mdsimants

What a wonderful day! 

Today was Sabbath.  Which meant no work.  Only rest. 

We had a chance to talk with the kids before breakfast this morning via Skype.  It was so great to hear their voice.  Both are well. 

Emily finished her First Grade Language Arts this morning and is now in Second Grade.  We are very proud of her.  Caleb was quite confused with the delay in transmission which turned into him repeating “I Love You” over and over again.  It was awesomely sweet to hear.

Irma and Sergio are treating us so very well.  We are definitely not going hungry.  Breakfast was awesome!  Scrambled eggs, refried beans, and toast.

After breakfast, Sergio opened la cerreda (the store) so I could buy a hat from them.  Quite a blessing that was.

Sergio then took us on a tour of Huapoca.  He showed us la comida y dormitorios y baños.  They were amazing.  Very clean.  Nicely built.  It was as nice – if not more so – than the camp I went to as a kid. 

He also showed us the converted dormitorio where he and his family (wife and five children) lived prior to being promoted to camp directors.  They were very humble beginnings, and really drove home the point that when you are faithful to the call, God will provide for you. 

We then walked down the trail to the ropes course.  The trail was lined with verses from Salmo (Psalms) 121 — one of my favorite Psalms. 

We then walked back to Casa Loma for lunch (chicken stew and rice).

After lunch, Steph and I spent some time debreifing with MJP.  What a great time of talking through ministry and what might be next for us.  God is birthing a vision in us, albeit slowly, for what is to come.

We then had our team small group discipleship time.  We looked at Joseph.  (I will be digging deeper into that story in the morning.  There are some leadership lessons there that I feel lead to glean and share.)

We then walked down to Rio Papigochi.  What a beautiful place.  So peaceful.  I hope to go back each day we have left here.

We then had dinner.  Sergio grilled ribs, rib-tips and strip steak.  We also had tortillas, rajas con queso, and a few different appetizers.

After dinner, we talked in depth with Sergio and Irma about the ministry here and their needs.  Really seeking to understand why we’re here now and what we can do to assist in the future. 

We had a wonderful, long visit with them.  I am going to intentionally spend the day with Sergio tomorrow and seek to understand more about the ministry and the need.

We also have learned that their oldest daughter is a student at John Brown University in Siloam Springs.  We are excited to meet her on Saturday, when she comes home for the summer.  She (and Irma) will also be spending time at RETO with us next week.  We have opened our home to them on Vaiana’s breaks or when the family comes to visit.

I am excited to spend intentional time with Sergio in tomorrow as well as the arrival of the campers for dinner (Steph will be assisting Irma) tomorrow night as well as worship.

More to follow when we can share.

Thank you for your continued prayers.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

We had a beautiful wake up this morning in Campo 77 – the Mennonite village were we stayed last night.  Such a beautiful view of rolling hills and the sun rising over them.  I tried to take photos, but our camera battery was dead.

Our visit with Neil and Nancy Dueck was a wonderful time.  Please say a prayer for God to bless their crops, herds, and resturaunt this year.  They are such wonderful people.

Our drive took us over hill and through valley.  We crossed mountain passes and spent an hour on a rather scary dirt road.  God blessed our coming and going and brought us safely to Huacopa.

We traveled first to the town of El Terrero.  We stopped briefly to say hi to the Pastor of the church there where Timothy and Susie worked and where Mary Jean has taught previously.

From there we went to Madera.  There is a mission office there where we delivered some supplies.  We also had lunch in Madera at La Cueva de Indio. Good place.

We then drove up to Quatro Ceintos where Timothy and Susie have a house. 

From there we came to Huapoca.  It was winding, single lane, rocky, dirt road. 

The views here are breathtaking.  Hopefully, we can get the camera charged to take some pictures tomorrow. 

We have WiFi when we are up at or near the main house.  Our camper is a bit too far for it to work.  Until Thursday, when the participants arrive, we will only have electricity for three hours a day (from 8p to 11p).

We are staying in a 5th wheel camper that sitsunder an awning.  So very protected from the elements.  The nice part is that it is just Steph and I staying in it. 

I am excited to get up in the morning and take a walk around the camp.  We have a sabbath day tomorrow, so will be very restful.  We have volunteered to assist with work around the camp tomorrow and Thursday.

Pray that I find a hat.  I forgot mine back home (I always have a hat on, so not sure how that happened).  I didn’t buy one in El Paso or at other stops.  My head even from the little bit we were outside today is burnt.  So, pray that the camp has one I can buy.

Sergio and Irma Granados are our hosts here and are the camp directors.  They have three daughters still at home (as well as one in school at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, AR and a son in school in Cd. Chihuahua).

Irma fixed a wonderful Milenesa Bistek for dinner.  They are wonderful hosts.

Will update more tomorrow.

God bless you all.

Monday, May 2, 2011 – Today was day 1 of our drive.  We left El Paso around 1330 and drove over to the Santa Theresa border crossing. 

Had a very simple immigration process.

We then drove south to Villa Ahumada took an east-southeast turn toward Buenoventura and then south through the hills to one of the Mennonite camps called Campo 77.

We are overnighting with a wonderful Mennonite couple Nancy and Neil.

These folks are wonderful!  They are farmer/ranchers here along with many other Mennonite families in the area.  They are also building a resturaunt out on the highway where they will raise funds to assist missionaries. 

They fed us a phenomenal soup for dinner along with fresh tortillas and banana-nut bread.  It was delicious!!

Timothy, Josiah, and I got to watch Neil feed the horses and cattle as well.

We’ll grab some photos of the ranch area tomorrow morning and will eventually post those on our Shutterfly site.

Not sure when this post will actually get uploaded, but I will upload it as soon as I can.

Blessings all and goodnight from Campo 77!

We have arrived in Huapoca.  It is very beautiful here.  We have limited wifi.

Good morning!

We spent the night at a Mennonite camp called Campo 77 with a
wonderful couple Neil and Nancy.  They have treated us quite well.
Great food.  Warm bed.  Etc.  Please say a prayer for them if you
would.

We are heading to Huapoca later this morning after a stop at Madera.
Please pray for safe travels.

We are doing well!

Good Monday Morning!

We are shortly going to cross the USA/Mexico border.  I thought I’d fire off one last missive prior to crossing.

Our plan is to drive about 4-hours in country today to a Mennonite Camp.  Tomorrow we will drive the remainder of the way into Huapoca.  Wednesday will be a Sabbath day.  Thursday thru Saturday will be ministry days.  Sunday we will drive back up to Juarez.  Monday is a Pastor’s Conference.  Tuesday and Wednesday we will be working at RETO.  Thursday we will fly home.

We are so thankful for your prayers.  May God bless each of you!

Will update as soon as I can. 

We began our day at Iglesias Christiana Pentecostes for two teaching sessions.  MJP first taught on prayer and then on salvation.

The message of salvation is a beautiful one.  The word salvation in the Scriptures is a present-continuous tense.  In other words: I am saved and I am being saved.  Or, my spirit is saved and my mind/will/emotions through the renewal (recreation) of them is being saved.

We are saved from, to and for.  Saved from sickness, to healing, for making His name great.  Saved from bondage, to freedom, for making His name great. (These are just two of the thirteen elements contained within salvation.)

That is why we do what we do.  We have a testimony.  And you can’t keep a testimony quiet.

The music was loud. I mean blow your hair back loud. Those folks like their praise and worship music! In nearly every pewback was a hymnal, Bible and a tambourine. During the music, they were all going full-bore. It was fun to sing Jon Egan’s song “I Am Free” in both English and Spanish. They would sing the songs through once in Spanish, then in English, and then would randomly alternate languages. It was fascinating. And loud.

We then had lunch with the church.  A wonderful brisket, rice and beans.

Back to the hotel for rest.

A long chat about ministry, God’s provision, discernment, etc with MJP. 

Then dinner.  During which we leared of the news that Osama Bin Laden had been killed.

I’ve been watching the reactions on Facebook and Twitter as well as CNN, Fox News, BBC, and Al Jazeera.  It is such an interesting mix of emotion. 

My take is:

It is important to remember that as we go through the next few days, the Bible is clear in its commands to NOT rejoice at the judgement of the evil.  We should never gloat.  We should remain diligent in our devotion to God and His service which includes blessing those who curse us.

Tomorrow, we head south into Mexico.  We’ll cross the border around 12pm.  We will drive apporximately 4 hours into Chihuahua and will spend the night at a Mennonite camp just past halfway to Huapoca.  On Tuesday we will finish the drive.

I don’t know what the frequency of my ability to post will be.  I will continue to write blogs each night and will post them when I have WiFi connectivity (which could be as late as 5/2 or 3).  If we have opportunity to talk with the kids this week, I will have dkfields post brief status updates here. 

Please pray for safety, health, easy flow with translators, discernment, and direction as we go through the next two weeks.

Finally, pray that God will use this time to show us as a family what we do after Mexico, and that we will keep our eyes and ears open and keep pressing into Him for direction.

Many blessings to you!  Pray for us.

(eksimants and cesimants, I love you!  Keep being good for Nana and Papa!) 

Life-Changing. 

That’s the best way that I can describe the green chili at lunch yesterday.

I love green chili.  I’ve eaten alot of it.  This was by far the beat ever.

One of the missions groups in Iglesias Christiana Pentecostes fixed lunch for us yesterday.  Roasted chicken, homemade rice, mole, pollo colorado, tortillas, and green chili. 

It was incredible food.  Thankful hearts and full tummys all around.

The other (and more important) life-changing event was MJP finishing her teaching on the Power of Spoken Words.  What great truths from the Word of God.

For instance, Proverbs 10:19-21:

When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.  The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value.  The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.

Does what you say bring value?  Nourishment?  Or are your words driven by the wicked heart (mind, will, emotions)? 

People listen – closely – to what those who are righteous (in right-standing and right-relationship with God) say.  Are you speaking life or death (la vida o la muerta)?

Wow.

After lunch, we came back to our hotel and had some small group teaching.  These times are so rich.  MJP ministering to the four of us.  Discipling us.

It struck me yesterday how much this idea was like Jesus with His disciples.  Minister for a while to large groups.  Enjoy meals together.  Teach them.  Listen to their thoughts and questions. 

Yesterday we discussed Abraham.  What an incredible story of faith (immediate and far reaching (Hebrews 11:8-10)). 

The truth that struck me most was the legacy which Abraham left.  What he did some 4000 years ago is defining us even today. 

More importantly, what we do is defining generations to follow us.  Our kids, their kids, their kids, and so on.  Every decision.  Every “Yes” said to God and every “No” said to God shapes those generations to follow.  It doesn’t just impact you and your kids.  But generations.

Wow!

What a day of learning, discipling, growing!

Today, we head over for church this morning.  Excited to see what God has in store.

One last thing, it has been so interesting that even in just the few hours of immersion into the Spanish language that we have had, how much more I understand now than on Friday.  Continue to pray for God to give us even more understanding.   It is important.

Blessings to all of you, and please keep us in your prayers.  Especially today Ephesians 6:19 that …

… whenever we open our mouths, words may be given to us so that we will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.

Peace to you.

Well, day one is done.  We have just returned from a night of ministry at Iglesias Christiana Pentecostes here in El Paso. 

We spent the morning in personal Bible study time.  I was focusing on the Proverbs and God really talked to me (and me to Him) through it.  One passage in particular was Proverbs 22:6 (ASV).

Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it.

I was reminded that our children learn their character from us.  If we worship half-heartedly, or serve half-heartedly, or minister the Gospel half-heartedly then we are teaching our children to do the same.  If we spend time in the Word, in prayer, in service, in worship with our children (AND we give our all to those things) then when they grow old they will do the same. Merely teaching them ABOUT God is not enough. You have to LIVE the life of God in front of them — all the time.

That is the fulfillment of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20–make disciples and teach them to make disciples).

We then spent a wonderful time of catching up (and being disciples) by MJP.  Love that time.

In the afternoon, MJP taught a small group (Steph, Timothy, Susie and I) on the wonderful truth of 2 Corinthians 1:20.  God makes us a promise.  Jesus makes it good through His blood.  We put our agreement on it.  God fulfills it.  Wow!

We then had dinner (Barrigos) and headed to church.

Steph and I were asked to sing.  MJP got us out of it (until tomorrow).  I’m excited to be able to sing one of Steph’s “Trailernacle Worship Songs” with her!

MJP began her two day (continuing early tomorrow morning) on the Power of the Spoken Word.  Great truth from the Scriptures about what God says and what we say in response.

After the service, Steph and I had an opportunity to minister with two of the youth in the church about the will of God. 

All-in-all it was a fantastic day of ministry (both receiving and giving).  We are so blessed to get to do this!

Our prayer needs tonight:

> For both of

us to have an increased understanding of Spanish

> For Steph to regain her Spanish abilities

quickly

> For MJP as she ministers

> For us as we have opportunity to minister

> The pastoral leadership here at ICP

> The founding pastor hasurgery this afternoon.  It miraculously went very well.  Please pray for healing.

And, finally, pray for the kids.  They are doing well and are in good hands!

Thank you all for your support!  May the grace, truth, and peace of God reign in your hearts and minds!