Dear Friends,
I write you nearing my last week here in Ixtapaluca, watching the Lord reap the fruit in his harvest. Over all I have thoroughly enjoyed my internship here and am glad of the opportunities I have been given.
Three highlights of what has happened in the past 2 week are the vision weekend, baptisms, and some new believers coming to faith. 2 weekends ago, the missionaries and interns here were able to host and mobilize a number of individuals both from North and Central America along with leaders from the two churches that have been planted here. The brainstorming and goal-setting led to plans of branching out into a third church plant into a new neighborhood. The first Bible church was planted 5 years ago and the second church one year ago. Along with initiatives for leadership development, entrepreneurship, and community outreach, it was gratifying to see nationals and visitors commit to some of the new goals and ideas set in motion.
As always, it is great to see baptisms take place. On Sunday, 19 believers took a step of faith and proclaimed with the church their new position in Christ. What I though was neat (along with fun) was that the congregation held the service at a small water park in sight of curious families that came to watch the dunking and praising. Seeing new believers bring their neighbor to Christ, and a church without shame being salt and light outside their walls, is a vivid reminder of a disciples continual calling to the harvest.
A very vivid example of God’s transforming power is Hector. Hector is known as “el Guasón” (The Joker) being second in command in the local gang. After having tried varied ways to find satisfaction in life, three weeks ago he decided to try God. After showing up at church, Hector got connected with us and started coming to Bible studies and being disciple by church members. Yesterday was neat to see him not only bring new people to the Bible study but also be eager to read and answer the questions throughout the study. When asked if he had experienced any changes in his life, he shared that the changes have been the strongest evidence that God is real to him. Him seeking reconciliations with his family, no desire for drugs, and encouraging his gang friends to find God, are all fruits which have awed me before God’s power to flip a life 180 degrees, even the ones we think are the least likely.
Intertwined with Hector’s story, is Julito and the mural I mentioned before. Before starting to paint, Alyssa Miller, artist who pioneered the mural painting, had to seek “permission” by word of mouth from Julito, local gang leader, since the graffiti-covered water tower was his territory. Before leaving on Monday for the US, Alyssa encountered Julito near the mural and thanked him for not causing any trouble over the paint. After he mentioned that he thought the mural was “chido” (cool) Alyssa shared the message of the mural and mentioned how his friend Hector has given his life to God. Teary eyed, Julito shared that he was wanting to talk to us (church people). Parting ways, Alyssa said she would pray for him and invited him to speak with a church family they know in common. Praise God for such opportunities. (Alyssa’s own blog post)
Pray for these two individuals, that Hector may keep up the growth and that the Lord may work in Julito’s life to bring him to His feet. Changed lives like these humble me before God’s transforming power.
One thing that has astonished me in the past few weeks is the effectiveness that art has to open up communication with people. I would say that at least 100 people stopped by to talk to whoever has been painting at the time. Almost every time the meaning of the image is asked which leads to discussion of dry and dead life which can have eternal life if one crosses through The Door (John 10:9)
Thank you, to those that prayed for my preaching time the Sunday before. Although it was a hard and daunting task, I felt like it went quite well. Lastly, I wanted to mention one of the more enjoyable times I have had here, which has been being at the men’s Bible study on Saturday nights. We all go to a taco stand and like good men down a few to then gather at a brother’s home to study the Word together. Pray that as I help lead the study this Saturday, that the men will again wrestle with the text and that God’s truth will be clearly embedded in them.
I encourage you to seek ways to reach the lost around you and seek to not only continually ask God to transform you, but help others in their process of transformation.
Greetings in the name of the one that brings the growth in His harvest,
Robert
June 22
Sports in the afternoons
English classes.
Photo: Hannah Galloway
Vision Weekend: different groups brainstorming.
Concluding the Vision Weekend
Baptism Service
Sharing testimonies: Iris (in red) and Miguel (in black) live in front of where I stay. They have been of great help and are some of the passionate new believers.
Baptisms and Worship
Church family: baptized are in the water
Alyssa Miller at the completed Mural
Jesus Maria: The match box houses outlined in blue is the neighborhood where the second church plant has been taking place in the past year.
Mural on the water tower
