Below you will find our most recent update. We apologize that is a bit longer than usual but hope it is a blessing to you and helps you as you pray for the work the Lord is doing in San Jose del Cabo.CELL GROUPS & THE EVANGACUBE
As you may recall, we had a short term missions team come last fall to present workshops to our church on the evangelism tool, the Evangacube. We continue to see much fruit from this ministry. Moses and his wife were approached by one of the groups who went out to practice using the cubes. They were invited to one of our cell groups and have been attending since last fall. We rejoice in reporting that Friday night at the cell group, he accepted Christ. Please pray for his spiritual growth and for his wife’s salvation.
ENGLISH CLASS (Pictured above)
We had the pleasure of hosting a senior college student, Sarah Beimfohr, the past two weeks who came to provide an advanced English class to 14 youth and adults in our church. It was a very practical help to many who wanted to improve their English skills in order to find employment or better employment. We are grateful for her willingness to come and spend part of her winter break from college to minister in such a pracitcal way.
ECONOMIC SITUATION
Below is an excerpt from an e-mail we received Wednesday from Steve, our ministry area leader. We know that the economy is struggling in the states as well and would greatly appreciate your prayers as Mexico is facing some serious problems. (Note: I have italicized in parenthesis definitions of Spanish terms.)
The Peso hit 14.32 to the Dollar this morning before the government sold 400,000,000 dollars in an attempt to stabilize the peso. It helped a bit but the Peso is still at 14.11. Add to this the 74% drop in the price of a barrel of Mexican oil since July, the large percentage drop in remesas (money sent back to Mexico from family working in other countries), the drop in tourism and the slowdown in the maquiladoras (maquiladora refers to an American company located on the Mexican side of the US-Mexican border.They are usually assembly and manual labor factories. These companies go to Mexico to save on labor costs because wages in Mexico are so low. However, they provide much needed jobs in Mexico and tend to pay more than many other jobs in Mexico do), and we are facing what could be a critical situation for Mexico. All the major sources for foreign income into Mexico are being battered. This will most likely create more unemployment, more underemployment, higher inflation and less government spending on social programs and services. this is going to create a lot of difficulty for the people in our churches. People are afraid right now and may become desperate.
Steve also noted that the peso had resumed its slide by the time he had finished writing the message. With the economic situation, there have also been more problems with express kidnappings (these are non-politically motivated kidnappings where they grab a person and try to run their ATM dry or ask ransom from family, etc.). Americans or people with family in the states who are perceived as being rich are often prime targets. While we have never felt personally threatened, we do feel that we need to be more alert and wanted to ask specific prayer for our safety and especially our children’s safety.
Shortly after reading about the increasing security risk in Mexico, Pattie read the following which we found to not only be timely but very encouraging in light of the current situation. The author is writing about the passage in Luke where Jesus said he was sending the disciples out as “sheep in the midst of wolves”. We would like to share it with you as well:
Perspective, then, is what tells us we are secure despite the environment we are in. Perspective can see an ominous situation as a great opportunity. We all need reminding at times that we are no different from the lost sheep except that we now have a Shepherd— and what a difference He makes. We do not need to fear the pack of wolves because He is with us, carries a big stick, and has a quick swing. Wherever we go, the Shepherd goes...So why are we sent to the wolves? Though He is our protection, He is also on a mission to seek and save the lost sheep, and the wolves tend to gather where there is easy prey. Jesus was sent to seek. Those who follow Him are also sent to seek. As disciples of Christ we have gone from being vulnerable prey to becoming valued members of a search-and-rescue team. (Neil Cole)
We pray this is an encouragment to you as it was to us. Even though we may be living in uncertain times and surrounded by "wolves" right now, we have a wonderful opportunity to be seeking out His lost sheep.
Seeking the lost sheep with you,
Phil & Pattie
