We very much enjoyed preaching at Ciudad Azteca today, in the absence of Chuck and Karla Topp and family, who are in Texas right now.
The church was full...hardly an empty seat. Alejandro Flores directed the service and music. I preached on Matthew 14:1-21, paying special attention to the second part of the text, the feeding of the 5000, the only miracle of Jesus (aside from the resurrection) that is found in all four gospels.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Sunday with the Sandovals
This past Sunday was GREAT! The Fry family left Ixtapaluca around 9:30 and cruised into ELA around 10:45, for Maranatha Bible Church's Sunday service. We had initially planned to go last week, but our time was postponed due to the piggy flu.
The flu, actually, was the theme for my sermon. We all have a virus far more deadly than influenza porcina. We've sinned, and sin brings death, but Christ brings life. He is our divine antidote.
The church is about a year old, but attendance was right around 50, with several families absent. Chalo and Beth's servant ministry there was evident. Because we were visitors, we received a small loaf of bread, representing the Bread of Life, what Maranatha exists to distribute. After the service, we enjoyed coffee and a special cupcake-cake. A cake composed of cupcakes. Unique. It said "Congrats Mamas" on the top.
My kids loved dinner at the Sandoval's house. They like "American" food, we were told. They loved playing with the Sandoval's two dogs, climbing trees, you name it. Aaron and Natalie Sandoval joined us for lunch. What a great time we had!
I gained a new appreciation for Chalo and Beth's commitment to the local church. When you say "Sandovals" you think "ELA." But the Sandoval family is very obviously committed to planting churches...Maranatha is the 4th (or 5th?) church plant they have been involved in. That's HUGE!
The flu, actually, was the theme for my sermon. We all have a virus far more deadly than influenza porcina. We've sinned, and sin brings death, but Christ brings life. He is our divine antidote.
The church is about a year old, but attendance was right around 50, with several families absent. Chalo and Beth's servant ministry there was evident. Because we were visitors, we received a small loaf of bread, representing the Bread of Life, what Maranatha exists to distribute. After the service, we enjoyed coffee and a special cupcake-cake. A cake composed of cupcakes. Unique. It said "Congrats Mamas" on the top.
My kids loved dinner at the Sandoval's house. They like "American" food, we were told. They loved playing with the Sandoval's two dogs, climbing trees, you name it. Aaron and Natalie Sandoval joined us for lunch. What a great time we had!
I gained a new appreciation for Chalo and Beth's commitment to the local church. When you say "Sandovals" you think "ELA." But the Sandoval family is very obviously committed to planting churches...Maranatha is the 4th (or 5th?) church plant they have been involved in. That's HUGE!
Friday, May 8, 2009
Prayer request from Beth Sandoval
Pray for my dad. He has an infection in his left middle finger that has swollen the finger to double the size, very painful and certainly impossible to function caring for my mom and Brendy. The liquid from his top joint has leaked for years, but this time it got infected and has the red moving up his hand hear his wrist. I think I have all that info correct. He is on antibiotics but the meds and the infection are hard on his already tired body. Today Brendy is in what they call surgery…she is in the hospital for an injection of something into her hip to help with pain and movement. That happened at 10 AM today. My mom is barely coming out of her reaction (very early reaction and long lasting, incredible weakness) to the latest chemo. Not an easy time for them. Bobbie and Steve are doing double duty to help them. Thanks for praying.
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