Saturday, March 1, 2008

Febrero Loco

There is a saying here in Mexico. It goes like this, "Febrero loco, marzo otro poco." It means, "crazy February, March even more." This saying is used in reference to the weather, but for us personally February truly is a crazy month. We will see if this saying applies to March, making it even more crazy. It is starting to look like it, but stay tuned and we will find out. We are sure that your month has probably been just as crazy as ours, so we would like to share with you what has been going on in Mexico City.

AIM Group

As is our annual routine, we had the privilege to host the Adventures in Missions class and some guests along with them. This is a great time for the AIM students to come and not only see what life is like on the mission field but also be impacted by seeing with their own eyes the magnitude of the city and souls who do not know Christ. They are just beginning their school term that focuses on all of the mission points that they will be going to, and this trip to Mexico Cityis an impacting part of their process. It is one of the big steps that they take in realizing that they are going to be apprentice missionaries in a place foreign to what they normal know and do. It is a great eye-opening experience. It has been a highlight in the lives of AIM students for as long as SIBI has had the Pink House.

This year they were a very large group. It included AIM students, AIM assistants, AIM directors, current AIMers, future AIM students, and AIM sponsors from Paducah, Kentucky. Tagging along were also future AIM coordinators from around Mexico and AIM group guides from Mexico City. We never got an exact count, but we were at the very least 120 people. This was our first time to host the AIM students as caretakers of the Pink House. We think that it was a great success, but we are still waiting to hear their feedback! (hint hint) We actually enjoyed preparing them breakfast at the house, and because of it we have "war stories" akin to Belinda's! Boy could they eat! Every morning they ate 16 liters of yoghurt, fruit, granola, and varied main breakfast courses. One morning we flipped 400 pancakes and fried 300 strips of bacon. Another morning we scrambled 180 eggs with ham and cheese, and the list goes on and on.

We are so grateful that they took this time out of their schedule to come and use Mexico City as a launching point for the students to get an "in the face" view of the reality of what they are going to encounter on their mission fields.


Visit from SIBI Representatives


The day before the AIM students left, some representatives from SIBI also came to visit. These were Truitt Adair the director of SIBI, Jay Jarboe the lead minister at the Sunset church, Brad Pruitt the director of finances at SIBI and Rudy Wray long-time missionary to Latin America and current director of ministry training division of Pan America at SIBI. These four men came to Mexico City to take a look at the Pink House and its use in the work here. We hope and believe that received a good perspective, because this Pink House is being used in so many good ways. Our Mexican leaders were able to share with these men their own vision for this city and how the Pink House fits in for them. It was a great moment. We consider ourselves blessed to be able to be the caretakers and know that God is doing some amazing things here in Mexico City and has used and will use the pink house in this vision.


Football, Fútbol and Food

As far as the Benito Juárez congregation is concerned, things are going really well. We started the month off, probably like most of you, with the Super Bowl. We used it to host an event to reach out to people. We had a fun time! On the same day there was also a classic soccer game between the Pumas and America, two Mexico City rivals. Therefore, the moment that we concluded the church service everyone stayed around, and we grillled and watched sports all day long. The soccer game was a blow-out game, but the Super Bowl (as many of you know) was a great game. Those who were not necessarily interested in the games watched movies, and of course we all ate very well. We were able to start and expand some relationships this day, and we will see what the Lord will do with the friendships He has started from something as easy as watching some games together. We also had a half-night of prayer in Santa Ursula, a colonia in the delegation of Coyoacan (just south of Benito Juarez.) This time was planned by the leaders of one of our small groups that meets in the same home. It is so powerful to see God at work, and when we pray we can see how God does His powerful will. Please keep the work in Mexico City in your prayers.

Growing Up

Our family is doing very well. We are busy, but good. Adah spent a week with her Buela and Papaw (grandparents) at the beach and got to swim and eat lots of chocolate. She stayed with them while the AIM students were at the house. This was her first trip away from home and it went great. We are proud of how well she did. It was harder on mom and dad then on Adah. Noah is doing well. He is still a small guy but is still learning neat and new things everyday. He is at a very fun age. We ask that you please pray for us and the kids. We are trying to find Adah a school, and it has been going well. We will keep you posted on that, but please keep these decisions in your prayers. Jacob and Amanda are doing good trying to find balance in all of the hustle and bustle. Thank you so much for reading this, and we hope and pray that you are all doing well. We love you all. God Bless.

9 comments:

James and Erin Henderson said...

We miss you guys, and must get together soon! Thanks for the update; we are always so proud of your work!
Love and prayers, James, Erin, Kate, and Cal

TREY MORGAN said...

We love you guys. We're so proud of your ministry in Mexico City. Keep up the good work, you are in our prayers.

Amanda said...

So great to read the "goings on". We love you guys and have begun praying about Adah's school search...what a scary step. Talk to you all soon!

mercyshower said...

I have thought about you often since we all left your home in Mexico and headed back to Lubbock. You are doing some really wonderful things there in that city, and I just want to encourage you to keep it up! I am grateful that you were there to help our group experience the culture there, and I am so thankful to God that you are the ones caring for the Pink House now. I hope God continue to bless you! Say hi to the church that meets in your home, especially Salomon and Israel. We prayed for you all in Survey class with Terri this week. Hope all is well.

Toni Burns said...

Thanks for letting us tag on with this group. We always love any time we get with you guys. Your family holds a special place in our heart - as do all Hendersons. Any time you are coming this way we would love to have you stay with us.

Anonymous said...

Jacobito y Sra. Henderson! Keep up the buen trabajo and know I continue to pray for your family. It's through your willingness to seek Him first and place Him above all else, that He accomplishes His will. I learn that from you and the many others serving our Lord.

Siempre,
Matthew McBride

La Pistolera said...

WEll thank goodness you let Adah comestay with us. And now that she is going to school what will we do? mom

Bill Williams said...

May God's richest blessings be yours as you reflect on the extent of His love demonstrated through the death His Son on the cross and the awesomeness of His power exhibited through the resurrection.

To God be the glory!

-bill
a spiritual oasis

Unknown said...

It was great reading and seeing how God is using you all. I will always remember the pink house with fond memories. I was a high school student on a mission trip that had a great impact in my life, solidifying my desire to work for God on foreign soil. I know that it must take a lot of work and effort to keep up the house and keep up with all the groups, but you seem to be doing it well and enjoying it. I hope you are able to love it, even though it is hard, as so many are blessed through your hospitality and generosity.
We love you all.
Lucy