The Feel of Spring in Mexico

Spring is definitely in the air! We certainly feel it in the weather; the temperature is rising along with the humidity.  We have relented and turned the air conditioner on in our bedroom.  The bugs are back and prefer the house instead of the outdoors.  Yuck! Last but not least, our winter birds are flying home for the spring and summer.  You should know by now that I'm talking about our snow birds that come in from the US and Canada and spend the winter months in their homes here on the Yucatan.  Most will depart by Easter.  We will miss their fellowship and their share of responsibility in our ministry here.  We trust God to bring them back next winter.

Terry completed his series on dealing with stress this past Sunday.  Of all the Sundays to practice his teaching over the past 5 weeks; Daniel, our worship leader, had emergency surgery on a ruptured appendix Friday night, leaving only one singer for Sunday morning! The computer overheads would not work, projector would not read my computer; sound system wouldn't make a sound and I left the teaching material for our children at home!  Stress was high, God has taught us that we can rely on him.  No one panicked or even was out of sorts.  Daniel was doing well in the hospital, and he contacted our only singer, Karen, and she happily agreed to lead. She did an awesome job.  She had received the overheads from Daniel on Saturday afternoon to practice, and decided to bring her computer to church.  We switched the overhead projector to her computer and it worked great.  The main switch in the control room was on mute and all we needed to do was push a switch and magically, we had sound. I returned home and in a matter of minutes found the children's material.  We had 58 in worship, Terry said you could have heard a pen drop during worship as God's children received his word.  I had 6 beautiful girls in Little Lights, and they loved the teaching of the B Attitudes!  It was an awesome Sunday.  I know you all pray for our ministry every day, and they were felt especially this Sunday.  Thank you.

Refocus on Attendance

Our attendance was down for the third week in a row, yet we continue to have new attenders.  As our "high season" or "tourist season" winds down we see many of our regular attenders return to their second home in the US or Canada.  Sunday we had 50 in attendance, and still our hopes remain high to achieve our high attendance of 70 before our season comes to an end.  We know of many of our attenders/members who work 7 days a week during the high season and we will see them return to attending regularly over the next month.

We have a mission project scheduled for Saturday, March 26th.  We plan on completing the wall around Teri Hastings home in Playa.  We are thrilled to complete this much needed repair as it was destroyed during the hurricane that hit Playa back in 2006.  Teri is one of our widows that lives in Playa full time and is on a fixed income and has not had the funds to repair the wall.  Much thanks to Abba Casa, (Bill & Renee Johnson) as they continue to lead our church in mission outreach to our community.  WATCH FOR NEW MISSION PROJECTS NEXT MONTH.

Wall to be painted Saturday, March 26th - Teri Hastings

Trip to Tennessee!

Terry and I were privileged to travel to Kingsport, Tennessee March 1 - 8th.  We were hosted by Dallas and Becca Bivins and the Sullivan Baptist Association.  The Sullivian Baptist Association of Churches has partnered with Yucatan Outreach Ministries for the next 3 years.  We were able to speak at their associational Executive Board Meeting, speak in several churches and meet individually with several pastors and lay leaders.  We look forward to the future partnership and believe we can come along side each other in reaching others here and there.  We are hoping many of the churches will be sending mission teams down to assist us with local mission projects as well as assist us in future church development on the Riviera Maya, Mexico.

Cameron, Rick Becca, Dallas and Brock

Pastor Dan and Terry at Cowboy Church

We were blessed to stay in our good friends, Dallas and Becca Bivins' home while in Kingsport (left above).  It was a wonderful time of fun and fellowship with Dallas, Becca and their 3 children; Rick, Cameron and Brock.  We were also blessed to be in Chris and Kristina Alford's home for a wonderful "mexican dinner."  Thanks to all in the Sullivian Baptist Association for bringing us up and for allowing our week to be a blessing to us and our ministry here in Mexico. (right above picture of Terry and Pastor Dan at the Cowboy Church)

Great Job by Alaska Praise Team

We were blessed to have 4 people from the Rabbit Creek Church Praise Team from Anchorage, Alaska here last week.  They spent Wednesday and Thursday working one on one with our worship leader and instrumentalist in Playa Del Carmen.  They spent all day Saturday working with many of our praise team singers here in Tulum.  They assisted our praise team on Sunday morning.  More than anything I thank them for there willingness to come along side our team to fellowship and encourage them to do what ever God wants in the way of music ministry.  Thanks to Frank, Allen, Johanna and Makaela.  You are all some of my favorite people.

Terry and I are in Kingsport, Tennessee this week.  The Sullivian Baptist Association has partnered with Yucatan Outreach Ministries for a 3 year partnership in mission outreach.  Terry was able to share at their associational meeting with a mission report on YOM along with our annual DVD highlighting missions, baptisms and ministries of Lighthouse Church in Tulum, Mexico.  He presented an invitation for local churches to join us through short term mission trips, assisting through financial support and prayer for our work on the Yucatan.  We were blessed at the close of the meeting as the entire group gathered around us in a time of prayer and dedication for our work in Mexico. We trust God with the results from this trip; that we'll develop lasting friendships and see many people give their lives and hearts to Christ. Once again we can not express our appreciation for those who support our ministry.  God bless all of you.