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we keep trying, and the new owner here (Google) goofed the system
will keep trying
Chris

Sewing Machine Mantinence class Jan. 2014

There is a never ending stream of ladies bringing their sewing machines to me. Some have picked up an old machine at the swap meet or 2nd hand shop while others have had a machine sitting around for years collecting dust. Being the nearest repair shop is nearly an hour and a half away many ladies Hope I can breathe new life into "their treasure". So, in January I held two different classes on "How to Clean and Oil Your Sewing Machine". Several ladies took advantage of the classes and we had all their machines singing by the end of the week.

Travel between our US home and our Mexican project just became VERY difficult... Dec 29 2013

Sunday Dec 29

SO, it looks like the combined actions of continuous earthquakes (San Andreas fault runs right there into the Pacific ocean) and rains have caused an enormous stretch of Mexican Highway we have depended on for 20 years to crack, crumble and slide into the Pacific Ocean.

Here is a link to the story: http://www.10news.com/news/scenic-toll-road-between-tijuana-ensenada-collapses-12282013

What this means is a 2-6 hour additional travel time down to San Vicente and back. Using the previous route was a 4-5 hour trip; given the 3 mountain ranges, 2 major and 2 minor Mexican city with traffic.
Now we will have to deal with another mountain range that lies between the Border and Ensenada... plus who knows how the loss of this major artery will affect the Baja norte movement of people, traffic and necessary commerce... ??

This should be fun... yeah, this used to be a road, note the edge of the coast on the left

INFLUENCE IN THE SCHOOLS

It’s wonderful to continue to receive invitations to share health classes in the kindergarten in San Vicente. So, one of the teachings from the “Carnival of Health”, the “Nutrition Train” was packed up and taken to six kindergarten classes during November. What a commotion as all the students moved around the classroom during the skit while learning about food groups. Even the shiest ones are drawn into the non-stop activity. I especially like when the teachers reinforce what they are currently teaching the kids. One teacher used the lesson to focus on the beginning letter of each food group while others used the opportunity to strengthen the kids’ knowledge of colors. At the end of the day, it was rewarding to have the principle asking us to bring more educational “FUN” into the school. She suggested several topics that she would like developed and encouraged us to also create lessons that could be presented to the parents.

Pray the “Carnival of Health” educational program remains a way to not only instruct elementary aged kids in healthy behaviors, but to also grow a positive presence in the local. Please pray too, that we can respond to the principle’s request by carving out time to develop new materials that can bless the students and build stronger relationships with the teachers as well as parents.

Over 300 Heads Covered with Handmade Hats

This cute trio are just a few of the over 300 people of San Vicente who received hats during the last few weeks.

+The 150+ kindergarten students and teachers

+Over 75 kids at a local feeding program

+Over 75 sewing class participants and their children.

Thank you to all who knit and crochet all year to bless so many in Mexico during the winter season.

Learning New Ways to Reach Out by Lori

One goal that Chris and I have is to disciple Christians here in San Vicente in reaching out to their neighbors. With that goal in mind, I gathered several of my Christian sewing students during Nov. to share how the community wide sewing classes could be used as a vehicle to launch new friendships and draw people into God’s kingdom. Each of them expressed that the importance of evangelism is stressed at church, but the specifics of “HOW” has eluded them. So, we spent some time talking about “friendship evangelism” and building new relationships outside of the church setting, being sensitive to the Lord’s leading, and looking for people who God is drawing to himself. I shared how wonderful it is for us to be able to work alongside of our Heavenly Father when He is working in people’s lives.  We closed with a time of prayer for the upcoming classes and asked the Lord to bring new people.

Four ladies accepted the responsibility of assisting me during the next week’s sewing classes with each lady committing to helping for a full day of morning and afternoon classes. Each took a few invites or posters with the task of connecting with new people.  Wow! The Lord answered our prayer with 13 brand new students just on Monday. Then word spread and before week’s end, 24 new students had come to learn how to sew by creating Christmas wreaths, stockings and table runners. Most of the new students had no experience with a sewing machine so it was wonderful to have a “helper” teaching the basics and sharing stories of going from no knowledge of sewing to having their very own sewing businesses. This was an encouragement to those who were struggling at mastering just sewing a straight line. But the real win was seeing my team of shy ladies reaching past their comfort zones in order to connect with new students and begin friendships. They sacrificed working on their own projects so that they could spend time ministering to the community at large. What a blessing they were. I’m looking forward to seeing new fruit during the coming months. Join us in praying that the seeds that were planted will have fallen on fertile soil.