News January 2010

Happy New Year to all of our friends and family!!
During these days of celebrating the birth of Jesus we have been especially busy...I guess that would also be true of everyone that receives this letter. Typically days and evenings are so busy with special meals and get-togethers, wrapping gifts, special Christmas programs and the list goes on. Our activities began early this season. We initiated a new service this year. The 12th of December is one of the most significant celebrations for non-Christians in Mexico. An altar to worship the “Guadalupana” (Mexico's version of the virgin Mary known as Guadalupe) is prepared with several days anticipation with a huge picture of the “virgin”, colored lights and lighted candles. The night(all night long) is spent in celebration. Those that especially do it up big are those women whose birthday coincides with this date and who were most likely named Guadalupe or Lupe in honor of the Virgin. Firecrackers and guns are going off all through the night. Seeing as it was a time of family get togethers and parties we decided to do something on this day to counter-act the trend. This time of year has recently gotten a new name “Guadalupe-Reyes”. It refers to the 11th of December until the 6th of January. We got together to pray for the individuals who begin a drinking binge from the 11th of December and runs straight through the 6th of January. A time of prayer was followed by a movie called “Faith Like Potatoes”and then we had a meal together. The church packed out and we had a wonderful time.
Our once-a-year major youth event was held the 19th and 20th of December. God met the kids in a beautiful way. The focus of the messages was about being changed by the heart of God. We all came in contact with the heart of God. Jack Greenwood from Decatur, Illinois, shared powerful words right from the heart of God. Dave Rice from Zamora, Michoacán also challenged us! Wow! were we blessed!
God brought us a young Mexican woman who has been working in the Middle East for the past 2 years as a missionary. Our lives have truly been changed as we were challenged by her commitment and sacrifice. We felt His heart beating for the world. The young people along with the rest of us were impacted to see a young Mexican dressed in a burkah with only her eyes peeking out and to learning that she daily wore that burkah in 120 degree weather and risked her life to share Jesus. Often she reached out with friendship for over a year before the first opportunity presented itself to share Jesus.
New Year's Day found us on the beach with joy unspeakable! We would like to tell you the story concerning 2 of the 9 people that were baptized. Five months ago a young couple (both lawyers) were at the end of their rope. Armando had just had surgery a few months prior for a brain tumor. Although they had fought valiantly research on the Internet had just dashed their hopes as to the prognosis for Armando. Esther had grown up in the Gospel, a pastor's kid, but since college had slipped away from a relationship with God. “Lets just get in the car and drive,” Ester said, “but where to?” “No idea...just drive”. As Esther drove down the highway she felt an overwhelming desire to turn in to Agua Viva. “Was that all made up... about just getting into the car and driving?” “You were planning to bring me here, weren't you?” murmured Armando “No, really I had no idea,” stated Esther. They stepped into our July Conference and never stopped crying through the whole service. Armando received Jesus into his heart and Esther came back to the Father. What rejoicing they had and we too, as joy instantaneously swept through the crowd of onlookers at the beach on New Year's Day!
Dave & Becci
[The pictures; top - The lady with the burkah; middle - One of the baptisms on New Year's Day; bottom - Esther praising God after her baptism.]