Dear loved ones,
The most important thing you have ever waited for has already arrived! It’s the best news. Ever. And He came in such a beautiful package. And with that, I’d like to say Merry Christmas, everyone.
For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. –Luke 2:11
Esmerelda is coming for our Christmas service, Lord willing. The young mom has been fighting health issues for several years now. It doesn’t seem like she has much time left. “I’m still here,” she said after a special anniversary service recently at Pastor Juan and Imelda’s Gethsemane Church. 31 years! That’s about the age of Esmerelda in fact.
“I’ll see you at Christmas Eve service if I’m still alive. It’s my refuge.” Esmerelda told me.
We’ve held Christmas Eve services in Los Canelos for many years now. I was so humbled to hear her encouraging statement. Our conversation continued. “People told me my family would be restored. I’d be healed…I’ve lost everything since I’ve come to Christ.” Barring an absolutely stunning series of miracles, she is correct. She has lost all while gaining all. Salvation in Christ is everything. God sent His Son. Savior. I’m looking forward to celebrating with her. Whether she is here or home. Christmas seems so complicated now, so stressful for many, including almost everyone I know in ministry. It wasn’t complicated on that night so long ago. A precious few were able to worship our King in a manger. A precious few were able to see Him for Who He was lying in that stable. King of kings. Lord of lords.
So simple. So beautiful. May this Christmas be a time that you and I behold His beauty.
And may that continue into the new year!
Our niece Acsa was married last month in Cuernavaca. I was pleased to be invited to preach for the service. And it’s always nice to have the 3 luchadores together! Pastor Juan officiated and I preached. That’s been an occurrence for many events and missions now. Hopefully with many to come. Pastor Chayo gave his middle daughter to his new son-in-law Gabriel. The kids waited for each other for 6 years. Reminds me of Jacob! It was a beautiful time.
We went from the wedding in Cuernavaca to Thanksgiving in Los Canelos! And the grandmas made the whole trip. What an effort and what a sweet memory for all of us. It was also nice to have Oscar and Majo for Thanksgiving dinner, along with the newly minted Eden! (you can see them in the backdrop behind the grandmas!) You may remember the proposal newsletter a couple of years ago… History, and our family, keeps building.
Along with the construction of course!
Prayer requests/ praise reports:
Remember Victor from Cuernavaca? He’s the one we tried to help with the injured arm. He’s done so much work at the Children’s Home. He has come to Je- sus! And his wife too!
God is restoring their marriage and family.
We’ve given away a lot of quilts for Christmas! It was nice to be part of Minnie’s family reunion in this way. About 40 gathered from the children’s home Minnie and her sisters grew up in (a picture below). We hosted missionary (and daddy to Minnie) Wyman Pylant, he was also able to attend and share the love of Christ yet again to his children, through the Word. More quilts were given away to local pastors and still more to a mission outreach!
At our mission base in Los Canelos, the plans are drawn up! The permit process is continuing forward for our expansion of the sanctuary etc…
We hope to begin construction of the new sanctuary in January while starting the bathroom and kitchen overhaul. Until then we host a women’s conference, our Christmas Eve service, and a teens retreat and we’ll also host the Pastor’s fast to begin the year on January 6- 9th. So we’ve held off the interior demolition until Monday, January 13th. A little more waiting, and then the maul hits the wall!
We have mission groups from the U.S. scheduled for February 14th-21st and for the end of March.
Thank you to all of you for supporting our lives and ministry. Another year has quickly faded away.
Let’s enter 2025 with expectancy.
Our Savior arrived at the perfect time so long ago in Bethlehem. No more waiting.
Love from,
Gary and Minnie and Sophia, along with all your family in Mexico.