God Reveals His Truth In Places We Least Expect

The Mexican Flag And The Message Of Truth Within 

~ by Karlene Thiessen

In September we got a little creative and hosted 2 “Taste of Mexico” Nights. We decorated the coffee area of our church with curios from Mexico, Zambian chetenge table cloths that passed for Mexican ones because of their designs and multitude of colors and had Salsa music playing in the background. We served some tortillas and salsa, guacamole, Maria cookies, Mazapan, Jarrito’s and Canel’s chewing gum - almost all having been imported from Mexico by one of our local grocery stores. As much as we would have loved for more people to come, we are very thankful for each person that took the time out of their busy schedules to bless us with their presence and to hear about what God is doing in Mexico. 

As I was preparing for this event, I had the idea that it would be neat to have little papers, on each table with the Mexican Flag printed on them, for our guests to take home. So I searched online for the flag to cut and paste and in the process, became curious why it looks the way it does. Upon further research, I came across a list of 46 interesting facts about Mexico. One of the facts was taken from the book “Mexico the People” by Bobbie Kalman and it said: “Mexico’s Flag is made up of three vertical stripes. The left green stripe stands for hope, the middle white stripe represents purity & the right red stripe represents the blood of the Mexican people. The picture of an eagle eating a snake is based on an Aztec legend.”

And just like that, I had my answer to why the Mexican Flag looks the way it does. I thought this interesting fact would be good to include so I cut and pasted and as I began to design these little papers, God revealed to me that there was a message of truth, His Truth, within the Flag of Mexico. I know this revelation was from God because I wasn’t studying the Flag to find a way to use it to share the Good News. God laid this on my heart and I can’t take any credit for this insight. 

As I copied and pasted the Mexican flag onto my layout page, God impressed these words on my heart, “the Truth of Gospel is in the Flag.” At first I shrugged them off and set about figuring out the task at hand. But the words came again, “the Truth of the Gospel is in the Flag…..just take a moment to think about what you’ve learned and you will see.” This time I stopped what I was doing and looked at the colored Flag which appeared on the page...

HOPE               PURITY           BLOOD

As I reflected on the image in front of me and the words that I had placed under each vertical stripe...BLOOD….PURITY…..HOPE…...my excitement began to grow and I found myself in awe of the One who was choosing to reveal this message to me!

I began to type what God brought to my mind and this was the result...

“We are excited to join God in the work He is doing in Mexico! To us, the Mexican Flag serves as a reminder of the Good News we have to share. The red stripe represents Jesus BLOOD which was shed so we could be forgiven for our sins. The white stripe serves to remind us that when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we are washed & covered by His blood, our sins become as white as snow & this makes us PURE in God’s sight. The green stripe represents the HOPE we have in Jesus Christ, who made it possible for us to have eternal life. The Eagle reminds us that our Great & Awesome God reigns! He defeated satan, the serpent, at the cross! He is mighty to save!”

As I finished typing these words, I sat back and marveled at the awesome tool for sharing the Gospel, that God had just given me! Maybe there are other people out there already using the Mexican Flag to share the good news of Jesus, but for me, this was a first time discovery and one that made me extremely excited! What a neat object lesson to be able to use with a Sunday School class or a church congregation, a gathering in the park, with a group of teenagers or one on one with someone I meet on the sidewalk during a National holiday when the Flag is being hoisted from the rooftops and waved in the streets! People feel patriotic toward their country’s Flag. They are proud to see it billowing in the wind and standing guard in places of importance. What an amazing opportunity to be able to hold up a Mexican Flag or point to one and not only celebrate the history of it’s people represented within, but to also share the truth of the One who created these people, the God of Love who sent His Son to die in their place so their blood did not have to be shed, the Son who willingly gave His life so their sins could be forgiven, making them clean in the sight of God Almighty who has crushed satan and secured them a place in Heaven for all of Eternity! 

I praise God and thank Him for His insight. I anticipate and look forward to the opportunities He will bring my way to use the Mexican Flag, and the message of Truth within, to share the love of Jesus with those who are searching for The Answer!

Sing Your Praises Campaign

I am SO EXCITED to be able to launch the 'Just Act' -  "Sing Your Praises Campaign" to raise awareness and money for International Justice Mission! This amazing organization works throughout the world to "Seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.” - Isaiah 1:17. Please take some time to visit my campaign page and consider supporting the work of IJM. In doing so, you will be helping to bring justice and freedom to the hurting in our world! Together and in the power of God, we can make a difference!!! 

If you donate to IJM during this campaign, I will send you my CD "Sing Your Praises" free of charge as my way of thanking you for supporting this amazing organization! With God's help, "Sing Your Praises" was produced as my way of helping to rescue the enslaved and oppressed. All of the money from the sale of this CD goes to International Justice Mission Canada. To date, the CD has raised over $7000 for IJM to help them rescue children who are trafficked and sold and exploited in the commercial sex trade.


To find out more about how to donate and how you can receive your free copy of my CD, visit the 'Just Act' -  Sing Your Praises Campaign at this link! Please feel free to share this campaign with others!

The Thiessen Talk'O

The Thiessen Talk’O
October 2012 - Update

Missionaries To Mexico Serving with TEAM & Associate Missionaries With EMC

Going, Going...Not Quite Yet

We are encouraged to have many people asking with surprise, “You’re still here?” We’re glad people are noticing as this assures us we are being prayed for. Our hope was to leave in October but God obviously has a different plan. Since He is sovereign and in control, we continue to wait and pray for open doors and the “green light”. 

What are we waiting for? We felt so close to being able to go, but were depending on about 15% of our support to be approved this last month. Although this did not happen, we continue to trust that this support will be available in the New Year. We will find out more in November. 

We are praying that God will provide in one way or another. We are at 76% of the monthly budgeted support, and continue to be blessed and encouraged every week by another couple or individual who confirms God’s calling on our lives by joining us through financial giving. 

A blessing, in a later departure, is that we will be able to work on our visa application. We have to get documents translated into Spanish through approved, official translators. There are about 15 pages of needed identification.

Our next target date is right after Christmas. Two families move out of houses in Guadalajara that would be suitable for us to stay in during language school, there by making our transition that much easier. Language school starts another term January 15^th, 2013. It’s beneficial to have several weeks to settle in before starting full-time studies, so we can help our children become accustomed to our new place and to give us time to adjust as we learn how to live and accomplish things in a city of 5,000,000 people! 

We are eager to leave, but don’t want to go before God opens the doors. Please pray with us that we will know His leading and guidance in this. We’ve personalized Ps. 25:4-5 as our prayer:

  “Show us the right path, O Lord;

    point out the road for us to follow.

Lead us by your truth and teach us,

    for you are the God who saves us.

    All day long we put our hope in you.”

Mending the Soul and Spiritual Warfare Training

Training...

Karlene travelled to Portland, Oregon Sept. 20^th-23^rd for a double dose of training from Mending the Soul Ministries. MTS is an educational and equipping ministry that trains organizations, empowers communities, and equips churches for ministry to those impacted by abuse. MTS integrates scientific and social research on abuse with biblical and theological truth and has created curriculum and resources to equip and train on the nature and effects of abuse, sexual brokenness, and healthy intimacy. MTS seeks to embody the justice, mercy, and goodness of God by standing against abuse; protecting the vulnerable, helping to heal and love the broken and to restore God’s design for healthy relationships. This is done within the context of a group where people who have experienced abuse share their stories and journey together on the pathway of healing. Karlene is very excited about the opportunities to minister, in the above way, to people in Mexico. So when she approached TEAM asking if she could take the MTS training to learn how to facilitate an MTS group and received a resounding ‘yes’, it further confirmed that her burden for the hurting and her passion to help them, are from God. It’s also exciting that MTS has been to La Paz in the past, to train missionaries and nationals and that TEAM Mexico envisions using MTS as part of the ministry in La Paz.

Further Training...

This last week we had the privilege of learning more about spiritual warfare. A fellow missionary spent an evening with us and another couple, reading scripture and discussing the implications of Jesus’ teaching concerning the unseen battle we all face. It was encouraging and exciting to become more prepared to engage the enemy. We are so glad that we have the victory in Jesus Christ!

On The Home Front…

Since we sold and moved out of our house in May, we’ve been living with a wonderful friend who was so kind as to give us the upstairs of her house while she moved into the basement. We shared the kitchen and the arrangement worked very well. However, it was only meant to be for a short time since we had hoped to make the August language school. As August came and went and the end of September drew near, we felt it was important for us to give our friend back her space and were again blessed as God provided a 2 bedroom apartment for us to rent until the end of December! We are in the process of settling into our new place and thank God for His continued provision!

Josiah is enjoying grade 2 and Keyana is loving grade 1. They both think they have the best teacher and enjoy the fact that now they can walk across the road to school (yes we are that close :). Keyana is extremely excited to be able to take another class of gymnastics and thoroughly enjoyed her first session this past week. Josiah is chomping at the bit to get back on the ice and is thrilled that shinny hockey begins this Friday. Since we hope to leave the end of December, he won’t get to play the whole season but he’s excited that we’re allowing him to play for as long as we’re here! However, this change of plans has sent us scrambling for winter wear and hockey equipment since we got rid of this earlier this summer.  Praise God for people who are willing to lend us these items!….....Well, that’s all for now! Until our next Talk’O together…be blessed!

In Christ, Anthony, Karlene, 

Josiah & Keyana

Pray

Pray that we will continue to experience God’s peace, direction and guidance as we wait on him.

Pray for continued spiritual growth as God uses this time of waiting to refine our faith and build our trust in Him.

Pray that we will reach the support goal needed for departure & that everything will come together according to God’s timing.

Praise

God has called us to be a Part of His work in Mexico and we are blessed to have others join us in it! 

We praise God For His continued provision and for the extra time He’s given us here in La Crete to better prepare for our departure.

Give

If you would like to partner with us financially,

Email: giving@teamcanada.org

Online: http://www.teamcanada.org/index.php/give

Call TEAM Canada: 1-800-295-4160

Our country code is 2400 and our personal account # is 110689. Thank-you for considering this important role in the work God is doing in Mexico!

Stay Connected

To receive our email newsletters (with pictures :) contact us at: anthonythiessen7@gmail.com

To read our blog “The Thiessen Times” visit: www.akthiessen.blogspot.com

Or find us on facebook: This page is coming soon... :)

Some Exciting News 

TEAM has just launched a new logo & website!!! You can check out the main site at the link below:

http://www.team.org/

You can also visit specific sites for the various countries where TEAM is serving. Check out TEAM Mexico’s page at the link below:

http://mexico.team.org/

(We hope to add our profiles by next week.)