Family & Ministry…
A crowded week in Cancun…
It’s been way too long since I’ve been back. The pandemic, health issues that prevented Carol from flying, her stroke, and 10-month homestretch journey, then some months of recovery for me.
Punta Sam on the Mexican Caribbean: one example of the unbelievable expansion of hotels from Cancun north to Punta Sam and beyond… to say nothing about the growth of Cancun itself. Mind-boggling. It’s no longer the peaceful resort town we moved to in May 1982. Landing at the airport brought a flood of memories and tears.
Jeremy, Bety, Stefany, and Mathías met me at the airport. They had left their dog home very sick. The vet was scheduled to help him with his final journey. Alas, he passed before we got home. Buddy was 16 years old. He will be missed.
Bottom pictures: This is how mentoring works. Jeremy works with Mathias on English words for the pictures. Then, Mathias works with me to brush up on my Spanish.
Upper right: If you have ever eaten genuine Mexican pozole in Mexico, and you go to the pozole restaurant where you don’t even get a menu because all they serve is pozole…then you know where the beaming smiles come from as we eat the pozole.
I arrived Saturday evening (April 06). Sunday morning, I got to share some words with “La Congre,” what we affectionately call this church family. More memories again… Linda and I lived upstairs for the last 10 years of her life. Big hugs, delicious food, and the promise of being better connected with them again.
Breakfast during the week at “Sabores de México” with their pastors, Jorge and Ale… a sweet time of catching up and great conversation about our lives in God’s kingdom. There’s something about faithfulness in ministry that always moves and encourages me.
Sunday evening: “Venid y Ved” (Come and See) is a newer group 10 minutes from Jeremy’s house. Gustavo and Damaris have been with them for about a year. Gus says he’s known me for 31 years. I’ll have to take his word for it. They had invited me to speak here, too. We started by singing some choruses… Gus and his daughter on guitars, his son on the cajón.
I promised them, too, that I would be back soon.
Tuesday 8:00 PM “La Berea”. Our first 12 years in Cancun were here, starting at zero.
Rt. hand bottom: That’s Pastor Jaime Balam with me. He was saved before I met him, but we grew together here. I transitioned out when Jaime quit his job as an accountant to be full time in ministry.
These folks actively visit and take the Gospel to other places in the Yucatán Peninsula. Last weekend, their evangelistic team was in Dzonot Carretero, 2 hours inland and north toward Río Lagartos on the Gulf of Mexico.
Left-hand bottom picture. José Luis and his wife. He showed me a picture of us together in Dzonot Carretero, trying to get something started there 40 years ago. I told him, “Man, you really are old!” We had a big laugh together.
When I bought the tickets, I was not entirely sure I would be able to make the trip. Today, I’m so glad I did. I spoke in the 3 churches you see here. I met with individuals and couples each day during the week. They were special times of catching up, sharing burdens, and exchanging prayer requests. One result is an instant increase in my Zoom and FaceTime sessions. Please pray for God-honoring outcomes in each one.
I hope to go back in June. There are many more people to see and groups to visit—some in Cancun, some in other parts of the Peninsula.
What’s my drug of choice? I love watching others thrive in their walk with the Lord.
”For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord.“ (1 Thessalonians 3:8 ESV)
Thank you for your example of steadfastness and faith!! Sending our love from Northern Japan. (Debbie in Hachinohe)
Always a blessing to read about your adventures. Praying for you daily!