The Ultimate Fruit Booster

I bought a bag of frozen mangoes the other day and found this little package inside.

It's a seasoning mix to sprinkle on top of the fruit.
It claims to be the ultimate fruit booster.

Let's take a closer look at the ingredients: 

Chili Peppers, Salt, and Lime Juice.

Por supuesto, that will give the flavor a definite kick :)

Fiesta de Quinceañera

In Mexico, a young woman's 15th birthday marks a very special milestone in her life. The family usually provides the Quinceañera (the birthday girl) with a grand fiesta (the Quinceaños). Just last night we attended such a celebration for our Pastor's daughter Adaia.

Pastor Boche and family celebrate the Quince Año of their beautiful daughter, Adaia.

The Quinceañera is presented during a short service before the formal celebration begins. Special songs, Scripture reading, a presentation of a special gift, a short address to the honoree, and prayer all preclude the festivities.

Our area director Dave Greco addresses the honoree.

It was a privilege to be apart of this special celebration.

Olivia and Sophia flank Adaia the Quinceañera and her sister Asiely stands next to Wesley.

Up early on Saturdays plus once or twice during the week, Wesley learned how to dance these last few months to be apart of the Quinceañera's court. He did a great job.

Cajas Felices (Happy Meals) for the kids. Apparently chicken nuggets cross all cultural boundaries.

Love the kid in the red.

More friends from church share in Adaia's special day.

First course of our amazing meal. 

Toasting Adaia with sparkling apple cider.

Looking especially handsome in his tux.

It's not a fiesta without dancing! And let me tell you something, you haven't lived until you've heard "Achy, Breaky Heart" in Spanish.

A young friend tries to lure Sophia to the dance floor. Not a snowball's chance kiddo. 

A special party favor from a very special night.

Tranquility

Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.

Lord, you now have set your servant free
to go in peace as you have promised;

For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior,
whom you have prepared for all the world to see:

A Light to enlighten the nations,
and the glory of your people Israel.

Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.

You Prepare a Table Before Me

This past week, we received the unfortunate news that a friend of ours, Todd Neveu died unexpectedly. Stuart and I met Todd and his wife Sharon while we were all students at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. Most recently, Todd, Sharon and their two daughters, Nicoletta and Olivia lived and pastored at Calvary Assembly in Irwin, Pennsylvania.

We were fortunate enough to reconnect with Todd (far left) and Sharon over the years. Here we are with the whole family in Pittsburgh. We spent the weekend with them while itinerating in 2008

Todd and Sharon brought two missions teams to Jamaica while we were directors of New Vision Children's Home. Here they are ministering to the staff and children in 2007.

The second team built this wonderful playground for the kids in 2008.

In 2009, we enjoyed some fellowship at the General Council in Orlando, Florida. Stuart and Todd met up with another college friend, Pastor Jamie Gardner.

The day before he died, Todd wrote . . . You prepare a table before me . . . Psalm 23, as his last Facebook post.

Thank you Todd for your life and ministry. 

Save a place for us at the table.

Todd Neveu

September 13, 1965 - February 2, 2011

But We Had Hoped

Luke 24:13-21

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"

They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" 

"What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.

Many Jews, like these disciples recognized Jesus as the expected Messiah. And as the Messiah, Jesus was supposed to come in power and authority, he was supposed to establish a new Kingdom, and he was supposed to release the Jews from foreign rule. But then the unexpected happened: Jesus was betrayed into the hands of Pontius Pilate, he suffered and he died a horrible death. From their perspective, that was not supposed to happen. But it seems as though life just doesn't care about our supposed to's. And we, like our two disciples are left walking on the Road to Emmaus uttering those same words, but we had hoped.

We all take our turn walking on the Road to Emmaus. It is a well-worn road where long awaited expectations are shattered and we are left to wonder, What happened and Where is God in all of this? That place where we reason, Life is supposed to look like this and yet it looks like that. 

If you are traveling that road today, I offer you three thoughts to contemplate on the Road to Emmaus . . . 

1. Do not walk alone. There were two disciples walking on the road that day, sharing their journey and their grief. Contrary to popular understanding, the Bible does not say God will not put on you more than you can bear. An unfortunate misinterpretation of 1 Corinthians 10:13* has led some to believe they are weak in faith or relationship with Christ when they cannot bear the burden of grief alone. The fact is, there are some burdens we were not meant to carry alone. Galatians 6:2 makes this very clear: Carry each other's burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. The journey of grief is one of those times. Remember, on the Road to Emmaus, do not walk alone.

2. God is closer than we think. In their despair and grief, our two disciples replay the horrific events of the last few days to the stranger among them. Their hoped-for Messiah was not only dead, his body was missing. Feeling discouraged and saddened they may have wondered, as we often do, Where is God in all of this mess? Indeed, where was God that day? He was walking right next to them on the Road to Emmaus. In times of intense trial and grief we sometimes do not feel the presence of God. But as we read this story we realize on the Road to Emmaus, God is closer than we think.

3. God will make himself known to us. At the end of their journey, the two disciples urged the stranger to stay with them. He agreed and they sat together at the table and he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him . . . (Luke 24:30-31). When did understanding and recognition come? When they sat at the table and they broke bread with Jesus.  Although, it may be difficult to understand or comprehend God's presence in the midst of trial, be assured on the Road to Emmaus, God will make himself known to us.

At some point in our lives, we all become acquainted with the Road to Emmaus. It is that place where the hard realities of life interrupt our expectations. However, in the midst of our discouragement, God always has a redemptive act at the ready. The disciples were disappointed and discouraged that day for they did not expect Jesus to die, but neither did they expect to meet him on the Road to Emmaus.



*1 Corinthians 10:13 refers to temptation and not trials.

I Believe

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven, 

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

Candlemas Day

Yesterday may have been Groundhog's Day in the US, but here in Mexico it was Dia de la Candelaria; the day commemorating Jesus' dedication in the Temple. Many Mexicans dress up a baby doll as Jesus and bring it to church to be blessed. Then later they gather with family and friends to eat tamales.

We went to a neighborhood Tamale place to order ours. It was a long wait.

Still smiling with area directors Dave and Cheryl Greco.

Only took an hour to get to the front of the line.

All these large pots are filled with all kinds of tamales. This place makes thousands upon thousands of them to prepare for tonight.

Packing up our order of oaxaquenos: pollo con salsa verde, rajas con crema con quesillo, y cochinitas. In other words, our tamales were a variety of chicken, peppers, and pork.

Dave and Cheryl wait their turn. 

Happy dia de tamales everyone!