We had a good trip home from Guadalajara; I enjoyed a 12 hour drive to Laredo to bring our vehicle out of Mexico, then flew to Calgary. The other 3 Thiessens flew directly. I had to bring the SUV out as it also had a 6 month tourist visa. Coming through the border was easier than going out as I had good advice and overhead aerials of the streets so I was able to find the correct office to get my tourist sticker removed. It was a bit of a close call in getting stranded in line without gas as I was coming out...I had just under a 1/4 tank when I got to the border, but sitting in lines with the vehicle running had me on empty when I got through.
A wonderful place called steppingstone guesthouse gave me a place to sleep and park the vehicle as we return to Canada. I met an excited and amazing man of 69 who is ministering to young people in Mexico. He shared his testimony as I helped him load his van with items he was selling. I was challenged by his zeal for ministry and excitement for God's powerful movement in Mexico.
At 4 am I was off to the airport as my good host gave me a lift so early. When I arrived in Calgary, my phone didn't work, as I had misplaced a phone number I needed, and couldn't use the pay phone to get the number. I was wondering, "What now?" Well I was a reluctant facebook user, but it sure was a good help this time. I found a message waiting for me as to how to get to where I needed to go.
We left Calgary Wednesday, the day of the flooding, without a clue it was coming. When we got to La Crete the next day, we heard what was happening.
The terrible disaster has a small side effect for us... the Mexican consulate is in one of the worst hit areas of downtown. We now don't know how long it will be until we can have our interviews for our visas so that we can return to Mexico. We were scheduled for July 3-4th, but are doubtful they will be able to get in the office this week. We are very empathetic for the many Calgary residents and pray that they will be able to clean up and recover quickly.
But for this reason, we may have to stay in Alberta longer than anticipated and take a short break from Language School. We tried the Vancouver and Saskatchewan consulates, but they are very filled with appointments and advised that we continue with the Calgary consulate. We trust God has a plan in this for us. Pray with us as we wait and ask that He conform us to His will.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Visa Prayers!
Paperwork has never been my forté. I enjoyed teaching and playing much more than prep and marking. So it is with fear and trepidation we set out to apply for a temporary visa. We have already made one mistake, which we are praying won't make us late in returning to Mexico for level 4 spanish. We ask that you would join us in praying that we would be able to get all of our ducks in a row so that we can have a successful interview in Calgary between June 17th to July 1st.
Having said that, we are hopeful since a lady in the Mexican consulate seems to be wanting to help us, and mentioned a 2 week wait. That would be doable for us, though we may have a very sad ballerina in our house if we can't make it back to Mexico in time for a performance. So we hope to see many of you back home soon, and hope to be able to return to Mexico soon there after! Thanks for your prayers.
Having said that, we are hopeful since a lady in the Mexican consulate seems to be wanting to help us, and mentioned a 2 week wait. That would be doable for us, though we may have a very sad ballerina in our house if we can't make it back to Mexico in time for a performance. So we hope to see many of you back home soon, and hope to be able to return to Mexico soon there after! Thanks for your prayers.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Testimonial
Today I heard an amazing testimony at the men's Bible Study group that I would like to share with you. It was in Spanish so I hope that I didn't misunderstand many of the details.
I will call him Juan. He shared about a life of drugs and alcohol that was very hopeless. He was a tough guy with those who knew him. He has tatoos, and looks like someone you would leave alone. But when he was talking with tears streaming down his face, sharing the passion of a life changed by Jesus Christ, you see a very different side of Juan. He was married and had children, but had nothing to do with his family, unless it was with the back of his hand. His son talked about not having a dad. What brought Juan to Jesus? It was despair, brokeness, not having any hope for tomorrow that caused him to break down in tears one morning. He had been looking for a vein in his arm and couldn't find one to pierce. As he looked, he realized what a broken wretch he was and called out to God. He shared that he wondered why no one had shared Jesus with him, but as he searched for God, he met a man who declared that Jesus loved him, even as he was. These words struck his heart with strength and force, and he realized he wanted this Jesus.
He has shared Jesus with his family, both immediate and extended (Mexico's definition of family seems to include what we might call extended family all the time), and also with those from his past life. He was changed and wanted to share that with others.
At this time he works at a Casa Hogar, an orphanage. He has a passion for God and held the men captive as they listened to his powerful testimony. I wish I had been able to follow with more detail to give you a better picture of this disciple of Jesus. I am excited to be in a place where God is changing hearts and lives with power and love!!
I will call him Juan. He shared about a life of drugs and alcohol that was very hopeless. He was a tough guy with those who knew him. He has tatoos, and looks like someone you would leave alone. But when he was talking with tears streaming down his face, sharing the passion of a life changed by Jesus Christ, you see a very different side of Juan. He was married and had children, but had nothing to do with his family, unless it was with the back of his hand. His son talked about not having a dad. What brought Juan to Jesus? It was despair, brokeness, not having any hope for tomorrow that caused him to break down in tears one morning. He had been looking for a vein in his arm and couldn't find one to pierce. As he looked, he realized what a broken wretch he was and called out to God. He shared that he wondered why no one had shared Jesus with him, but as he searched for God, he met a man who declared that Jesus loved him, even as he was. These words struck his heart with strength and force, and he realized he wanted this Jesus.
He has shared Jesus with his family, both immediate and extended (Mexico's definition of family seems to include what we might call extended family all the time), and also with those from his past life. He was changed and wanted to share that with others.
At this time he works at a Casa Hogar, an orphanage. He has a passion for God and held the men captive as they listened to his powerful testimony. I wish I had been able to follow with more detail to give you a better picture of this disciple of Jesus. I am excited to be in a place where God is changing hearts and lives with power and love!!
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