A little sweetness in the classroom

For ESL classes, holidays create the perfect opportunity to introduce students to new vocabulary and surprise them with some traditional treats. This week, therefore, my class prep included mixing dough and kneading bread as well as creating flash cards.

Fresh out of the oven, all my Italian Easter bread needs is confectioners sugar icing and colored sprinkles.

My students enjoyed the bread and the accompanying English vocabulary because there's nothing like food to encourage student participation :)

I also introduced them to ham pie (also known as pizza rustica) made with ricotta, provolone, and mozzarella cheeses as well as ham and pepperoni. They thought it was muy rico. 

Then, before we reviewed the ABC's and 123's, Stuart and I shared how to properly greet one another on Easter Sunday: Christ is risen. He is risen indeed!

Our Easter morning greeted us with clear blue skies and a warm sunny day. After church, we enjoyed lunch with a friend and the "Easter bunny" even left me with a sweet surprise.

We hope you enjoyed a blessed Easter Sunday with friends, family, and a few surprises, too.

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I love to teach

Wherever I have lived in this world, I have capitalized on opportunities to teach. I've taught amazing students in Jamaica, Costa Rica, and Mexico at Bible colleges, high schools, and seminaries. I've traveled with my students through the ancient world of the Pentateuch and through the exciting world of the Book of Acts to discover God's redemptive story. With other students, I've tackled the intricacies of the English language to navigate the best ways to interpret and craft stories. Now I have the exciting opportunity to teach at a wholly different venue in Mexico City at Reto a la Juventud (Teen Challenge Mexico).

Teen Challenge (Mexico City, Mexico)

On a recent Saturday, Stuart and I trekked over to Reto and greeted nine eager Teen Challenge residents. I spent the next two hours introducing and practicing English grammar, useful phrases, and pronunciation. In the process, we also got to know each other a little better and we look forward to spending more Saturdays together.

I love to teach. (Did I mention that already?) I love it because teaching incorporates two of my passions – strengthening minds and building community. Effective teaching not only includes lecturing and listening, effective teaching inspires thought and conversation. Furthermore, I love to teach because I am fully committed to empowering my students to find their God-given voice, to thoughtfully craft it, and then confidently use it for the glory of God. 

Anna Sanders Seminary (Mexico City, Mexico)

Instituto Metropolitano Estrella (Mexico City, Mexico)

Sojourn Academy (San Jose, Costa Rica)

 Assemblies of God Bible College (Cristiana, Jamaica)

As you can see, Stuart and I have discipled some of the finest students in the world, who in turn have traveled the world and discipled others. Your continued prayers and financial support empower that process (and us!). Thank you.

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One question, three kids, and some heartfelt answers

Once upon a time, a visiting missions team asked a question to our three, new-to-the-mission-field kids, "If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you want to live?"

Favorite child #1 said, "I'd want to live wherever mommy and daddy live."

Sensitive child #2 said, "I'd rather live in Fort Wayne."

Brutally honest child #3 said, "I'd rather live anywhere else."

Since making those smile-inducing declarations, our kids have lived in three foreign contexts, graduated from high school, and become well-adjusted young adults :).

Furthermore child #2, otherwise known as Wesley, will be a MAPS volunteer with International Media Ministries (IMM) in Madrid, Spain this summer after graduating from Evangel University. (In case you were wondering, IMM purposes to partner with missionaries, national churches, and media outlets to produce both mainstream and new media, train others in specific skills, and mentor a new generation in media missions.)

All grown up and ready to take on the world.

Wesley has been studying Music Industry at Evangel, therefore an internship with IMM to pursue his passion for music (editing/producing) and connect it with the mission of God is a wonderful opportunity.

Of course, every opportunity has a corresponding cost, but we trust with a little hard work, your prayers, and the generosity of friends and family we can make this dream come true. For this internship, Wesley needs to raise $5000 for airfare, housing, insurance, and personal expenses to live and minister in Spain for 3 months.

If you would like to give, Wesley has set up a go fund me account that is quick and easy to use. If you prefer to mail an offering, please send it to:

Wesley Brown

1111 N Glenstone Ave

Springfield, MO 65802

Either way, you will receive a receipt and all funds go directly to Wesley and his internship with IMM.

Please, let Wesley know you'll be praying for him as well.

Thanks, everyone!

***

Our spring newsletter will be in your hands or your inbox soon. We look forward to telling you about new ministry opportunities at Reto a la Juventud (Teen Challenge Mexico).

If you are not yet receiving our newsletter, sign up here or message/email me your physical mailing address (wendy.brown@agmd.org).

Do you believe in magic?

I love a good transformation story. When we returned to Mexico City we had to work a little magic around our house and in our yard to transform it from livable to lovable.

This was the state of our yard when we first arrived. 

And here it is now.

Lucky for us, in Mexico City we can frequent a nearby market where all kinds of beautiful and inexpensive plants and flowers are available to transform our garden. Look what a little painting, planting, trimming, and weeding can accomplish. Magical!

Since our return to Mexico City, we've been looking forward to another kind of transformation, but we had to wait on some help from a special group of people before we could proceed. Thankfully, we just received word that help in the form of funds to repair our Speed the Light (STL) vehicle has come through! Now we can fix the cause of all the weird shakes, annoying noises, and inconvenient leaks that routinely accompany our journeys.

As you can see, our Schnauzer Jack loves traveling in our STL vehicle, too. 

Of course, he also knows his place.

And it's not there. C'mon boy, get a move on.

There we go!

Speed the Light helped us brave the mountains of Jamaica during our first term and now in our third term, Speed the Light enables us to tackle the busy streets of Mexico City. Thank you, Speed the Light, the fabulous youth of Indiana, and our District Youth Director Steve Furr. Your dedication to speed the light of the gospel to the whole world is better than magic!