Hello again everyone,
We pray that everything has been going well with you as Spring is in full-swing. The last four weeks have been quite the whirlwind for us--and the craziness is not over yet! In three days Priscilla leaves for a 5-day women's retreat for missionaries. Please join me in praying that she is blessed and refreshed on the retreat. This, of course, means that I will have the kids for the week. Please pray that I am able to balance the responsibilities I will have with the kids with my responsibilities at UACh and at the church. Also, pray neither of the kids end up in the hospital with a week of dad's cooking and supervision. :) They can't get too hurt with grilled cheese sandwiches, quesadillas, frozen food and take-out right?
Before I share about all the things we have been doing over the last four weeks, I want to share with you some truly amazing things God has been doing at the university. The first things is with the English Conversation Clubs. Their start was delayed longer than I had hoped, but we had our first meetings this week. Lots of students came and I think they really enjoyed themselves. As we all discussed the most important things in our lives, myself and other Christians that were there were able to share a little bit about what Jesus means to us. I look at this as just the beginning stages of building relationships with the students, showing them we really care and bringing Jesus into the conversation. I have included some photos below if you want to check them out. Please pray with me that God uses these clubs mightily to reach the students of UACh. With the regular English classes that I teach, God has also given me opportunities here and there to discuss the Bible and Christianity. I'm praying for wisdom and vision on how I can best share Jesus with these students without over-stepping my bounds and getting in trouble. Another amazing things has happened. God used a haircut--seriously, ask me about it sometime!--to get me in contact with a student in my faculty named Marvin. He has been meeting and praying with other students. I have been joining them and God is really stirring all of them up to reach the school with the Gospel. On Tuesdays we have been meeting for prayer and on Thursdays they have been inviting unsaved friends to a super informal gathering where we hang out and eat food together. We know that God is calling us to build the foundations of a ministry at the university and we are blown away by all that He is doing to make that happen. These are exciting times!
I have to fill you in on what else has been going on during our last four weeks. First, God provided and I was able to go to the CRU conference in Cholula, Puebla! It was awesome! I was able to meet a bunch of like-minded people serving Jesus on campuses throughout Mexico. I was also really encouraged and challenged by many of the sessions and workshops that I attended. After getting back, the very next weekend brought the Calvary Chapel Regional Leadership Conference in a nearby city called Delicias. It was also a great conference that really blessed Priscilla and I. Finally, last weekend we helped plan and run a marriage conference that ministered to over 20 couples in our church. Priscilla's dad and step-mom came to help with the teachings, so it was wonderful to have their help with the conference and also spend time with them during the week.
Finally (if this email isn't already long enough), the new season of Home Groups for our church starts next week. As I've said before, I am now serving in the church as the leader of the Home Groups. The main thing that I am currently focused on is training and supporting the current Home Group leaders. It is something I am really excited about. I can't wait to see how God uses our Home Groups to build up and grow the people in the church. Please also keep those Home Groups in your prayers as well. As always, thanks so much for your encouragement and support. We love you guys and we'll talk to you again soon.
-Tim, Priscilla, Josiah and Hannah
Praise Reports
- There are many open doors at UACh!
- The first week of Conversation Clubs went great!
- God provided the finances for the CRU conference and it was awesome!
- The Lord really ministered to many couples in our church at the marriage conference last weekend.
Prayer Request
- For Priscilla's women's retreat next week--the she would be ministered to and refreshed.
- For the English Conversation clubs at UACh--that we would get many opportunities to shine Christ.
- For the other doors the Lord is opening up at both campuses as we seek to share the Gospel with unbelievers and disciple the believers on the campus.
- For the kick-off of the new season of Home Groups at our church--that God would give me wisdom and vision with how to support, train and encourage the Home Group leaders.
- For the Home Group that meets at our house--that God would give us a deep fellowship as we seek Jesus together.
- For God to give us rest and unity during this busy season in our lives.