after lunch we found that it didn’t take that much time to empty out one of the storage rooms. So by 3.30 the ladies came back to the hotel while the men (Travis, Don, Taylor and Colin) stayed to help build some shelves and set up for the Bible story tomorrow (Crossing the Jordan River).

Please continue in your prayers for us. Here’s how:

1. Pray that we will take advantage of the down time and talk to our Mexican friends.
2. Pray that we will see what it is that God has for us to learn each day.
3. Pray that we will not get frustrated when we can’t say the things we want to say because of the language barriers or when we aren’t able accomplish what we thought we would.
4. Pray for the health of our team. We are all doing well but some struggling with allergies and headaches, etc. Not severe and very manageable but very challenging too.
5. Pray for Travis and I to be able to lead the team members and guide them to look to Jesus.

Thank you for all your support and continued prayers.

Serving Christ,

Crystal (for the whole team)

Hello Family and Friends!

Sorry it has taken us this long to let you all know that we made it safely to Monterrey…all 19 of us, safe and sound with very little drama. We are so thankful for God’s hand of protection over us all.  We are all staying in a beautiful hotel with air conditioning and a pool.  Our hosts from Encuentro con Dios (the church we are working with) have been so excited that we are here.  The joy of their salvation overflows and is very contagious.  They have a common goal of reaching their friends and neighbors with the life changing message of Jesus Christ.  This morning we witnessed a young lady be baptized and become a member of the church.  She couldn’t stop smiling from the joy of knowing Jesus.

Tomorrow we start our work, even though we spent the afternoon painting the props and transforming the church into a ranch.  Our Youth spent much time learning the dance movements to the songs that will be sung throughout the week.  Each night we will have dinner at the home of a family from the church.  Tonight we ate at the home of one of the deacons.

As wonderful as things can be, there are always things that we can pray for.

1. Pray that we will stay well hydrated and well rested.
2. Pray that we will be able to keep to their schedule and not hold them up.  Traffic is a mess here and we need to allow ourselves enough time to be transported from the hotel to the church.
3. Pray that we will be able to give each other the benefit of the doubt when we don’t understand what someone says to us.
4. Pray that the love of Christ will be shone through our actions even when we can’t communicate with our words.
5. Pray for Travis and I to be able to lead the team members and guide them to look to Jesus.

Thank you for all your support and continued prayers.

Serving Christ,

Crystal (for the whole team)

We plan on blogging the Missions trip to Mexico  right here on the rpcb blog!

Check back frequently as we may be updating daily.

These are some quotes from an awesome book – “The Christian in Complete Armour” by William Gurnall:

“The Christian must not be of such a complying nature as to cut the coat of his profession according to the fashion of the times…”

The Bible’s teaching of the Trinity – There is but One God in three distinct Persons, is a glorious truth with deep importance.  As one example, an understanding of the three Persons of the trinity, shapes our view and practice of prayer.  While praying to and about the Trinity, the Valley of Vision remarks:

O Father, thou are enthroned to hear my prayers. O Jesus, thy hand is outstretched to take my petitions, O Holy Spirit, thou art willing to help my infirmities, to show me my need, to supply my words, to pray within me, to strengthen me that I faint not in supplication.  O Triune God, who commandeth the universe, thou hast commanded me to ask for those things that concern thy kingdom and my soul.

All Three Persons of the Trinity are engaged in our prayers.  See the Triune God’s willingness to commune with, encourage, aid, and direct us in prayer.   Linger with God in prayer today, using the thoughts of the above prayer as your guide

In the Valley of Vision’s prayer entitled, ‘God the Source of All Good’ I was struck by these words:

‘I am often straying, often knowingly opposing thy authority, often abusing thy goodness; Much of my guilt arises from my religious privileges, my low estimation of them, my failure to use them to my advantage.’

According to the mortality tables, I’m beyond mid-life (though gladly I don’t feel that way).   I’ve been a believer for over three decades and an ordained pastor for nearly two decades.  What religious privileges I’ve had as a believer (prayer, God’s Word, worship, fellowship with believers, discipleship, God’s acts of providence, etc) and a pastor (seminary training, testing of the gifts God has given me, daily interaction with the people of God, daily preparation for sermons, small groups, bible studies, etc., witnessing the example of and working with godly men and women who have encouraged me in my faith.  Many others could be listed)! 

Yet, I’ve failed to use these wonderful privileges to my full advantage.  I still stray, oppose God’s authority, and abuse his bountiful goodness.  How easy it is to lose sight of ‘godliness with contentment is great gain,’ and long for more privileges when I haven’t fully used the ones God has already given.

May I bless God for the marvelous privileges He’s granted me and use them to my FULL advantage.  May my petition continue with the Valley of Visions:  “But I am not careless of thy favour or regardless of thy glory; Impress me deeply with a sense of thine omnipresence, that thou art about my path, my ways, my laying down, my end.”