Christmas Party



  After church was over everyone came down to our house to drink coffee and eat cake.



Believe it or not,  it's hard for the folks to really catch on that Christmas is Jesus' birthday.  So we made a big deal about having birthday cake for Jesus birthday. 

But in their culture it is very common to visit relatives and friends and eat a special treat of deep fried tortillas sprinkles with sugar.

 

                      All the kids got a bag with popcorn and candy inside of it.

 

 

    For the past month the kids worked on memorizing Psalm 121   . This week they said the verses and sang Joy To The World in Spanish for their parents.

Kidz Corner

Brooke wrote a Christmas skit/dialogue .
Just a little light hearted fun this Christmas.

Jello and Stocking

Stocking:  “Guess what time of the year it is?!”

Jello: “What is it, Stocking?”

Stocking:  “It’s stocking time of year!”

Jello:  “Huh?  I don’t know what you are talking about.”

Stocking:  “You know, Christmas!”

Jello:  “Oh, Christmas!  Why didn’t you say so?”

Stocking:  “We get stockings full of stuff, big presents under the Christmas tree, the smell of hot cocoa in the air, the frost on the windows…”

Jello: “Uhh, Stocking?”

Stocking: “Walking through the stores with long lines, awaiting the cashier…”

Jello: “Stocking!!”

Stocking:  “Making purple snowmen and sugar cookies…”

Jello:  “Stocking, can you hear me?”

Stocking:  “Eating my newest concoction: a peanut butter pineapple pudding with pinecones!”

Jello:  “STOCKING!”

Stocking:  “Yes?”

Jello: “Wait, did you say peanut butter pineapple pudding with pinecones?”

Stocking: “Yep, I did!”

Jello: “Wait, what gave you the idea of making such a pudding?” {pause}  “No wait, I probably don’t want to know.”

Stocking: “You’re probably right, you don’t want to know.”

Jello:  “Anyway, as I was going to say, you forgot the most important part of Christmas.”

Stocking: “I did?  I did!!  How could I forget about the Christmas dinner?”

Jello:  “What? That’s not what you forgot!  You forgot that we celebrate Christmas to remind us that Jesus was born on Christmas and later he died on the cross for our sins.  If we ask him to forgive us from our sins, he will.  Someday when we die we will go to heaven instead of hell because we asked him to forgive us.”

Stocking:  “Oh yes,  now I remember!  How could I forget what Christmas really means?”

Jello:  “Now that you finally understand, do you want to make that purple snowman you were talking about earlier?”

Stocking: “Sure, and do you want to try some of my peanut butter pineapple pudding with pinecones?”

Jello: “Um, how about some hot cocoa instead?”

Stocking: “Ok, Merry Christmas, Jello.”

Jello: “Merry Christmas, Stocking.”

The End

 

Dulce (Candy) was born almost three years ago.  She was born with a cleft palate.  Two years ago we were able to help her get to her appointment and to her surgery date for the first surgery.   Since then we've been trying to get her second surgery done but we've been getting the run around - for two years. Every excuse from saying "It's flu time of year" to  "the hospital is changing buildings" etc , etc.   
We finally decided to look into different options.  We found a mission run clinic set up just for Indians here in Mexico.  They will do the surgery and soon!  Dec 14th! All we have to do is pay the flight to get her there! Praise God!   What a relief!  Dulce isn't talking yet since she's lacking her palate.  But I hope that this will be a big help to her. 

 

A conversation with God

Our partners have recently left the tribe to go to Oregon to be with Renee’s Dad who has cancer.  I’m sure they would appreciate your prayers.

Being alone (without a partner that speaks my language) is very hard for me.

My conversation with God looks something like this. 

Me: I can’t do this! This wasn’t the plan.

God: Not your will but mine.

Me: But it feels so out of control, so wrong, so unfair.

God: Out of your control but not out of mine.  I know what is best for you.

Me: But it doesn’t feel like the best.  It feels like death.  But yet it’s not total death since I’m clinging to my desires and won’t really let go of them.   It’s painful. 

God: My yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Me: But the next 7 months, Lord?  I can’t do it.  The cloud of depression is already over my head how am I going to survive the next 7 months.

God: I AM.  I AM enough for today and that is all you need. 

Me:   And the girls, Lord?  How can I fill their emotional cups and be what they need when they don’t have their best friends here to interact with.  I can’t be mom and best friend to them.  I can barely tread water myself.  And my 5 year old constant talker.  How can I possibly  listen to all the words coming from her mouth now that she hasn’t friends to talk to?   How can I help my teens not be depressed and lonely and bored?  It’s too much, Lord, just can’t do it. 

God:  I am ENOUGH for them; Just like I’m enough for you.   I am their Father; a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

ME:  But they are so young to understand that you can be a friend in place of a friend they can see.  I am even having a hard time with that.

God.  Be still and know that I am God.   Trust.

Me:  It’s more than I can handle.

God:  But not more than you can handle in MY strength.  Lean on my strength.

Me: But……

 

Chiltepin

An overview of a beautiful day in Chiltepin.

Prayer Requests

Please pray for the Guarijio church.  Our heart’s desire it to pass on the baton of leadership to these believers.  It is slow going.  But it is going forward.  For example, a 16 year old Guarijio  girl taught the children's church lesson for two weeks!  Pray for the new believers to mature to the point of leadership. Pray we will be patient with their rate of growth!!  

This is **** season.  The believers are not getting involved with this crop.  But I imagine it’s pretty hard on them seeing all of their neighbors working hard and earning money.  Especially since there are so few opportunities to make  money.  So pray that God would take care of all the believers' needs for food and clothes – in a way that they KNOW if was from a good God – supplying their needs. 

We’ve had an out reach to the neighboring village in San Juan for the past year or so.   Lately we’ve seen a lot less coming to the meetings.  (also because of the harvest ) Sometimes those that plant the ***** are embarrassed to come to the meeting.  Pray that they would not be embarrassed and that they would come to hear the life giving words.  We began teaching in Genesis and now we are at the birth of Christ.  Please pray  the gospel message will be clear to them at we teach on Jesus’s life.



Here we are last week with the all the church go-ers in front of the church.

 

We also presented certificates to the baptized believers.

19 years ago....

How did we hear about New Tribes Mission?

 

Machelle had gone on a short term mission in Papua New Guinea through New Tribes. Tom Lotz, her high school volleyball coach, had told her about it.   It was there they she was introduced to the many people who have no Bible in their language.  There she was challenged to go to Bible School. 

 

Dennis had been in South Carolina doing V.S. (Voluntary Service) work with a Terry Reed.  Terry Reed had also gone on the same mission in Papua New Guinea that Machelle had gone on.    Terry called Dennis and told he what a great time he had and that now he was on his way to Bible school.   Dennis said, “Good luck to you” and he was glad he wasn’t the one going to Bible school.    But the Holy Spirit had other plans.   He could not sleep at all (and farmers usually have no problem sleeping) and all he could think about was that Bible school.     He finally asked Terry to have a brochure sent to him about the school.  When the brochure arrived and it had a picture of students sitting in the classroom he was disgusted.  He was never going back to school.    But God wasn’t giving up and convinced Dennis that is was His will for him to go to Bible School. 

 

Dennis and Machelle, how did you two meet?

 

We met in Bible School in Jackson Michigan.        The first day of Bible school we had both heard a prayer request to pray for Terry Reed since his car broke down on the way to Bible School.  Somehow we figured out that both of us knew Terry.   So that was our first conversation.  3 weeks later was our first date and one year later we were engaged. 
 

 

 How did you know that God was calling you to live with the natives in Mexico?

Our reason for moving to Mexico doesn’t sound very spiritual!    When we going through missionary training we were told that the number one reason people leave the mission field is because they can’t get along with their co-workers.   Well,  we decided that instead of picking the country to go to we’d pick partners that we can get along with.  We picked Terry and Renee Reed and they were headed to Mexico so away we went to Mexico.   I also remember a motivational speaker saying, “You can’t take the Gospel to the wrong address.”   We figured one unreached people group was as good as the next!  Plus, I’m sure it was how God was leading us. 

 

Have you always lived in the town of Chiltepin as missionaries?

We first moved to a town called Tojiachi.  These folks were also Guarijio and we began learning language there.  After 3 years we felt God calling us to relocate to a different village – but still the same language group.  We moved to Chiltepin and built our house and we haven’t regretted it once!

 

 

Revalation

Terry and Santos have finished the first draft to the book of Revelation!!  Every time Terry finishes another book of the Bible Renee makes Whoopie Pies. 

The girls are enjoying theirs!

Going shopping

Thursday morning Dennis decided to go to Arecheyvo to do some shopping.  The privileged  kindergartener got to go along.  (much to the disappointment of the older schooled children)

3 hours later they were back.

Some produce for us and our partners!

This was the Guarijio Church about 7 years ago. We'd meet in the shade at one of the believer's houses.

Lydia, Brooke and Natalie along with their friends Dilma and Elisa. (7 years ago)

Much of our ministry to the Guarijio has been building relationship with them.  Working together, living nearby, being available when someone is sick, and generally just rubbing shoulders with them on a daily basis.  This is where we've spent many hours of our lives - with the people, building their trust, and showing them kindness. 

Weakness

"..my power is made perfect in weakness."   

Oh, weakness.  I need to remember this verse often.   I usually try to avoid weakness, try harder, more effort, etc.   But weakness.  I think it involves surrendering. That's why it takes us so long to wrap our brains around it.

This week I feel weak in two areas:
 1.  Being a parent of teen agers.   Give me a crying baby - but a teen ager talking back?  A teen ager trying hard to grow up too fast?   Then I find myself getting sucked into their arguments and now I'm acting their age.   Lord! Wisdom.  But first surrendering and accepting that I am weak.  Not just accepting but embracing and glorying in my weakness.  Because when I do then I step aside and God works His strength into it and I can rest, stop striving, and give it to Him with open hands.  I am so thankful He is their perfect parent that I know I can't be.

2.  Being a missionary.   I am a failure at this too.   I don't sit up until midnight writing Bible studies.  I don't run around to 5 people's houses daily in the village teaching literacy.  Isn't that what I ought to be doing?  Sometimes I look back on the day and ask myself what I even accomplished for His Kingdom.   Maybe we all do that some.   

 I don't feel confident in the language.  I don't feel confident that I can even relate to the women here.  I don't feel like I communicate even when I am saying words that they understand.    I am weak.  But yet,  He has me here.  Yes, in some ways I can see the years here have connected us.  A lady was here today.  Her son was killed last year.  But I knew him and had memories of him because of the years we've been here. I believe it was a comfort to her.  Sometimes I think God purposely doesn't let us see how He uses us so we stay humble.   Yes,  I feel very weak.  I don't feel like I'm doing anything for Him.  But I'm willing  to keep this maid's eyes looking to the hand of her master (Ps123) and obey what He tells me to do even when I feel weak.  Especially when I feel weak.   
"So that Christ's power may rest on me."