don't [let the baby] try this at home...

fue mi Jesus

The kids were over at my house the other day and decided to create and rehearse a drama for church... here's the finished product!

Megan in Mexico update: September 2011

This is really more of a belated August update!  If you keep up with this blog, you've probably already had the chance to read about how our August children's ministry events went and see some fotos of such.  If not, I invite you to CLICK HERE to take a look at this update and my recent blog posts.

IMPORTANT SUPPORT UPDATE: One other thing that I shared in this update is that I'm in great need of one-time (or regular!) donations.  Due to a regular deficit (my monthly donations don't quite cover my expenses) as well as the extra expenses during the month of August, I have just about depleted all of my reserve funds in my Support account, as well as my Work Funds and Travel/Equipment accounts.  If you are willing to give towards my ministry in Mexico, you can DONATE HERE.  Please pray with me that God would provide for my financial needs so that I can continue this ministry here in Tijuana.

¡viva México!

Fotos from el grito last week...

belated August updates: el gallito

One of our many children's ministry events in August was the famous evento de las mochilas ("backpack event").  This event is put on every August by a US ministry along with a group of local Tijuana churches to distribute backpacks filled with school supplies.  This was the 2nd year that we've been invited to participate.

This year the event was done carnival-style, with each church running a booth with a game.  The kids went around to the booths and won tickets, which they could then use to buy food and prizes.

Our booth hosted El Gallito ("The Rooster"), a game that gets it's name from the Mexican cockfight.  Balloons are tied onto each ankle, and the winner is whoever can pop all of the other person's balloons, using only one's feet.  It was hilarious and a huge hit!

The kids all received new backpacks with school supplies...  and by the time I'm actually posting this update are back in school!  Summer has been full of fun, but I for one am glad it's over... I'm ready for cooler weather and a calmer pace for a while!

If you would be willing to help with the expenses incurred for this event (a total of $81.48 is needed), you can donate here to my WORK FUNDS... thank you!

belated August updates: WCHCMM conference

During the month of August, I was blessed once again to be able to attend the West Coast Healthcare Missions and Minstry Conference in Pasadena, California.  It was a much needed change-of-pace during a month full of children's ministry events!

For me, the four day conference was full of learning, networking and encouraging conversations with fellow medical missionaries.  Oh, and of course the all-important CEUs (continuing education hours)!  Some of my favorite plenaries and workshops included:

• Neighborhood Transformation Introductory Seminar
• Called to Care
• When Helping Doesn't Hurt: Keys to Community Transformation
• Personal Challenges in Delivering Medical Care in the Developing World
• Forgiveness in Medicine and Missions
• Healing from Depression: Body, Mind and Spirit
• Making Tough Choices: From Med Student to Jungle Family Missions
• Health Issues Faced by Hispanic Protestants

My hands-down favorites was the talk and workshop that Dr David Levy gave on forgiveness.  Dr Levy is a neurosurgeon who spent his Sabbatical "traveling throughout South America teaching forgiveness and emotional/physical healing in prisons and orphanages" and who offers to pray with each of his patients.  His stories and message were powerful and I'd highly recommend his book Grey Matter!

While attending the conference, I had the privilege of staying with my friend Annie (also known as Anita, Anita la Huerfanita, Anita la Bruta, etc).  Anita and I met in Tijuana in 2005 when she spent several weeks here as a short-term missionary and ended up sleeping in my bedroom...  So she's from Tennessee, I'm from Minnesota, we met in Tijuana, and now we reunite each year in Pasadena where she lives now!  I was so blessed by the time I was able to spend with Annie... ¡gracias Anita!

If you're willing to help with the expenses incurred to attend this conference (a total of $277.90 is needed), you can donate here to my TRAV & EQUIP fund... thank you!

belated August updates: paseos al parque

We've continued our church's tradition of a monthly outing to the park with the kids during summer vacation...

We load up La Paloma with a garrafon or two of mango water, blankets, my first aid kit, the kickball, the tetherball and the soccer ball... oh, the the kiddos of course... stop by the market to pick up 8 mega-sized pepperoni pizzas, and head to a quiet shady little nearby park for a few hours...

During our July and August outings, the kids were exciting to have our pastors join us (Pastor Roberto even agreed to be the goalie during the requisite soccer game, to everyone's delight!

Armando rations out the few chips that we had...

My aforementioned first aid kit always comes in handy for the inevitable bumps and scrapes... who said I'm not using my nursing skills while working in children's ministry?!?

For our August outing, we were blessed to have Katalina (a visitor from Washington) with us! The kids loved her!

Katalina was also the reigning tetherball champion...  I bought our tetherball (sans pole) at the roadside market one day, and it has been a huge favorite!

So our newest tradition is the monthly soccer game; loser buys Coca-Cola for everyone.  This summer's score: Armando's team 3, Megan's team 0.  Oh well, there's always next summer!

Our paseos al parque have once again been a great time of relationship-building and just plain fun!

If you're willing to help with the expenses incurred with these outings (a total of $153.22 is needed), you can donate here to my WORK FUNDS... thank you!

belated August updates: VBS

We started off the month of August with a week of Vacation Bible School.  Just like last year, we partnered with a neighboring church to help them host their VBS.

This year I was asked to be one of the teachers.  There was a class for preschoolers, another for primary school kids, one for teenagers and also a class for adults.  I had the primary schoolers and there were 30+ kids in my class alone!

The littlest kiddos...

...and the big kids...

The last day was filled with singing, memory verses, prizes, food, pinatas and water fights!

It was an exhausting week, but so very worth it!  If you'd like to see more pictures, there's more here.

If you would be willing to help with the expenses incurred with this VBS (a total of $286.21 is needed), you can donate here to my WORK FUNDS... thank you!