12 29 2010 Newsletter and Mission Outreach Update

12/29/2010

“We must adjust to changing times and still hold to unchanging principles.” Jimmy Carter

If you are considering a commodity donation, here are some items that are currently needed at the orphanage:
1. Locking file cabinet
2. Diapers size #6 or Jumbo
3. Children’s clothes (any size-any gender)

With the help of our Mission Partners, Cancun Christian Fellowship purchased and delivered eggs, milk, cheese, cereal and diapers to Casa Hogar para Ninos Esperanza this week.

TJ, Henry, Cherilyn and I attended the Christmas Eve celebration at Casa Hogar para Ninos Esperanza and our memories of the event will last a lifetime. We hope you feel as proud as we do because, without your help, the children would not felt many of the joys of Christmas. The evening began with the Pastor and Esther taking the children to the Christmas Eve Service at “The Rock” Church. While they were gone, our volunteers finished decorating their home and placed their gifts around the tree. When they returned, we all enjoyed a delicious dinner that had been prepared in advance by the orphanage staff. After dinner, the children opened gifts and felt the feelings of love that all of you helped provide.

Thanks go out to Laurie, Amy and Cherilyn for shopping for the Christmas gifts for the children. The faces of the children, as they opened their presents, prove the ladies did a wonderful job.

“Maturity doesn't come with age; it comes with acceptance of responsibility.” Ed Cole

We have three groups visiting Casa Hogar para Ninos Esperanza this week. The first group (from Michigan) visited Monday and provided outside toys and shirts for our children. The second group from Denver visited today and brought nineteen dozen (yes, you read that right) unisex shirts, books, toys and shoes for our children. Only God knows what tomorrow will bring.

AND: TJ arranged for a group to visit the orphanage on Monday to take gifts for the children. As always, thanks TJ.

As you browse the new “Photo Gallery” on the website, you will notice that the three young girls have on new Christmas dresses. The dresses were provided by Terri Kemble, a Mission Partner from the US. I know you will agree that the girls looked beautiful in their new dresses. Thank you Terri!

Our website, http://www.cancunchristianfellowship.com/ has been revised and updated with current pictures of our mission outreach and testimony from groups that visit the orphanage. We have added four pages and more will follow as our mission outreach grows.

This week, TJ and I started a new tradition of taking one of the older boys with us on Wednesday. Today was the first day of our new tradition and Enrique went with us to do our “every Wednesday chores”. After that, we took him to lunch (which he inhaled like a Hoover Deluxe). He did not want to act excited around us but Pastor Mancilla told us he had been very excited about spending the morning with us. The Wednesday visits should prove to be enjoyable as well as educational for the boys. Each of them will be able to see how we do what we do for orphanage and learn from the process. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to hang out with a couple of adults that truly want to be with them. PS: Expect to see Henry added to the mix in the near future. There is no way that he is going to allow TJ and me to have all the fun.

“All of God's people are ordinary people who have been made extraordinary by the purpose he has given them.” Oswald Chambers

Food items should always be delivered on Wednesday. If you take a food donation to the orphanage, please send us an email telling us what you donated. It will keep us from duplicating your donation and allow us to put funds in other needed food areas. If you want to make a food donation but do not have time to go to the orphanage, we will be happy to deliver your donation for you on Wednesday.

If you have a clothes or other commodity donation, please give it to Cherilyn Martin or Laurie Lipp for sorting and distribution.

I met with Luis Garcia last week. Many of you remember Luis and have as much respect for him as I do. The meeting was held to discuss a partnership that would allow Christians in Playa del Carmen to work with us to benefit Casa Hogar para Ninos Esperanza. We agreed to talk again in January, 2011. Luis would like to attend a meeting of our Wednesday Christian Men’s Group, join us as we do our Wednesday chores and visit the orphanage.

A Wednesday Men’s Group is offered by Cancun Christian Fellowship. For information, please contact Tom Martin. tommartin@inbox.com or 998-121-1316.

A Wednesday Ladies’ Group also meets in Cancun. For information, please contact Cherilyn Martin. cherilynmartin@inbox.com or 998-121-1315.

14 people were in church last Sunday. If you were not, we missed you. Remember, church now meets at 10:00 AM, Floor B1 at Hotel B2B behind the bull fight arena just east of Avenida Bonampak and Malecon Las Americas. We hope to see all of you Sunday. Tom

Cancun Fellowship Church / Companerismo de Cancun
Cancun Christian Fellowship / Carpe Diem Yucatan SA de CV