Mexico City Missive ~ summer 2017

A snippet of our life and ministry in Mexico City for the first half of the year, 2017.

Our new year began well with a Teen Challenge graduation in January. Testimonies and prayer highlight every ceremony, but a “thank you” dinner provided by the family always tops off the evening.

Weekly, Stuart meets with the guys to show off his mad soccer skills while Wendy leads a more low key gathering during her English class. However, the guys may have gotten a little rowdy during our Superbowl themed lesson in February.

On occasion, Stuart and I also collaborate with other missionaries like we did in Oaxaca this past March. Likewise, Wendy had the opportunity to speak at a breakfast for missionaries and other expat women living there.

One weekend in April, Stuart and I found ourselves ministering in two different countries. Stuart preached in our big metropolis at Luz a las Naciones, while Wendy preached in Greencastle, IN at the Live Fully women's encounter and the following day at The StoreHouse church. (Thanks, Pastors Troy & Teresa Trout for inviting and hosting me!)

Monthly, Wendy attends a leader's breakfast for Assemblies of God credentialed women. Our May gathering included Noemi Rodriguez (center, behind Wendy), the District Secretary of the Assemblies of God, Orfa de Perez (far left), the District Women's Leader, and Alejandra de Cerda (far right), co-director of Teen Challenge Mexico.

In June, we enjoyed our District Ministers meeting at a national park. Breakfast in the open air and group calisthenics followed by a leisurely hike in the mountains encouraged conversation and fellowship between ministers and missionaries.

                                         

Stuart & Wendy

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The Mexico City Missive ~ summer 2016

Stuart and I enjoyed the outstanding Olympic coverage in Mexico and the wonderful athletes who competed these last few weeks. I couldn't help but celebrate with the victors and hurt with the fallen. Like many missionaries, Stuart and I joyfully cheered on athletes from our home country as well as athletes from countries where we have served. Such extraordinary talent!

Stuart and I competed in our own Olympic event of sorts this week and are also celebrating a win. We both received a three – year residency visa from the good people of Mexico! Our experience may not seem medal worthy to some, but to us it is golden.

Although technically not an Olympic sport, applying for a residency visa seemed, at times, no less physically grueling or mentally exhausting. First, we meticulously deciphered the linguistic code on the government website for the correct way to apply (or, in our case, renew) a visa. Second, we laboriously gathered numerous (sometimes superfluous) documents to cover all possible contingencies. Lastly, after a quick photo shoot, quite a bit of $$, and lots of copies of everything we headed out.

In the span of two weeks, Stuart and I traveled to the immigration office in Mexico City five times. Five times we drove to the metro station; took three, sometimes very congested, trains (seriously, packed in like marshmallows at a chubby bunny contest); and then hailed a taxi for the final leg of the two – hour journey. Five times we waited for our number to be called to talk to a nice immigration officer. Thankfully, this week we stood victorious on the medal podium and received the coveted award.

Ministry at Teen challenge continues to expand. My Saturday morning English class has morphed into two as more young men join the program. I also began private lessons with one of the directors who wants to improve her conversational skills before a big meeting in November. Stuart has preached at Teen Challenge and we teamed together to teach in the youth class on a recent Sunday. And just for fun, Stuart usually joins the guys on Tuesday mornings to play a little b-ball and soccer.

Ministry opportunities beyond Teen Challenge include preparing the sanctuary at Luz a las Naciones for a fresh coat of paint. Stuart spent the better part of the week (when we weren't at immigration) to scrape down water – damaged and mold – infested walls. On Saturday, he joined a large group of motivated workers to complete the beautification process. It'll look great for when he preaches there next month.

Our nest is empty, but our hearts are full. Our daughter Olivia recently moved from Indiana to North Carolina to begin graduate studies at Duke Divinity. Wesley currently enjoys life and ministry in Spain as an intern with International Media Ministries. And Sophia, after a stint as chief to missionary kids at missionary training and renewal in Springfield, prepares for her junior year at Evangel University.

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The Practice of Giving Up (and leaning in to God)

“Fasting confirms our utter dependence upon God by finding in Him a source of sustenance beyond food.” Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines

Many of the spiritual disciplines I practice today, I learned as a child. For example, every year during the 40 days before Easter, my family and I fasted. But as kids, we didn't call it fasting, we called it “giving up something for Lent.” And while we may have given up simple pleasures like candy or gum, it still afforded us the opportunity to identify with Jesus and his time in the wilderness.

However, long before Jesus entered the desert, the Lord has been teaching his people about fasting. The people of Isaiah’s day also fasted and anticipated God’s appropriate response to their self-denial. Yet, the Lord seemed ambivalent and inattentive to their actions: “Why have we fasted and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves and you have not noticed?” Isaiah 58.3a

Contrary to their belief, though, God had noticed their displays, he just wasn't impressed by them: “On the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers ... your fasting ends in quarreling and strife ... is this what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?” Isaiah 58.3b-4 

Fortunately, the Lord set his people straight about what he expected: “This is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.” Isaiah 58.6-7

When we humble ourselves in a fast dedicated to the Lord, we not only recognize our utter dependence on God, it also enables us to empathize with those who are suffering. As we do so, our softened hearts will desire justice for the mistreated and prompt us to act on their behalf. This idea however, is not unique to the Old Testament but manifests itself in the life and ministry of Jesus.

After his 40 day fast, Jesus left the wilderness, entered the synagogue and declared, “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD's favor has come.” Luke 4.18.19

The older I get, the more I realize, fasting is a more profound and complex practice than I ever imagined. Fasting opens my eyes to see God and the people around me from his perspective. It allows me to identify with the suffering of Jesus and with the marginalized. Fasting revitalizes my faith and inspires me to connect it to my works. 

Stuart and I will be “giving up something for Lent” this year and we encourage you to join us. We trust that as Jesus prepared for ministry by entering into an intense season of prayer and fasting, so likewise God will prepare us for ministry in Mexico City. Please pray that we raise the last 10% of our financial budget by Easter so that we will be sent to proclaim release to the captives of drug addiction and to set at liberty those who are oppressed by the sex trade.

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Every heartfelt gift or monthly commitment (no matter the amount) brings us closer to our return to Mexico City. Thank you!