Oaxaca Missions Trip

Pastor Gollo, Horacio, Jay, and Marin headed out Monday morning to Oaxaca where Martin spent some time serving while he was Bible School there.  They will be working with the children, youth, men, and pouring a floor for the children's ministry room.  Please pray for their trip as they are driving through the night a distance of more than 24 hours away.

UPDATE:  Tuesday the truck broke down and they will have to sleep in front of the mechanic's place in the truck and wait until Wednesday when the parts arrive to get if fixed.  The alternator failed and a fan belt broke.  They are in Pinotepa Nacional where the 5.8 earthquake was in the morning (no relation to the break down).

UPDATE (4/3): The men have returned from their trip and have some very good stories to tell of how God watched over them and used the travel mishaps for His Glory.  Many of the people (policemen, mechanics) who they talked and prayed with were needing someone to share with them.  Lives were touched through circumstances that we wouldn't expect (God seems to do stuff like that a lot!).

Gollo was pulled over in Acapulco amongst the chaotic traffic with malfunctioning stoplights.  He tried to "fit-in" with the rest of the drivers but didn't get away with it.  Twice he was pulled over and twice he was let go.  The second time ended with praying for one of the officials who was a Christian and in need of someone to pray with him.

The truck broke down about 1/2 mile before a town where the mechanic offered his bathroom to wash up, and a place to park the truck for them to sleep.  This mechanic is a prodigal son of a Baptist preacher.  The men were able to minister to him and pray with him before they left.  WOW.

Once the men arrived to their destination on Wednesday night, they held Men's meetings, children's meetings, poured floors for the Sunday School, visited jails, and spoke during the Sunday service.  Amazing testimonies of how God used these guys.  I've only talked with Pastor Gollo and Horacio, I haven't heard Jay's and Martin's stories yet.  Should be good.

Thank you for your prayers during their trip.

EL RETO in La Cruz, Sinaloa

EL RETO has just been expanded.  Some friends in La Cruz, Sinaloa have contacted me to share with them how to reach students using "EL RETO."  Pastor Luis (our Youth Pastor) and I spend a couple of days with them explaining the purpose of the event, how it has helped us, what to be aware of, and we went through what we did each week in 2012.  They want to copy our "Danger Zone" theme and kick off this event in La Cruz in May.  We had an excellent time and look forward to hearing/seeing the results of their outreach.  

During our orientation with them.  We took them through each week and explained to them the activities and some details of what we did.  We also split them (the church leaders who will be helping) into teams and did some of the activities with them.  The real hit was the RETO AUCTION.  They really got involved with that one.  Everything led up to the climax of a RETO FINAL (Final Challenge) where one of the teams won.  

The La Cruz Staff Winning Team

Recent Pics

She's the only one of our children that kept the glasses on at her age! 

Abuela with Mackenzie

She's out, check out her poor nose!

Big sister taken her for a ride!

Shower/Tub

Just finished the shower/tub area yesterday.

MARCH UPDATE

GREETINGS from Cofradía, Mexico!  Thank you for all of your prayers and support.  We have been quite busy this past month with a number of activities.  Please continue to pray for our family and ministry.

Last month, we asked you to pray for...

• Doug and Jan Taylor Conference An excellent time of teaching on Priorities with the Leaders, church, and on Sunday Morning.  Here is more.
• Date Night 48 of the 45 couples expected came to a Date Night hosted by our Married Couple Leaders (yes, more came than expected!).  It was a very good evening with a Message, Games, Testimonies, and a Meal.  Here’s more.
• Pastor Mariano Riscajche We, along with the other pastors of the region, hosted a huge Evangelical event in Tuxpan, Nayarit with guest speaker, Pastor Mariano Riscajche from Almolonga, Guatemala.  His town was transformed by the gospel a few years back and is now exporting exaggeratingly huge fruits and vegetables from this land.  It was a very exciting time as he spoke with Leaders in the morning and the general crusade in the evening.  Unity amongst the churches was a key factor in the outcome of what happened in his town.  Here’s more.
• First Cofradia Youth Wedding I had the privilege of marrying the first young couple in the church where both are from Cofradía and have not yet begun to live together.  Everything went smooth and it was a very special time.  Here’s more on who they are and some photos from the wedding.
• Church’s 2nd Anniversary We celebrated two years of being in the new building on February 24 with a normal worship service, testimonies, special songs, and a meal.  Here’s more.
• EL RETO Training in Sinaloa The training time in Sinaloa has changed to next weekend.  Please keep this in your prayers as Pastor Luis and I will be sharing what we did last year “The Danger Zone” and how they can implement that same theme with their youth (March 8-10).
• Men’s Mission trip to Oaxaca A group of 12 men in the church are going to Oaxaca on a Missions trip where they will be helping another church through teachings and some light construction.  Please pray for finances for these men as $3000 pesos (about $250 USDollars) is very hard to come by in this area.  If you would like to make a general donation, please click here and specify it for Cofradia Men (March 25 – April 2).
  

Links to other news:

• Valentine Beach Birthday Party Geña’s brother’s daughter, Zúndury, turned 5 years old on Valentines day and our families went to the beach to celebrate and enjoy a day away during all these activities.
• Upper Room Project It’s been a while since we’ve posted anything about our house.  I just finished our bathroom sinks and you can read more by clicking on the link. 
• January Newsletter Some who do not have email get a newsletter sent to them.
• ALTERNATIVE MISSIONS COFRADIA VIDEO UPDATE  Sunday Church Services, Children’s Sunday School, and Youth Group.
  

This month, will you please pray for...

• EL RETO Training in Sinaloa Pray for a smooth time of teaching as I will be training a church in La Cruz, Sinaloa on how to reach students for Christ through a “Challenge” event (March 8-10).
• Men’s Mission trip to Oaxaca A group of 12 men in the church are going to Oaxaca on a Missions trip where they will be helping another church through teachings and some light construction.  Please pray for finances for these men as $3000 pesos (about $250 USDollars) is very hard to come by in this area.  If you would like to make a general donation, please click here and specify it for Cofradia Men (March 25 – April 2).
  

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

Another way to donate is by sending a check made out to Alternative Missions to Alternative Missions / PO Box 5835 / Goodyear, AZ 85338.  On a separate note, indicate that it is for The Silbermans.

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

Upper Room Update

It's been a while since we've been able to update how things are going with our home.  You can click here or go to the "Upper Room Project" tab above to view our latest update.  Be sure you scroll all the way down to see the February 2013 update.

This is the last thing I've finished...

Bathroom sinks

Centro Cristiano Cofradia 2 Year Anniversary

On February 24, we celebrated 2 years of meeting in the new building.  It has been a very good move and can't imagine what it would be like to be back at the Mission Base for Sunday morning services.  There has been between 120 to 150 people (including children) attending on Sundays lately.  Each week we have new visitors, some from out of town, others come because someone invited them.  It's an exciting time!

The Anniversary celebration included a normal worship service in addition to testimonies, special songs, a drama, and a meal to follow.

Hernández - Flores Wedding

Jesús Alberto Hernández and Cinthia Maribela Flores were married on February 17.  Jesús (Chuy) is Pastor Gollo's oldest son and was a strong leader in the Student Ministry when I was the Director of that ministry.  Cinthia grew up next door to the Mission and was often at the base; I have video of when she was 2 years old at a youth group meeting!

I'm proud of these two.  They are the first couple who has been involved in the Student Ministry and has gotten married without moving in together first.  There has been other Christian weddings, but this was the first one where both are from Cofradia.  

Chuy is one of the four that make up my discipleship group that meets weekly.  He continues to grow and be sensitive to God's call on his life.  Cinthia will be participating in the Women's Bible Study that just started under Geña's direction.

Valentine's Birthday at the Beach

Geña's brother, Hugo, has a daughter, Zúndury, who turned 5 years old on Valentine's Day.  When asked what she wanted, she said, "I want to go to the beach!"  So, we all went to the beach!  Hugo, his wife and two kids, Geña and I and our three girls, Hugo and Geña's mom, and Max.

We had a very nice relaxing time.  It was helpful to "get away" for a few hours as February has been one of the busiest months since EL RETO.

Zúndury, 5 Years Old!

Zúndury, Rebecka, Emma, Luis

Rebecka and Luis having a "sand-ball" fight.

Emma and Zúndury hanging out

Mackenzie with Papi

Mackenzie with Mami

Norma with Zúndury and Emma

Beach Volleyball

The Competition

Lunch - Shrimp

Had to put this photo in!