God is in control of ALL things!

God is good all the time, and ALL the time God is good!  We like this saying, because it reminds us that God is so good!  We say it often how greatful we are to be God's servants here in Ensenada, Mexico, even with all the supposed violence and the pandemic swine flu (wink, wink, nudge, nudge!).  We are just coming through a time that has been very difficult, there has been a great deal of challenges and refining of all of us, and through it all, God shows Himself to be in total control.  Each day we continue to seek God for His wisdom, in His ministry not ours.  Pray for us as we have to make difficult decisions, that we would be wise in coming alongside the National church in Mexico.  As the ministry grows there is a great deal of excitement, but at times it can be very difficult, we were talking last week how much easier it was with only one church.  Now we are apart of 8 church ministries and right now we have a team of 5 interns and 4 missionaries.  Our prayer is that our eyes would be fixed on Jesus, seeking His will in all that we do. 

 

Princeton Alliance Church sent down a college group with Matt Murphy, they built Jamin's church.  Under the leadership of one crazy leader, Steve, they built the church in 5 days.  Not only did they build a church, but they built a relationship with Jamin and his family.  The last day the group and Jamin's family prayed for the community, and for the leadership to be a shining light, God is so GOOD!  The first service in the church was filled to capacity about 150 people were there.  The  NEW District Superintentant (Roberto) came down from Tijuana and spoke, and all the pastors came in support of Jamin.  Of course the celebration would not be complete without a meal together.  After four hours and two plates of birria, it was a great day of celebrating what God is doing and going to do in Salitral.  THANK YOU JESUS FOR ALLOWING US TO BE A PART OF YOUR MINISTRY IN ENSENADA!

 

We have a tradition twice a year here in Ensenada, in June and in November.  The Baja off road race, some of the pastors and all of our team go and watch the off road race.  We enjoy watching the race together and eating Carne Asada mixed with dirt flying through the air.  It is a great time of just having fun together.

 

Thanks for continuing to pray for our family as we serve God in Ensenada.  Please pray for us as we get ready for our busy season, our first group comes June 20 and our last group leaves August 31.  Pray we would have enough strength and stamina to get through the summer season, and pray for health for the whole team!

Jamin's church finished!

Princeton group with Pastor Jamin in front of his new church!

First church service in the new building!

Pastor Roberto New District Superintendent

One thing we have learned living in Mexico that there is never a dull moment.  I think this is one of the reason we love living here so much, the Mexican culture keeps you on your toes.  Mother's day tradition in Mexico is at midnight, people who love you and care for you come by and crank out some really loud music, and no one minds, because it is a tradition.  They serenade the mother with a traditional song and the most important part is that I get out of bed and greet each of the members singing to me. 

 

The other surprise was on our anniversary, someone Rick had a meeting with found out it was our anniversary.  They were so excited that they gave us a goat (a live goat).  Two days later, the pastors killed and dressed the goat for a traditional meal of birria.  On our anniversary we went out for a nice meal and came home to a surp

rise party thrown by our kids.  They called all the pastors, Slinds, interns, and our Spanish teacher to celebrate our anniversary. 

 

A  couple weeks ago the Short term missions office had their training for all the interns for the summer 

at our facility in Ensenada.  We enjoyed hanging out with the interns and the leadership team. 

 

We had the blessing of Ezekiel (president of the alliance in Mexico) come back and visit us once again.  Ezekiel has a heart after God, and loves speaking and encouraging the pastors and we love it when he comes and does it! While he visited us he assigned a new district superintendent over our area.  Please pray for Roberto, he has been pastoring in Tijuana, and now will be pastoring the pastors.  

The pastors seem very excited to have Roberto in this leadership role!