Hello everyone,
Summer is here! I'm not sure how things are where you are, but here in Chihuahua we're already dealing with many days over 100*F and it's not even the hottest time of the year yet. The good news is that the heat has also brought a little bit of rain--which is very welcomed.
The semester at UACH came to an end last week. My classes and the Conversation Clubs both went well. (How do I sum up an entire semester in one short email?) Well, the Lord opened many opportunities throughout the semester to share my testimony and other tidbits to point the students to Jesus. On the last day of my classes, we had a party in each class where we were able to talk freely--and the Lord was faithful to direct the conversation to Himself in each class. I also invited all of the students in both my classes and the Conversation Clubs to an informal hangout at a cafe where they could hear more about Jesus and ask questions about the Bible. We ended up having five students show up and were able to have some great conversations about the Gospel, Jesus and the Bible. One student even wanted to stay after the meeting to ask more questions and by the end decided that he was ready to accept Jesus--it was awesome! The student, who goes by Bob, is friends with Erick who is a student I have been meeting and praying with. Erick has shared a lot with Bob about Jesus, so I was just blessed to be there and join in with the work that God has been doing through Erick for so many months. Please keep Bob in prayer moving forward.
God has been moving in marvellous ways to birth ministry at UACH. I have met a few different students in different parts of the university that I have continued praying with and encouraging in the Word. A few of us have met together the last few weeks and we decided that we think the Lord wants us to start a discipleship study this summer to train up and prepare students in different parts of UACH to reach their peers. It seems to be gaining momentum and it's looking like we will have a pretty solid group of students as part of the discipleship study. A few of these students are already leading prayer groups within their schools and have a heart to minster to other students. My prayer is that we can mobilize, unite and train these students to really begin to intentionally reach their specific schools next semester. If this happens, the ministry of CRU at UACH will take a huge step forward--much faster than I imagined it would! God's plans and methods blow my mind sometimes--so I am just excited to be a part of something that He is clearly doing! Please pray for our summer discipleship group--that God would bring the students that He wants as part of the foundations of the ministry, that these students would grow in maturity and passion in their walks with Jesus and that we would have the wisdom and boldness to move forward with the plans God has for the university.
Finally, we are very excited for our trip to California later this month. It has been a crazy and challenging last few months and we are really looking forward to relaxing a little bit and spending time with family. If you are out in California, we hope to be able to see you as well. We are praying that we come back from the vacation rested, rejuvenated and ready for all that the Lord wants to continue to do in and through us. Have a great weekend and we hope to be able to talk to you soon!
-Tim, Priscilla, Josiah and Hannah
Praise Reports
- We celebrate two years in Chihuahua next month!
- God is doing a work at UACH and opening up doors for CRU!
- The end of the semester meetings for classes and the Conversation Clubs went great!
- The cafe hang-out where we met with students to talk to them about Jesus and the Bible was awesome--God did an amazing work in Bob's heart!
- Our home group has been going great! God is moving in a fresh way as we are seeking to be open to the moving of the Holy Spirit and minister to one another as a body.
Prayer Request
- For our vacation to California later this month. That we would be refreshed and receive renewed vision for what God is doing in and through us in Chihuahua.
- For the summer discipleship study with students from different schools within UACH. That God would draw the students that He wants to participate and raise up an army of students that are in passionate pursuit of Him and focused on reaching their friends with the Gospel.
- For our home group and all of the home groups at our church that I am in charge of. That God would draw us deeper in our relationships with Him and with others. That we would be open to Him moving in a fresh way in our hearts so that we may be protected from just "going through the motions."
- For our car situation. We need to find a way to sell our car and buy a Mexican car. We could use a bigger car but want to make sure that we're able to get something that is also reliable. Please pray for the Lord to provide for this financially.
- For wisdom with my schedule (Tim). I want to make sure to say "yes" to the right things and "no" to the right things next semester so that I may spend my time in the way that most glorifies the Lord.