Where Are We Going?
Once we got to our destination, each of us were handed an envelope which contained the information we were anxiously anticipating for the past few weeks: which country we were getting sent to. The boys were praying for jungles and mountains for the past few months. Our oldest son, Robert, had been hoping and praying specifically for Peru. We eagerly took our envelope and make a short hike to an area where we could lay out blankets to eat lunch and pray.
Racing In Coahuila
After the formal gathering ended, and while were were still chatting with the participants, one of the missionary kids asked me to help her communicate to a young Spanish-speaking girl that she wanted to race with her. Before long, almost all of the kids (and some adults), English- and Spanish-speaking alike, were taking part in the game. At the count of uno, dos, tres, another group would run competitively across the dusty field. Even one of the dads carrying a toddler on his shoulders joined in on the fun.
A New Home
It is a gift to be able to serve together and watch our girls growing into very sweet and generous little girls who are learning to love Jesus and each other.
Taking a Risk
As the week began, I wondered: is my faith deep enough to live the life of a missionary? Do I love the poor enough? Do I love Jesus enough to lay it all down: my career, house, activities, stuff for Him? Would I be willing to answer the door whenever someone knocks? Can I take having dirty feet all the time? Can I learn another language well enough to give people comfort and hope? Can I tolerate cold missionary showers… forever?!
General Cepeda Encounter
María de Jesús introduced us to Cipriano, the ninety-something man who was taken in from an early age by the family across the street. They had hired him as their farm-hand and he apparently did that for the rest of his life. I was somewhat disturbed by how disproportionately large his hands were in relation to his body, as well as his unkempt, thick, inch-long fingernails.
Rich In Community
While missions comprises much of our life in Family Missions Company, the context from which it emerges is the rich life of community we are blessed to share. Our family recently had the opportunity to witness this gift of community at work during the wedding of our close friends.
Sewing in the Desert
They call it Kilómetro 64, just known by the nearest kilometer marker on the highway where this dusty village sits, next to a long line of windmills, directly under major, humming power lines, in middle of the Mexican desert.
Linguistic Train Wrecks in Mexico
Language barriers. They are a real thing. But how badly do we need language school really? It has been decades since my first epic language mistake on that mission trip in college. After mixing up a couple of similar sounding words and topping it off with a false cognate for the win, it can’t get much worse, right?
Wendy
“In Christ Jesus you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” – Ephesians 2:22 I’m a huge fan of the show Fixer Upper: the sweetness of the Gaines couple, the beauty of the re-creations they make, and the immediate gratification when all their work is easily summed up in 45 simple minutes! So,…
Back in General Cepeda
“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” – Luke 6:38 It is so good to be back in General Cepeda! A month or so ago our family was invited to help staff a…
33 Days
A Healing
Prayer works. I have seen it. So much of my brain wants to explain it away, but the obvious can’t be explained away. The obvious doesn’t need explanation. In the late afternoon of the second week of November, we made a visit to a tiny community outside of General Cepeda, Mexico. We went to Oratorio Chico to pray with the…
God at Work in Mexico – Intake 2016
It was such an unbelievable blessing to be back in our beloved General Cepeda, Mexico. It is a place that is so dear to our hearts, and the place Sarah feels more at home than any other place in the world. Aside from being the place we first met and the place God set my heart on fire for missions, it…
Divine Mercy
Two years ago our Mexico team started a project building a little chapel in General Cepeda for the people that live too far to walk to Mass. Someone had donated a plot of land to the Church, and Father wanted to see a chapel built there, but there were no funds. So, when some friends came to visit and heard…
Sometimes the Lord Works Fast!
30 Blessings
Missions: What’s All the Fuss About?
By Erik Martin | General Cepeda, Mexico Have you ever heard a missionary say, “Missions is the greatest life!”? I know I have, a few times. I may even be guilty of saying it a time or two. But why, you say, I don’t get it. What’s the big fuss? What could be so great about leaving the comforts of…
Jericho Project Update: General Cepeda, Mexico
By Erik Martin Just wanted to quickly share with you all how your prayers that you poured out during our Jericho Project are continuing to bear fruit. This weekend 13 men from General Cepeda are attending the School of the Cross. It’s a powerful retreat here for men only. Most of the men here who are very active in their…
