Saltshaker Aguascalientes Update (7/6/09)

From Bobby:

Yesterday we spent most of the day in Bible Study or Worship. In the morning, we participated in their New Life in Christ Bible Study that they do with some of the new believers, in order to teach them basic doctrines of the church. Yesterday happened to be a lesson on Friends Distinctives, and so it was fun for us to hear their lesson and get to participate in the discussion. It looked to us like Jaime, Lupita, Consuela, and Aris were taking the class, and the missionaries and saltshakers participated as well. The study lasted for a few hours, and was done in the early afternoon. The Mexicans were really engaged, and the feeling coming out of the study was "that was really well done, and really thorough."

After that, we had lunch together and parted ways to go with our host families to do different things to prepare for the worship service in Pocitos yesterday evening (Sunday). Edwin and I practiced a few songs for worship, and then Sammy and I joined the Girons at a birthday party for a few minutes. The Smucks, with Roy and Matt, went to pick up some pan (bread) for after the service, and some chairs. Andrea, Aris, Deidre, and Robyn went to get chairs also. Later, just before 6, we all met at the house in Pocitos that they just closed on this week to use for worship, and that we just cleaned a few days ago.

The worship service was good; like most so far, it lasted just over 2 hours, so not too long. A typical worship service here consists of singing, a time where they are invited to share what God is doing in their lives, more singing, a time where they can offer verbal praises to God, a sermon (this time by Aris), and testimonies (this time by Matt). We also spend time in prayer at various points in the service. It was a good time of praising God together, and then we ate some pan (bread) and coffee.

As an additional update, I'd like to point you back to the first Aguas post on the blog for a look at what's to come this week. We haven't exactly followed the schedule for the past week, as a few things got switched around, but our plans for this week very much follow what is originally posted on that schedule. Today (Monday the 6th) is our final VBS prep day, and a Bible Study in Pocitos. Tuesday - Thursday is our VBS, and then Friday is our VBS "graduation" where parents are also invited to come. This really needs your prayers, for the parents to be touched by what God is doing through their kids and for direction for us in planning that service.

After that, Saturday is a tourism day for us. We don't really have plans for that day yet, but will decide later in the week. Aguascalientes is not a tourist spot, except during the big party festival in February, so we'll likely be driving to a nearby town. Sunday is a worship service again in Pocitos, and the New Life in Christ Bible Study graduation, which should be fun. Monday will be our debriefing day, and then we'll be home on Tuesday!

Thank you again for our prayers, and Burundi team, we're praying for you as well! You can pray for our team that our preparation today goes well, so that we don't get in the way of what God might do with the kids for VBS by not being as prepared as we should be! Also, the Bible Study tonight in Pocitos would be a good thing to consider in prayer, as the family that we are going to visit is a family that the missionaries have been praying for for a long time.

Peace!
Bobby