Missions Conference at Millar College of the Bible in Saskatchewan, Canada!

I (Bob) recently had the opportunity to travel to the prairies of Canada to represent CAM in a missions conference at Millar College of the Bible in Pambrun, Saskatchewan. My relatives (Dennis and Sharon Kirsch) have worked at this Bible school over the past decade. Over the past 6 years they have visited and ministered with us in Mexico. Now it was MY turn to visit them and see where God has been using them in recent years! What a joy for me to be on "their turf" and see the ministry of this school that has been cranking out pastors, missionaries, and other full-time Christian workers since the early 1900's.

You could tell that missions was a high priority for this school with 150 students from all over Canada. Great speakers, excellent dramas, informative seminars, panel discussions, an international dinner, a marketplace with foods from around the world, and other creative activities were planned to promote the Great Commission.

I enjoyed the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion with mission personnel from other agencies concerning how "Joyful Perseverance in Serving the Lord". The Kirsches and I also manned our display table with info about CAM and our ministry in Mexico. We enjoyed the chance to talk with students and other reps about how God is using CAM International throughout the Spanish-speaking world. Now I'm back home here Indiana where we're at for our home assignment. It was -13 with the wind chill this AM here in Warsaw! That's colder than it was in Canda while I was there! Nonetheless it's GREAT to be home. This weekend we travel to Clinton, Iowa where we have the opportunity to share in a church about our ministry. Hopefully we'll have good weather!

Visit to Mexico

I must say it's a weird feeling to be back here in Mexico but not have our home here. Everything came together so quickly to get our things moved up to Texas. Last week at this time I bought my ticket to fly down....now here I am with our stuff all loaded up on a trailer bound for Dallas. We're grateful to finally get our things up there!

Today I had some time to reflect a bit on how good God has been to us as a family during these past 15 years in Mexico. It's hard to put in writing all that we have experienced since arriving here in '96 with our two daughters, Kaylyn and Kathryn. We've experienced great joy in seeing people come to know Christ, see them grow, and begin to minister actively in the body of Christ. Scores of youth have grown in their heart for ministry and love for children. Churches have grown in their vision to carry out the Great Commission. Perhaps the greatest joy is reflecting on how much we have grown in our own lives. We haven't "arrived" by any means but our faith in God has been tested and has matured during our years here. God brought us here to do a profound work in our own hearts and lives.

Now as we transition back to the U.S. for this next season of our lives, we leave Mexico with deep gratitude in our hearts for all God has done. A part of us remains here....wishing we could be two places at once! We're truly excited about the future God has in store while at the same time truly grieving that we're leaving a country where we have ministered for virtually all our years as a "family". God is good...and we look forward to all that awaits us as we continue our ministry from the "other side of the border"!

Sharing about Mexico....with pre-schoolers

Last week Sharla and I enjoyed the opportunity to share about Mexico with the kids at the Presbyterian Pre-School here in Warsaw. Our daughter Kathryn went to this school back in '99 when we were up for a home assignment after our first term of serving in Mexico!

We had a wonderful time sharing about God's work there as well as some fun cultural stuff. Mexican toys are always a "hit" with kids so we showed them some of our fun things we brought up. God has opened several doors for us lately to share with kids which Sharla and I greatly enjoy doing! Afterwards the teachers organized a piñata and a Mexican Christmas tradition called a posada.

Fall Concert

Last night was a special night as we enjoyed going to the fall concert at Lakeland Christian Academy where both Kaylyn and Kathryn attend. Kaylyn was involved in playing the piano both for the band as well as for an offeratory. We greatly enjoyed watching her use her talents for the Lord! I know she was glad when it was over! I (Bob) remember those days when I played in piano recitals...especially the ones when we had to memorize our special numbers. I was always really glad when it was over!

Thanks for your prayers for Kaylyn, Kathryn, and Brent as they adjust to life here during our home assignment. They are involved in various activities which keeps them quite busy (and us as well)!

Brent's school experience

All of our kids are now in their respective schools. The girls are at Lakeland Christian Academy here in Warsaw while Brent attends Madison Elementary School. They are adjusting to life here in "gringolandia" as we call it. Plenty of adjustments but they are doing well. Although they look like "gringos" our kids definitely see themselves as more Mexican than anything else! So it has been a real adjustment for them.

Our son Brent recently had a cool experience at school. He had to share about his favorite book. He chose the Bible; author, God. So he takes his Bible to school and gets up in front of the whole classroom and shares about his favorite book. No, this wasn't something that we pushed him to do. This came totally from his own heart. We quite convinced that Brent has the gift of evangelism as we hear his comments and observe his life.

We're very grateful for the youth group at our church here. Great group of kids and excellent Bible teaching! Kaylyn and Kathryn have begun to get involved and make friends there as well as at school. They are growing in the midst of a LOT of upheaval in their lives.

Thanks for praying for our kids these days. I know they appreciate your prayers!

Here's our new "temporary home" in Warsaw, Indiana where we'll be through May of 2011 for our home assignment. Kaylyn, Kathryn and Brent are starting school and getting adjusted to life here. Lots of changes! Thanks for your prayers as we adjust to "gringo" life. We look forward to seeing many of you while we're here!!

Summer Missionary Program 2010

We are grateful for the opportunity to train over 20 youth in how to teach kids' club. As a family we went to Mexico City for the training week from July 9-15. What a GREAT time we had with the quality youth that God sent us this year.

The training involved various facets of teaching an evangelistic kids' club: teaching songs, bible verses, a Bible lesson, a missionary story.....all designed to help children learn more about what God has done for them AND helping them understand that they too can trust in Christ for salvation. Every summer several thousand children attend the 20-30 clubs taught by these youth and 100's profess faith in Christ.

This summer Sharla and I helped train the youth in the songs they would use in the clubs. Sharla came up with the motions for the songs which you can see in one of the pictures above. I was able to help in the training of the teaching of the evangelistic Bible lesson. All the youth met in small groups throughout the week to prepare their Bible lessons and then practice together before they are sent out. It's GREAT practice for them since they all learn together with us "coaching" them.

We thank God for the awesome group of youth God sent us this year. Sharla and I are grateful for the privilege to work alongside a team of both CAM missionaries and Mexican youth to organize this summer ministry! Pray that there will be long-lasting fruit from the clubs which the youth taught this summer!!