In our last newsletter we mentioned the upcoming Christ In Youth conference. It is now history, and the memories of the four days live on in the lives of over 500 young people. Eight Tampiqueñans (kids from Tampico) went and came back dedicated to the task of asking “What Would Jesus Do?” before making any decisions during this next year. We’ve received several letters from different young people who were there, telling how their lives are changing. The bracelets with “Q H J” (Spanish equivalent of WWJD) given to everyone by CIY have provided many opportunities for witnessing as students and counselors wear them to work, school, etc.

Peg was a D-group (Discipling) leader again this year. We were busy the month of October getting materials together to make the classes a truly memorable experience for the group. Melanie Banta and Alejandro Duran were Peg’s apprentice leaders this year, and did an excellent job. Melanie has a special gift for teaching and the love of Christ shines from her eyes. Alejandro is our student preacher who comes to Tampico every other weekend to work with the youth. He, too, is maturing into a fine leader. Peg, Melanie and Alejandro are writing monthly letters to the members of their D-group, encouraging them to remain strong.

This was Cinthia’s fourth conference. She went twice as a student and last year was Peg’s apprentice. This year Cinthia led a D-group on her own. She did a fantastic job, and her “disciples” truly became more Christ-like because of her example. Daría Guadalupe (Lupita) went for the first time, and was an apprentice in another D-group, with Saraid Flores from Guanajuato. She came back enthused. We think that with one more year as an apprentice, she will be able to be a D-group leader too.

We have been keeping Juan Francisco Martínez (Paco) very busy since October proofreading the two books we are working on (initial translation of one, and re-writing another), the comparison of the Book of Mormon and the Holy Scriptures, and the youth material we have been developing. We appreciate all the time and patience Paco invests in these projects. We couldn’t do it nearly as well without his help.

We have enjoyed developing some special lessons for the Mexican CIY youth conference with our son, Ken. Of course, since he lives in Missouri and we are in Tampico, it was all done long distance. Isn’t E-mail wonderful? This first joint project has been submitted to the committee for approval and revision. Hopefully this will be the beginning of many such projects.

The Thursday Morning Bible Study  is thriving. A young woman originally from Cuernavaca has recently started coming to the Studies. She first came in contact with the Gospel through Campus Crusade in Morelos. Later she married and moved to Tampico. Nelly, her husband and one year old daughter moved into a house across the street from Lupita. Lupita, being the dynamic child of God she is, greeted her and welcomed her to the neighborhood. She offered to help in any way she could and invited her to the Bible studies. Nelly is a sweet, young mother with a real hunger for the Word of God. Praise His Name!

 The bi-weekly Bible Study with Refugio and Norma is going well. Jim studies with them every other Friday. Refugio has two jobs in order to support his small family. He works swing shift at the refinery, and is a locksmith during his “off” time. This last week’s study was especially beneficial. Their interest is deepening, and Refugio asked if Jim could work out a “swing shift” schedule for the Bible Studies, so they could study every week. 

We are beginning a Bible study with Yolanda, Norma’s 24 yr. old sister, this Wednesday afternoon. She works in the morning, so she cannot attend the study at her sister’s house. Yolanda is single and is trying to raise a teenage niece. She is overwhelmed by the responsibility and nearly ready to crumble under the weight of it. Pray for her as she opens her heart to His Word.

Jim and Paco still meet for their Discipling class on Wednesday evenings, so Wednesday is a full day for us.

Alejandro comes every other weekend from the Bible Institute  to conduct the youth meetings here. Distance makes it impossible for him to come every weekend. We (Jim & Peg) have begun preparing the meetings for the in between Saturdays. We are thankful to report that attendance and participation have increased since the new year began. Young people, as well as adults, really need  the consistency weekly meetings provide. 

Claudia Pérez made her decision to follow Christ and was baptized as a result of the class Jim gave on the Plan of Salvation. We rejoice constantly as we see Claudia walking humbly yet triumphantly in the Way. Her sister, Cristina, has returned from Laredo, Texas, for awhile, and they are enjoying being sisters twice (Once by birth, and once by re-birth). Their family is softening towards the Gospel as they see the positive changes belonging to Christ is making in their daughters and sisters.

Hallelujah! The Villanueva family is worshiping with us again. Gerardo, Conchita and Gerardo Jr. had been very active in the congregation, but during the summer became so entangled with “busyness” that the Lord was pushed out of their lives. We have called on them, and on the Lord concerning them, repeatedly since returning to Mexico last August. Three weeks ago, with the telephone receiver in my hand, I debated on whether to call them or not. So many calls had been made, both by phone and in person, with no results. Finally, I half-heartedly dialed the number, almost hearing already the words they had uttered so often before, excusing themselves for leaving the Lord on the very outer circle of their existence. I’m grateful the Spirit pushed me into dialing the phone that day! Gerardo, Sr. answered the phone. “Hey, we were just talking about you. We’ve been terribly negligent, and want to get things back in perspective. We really miss studying God’s Word with you all. Thanks for calling and never forgetting us. We’ll be there tomorrow.” AND THEY WERE! That Sunday, the following Saturday for youth meeting, and the next Sunday too. Pray with us that they will continue to resist Satan and his enticements.

Christian and Nestor have been reading the Chronicles of Narnia series by  C.S. Lewis. They have read the first four thus far, and are fascinated by them. Their mother has read them too, and has loaned them to Lalo, her son-in-law, to read.  Lalo has been very resistant to anything his mother thinks might be “heretical” (Heretical, meaning  not  taught in the weekly mass by the priest himself). The Chronicles of Narnia have proven to be a means by which Lupita, Christian, and Nestor can talk to Lalo about God’s will for us without Lalo building a wall of resistance. 

It is becoming more and more difficult for our brethren here to make it financially. Paco is struggling to achieve financial freedom. He, like so many in the U.S., became enslaved to credit card payments. He has been trying for the past two years to get those cards paid off. He has recently begun a home-based business on the side, selling a cereal dietary supplement. We sincerely hope this proves to be a blessing to Paco & Irma and they in turn will be a blessing to those they meet through this new business. Inflation continues to spiral. In October we reported to you that tortillas had gone up to 3 pesos per kilo. They are now 5 pesos per kilo. A kilo of  beef costs 44 pesos, which is 14 pesos more than the daily minimum wage. Notice that I said “daily”, not hourly minimum wage. Everything is going up by leaps and bounds. Our landlord wanted to increase our rent 100% (double), but finally agreed to a 50% increase. We are looking for another place, but thus far haven’t found anything suitable for less. 

Jim has finished one semester at the University since we last wrote, and has begun another. He and his students went out for breakfast to celebrate the completion of the course in December. They all appreciated the English New Testament he gave them, and promised to read it. We trust God to reap a great harvest. (Of the 13 in attendance at the Youth Meetings, 7 came from our English class contacts.) Peg is winding up a semester, and getting ready to begin another at the institute where she teaches. Her class exchanged weekly letters with her as free (ungraded) writing assignments. They asked many questions in their letters, and she was able to share God’s love with them in her letters to them. Praise God for the opportunities He gives us to touch others on His behalf.

 “Grace, Grace, GOD’S GRACE, Grace that is greater than all our sins...” I often find myself singing that great old hymn, deep down inside of myself,  as we continue working on the translation of the book on Grace. We have completed four chapters of the book and are currently working on the fifth. As we search for exactly the right words and expressions to depict the depth of thought in this book, we become ever more aware of the marvel of His Grace. 

FIVE YEARS IN TAMPICO/MADERO:  Five years ago last month, we began coming to this area in response to Lupita’s request for someone to come baptize her. We rented a house and moved here on March 1st the same year. Mexico City Christian Communications has been the name of our U.S. based corporation for over 20 years. However, since we no longer live in Mexico City, and the U.S. corporation offices have changed from Michigan to Ohio, we felt this would be the appropriate time  to change the name of the corporation. Many congregations have been started in different cities throughout Mexico, and we are currently planting a church in Tampico/Madero with the expectation of churches being planted in other cities in the future. To better reflect this outreach, we chose the name MEXICAN CITIES CHRISTIAN COMMUNICATIONS. We submitted this name to the U.S. government and just recently received confirmation from the IRS. This makes it possible for our supporters  to continue their tax deductible donations to the mission. The initials MCCC, Inc. remain the same, the only real change being from Mexico City to Mexican Cities. 

FIFTEEN and a whole life ahead of her. Abigail Arriaga, our “granddaughter” celebrated her fifteenth birthday on December 27th in Mexico City. What a celebration! The fifteenth birthday is very important in Mexican culture, as it represents leaving childhood behind and entering womanhood. Two years ago, Abigail had asked “Grandpa” to mark his calendar for two years in the future so he would remember that date belonged to her. She wanted him to do the ceremony (preach the main message) of the evening... It was a beautiful event! Abigail and her attendants had worked hard for several months preparing some beautiful Jewish dances. “Grandma” presented her with the traditional Bible and some words of exhortation. The evening passed quickly and was very uplifting with it’s focus on Jesus.

We arrived at our son Steve’s house in Mexico City on Christmas Eve in plenty of time for the 11:00 p.m. Christmas Eve dinner. Delicious! We were privileged to spend Christmas weekend with him and his family. We hadn’t seen any of them since last March. What a difference nine months made in our two grandchildren, Patricia Luann (7) and Stevie (5)! What a pleasure it was to spend 3 1/2 days with them. Their warm hugs and kisses gave the days a special glow. 

We (Jim & Peg) celebrated our 37th wedding anniversary on January 6th. Of those 37 years, 31 have been spent in Mexico. January 6th is the day “tradition” says the kings arrived at the house where Jesus, Mary & Joseph were living. All of the bakeries make a very special “King’s Day” bread (similar to a large, oval sweet roll ring with candied fruit on top)  which has anywhere from one to six  little plastic dolls in it, depending on the size of the bread ring you want. Families get together to eat the sweet roll ring and drink hot chocolate together. Whoever gets a piece of roll with a doll in it, according to tradition, must make tamales for everyone on February 2nd. If several people get dolls, then they go together on the tamales, and everyone is invited to the party. Friends invited us to share their King’s bread with them and they all sang “Las Mañanitas” (Anniversary song) to us. We didn’t get the doll, so we don’t have to make the tamales, just go and enjoy them. 

PRAYER NEEDS / REQUESTS:
Yolanda, 24 yrs. old, struggling to raise her teenage niece. 
Mexico’s economic crisis.
Bible  Studies, Youth Meetings, and Sunday church meetings.
Another vehicle.
Salvation: Berenice, Lalo, Clara, Lucy, Mayra, Sergio, Carlos, Toño, Orlando, Norma & Refugio, Norma & Marco, Gerardo & Conchita, Yolanda, Cristina’s & Claudia’s parents. 
Wisdom as we make daily decisions.

May God bless you and fill you with great joy as you love and serve Him this year. We praise Him for having allowed us to be a part of your lives.