Yesterday, Amazon finally opened a Kindle store in Mexico. This is really good news for me because in May I wrote a book. I haven’t blogged about it here before because it’s is in Spanish.
It’s called “Corre para Ganar: 5 Disciplinas para Llegar a la Meta del Ministerio Juvenil.” In English, that’s “Run to Win: 5 Disciplines to arrive at the Finish Line of Youth Ministry.”
It’s basically a book about my thoughts on important steps to successful youth ministry, and it’s a compilation of much of what I’ve taught in Mexico these last 10 years. It’s been hard to sell on Kindle, though, because up until yesterday, my Mexican friends had to have an Kindle account (and credit card) from the USA or another supported country in order to purchase it. They also can buy a printed version, especially at events where I speak (also available on Amazon). All of that changed because Amazon finally opened a Kindle Store in Mexico.
I’m excited about this because there are a lot of youth leaders who could benefit from reading the message of “Corre para Ganar,” and I want to get it into the hands of as many people as possible.
If you are a youth worker who reads Spanish, I encourage you to pick up a copy. If you know youth workers who read Spanish, please tell them about the book.
Sunday, smack in the middle of a busy weekend, we had some friends over to celebrate Shiloh’s third birthday. It wouldn’t be a birthday party without cake and a piñata, so that’s what we did.
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On August 27, 2003, Janell and I boarded a plane at the Miami International Airport with 7 bags. We had sold or given away almost everything else that we owned and were ready to take a leap of faith and move to Mexico. In the next days we would leave 5 of those bags in Mexico City and move to the unknown city of Cuernavaca to live with a family we had never met and try to learn a language we barely knew at a school we had only visited one other time.
Those were very exciting and scary times. When I look back at it, I realize that it seemed crazy to most people and even to us at times. But as I reflect on what has happened in this decade in Mexico, Latin America, my own life, and my family, I can definitely say that it has been worth it. Despite the trials and uncertainties of support raising, recruiting students, teaching classes, searching for housing, and all the other things that come along with missionary life, God has always been faithful.
He has provided at the right times, both financially and materially. He has brought us great friends who have helped make the journey great. Many of them are no longer in Mexico, but they were always with us at just the right time. Financially, God has provided for us when we least expected it. Even in the months when support was low, He has always made a way for us to see His provision.
When we first started here in Mexico, youth ministry seemed to be so new, and we had to ask what we were doing here. Now we see certificate programs all over the country, students and graduates from the Bachelor’s degree program that are doing incredible work in their local churches, 3 Seminaries in Cuba with thriving Centers for Youth Ministry, a new Master’s program launching in Mexico in January that will help plant 3 new CYMs in different Seminaries in Mexico, and a plan to open 60 new Youth Ministry programs in Latin America in the next 15 years.
If you’re reading this, you probably have known us for these 10 years and have been supporting us and praying for us for at least that long. We thank God for you. He has proven His faithfulness to us through your constant support and prayers. I can’t believe that so many people have been a part of this journey alongside us. You are very special to our family. Thank you for your continued prayers. They have sustained us throughout this decade and will continue to push us forward for the time to come.
Tomorrow I’m speaking at a youth event at our local church. It’s called “Epicentro”, and my talk is about a “Spiritual Seismograph.” I’m talking mostly about our commitment level to Christ and what that looks like on a daily basis.
As I was researching seismographs, I found it interesting that a seismograph always must be attached to bedrock. Otherwise, there will be false readings in the reports that it generates.
For example, in our house in Mexico, we have a giant window that rattles like crazy every time a truck goes by, which is several times a day. What sounds like it could be a giant earthquake is usually just a gas, garbage, or water truck, making it hard to detect when a real earthquake is happening.
The spiritual life is the same. We often feel as though we are being moved by something, but if we are not deeply rooted in the bedrock of our faith, which is Jesus, we will be shaken by all sorts of things and get a false reading.
What moves us needs to be Jesus moving from deep within our hearts. It has to do with Peter’s response in Mark 8:29 when he responds to Jesus with a strong conviction that He is the Christ.
Please pray that tomorrow I can lead students to a greater understanding of who Jesus is and how He should move them throughout their lives so that they can have a strong commitment that guides them to where they need to be in order to make an impact for eternity.
Today we celebrated Shiloh’s third birthday. I can’t believe it’s been three years since she was born!
When we woke up this morning, we gave her some birthday presents. The boys put their money together to get her a chocolate “Kinder Sorpresa”, and we got her a princess lego/duplo set and a baby princess. She loved her presents.
After work (and day 2 of homeschool) we celebrated as a family with some chocolate cupcakes. Check out the video below:
When bedtime approached tonight she said, “Is it almost bedtime?” When we responded that it was, she said, “But I don’t want my birthday to end.” She had a great day.
