Costa Maya Newsletter September 2016

September 2016 The Dog Days of Summer!   Summer is upon us here in Costa Maya with temperatures and humidity overwhelming at times.  It was 92 degrees in my casita last evening at 9 p.m.  When the heat is that intense during the afternoon hours with the masonry walls baking, it's literally like an oven when night falls.  Yet we see our blessings, knowing that even though we have no air conditioning, we have fans, and we have screens on our windows.  Many of the locals who live close by don't have either and have no refuge from the heat and bugs!  So when we begin to complain about our living conditions, we remind ourselves to be thankful for what we have.   We dodged Hurricane Earl even though we made preparations for the arrival of the storm, not knowing until the last few hours which direction it would take.  We helped people move from their humble homes on the beach into the church, fully equipped with mattresses and linens, fans, and many comforts of home that they don't usually have.  One of our families, Yallo and Lupita with the 9-month old twins, spent the night in the church until the storm had passed.  Thank you, Lord, for giving us a way to help them.    ~ Deb Blackburn *************************************** A Summer Experience Unlike Any Other This summer I had the wonderful opportunity to live in Mexico, teach two months of English classes, and experience a new world of ministry. Every day contained surprises and challenges. I will remember many of these experiences fondly. Others I will remember not so fondly, namely, the mosquitoes. What I will remember most, however, is the way I saw God working through people. Many people around Mahahual live unstable lives and often need money, food, and family support. More importantly, they all need the comfort and eternal stability of Jesus' promises as much as anyone else does. I have seen the way God works through the pastors and lay people of Cruz de Cristo. Their dedication is inspiring. By providing earthly support to those in need, opportunities arise to share the Gospel.  In addition, the English classes I taught provided a service to the community. English is helpful to many who work in the tourism industry, and through this service, opportunities arose to share the Gospel. My most joyful moment of the summer was when students showed up for the closing church service (even though they were 45 minutes late). As in all ministry, obstacles and challenges abounded. Even though not all the students finished the class, future teachers will learn from the difficulties I faced with scheduling and communication. Another challenge involved a man who heard me play viola on the beach. We connected over the music of Bach. I shared my faith in Jesus with him, and three weeks in a row he told me he would come to church. He did not come, but by faith I know a seed is planted, and God makes seeds grow. Many people in various life situations and scattered communities throughout Costa Maya need to be reached. Join me in praying that God sends able volunteers who will dedicate time to planting seeds and building relationships here. God will work through the relationships and grow the seeds of faith.  ~ Austin Wagenknecht *********************** Comment from a Subscriber: "It's exciting to see all the things that are happening in the Costa Maya ministries! You can see the hand of the Lord at work.  God's Blessings,"  Glenn B ***************************************** Online donations can be made at www.Costamayaministries.org or by check payable to Costa Maya Ministries and mailed c/o Fred Starck, 1765 Natures Way, Lindenhurst, IL 60046. Copyright © 2016 , All rights reserved. Costa Maya Ministries Our mailing address is: 8404 Saltsberry Eagle River, WI 54521 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

This email was sent to costamayaministries@gmail.com why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences Costa Maya Ministries · 8404 Saltsberry · Eagle River, Wi 54521 · USA