Conference with the Taylors

It is always a blessing to have Doug and Jan Taylor with us in Cofradía.  The Taylors lived here for 8 years and during that time built relationships with many of the locals, the church, and especially the staff.  After meeting with Doug each week during a mentoring time while they lived here, I have grown to really appreciate him and the excitement I feel when we get a chance to "chat" is such as that of a little child on Christmas morning when he sees his presents.  They are invaluable to us in our personal lives, marriages, parenting skills, and leadership skills.

It was a pleasure to have them with us this past weekend as they spoke four times: to the leaders about our character, to the marriages about being a team, to the parents about what method of training we should use, and on Sunday to the whole congregation about putting on the New Man.  What an incredible time!  If you have not heard them speak, you don't know what you're missing!

Thank you to those of you who keep our ministry in prayer and support this ministry financially.  It's you who help make weekends like this possible.

Here is what Doug and Jan had to say about their time in Cofradía,

"It is always great to reconnect with the people of Cofradia and area.  We feel so loved and appreciated.  We saw the faithfulness of God as He knit together the four messages of the weekend and used them to touch the hearts of the people.  We were encouraged to see the response of the people and believe that seeds were sown and fruit that lasts will come."

Pastor Gollo and Mati with Doug and Jan 

Sunday Morning Service

Prayer for Married Couples

Teaching the Leaders

Prayer for the Youth

The Interpreter

JANUARY UPDATE

Greetings, from Cofradía, Mexico!  We are excited to share with you some of  the things that have been happening in our part of the world.  First of all, we want to thank you so much for your faithfulness in praying and supporting this ministry.  We are blessed to have such a great team of friends and family partnering with us.  Really, words cannot express our gratefulness to you as these past few months have been busier than normal; we’ve really needed your prayers!

Last month, we asked for your prayers concerning:

• Parents’ Visit: It was an extremely huge blessing to have my parents with us for Christmas and New Years.  That time of year is the best time in Cofradía; the weather is nice and it’s so fun to be able to visit people and spend time with them around bonfires and barbecues.  We were a little more busy this year than in years past, but we were still able to spend some quality time together as a family.  There’s lots more to read and see on our blog post of their time here.
• Youth Activities: The youth ministry is doing really well under the supervision of Pastor Luis.  The annual Christmas party went really well and a number of un-churched students participated in the Winter Sports Tournament that is designed to be a door of opportunity to share with them the love of Christ which was done successfully.
• Upper Room Project: We have been working hard on getting the roof done before the rains.  Just this Monday, the cement trucks came and poured the roof.  There are a few more details to be taken care of in order to finish and seal the roof.  Windows are going to be a high priority for us as it would be very easy for someone to hop through one and invite themselves in the house.  Click here for more updated pictures and comments..
• Follow up of New Believers: We have been working hard to develop structure for the local church that will enable them to make follow-up natural for them.  Thank you for keeping this in your prayers.
• Ministry Transition: Things are going very well.  Please keep praying as this has become one of the main focuses of the Mission Base and Church.  It is a very exciting time and in much need of your continued faithful prayers.
  

Links to other news:

• Short Term Mission Teams in January. We had two teams in January, a women’s team that came to work specifically with the women’s ministry and a men’s team who came to put pavers in our church’s courtyard.  They are regular teams that come down and they did an excellent job, again.  Here is a little more info.
• Church Courtyard Pavers. A report about Short-term Missions team, His Place Church, helping us by setting pavers in the church’s courtyard.  Click here to see the new improvements. 
  

This Month’s requests:

• Administration.   I would appreciate your prayers this next month as I will be dealing with a number of administrative tasks with our family, the mission base, and the church.  I ask the Lord for a clear mind, encouragement, strength, and wisdom to complete these tasks.
• Homeschool.  This is an area that I really struggle with for the mental energy and patience it requires.  Please pray that time, patience, wisdom, and willingness to learn would all be plentiful as I meet with Emma in the mornings and Rebecka in the afternoons.
• Marriage and Family Conference.  Former Alternative Missions Cofradía Missionaries, Doug and Jan Taylor, will be with us to meet with our church leaders (2/16) and the congregation (2/17 – 2/19) as they speak in this conference.
• Inauguration Anniversary.  We will be celebrating one year in our new building on Sunday, February 26, with a special service and meal.
• New Baby.  We are excited to announce that Rebecka and Emma will be sisters of a new baby in August!  Please pray for Geña during the pregnancy and keep this in your prayers over the next upcoming months.
  

Thank you very much for partnering with us through your prayers and financial support.
Click here to donate to our personal support.

Blessings,
Steve, Geña, Rebecka and Emma Rose Silberman
Missionaries to Mexico
Alternative Missions Cofradia
Area Director
Facebook
SKYPE: “srsilberman”

Church Courtyard Pavers

His Place Church from Burlington, Washington sent 5 men to help us with the project of putting in pavers in the church's courtyard.  We have had difficulty during the rainy season with it being very muddy.  The slope of the ground causes that mud to run right to the main door making it a big job on Sunday mornings to clean before people come.  We still would like to put a cement slab between the pavers and the rocks in order to have vehicle access to the library.  Here are a few pictures of the project in process and the final product at the end.  THANK YOU HIS PLACE!

Upper Room Project Update

Click here and scroll down to see the update.