Schedule additions

So, the past week has brought up an interesting and unexpected chance to serve here in Guzmán, and to get to know more people in our community:  I (Nick) am teaching English!

A few weeks ago, as Zoe started school at the nearby private school, the administration expressed some interest in me teaching English there, but we couldn't make it work because we were planning on being in the States in November and December this year, and they needed a teacher that wasn't going to need to miss 6-8 weeks of classes this semester.  I was a little bummed out that I didn't get to teach, but I knew that God had the plan, and apparently there were more important things for us to be focusing on right now in Guzmán.  So we worked on getting Zoe settled into her school schedule, focused on our Bible studies with the college students and some visits with pastors in Guadalajara, and looked for other opportunities to serve the Lord.

Then, last week, we got the call: one of the teachers had a family emergency, and they needed someone to cover for her for anywhere from 2 weeks to a month.  So, since last Wednesday, I've been teaching a 3rd grade class and a secondary (Jr. High) class every day.  It's been a challenge for several reasons: first of all, I'm definitely being challenged to use my Spanish in a very different environment than I've ever used it before.  All of the normal classroom words and phrases that we use to communicate, to demand attention, and to control the class... all are ones that I haven't used much in my everyday living there in Guzmán.  Second, normal classroom behavior here is slightly more chaotic than it is in the States... kids get up, walk around, talk more, listen less.  And, with the gringo in charge, they KNOW that I can't command a room quite as well as their normal teacher, so they're definitely pushing their boundaries.  The first few days were very rough, and I've been praying for patience.  Today was much better and more encouraging, and I'm hoping that, as the students get used to me, they'll continue to respond well to my teaching.  I have some freedom in my lessons with what I teach and how I teach it, so I've been able to talk some in class about my past as a pastor and what we're doing in Guzmán now, as well as topics such as prayer and God.  I'm hoping for more opportunities to share, especially one on one with some of the secondary students as I usually have the chance to talk with them more personally after class is over.

Please pray that, for however long it lasts, I'll be able to be a light to these students, and bless them, not just with the teaching, but with opportunities to share the Gospel!  Also, pray that we'll develop stronger connections to the community and to new families through this opportunities.  Already, it's been exciting to have children come up to me saying, 'Hola, profe!' (Hi, professor!) at the school and occasionally in the streets of Guzmán, and we're praying for more and more chances to get to know these wonderful children and their families through this chance that the Lord has given us to serve them and the school during this time.  Thanks for your prayers!

What are we doing?

So, what have we been up to the past few months here in Guzman? Quite a few things:

Hanging out in Chapala

• Learning: We still have so much to learn here!  There's been more things here, culturally and language-wise, that we've had to learn, and it's quite the time-consuming process.  Things like:
• Where do I get new tires when I hit a broken curb too hard and blow one out?
• How do we enroll our daughter in a school in Mexico, especially when we just don't seem to have all the documents that they think we should have? (More on this in the next few blog-posts)
• Spanish: in addition to normal language learning, Sara is meeting every week with Laura, a lady from our church, for hours at a time to practice talking.  This has been a blessing, not only because of the language study, but because we've been blessed to start to get to know Laura and her husband, Gonzalo, better in the past months.

Gabe helping daddy play the guitar

First day of school!  She's doing great with it!

• Preaching and teaching: I've had lots of chances to preach here lately, which is a huge blessing.  I've filled the pulpit here in Ciudad Guzman a few times when pastor Julian had to be away (twice on a Sunday night, ones on a Friday evening during a special service, and ones recently on a Sunday morning), I helped fill the pulpit once in Tamazula (about 45 minutes south of us) when their pastor was sick, and our friend pastor Ariel has let me preach a few times in their churches Rey de Reyes and La Nueva Aurora in Guadalajara.  It's still a challenge sometimes to preach, but it's getting easier to preach in Spanish, and with so many opportunities to preach, I feel like I'm getting into more of my rhythm lately.  I've also started teaching the college Sunday School class at the church, which is a huge blessing.  They have a lot of questions, and have a lot of things they need to learn, so starting this Sunday, we'll be going through a mix of lessons about the basics of our faith, plus some Sundays focusing on their questions that they have.  Many of the students here seem to know a lot of answers, but not why... meaning they have heard things we believe, or ought to believe, but don't know what the Bible actually says.  So, we're praying for deeper, more grounded study of the Word, with lots of focus on Bible reading and Bible memorization on their own.

Leading the worship at PIB Guzman with Daniel Delgado

Getting the opportunity to preach this past Sunday morning at PIB Guzmán

Some of the students at the camp praying.

• Helping:  Nick also had a chance to go help at a youth camp for a week in July.  The camp was at the La Laguna La María (Mary Lake), in Colima, about an hour and a half south of Guzmán.  Working with pastors and missionaries from Guadalajara, Puerta Vallarta, Queretero, Colima, and Puebla, I got to help with the recreation and activities of the camp, making runs to the store (an hour away) when we needed more supplies, and help in any other way that was needed.  The camp was a great success, with 150 people total at the camp (youth and adults), and at least 5 students accepting Christ during the week.

This was actually the kitchen all week at camp... 3 times a day, they fed 150 people out of here! (we did get walls up on 2 sides, and a fridge, but you get the idea!)

Activities!

Mega-Mexican-Relay!

More Mega-Mexican-Relay... in the rain!

I didn't do much to help us win, but I didn't help us lose!  Soccer champs!

There are other things going on here as well, but this is a good overview of what we've been up to lately.  It's been a busy few months, and we're excited to see how the opportunities for ministry will continue to grow here.  Be in prayer for more chances in the future, and pray specifically for an opportunity in the next few weeks to work with Pastor Julian to start a weekly Bible study in nearby Usmajac.  We'll post more in the upcoming weeks about what we've been doing, what our plans are for the end of the year, and how you can be a part of the ministry here next year!

A look at Guzman

As we get closer to moving on to language school and then to Ciudad Guzman, Mexico, I wanted to share some pictures from my latest mission trip to Guzman, so you could get a better feel for the area we're hoping to move to, and the ministry we feel that God is calling us to.  Hope you enjoy, and ask any questions you like!  The more information we get out, the better you can pray for us!

One of many large Catholic churches in Guzman... this one is directly on the main plaza on the south side.

One of the oldest Catholic churches in Guzman.

The Baptist church I've been able to work with some... one of the few, tiny faithful churches seeking to share the Gospel with Guzman.

This is the front gate for the Universidad de Guadalajara del Sur - One of 4 universities in Guzman, and the one we're hoping to live next to and begin ministry with once we move there.

A neighborhood near the University were we're looking at moving into.

One of the many canals for drainage when the city gets one of its rainstorms with 10+ inches of rain.

More ideas of homes near the campus.

This one is for sale!  And only 2 blocks from the university campus!!

More wonderful homes near campus.

The neighborhoods near the university are beautiful, and just what we had in mind when we wanted to move into the area.

We pray that the Lord will lead us to the right home to rent (or eventually buy) that will be a base for Bible studies, meals, and other ministry and outreach in the area.

The churches are beautiful, but the religion is dead, and doesn't offer the true Gospel that will bring people into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Overlooking the volcano (Nevado de Colima) and the south end of town from the Ecological Park above the town.

The central/north central part of Guzman as seen from the Ecological Park.

Excited to soon make this our home!

Getting to preach on Palm Sunday at La Primera Iglesia Bautista in Guzman! I love sharing the Word!

This is just a taste of how great this city is!  We can't wait to tell you more about it in the coming weeks!