Why am I going to Mexico?

Thank you for your interest in what I will be doing the next few months.  So many of you have been excited for me and want to know more.  I want to thank my daughter-in-law who set up this blog so that I can communicate easily with you. I would like to use it to let you know what I am doing, how things are going, and to share prayer requests.  Thank you in advance for your time and concern.  

Background

On May 7 my friend Roxanne called me from El Monte in southern Mexico. El Monte is a multi-ministry center with ministries of camps, missionary training center, short-term ministry, and ministry to churches who come to use El Monte for their own retreats. Roxanne and her husband Paul head El Monte. She explained that they needed an English teacher for the fall semester for their missionaries in training and asked if I would consider the position.  These missionary students know some English, but their skills need to be sharpened.  Their parent organization, Worldwide Evangelism for Christ, which is in 70 countries, requires their missionaries to have English as their common language. We discussed a number of details and agreed to pray asking for God’s clear direction.  

During the next week, I met with several friends and asked them to pray.  I also kept thinking of what I might miss at home, what things needed to be cared for in my absence, and if this was really something I could do.  As I prayed about it, I received answer after answer and affirmation after affirmation that God was leading me to go to Mexico.  Frankly, I could not think of a reason not to go.  This is not something I was looking for, but I strongly feel God wants me to do this. I knew I had to obey, and I had peace about it.

Details

• I will leave August 5 and return December 11 flying from Minneapolis nonstop to Mexico City.  

• I will live in an efficiency apartment in an apartment building on the campgrounds.  I will be safe.  I have known Paul and Roxanne for over 20 years and have followed and prayed for them and the happenings at El Monte many years.  They also live on the campgrounds where security is a priority. 

• I will have a small group of adults to teach–probably three but hopefully more–following a curriculum and under the guidance of a director.  We will have class daily from about 8:30 a.m. until 1:45 p.m.

• When I am not teaching, I will be participating in camp activities.  I look forward to helping in any way I can.

• A Mexican tradition is to have lunch, their biggest meal of the day, at 2 p.m.  The training school staff eats this meal with the students.  I will be responsible for my breakfast, evening meal, and snacks.  I will go grocery shopping at a nearby town with others.  

• The hottest months in Mexico are April and May. As I check the weather for the area I will be in, I see that the average temperature for August–December is in the upper 80s, and the low is in the 60s.  I will be enjoying our July for a bit longer!

God Stories

As I thought back to February of 2024, I remembered an insane conversation I had with John.  He asked about his passport and then mine.  His was current; mine had lapsed.  He kept bugging me until I got the renewal application and my picture taken.  I never questioned what he was thinking (because none of it made sense), but now I am convinced that God nudged him.  I feel I am going with John's blessings.

A man from my church went to El Monte two years ago with a group from church to help with some projects.  After much prayer and consideration, he decided to work in maintenance at El Monte.  He has been there since February.  He will be flying back to get his visa renewed, spend a little time with family, and then the two of us will fly south on the same plane August 5!  How can something like that happen?  What are the chances I would get to have a friend helping me with my 50-pound checked bag as well as navigating everything those first hours in Mexico?  I get goosebumps when I think about how God is taking care of me.

Everyone I have asked for help has immediately said yes.  I will have people checking my house weekly, checking my mail (I have everything online I can think of.), mowing my lawn, raking leaves, cleaning eavestroughs, plowing snow, and more.

Prayer Requests

• Please pray for my students who are training to be full-time missionaries.  I am just leaving my home for four months; they will eventually leave their homes for years.  Pray I could teach them well, and they would understand. 

• Pray for my preparation–from reading the Bible, learning about the Mexican people, learning a few Spanish phrases, to knowing what to pack.

• Pray that God would bind Satan.  He does not want me to succeed.

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you.  Do not be afraid or discouraged.

Deuteronomy 31:8