Silberman Christmas in Cofradía

What a joy it was to have my parents here for their first Christmas in Cofradía.  It was an unforgettable time filled with memory making moments.  One of the most memorable things that happened the impact that Santa Claus has on not just children, but adults as well.  Why?  Take a look...

It was comical as to how many people turned their heads and made comments (sometimes not knowing that I could understand).  He even had someone come up to him on Christmas Day asking him where their presents were....oops!   Everywhere we went, people thought, and kids believed he was Santa.  One little boy commented, "He really does exist!"  It was fun, and people had fun getting their pictures taken with him at the house, at Church, and even at the Mall in Tepic (even the fake Santa there got his picture with him).

More memorable moments were spent with Rebecka and Emma playing "Slap-Jack," "Spoons," putting puzzles together, coloring, and watching movies.

We ventured out on a couple of trips away from Cofradía to Puerta Platanares to see the coffee fields and learn a little of the process on how they're grown, picked, dried, and cleaned.  We also saw the pineapple fields as they are starting to flower.

Also, we went to Aguamilpa; which is a humongous lake in the mountains.  The attraction there is the damn that provides electricity to the whole state of Nayarit.

Many more memories were made, but along with bonfires on Christmas Eve and again on New Year's Eve accompanied with an Armadillo feast, these were just some highlights.

 Here are some more pictures of our time together...

the first night in Mazatlán with Roger and Hazel was a great way to start!

I'm beginning to wonder if....

Hugo and his family

Adopted son, Max. :)

Christmas morning.

Hugo took us out to his corn and been field.

Can't wait until next time they come.  It was a lot of fun!

Short Term Missions in Cofradía

We are blessed to have had many, many people come through Cofradía to work on the church, the mission base, and in the community coupled with ministering to children, youth, and adults; sometimes in a general sense, mostly with a specific purpose.  We are very thankful for these Short Term Missionaries who made commitments to help shine the light of Jesus in the hearts of people.  We welcome you if you would like to do the same or reconnect with a friend you made in this ministry.  One of the most impactful things we can do is build relationships.

Building relationship is what Cy-Fair Christian Church from Houston, Texas has done for many years by sending youth teams and adult teams to minister with a specific purpose in mind.  Each year they send a team of women to minister to the women in our church.  What an exciting time!  All year long our women look forward to their return.  The past couple of years, they have finished their time with a huge overnight pajama party just for women while the children stay home with their dads.  The only thing I know is that they stay up all night long and their singing and laughter can be heard beyond the confines of the church walls.  The excitement that is heard is incredible.  The relationships that are built and nurtured are unforgettable.  God's work through them is undeniable.  They laugh together and they cry together.  Amazing. 

One of the team members has been writing about her experiences and the relationships she has built.  She has given me permission to pass this link on to you: Click Here. 

His Place Community Church from Burlington, Washington is another team that comes down frequently as a construction team to accomplish specific jobs.  They have become well known here as hard workers and very relational.  This week they are here working on the church's courtyard installing a special cobblestone, which will be very nice during the rainy season, as it gets really muddy.  They are doing a great job.

If you have an interest in serving people through missions, I invite you to be part of or put together a team.  There are many things we can do.  Let's be creative and partner together to help support the local church, raise up leaders, serve the community, and share the love of Jesus to those who don't know him.

Please let us know here.