This week started out with low attendance which is to be expected when teams have to present their project. This year, three teams participated; two with a choreography and one with a drama.
Once the team projects had been presented, each one hopped in a vehicle and took off for the "Amazing Race". There are a number of activities to be done in the different surrounding towns of San Marcos, Las Pilas, Paso Real, and Santa Fe.
The simple activities consisted of working together as a team in order to get their pass for the next town. In Santa Fe, we had the "Splash" activity, which has now become a classic in EL RETO. It's kickball, but the bases are swimming pools and the base lines are plastics covered in soapy water. The teams played against any staff and young children who were available in the area. All the members of the team had one shot at getting on base and making their rounds. One point for getting home and a minus point for each out. Needless to say, every team ended up with minus points. BUT they all had fun!
After the Race, they finished at the church with The Refuge where there was a time of worship and a message by Jessica, Pastor Amado's daughter. Again, it was an electric time. There are so many teachable moments so please pray for the staff to see them and be able to take advantage of the opportunities.
Over twenty years ago, Pastor Francisco Uribe of Rosamorada
accepted the Lord's calling on his life and began to pastor a church.For many years he would come to visit
us in Cofradia, sometimes riding his bike on the nearly twenty-kilometer (about
12 miles) dirt road.On occasions,
we would go and speak or lead worship at his church. He wanted to be part of
what we were doing, but it was not the Lord's timing as our ministry at the
time was still forming and not in a position to expand into Rosamorada.Thus, he felt "left
out."
After pastoring the denominational church in Rosamorada for
many years, he accepted an invitation to start a work in Tijuana.It was not at all what they were
expecting and it became one of the biggest trials their family had to
endure.A little over four years
ago, they returned to their home in Rosamorada, but not the church as a new
pastor within their denomination had taken over.
Last year, Pastor Francisco and his wife took part in our
thirteen-week Freedom in Christ discipleship course.It was there that the trust in our relationship with them
took giant steps forward.We saw a
hurting pastor who had been through a series of rejections for many years and
in need of being ministered to.Today, they form part of our ministry, La Cofradia United, and our
relationship continues to grow through visits and assuring them of our love for
them.
Pastor Francisco and his family minister each week to
children in the town of Paramitas which is very close to Rosamorada and again
in La Colonia of Rosamorada in the evening with the help of some other
adults.They have a Bible study in
their home on Sunday morning and attend Pastor Amado's church in the evening.
The other day, Geña and I visited with them as they
ministered to the children in Paramitas.They have been doing this for four years moving from borrowed property
to borrowed property.At the
moment, someone is letting them use a house whose owners are in the states.There is a one-room building they use
for storing materials and chairs as they meet each week under a huge tree in
the yard.
Storage room
Bible study under the tree.
Their hope is to instill God's love and promises in these
children.Their desire is to be
able to do this in a number of different places, but because of their limited
resources and no vehicle, they cannot expand.
I made a short video clip of our time with them and as you
will see, they are in need of a number of things: chairs, tables, and a
vehicle.Eventually, they would
like to have a place that they can call their own in order to minister.They do this out of their own pocket.
If you would like to help them in any way, contact me
or
send a gift at this link for "Cofradia Francisco".
Greetings from Cofradía, Mexico! Praise the Lord that we are reaching the end of the monsoon weather. Even though I really like the thunder and lightning storms, the power-outages are getting really old. Since we’ve been back in mid-August, we have had only one solid week (last week) of no power-outages. The stagnant, humid air with no escape and the annoying mosquitoes really make you miss a different climate. However, we will rejoice in our sufferings! LOL :)
GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, FOR HE IS GOOD; HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER!
Last month, we asked you to please pray for...
David Medina. Praise the Lord that the doctors have finally set a date to remove what’s left of whatever is in David’s abdomen. And the doctor has confirmed after a series of tests that there is no cancer in his bones. They want to test the substance they remove during surgery to make sure he is healthy. Thank you for your prayers.
EL RETO 2018 has, like always, been a blast for not only the young people, but the whole church. We’ve seen well over two hundred different students participate in these five weeks and they’re all hearing the gospel. We have the first three weeks updated with a short report and video on our blog. Week One; Week Two; Week Three.
A group from Las Varas, Nayarit, was postponed to this past weekend. We had a phenominal time with them as they led worship at EL RETO on Saturday night; at the Sunday morning service in Cofradia, and the Sunday evening service in Rosamorada.
A group from Guadalajara cancelled their trip.
EL RETO FINAL will be October 6 with special speaker and author, Ernesto Ramirez, from Mexico City who specializes in youth. It should be a really good time!
Called to Freedom 2018. We are so grateful for those of you who responded to our financial need. We received everything we needed for our general expenses and unexpectedly enough to get the van ready for the trip as we will be driving. Thank you so much for your generosity!
David Medina. Please pray for everything to go smoothly during the operation on October 22.
EL RETO 2018 finishes up this week. Thank you for your continued prayers and support for this. Pray that the leadership and staff will be able to take advantage of the teachable moments that occur. Opportunities abound. Please consider how you can help with next year, EL RETO 2019, by becoming a monthly sponsor now: $25 a month goes a long way for us! Click here to become a sponsor of this event.
Called to Freedom 2018. Please keep us in your prayers this month as four pastors and their wives will be joining Geña and me as we attend a two-day conference in Mexico City with the Freedom in Christ ministry. Our itinerary is the following: Thursday, October 18, we will set out to drive to Mexico City in order to arrive in the evening. Friday and Saturday we’ll be attending the conference. I have been invited to speak on Sunday at a friend’s church and we’ll spend the afternoon with them. Monday we have set aside as free in order to visit and sightsee. We will be returning to Cofradia on Tuesday, October 23.
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever! Thank you so much for being part of our team as we work together to RAISE UP LEADERS IN RURAL MEXICO!!!!
Blessings,
Steve, Geña, Rebecka, Emma, and Mackenzie Silberman Missionaries to Mexico Alternative Missions Cofradia Area Director ** JOIN OUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT TEAM ** ONLINE: Online, you can make a one-time, tax-deductible gift, or set up to make automatic monthly donations to our personal support at this link. MAIL IN A CHECK: Send a check made out to Alternative Missions to Alternative Missions / PO Box 3107 / Ferndale, WA 98248. Indicate that it is for The Silbermans.
