WHILE WE WERE AWAY: Several families and young people met faithfully with Alejandro Duran (our student preacher) to worship and grow in the Lord throughout the summer. The congregation was blessed in June by Joaquin, a young man from the Bible Institute in Queretaro, who was here for three weeks for a Christian service project.  However, we were saddened by the absence of the Villanueva and Arellano families. It seems that during the summer they had become very busy with other things, and the Lord was put on the back burner. We are praying they will get back on the right track soon. 

The youth had a very busy summer with weekly meetings and outings. Alejandro planned an active program, and the young people learned a lot about trusting God in every circumstance... Christian and Nestor went to camp near Queretaro again this year. Alejandro & Lupita   went as counselors and kitchen crew. One person from the congregation attended the “Confraternidad”  (Mexican NACC) in Monterrey the first week of August and returned refreshed in spirit. 

BODY NEWS: Francisco (Paco) Martinez had an ear operation. Hopefully this will solve the problem he had been having. He is recovering nicely. Cinthia Martinez has moved to Reynosa, where she is working for an American company. She has had several opportunities to share her faith in Jesus Christ where she works... Cristina Perez has moved to Laredo, where she will be continuing her studies for a master's degree. She is living with family members, who are a bit wary of her new faith in Christ, but are willing to let her show them the difference Christ has made in her life... Rocio Medina is in Campeche, working for a shipping firm. She also is faithful to the study of God's Word, and is witnessing to her family and co-workers. We really miss these three in our church meetings here in Tampico, but we rejoice that they are sharing their faith in three different areas. They are great missionaries! 

CURRENT EVENTS: We have resumed the Bible Studies for men on Wednesdays and women on Thursdays. A new study with Refugio, Norma, Yolanda, Nallely and Quequin , a family that lives four blocks from us, is beginning. We have visited with them several times now, and thoroughly enjoy this lovely family. Refugio works for Pemex (the Mexican petroleum industry) and is a locksmith on the side. They have put their “Ouija”  board aside and are very interested in learning more of God's will for them. However, satan isn't too enthused about it all, and has put all kinds of obstacles in their path ( repeated illnesses, floods, problems, etc.). We are confident that the Lord will be victorious and the enemy defeated... Jim is teaching a class on “The Plan of Salvation” to Claudia Perez Tuesday evenings. We are confident that she will be making her decision soon. A young man named Roberto came to the Sunday meeting a few weeks ago, and said he would like to join the class. Sergio, a young engineering student from the university began coming to English Club last spring. Then he started coming to the Christian youth meetings, held in Spanish. Now he faithfully participates in every Sunday meeting as well. He is very close to accepting Christ as his Lord and Savior. 

 The adults and older youth are thoroughly wrapped up in a Sunday morning study of  the “Gifts of the Spirit.” They are involved in determining what their motivational gifts are, and how these bless the body of Christ. Last Sunday, they didn't want to end the session, and kept on for another hour after the “closing.” Fantastic! ... The intermediate youth are working on their “prayer life.” It's thrilling to participate in their prayer time, recognizing their depth and sincerity...  Alejandro Duran is coming from Queretaro every other Saturday and leading the young people in a study delving into Joshua's life and book....  Cristo en la Juventud (CIY) will be held near Cuernavaca, Morelos October 31st through November 2nd this year. Peg has been invited to be a Discipling leader again this year. We will have a smaller group attending this year, as many of our young people are now employed, and they haven't accrued enough time at their jobs to merit any time off. Two of the young men are studying at a local high school, and they have been told that there will be exams on the Friday and Saturday of the  conference. If they miss the exams, they automatically fail the semester. Doesn't sound fair, but that's the way it is! We expect to take at least four young people, and maybe more this year....  We grieve over the death of Dick Gibson on August 29th. CIY, his family and friends in the States will miss him, and so will all the youth of Mexico. 

CHIAPAS:  The “Sol de Tampico” (The Tampico Sun), our local newspaper reported the first week of September that 23 Christians were arrested in the state of Chiapas because they had constructed a small church building in town. They were ordered to tear down the building and were given three days to convert to Catholicism or be run out of town. The Christians refused to “convert,” and the local judge ordered that they stay in jail due to “aggressiveness.” Pray for these Christians that they will have the strength to stand firm for Christ, despite the consequences. 

The state of Chiapas  has also suffered great material damage from the recent floods. All bridges, train trestles and highways are out in the southwest part of the state. The news says the greatest need is for pure water, but none is to be found in that area. Water is being flown in by helicopter, but there is so little for so many. Disease is rampant! ... We pray that as the Chiapanecans cry out for water, the souls of those who don't know Jesus as Lord would also become thirsty for the Living Water . 

TRANSLATIONS: We will begin translating a study book on “Grace” after the CIY conference ends in early November. It's a great book, and will be a tremendous tool of blessing to our study groups. 

SUMMER TRAVEL NOTES:  We traveled to McAllen, Texas (700 miles round trip) where we left our Nissan parked at  Buddy & Martha Brown's home. We then flew to Columbus, Ohio where our son and daughter-in-law  met us at the airport. The following nine weeks were jam-packed with preaching, speaking, V.B.S. and missions meetings all over Michigan, Ohio , Indiana, & West Virginia. Our daughter-in-law, Debbie , loaned us her Plymouth Horizon, and when we returned it, it had 3,840 additional miles on it. We preached or presented the mission work 19 times during this nine week period, as well as met with our mission's representatives to set up the corporation in Ohio. We were blessed by the hospitality of the church folk in every city we visited. God has given us wonderful friends through His Son all over the country. We also became reacquainted with the midwest's unpredictable and wild weather - floods, tornadoes, and fluctuating temperatures. Between speaking engagements we managed to visit with our Ohio family members, What a treat! Our son Jim and his wife, Debbie, allowed us to use their home as our “home base”. It was specially nice to come back after a speaking engagement and have our grandson, Matthew ,  wrap his arms around our necks and whisper loving things in our ears. We did our share of whispering, too. 

GREAT PLANNING! We are so thankful to our children, Merilly & Stephen Maddux, and Kenneth & Jodi Hosken, for their thoughtfulness in planning the arrival of our two newest grandchildren while we were in the States. Timothy Joaquín Maddux was born on July 15th. He's a beautiful, long, wiry child with a quiet, gentle voice. His cousin, Kenan Andrew Hosken, arrived on July 31st. He is also a gorgeous child; muscular, stocky and with a strong “pay attention” voice. What a team they will make! We are trusting God to bless and use these two wonderful children to honor His Name and extend the Kingdom... Story time with Amos and Hosanna was specially enjoyable. What imaginations they have. We took lots of pictures for our eyes to feast on until we see all of them again. The basket we keep all the grandkids' pictures in is full and overflowing. It must be time to put them all in albums. We haven't seen Patricia and Stevie (Mexico City) since we got back, but we've had some nice conversations.  Aren't telephones wonderful?... We also want to thank our nephew, Rob Hosken and his new bride, Robbie, for planning their wedding in Lansing, Michigan this summer. I'm sure they did it just for us!! It was wonderful to be able to share this day with them. Rob's parents (Jim's brother) flew in from Russia, so we had a joyous time hugging, crying, and sharing God's workings in our different ministries for the same Lord. The Lord delights in giving good gifts to His children, and this summer was full of them. 

GOOD BYE, UNCLE BUCK: Joaquín (Buck) Renz died of cancer on the 24th of August, but what a legacy he left behind. Which words do we choose to describe what Buck was to our family? Friend ?... Counselor?... Co-worker?... Confidant?... Brother ?... Mentor?... Uncle?  He was each and all of these to us. Buck had been ill for some time, but he never quit serving our Lord and Master. Though hooked up to various tubes and extremely weak, Buck set an example of perseverance as he finished translating  a book for men into Spanish shortly before the Lord took him home. Since burial in Mexico generally takes place within 24 to 30 hours after death,  Jim flew to Mexico City, where our son Steve picked him up. They drove together to Buck's home for the funeral. It was held outdoors and began around noon and finished around 5:30 p.m. There were many, many people there, and many, many more who wanted to be but couldn't make the arrangements. We will miss Buck. He was such a blessing to our family and the entire brotherhood here in Mexico 

SCHOOL NEWS: Jim is back at the University of Tamaulipas teaching an Intermediate English course for adults eight hours each week. The coordinator asked him to prepare and give an orientation class for new teachers before the term began. He met several new teachers who expressed their appreciation for the class. Peggy is enjoying working part-time at another language institute in town where she is in contact with both teachers and students daily. Pray we will be able to touch lives for Christ. 

THE  PESO is devaluing again.  Every time this happens, the people suffer. The tortilla is now three pesos per kilo - 15% more. Every time we go to the grocery, we spend approximately 15-20% more on the same items. The newspaper states that milk and bread are to go up this next week. Black beans - the staff of life in Tampico - now cost 87.5% more than they did in May. We pay 48% more for meat now than at the beginning of summer. There have been no pay raises and the buying power of the people's paychecks has diminished greatly. We praise God for His faithfulness to His children through these difficult times. 

THE OLDEST LIVING GENERATION: Peg learned that her Aunt Betty Clay passed away on August 29th in Toledo, Ohio. We are glad that we got to see Aunt Betty this past summer while we were in Ohio. Peggy has fond memories of good times with her aunts, uncles and cousins, and is thankful for them. With the passing of Aunt Betty, Peg is now the oldest living member (57 years old) of the family on her mother's side. What a responsibility! We can all think of what past generations have passed on to us - some good things, and some not so good, but do we think seriously about the legacy we'll leave to succeeding generations? It's overwhelming and humbling. 

CORPORATION UPDATE: M.C.C.C. is now legally registered in Ohio. Our son, James N. Hosken, has taken on the responsibilities of forwarding agent. Once again we want to thank the Clarks for all the years they served in this capacity. We want to thank Roger also for all he has done and is doing to help Jim make the transition from Michigan to Ohio a smooth one. For proper depositing and receipting of all contributions,  please send your contributions to: 

MEXICO CITY CHRISTIAN COMMUNICATIONS, INC. 
P.O. BOX 29292 
COLUMBUS, OH  43229-0292 

Thank you for your continued interest in us and the ministry in Mexico. Please remember in prayer those whose names are in bold type and for us, your co-workers.  "Dios les bendiga." God bless you. Phil. 1:3-6. 

Blessed to Be a Blessing, 

      Jim & Peg