Hello everyone and Happy New Year!
"By God's grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News. Though I am the least deserving of all God's people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ." --Eph. 3:7-8
I've been thinking about these verses a lot these last couple weeks. In these two verses Paul made it abundantly clear that his ability to serve Jesus was a huge and completely undeserved blessing. Priscilla and I have been resting in a sense of thankfulness over the last few weeks as we've realized just how gracious God is in allowing us to serve Him in Chihuahua. It is such a privilege to be part of what Jesus is doing here! We are also so thankful that many of you are serving Jesus with us--through your prayer, encouragement and support. It's so awesome that God would let all of us be part of His work to reach the world!
We're back in the swing of things at UACH! There's another verse in Ephesians that I recently came across that God really pressed upon my heart for the students. Ephesians 2:13 says, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." The distance of these students from Christ, along with their lack of hope and peace, weighed so heavily on me as I read that verse. Yet, Christ yearns to bring them near. He has shed his blood that they may enter into the most intimate of relationships imaginable. I'm praying that many are brought near to Jesus this semester! One great praise report involves a group of students that I was able to meet with four times over the Christmas break. All of them were unbelievers but all of them were eager to hear more about who Jesus is and what the Bible says. The plan was to have one meeting where my students from last semester could come, talk about their questions/doubts involving Jesus and Christianity and hear a clear Gospel presentation. After the first three-hour meeting, they wanted to meet again! After the four meetings, a few of them seem to be very close to accepting Christ--two have even started to come to church! It's all part of the answer to our prayers from last semester! Thanks for praying with us!
As the semester begins, here are the things that will continue that we would love for you to keep in prayer:
English Classes - I am teaching two English classes again this semester with around 50 students in total.
English Conversation Clubs - In the next few weeks, we plan to start at least two-to-three conversation clubs spread throughout the university.
Discipleship - God has given me the opportunity to meet individually with a few students on a weekly basis in order to pour into them and seek Jesus together.
There are also a few new things in the works that we're still praying about. We're not positive about exactly what God is doing in these areas, but we would love for you to join us prayer as we seek to discover how God wants to reach UACH.
CRU Meeting - We've talked for awhile about getting a Bible study started at the university but it has been more difficult than we originally imagined. Lord willing, this will be the semester that we are able to start meeting and studying the Bible on a consistent basis.
Conversation Club Expansion - The Language Center is talking about wanting to expand the conversation clubs to other schools in the university. To accomplish this, they asked if I would be willing to find and train people to lead them! If this works out, it would be an awesome way to allow others the opportunity to serve at UACH also!
Discipling/encouraging students at other universities - There are students at two other universities in Chihuahua that are interested in starting CRU on their campuses. They have received training and are set to start meeting this semester. Erick (one of the students I've been discipling) and I are going to start meeting with these students to encourage them and help them through the process. I am very excited to be able to encourage them as they serve Jesus on their campuses.
Cafe for Student Outreach - This is the big one that may be a little farther off. It's something that started as a dream that Priscilla and I have discussed privately for the last year or two. However, over the last few months, we've had a sense that God might be moving and wanting to do something a little sooner than we thought. We still don't know when but we feel more and more like it is something that God has in store as part of the work here. If it's part of His plan, we know that He will guide and provide in miraculous ways. May He do great things and be glorified!
There is one last praise report that I want to share before finishing up. Many of you knew that we were struggling with our car situation--battling to get the necessary visas for a car with U.S. plates but unable to import it and get Mexican license plates instead. Well, God answered our prayers! We just found out a couple days ago that God put it on the hearts of a couple to donate a car to us! It is a much newer car and therefore we are allowed to import it and get Mexican plates for it. So, we won't have any more issues with the paperwork or with standing out as foreigners because of our American license plates. Please continue praying as we move through the process of importation. This has been something that we've prayed a lot about and been tempted to carry as a burden--but He took care of it in His time. God is so good!
May each of us continue to rest in His provision as He guides us into all that He has prepared for us. Have a great week!
-Tim, Priscilla, Josiah and Hannah
Eph. 3:20-21
Praise Reports
- God provided a car for us!!! Now, we will no longer have issues with the paperwork for our car or with standing out because of our U.S. license plates!
- The cafe meetings during the break with the UACH students went really well. Many of them are hungry to learn more about Jesus and a few have even started attending church!
- God has opened the doors for Hannah to begin attending a pre-school! We know she will thrive and are excited to see what God has for her!
- We had a great trip to California over the end of December and beginning of January. We really enjoyed connecting with people from our home church at CCSJC and the Home Church in Rowland Heights!
- We had a really smooth transition back to Chihuahua as everyone couldn't wait to get back home and into the swing of things for what God has for us in 2019!
Prayer Request
- All of the ministry happening at UACH--including the classes, the conversation clubs and the discipleship. Also, that God would do a great work this semester in starting the bible study!
- For the doors that God may be opening in regards to expansion of the conversation clubs, encouraging students at other universities and a cafe for outreach to the students. That God would open doors that only He can open and shut doors for things that aren't part of His plan.
- For God's continued provision with our monthly support.
- That both of the kids would thrive in their schools and fall more and more in love with Jesus.
- For the two home groups that we lead through our church. That God would anoint us to pour into the people that attend and lead them in such a way that they see more of Jesus than ever before.
- That God would guide us into exactly what He has for us in 2019--no matter how crazy/scary or simple/normal it might be.