Slowly by Slowly

The month of November has come and gone (almost). It was a busy month for us regarding ministry stuff. I mentioned in our last update that Dan Fredericks of Belhaven College would be visiting us to look at possible areas where we might be able to collaborate in Educational Ministries. Dan and his wife, Mari, were here the 16-22 and it was a very profitable time for all of us. Following is a summary of a report that I submitted to our SERFAM Board.

FREDERICKS’ VISIT (BELHAVEN COLLEGE) - SUMMARY

1. Belhaven College is developing a 2 year course (in English) designed to guide the student into a biblical worldview. The course format includes reference texts with classes/lectures on DVD and is complimented by on-line sessions to review/discuss the coursework. Belhaven has offered us this course (in exchange for having us translate/transcribe the DVD lectures) and is willing to train our teachers so that we can offer the course locally (in place of the on-line sessions). There are various applications for this course:

• Having our teachers take the course to help them develop their own worldview and learn to guide our students in the course.
• Once translated, we can integrate the course into our High School curriculum (taught by our teachers).
• The integration of the course as part of our English curriculum for our advanced High School English program (taught either on-line or locally).

2. We discussed the possibility of having Dr. Wynn Kenyon (Apologetics & Christian Thought) do a workshop on worldview with our staff at the end of this school year (July 9-13, 2007).

3. Dr. Fredericks spoke with the director of Belhaven’s International Studies program (Sara Kimmel) about a visit to investigate options for placing students in Merida. This program might allow families from the Shalom Church to participate as host families for Belhaven students.

• For Belhaven students in Business, Education or Spanish majors.
• These students could also teach English at CEBP.

4. It may be possible to have some of our teachers spend a semester at Belhaven:

• To help out in the Spanish and International Dance programs.
• To allow our teachers to have an “immersion” experience to improve their English skills.

5. Belhaven is interested in exploring the market in Mexico for advanced degree programs in Business and Education. We discussed the problem of the different economies and languages but did not arrive at any specific conclusions. Dr. Fredericks authorized SERFAM to place an advertisement in our local newspaper offering Master’s programs in Business and Education. He also mentioned that Belhaven is very interested in the area of International Business and, especially, in the concept of “Business as Mission”.

6. There may be teachers from Belhaven that would be willing to serve as conference speakers for CEBP and the Shalom Church.

• Conferences/Seminars for educators.
• Conference speakers for “International Business”. Perhaps Shalom would like to host a conference for community businessmen.

We also sent some of our staff to Guatemala for a conference hosted by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). This conference was a great encouragement to our staff and we have decided to become members of ACSI and start the process of accreditation with them (a 3-5 year process). We are hoping to be able to host a similar conference sometime in the (distant) future.

This whole process of development is really strange; it seems that we go for weeks waiting for things to happen, with no perceivable advance… and then suddenly things happen that seem like a giant leap forward (leading to more weeks of waiting!). I guess it’s a good thing that I tend to see things “as they will be” instead of as they are, otherwise I think I’d be overcome by discouragement.

Speaking of discouragement… please continue to pray with us for the details associated with our granddaughter’s (Jessica) citizenship process. We are having to deal with very narrow minded bureaucratic processes (and people) and can never seem to get the “right” information to fulfill the necessary requirements for things to move forward. We have to deal with too many legal processes in both Mexico and the US to try to explain what I’m talking about, but we would appreciate your prayers that the Lord would overcome the difficulties that continue to frustrate this process. We would also ask you to pray for Aaron (our son)… he fell in the shower the other day and dislocated his elbow (bad) and will be out of work for a couple of weeks (worse).

We’re beginning to put together our travel schedule for the first part of next year. It looks like we might be in the US in January and February for a couple of Missions Conferences and to visit some of the churches that will be working here this summer. We’ll be starting the next phase of development (new construction) at the school this summer and have several teams planning to be here in June & July.

That’s about it for now… hope that you and yours enjoy a relaxing holiday time and that the “Real” reason for Christmas is the focus of your holiday season .

Moving on

When I started this blog, my idea was that I would be able to keep our friends “up to date” on things in our lives and ministry… after a little more than a year I’d have to say that it has almost worked! Unfortunately, there is a weak link… I actually have to write something; the blog doesn’t update itself.

First, Family stuff… Aaron & Angeles finally met with US Immigration and she has been approved for a 2 two year temporary residence visa. At the end of this period we think that she can begin the application for citizenship; that is, if the rules don’t change. In the meantime, we’re still working on getting Jessica’s (Niki’s daughter) “Certificate of Citizenship”. This has been a thoroughly frustrating process due to conflicting information, rude & unhelpful government “servants” and the impossibility of getting in touch with anyone that can give us clear instructions. A friend suggested that it might be easier for us to become Mexicans, sneak across the border and then wait for the government to declare amnesty for illegal immigrants… tempting. If this sounds sarcastic or cynical, it’s because I am. Anyway, our latest appointment is scheduled for January 19 in San Antonio… we’ll see how it goes; please pray for this issue (and my attitude).

Sara and her Aaron are still in Kansas and doing well… they’re beginning to think about relocating further south somewhere in the next couple of years. Meanwhile, Kelly & Jason have taken our other grandkids to live on Base housing at Corey Field in Pensacola. Both Julia & Josh are in school now and, to date, enjoying it. Julia still really likes riding the bus to school & Josh still can’t remember anyone’s name… but he likes everyone! Base housing has turned out to be great for the kids; they have a nice little neighborhood park in their backyard and a big one right down the street.

Ministry things continue to progress. As I mentioned in the last update, we are slowly reorganizing our ministry situation in order to spend more time doing “development” in the US. By “development”, I mean fund-raising and establishing partnerships in order to further the growth of the school and to aid US churches that are attempting to reach the Hispanic communities in their respective areas. If you are interested in knowing more about this, check the “Partnership Project” link on our personal page.

In keeping with this, we are beginning to restructure SERFAM so that the Board will be entirely Mexican, with Noreen & I participating as “emeritus” members in Quarterly Board meetings. This is to say that, as of the new year, I will no longer be the General Director overseeing all aspects of development; rather, the local Board will supervise the local development of the vision while we work in conjunction with them to further the goal of developing Christian leadership and Hispanic ministries (in both Mexico & the US). We’re very excited about the way this has progressed since our return at the beginning of October.