Xochimilco is one of my favorite places in Mexico City. It has music, food, culture, nature, color and serenity all in one place. The boats (trajineras) are vibrant, the flowers are beautiful, and the atmosphere makes it a must visit for anyone going to Mexico City.
Xochimilco from Dennis on Vimeo.
After they hunted eggs, we dyed our own eggs out back in our back yard. The weather was great, and we had a great day. Check out our Easter pictures on Flickr.
Our kids love to draw on the sidewalk (and everywhere else) with chalk. The great news is that we have an entire basketball court right outside our back yard where they can draw. Nathan can spend hours out there drawing, and he usually comes in covered from head to toe in blue, white, or yellow chalk.
Yesterday we were playing outside and I was talking with them about what Easter is all about. I was trying to get Nathan to tell me the story. While talking, I sat down to draw with him, and he began to draw something on the sidewalk. He was really proud of what it was. After I saw what he drew I wanted to take a picture of it. Check it out.
Interestingly enough, I read an article today entitled, “What I Want for all Missionaries.”
In it, the author says,
“If I could ask for one thing of a church or small group or a family it would be for them to show some interest in my family and me. Send a small care package of stuff we miss twice a year. Give me a call once every other month. Send my kid an electronic iTunes certificate on her birthday and Christmas so I can be reminded someone other than me cares a little about her. Ask me about my marriage and my spiritual life, because both are probably suffering. Send me an occasional e-mail and tell me you prayed for my family today.”
One of the most fun things for us as missionaries is when we get packages from the USA. We’ve had a few of them this year, and we are very thankful when they get here. Actually, we got one this week from my mom, and the kids enjoyed the candy. I shot some video while we were opening it. Check it out below.
I’ve mentioned our certificate in youth ministry program before, but I wanted to share here about our new group of students in the city of Oaxaca.
A few years ago we started a program that would offer youth ministry training for those who couldn’t come to Seminary full time. It worked well in Mexico City. Then one of our students from the Bachelor’s degree wanted to take it back to his home city of Puerto Escondido (in the State of Oaxaca), so he started teaching last August.
Then a pastor living in Oaxaca City contacted Juan, our graduate, and asked if we could open a group in Oaxaca. We started that this month with 20 students.
Then a graduate of the Seminary who lives in Puebla asked me if we could help with youth ministry training at an extension of our Seminary in that city. After talking it over with the Seminary dean, we decided we could start in August.
So right now we have over 50 students studying on Saturdays in the certificate program, and next fall we should have at least 65 students. This summer we will have around 30 graduates from this certificate level program, and some of them have already expressed interest in continuing their studies at the Bachelor’s degree level.
It’s exciting for me to see that the interest in youth ministry training is increasing all over the country. We are constantly getting requests to do conferences and participate in various projects to propel youth ministry in Mexico.
Unfortunately, we can’t always say yes to every opportunity. We have two basic needs. We need more professors, and we need more resources. Please pray for God to grow our team. Also pray for more financial resources. If you would like to donate to help us train more youth workers, please check our our ministry partner team page to find out all the ways you can give to this ministry.
