January 2008

My Other Home for the Holidays

Christmas and New Year seem a distant memory now that we’ve logged almost a month’s worth of time in 2008. But since I got to spend those important holidays with my friends here in Aguascalientes, I really want to fill you in on these events from almost a month ago. Though I missed being with my family on Christmas, I was joyful to be able to enter into the lives of my adopted “families” here in Mexico in a way that shows them even more deeply that I care about them enough to spend the holidays with them.

As I reflected about the progress of ministry from this year to last, I was filled with joy. It was amazing to sit down with my Bible Study friends on Christmas day, read the story of Jesus’ birth and worship Him for coming to save us. Before New Year we also gathered to pray, dedicating our lives in the new year to God. Slowly but surely, Christ is building His kingdom.

While You Were Sleeping

For a couple of weeks in January, I was back in the States vacationing, going to my sister’s wedding (SO excited about finally having a brother through her!) and getting to enjoy seeing some of you guys. When I returned, I was very glad to find that the Bible Study had met three times without me and that apparently there was great teaching and some good times of sharing as they finished up the last three chapters of our jog through Ephesians. I couldn’t help but think of Jesus’ parable: “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows--how, he does not know.” (Mark 4:26-27) Now don’t get the impression that I’ve just been sleeping all day, but it is incredible for me to see how God causes growth even in my absence so that the Bible Study has become a self-sustaining group. I don’t always know how growth happens— but I’m pretty sure God has His hand in it.

Meet a Friend:

My first Saturday back in Aguascalientes after my vacation, I was glad to take up the regular Saturday routine of going with Aris to visit a family that we know in the neighborhood of El Salto. This visit however, was filled with a little extra joy as I got to meet the newest member of the family: Paty’s son “Miguel” born on New Year’s Day. (Paty & husband are still deciding on a name for this precious boy.)

After much prayer, Cris, Aris and I have decided to focus on ministering in “El Salto” which has a reputation for being one of the three roughest neighborhoods in the city. Frankly, I feel somewhat at a loss for how to even begin to help these people understand Christ’s worth and his loving sacrifice for them. But I am very thankful for how Paty is slowly but surely opening her life to us. And her older daughters (Esthy & Fany) are learning so much from the workbooks we gave them about God. Please pray for this family, this community, and us as we minister there.

Quick Prayer & Praise:

Praise:

• Refreshing vacation & celebration of my sister’s wedding

• For the first time, the Bible Study continued on in my absence.

• New team members arriving.

Prayer:

• Integrating Edwin & Maria Giron (new missionaries) into ministry here.

• Making friends & proclaiming the gospel in El Salto.

• Believers here to be bold in evangelism.

Don't forget about my pictures! http://hotwater.photosite.com

Andrea Byrne

(See 'Missionaries' for information on other EFM missionary personnel.)