The ice cream truck

Do you remember the hot summer days when the ice cream truck would come around in your neighborhood, selling ice cream. Although where I lived, the ice cream truck didn't really come and visit, I do remember as a kid, being in town, and the ice cream truck would come around selling his wares.
Well, around here, the ice cream truck is fairly common. Actually, now that I think of it, around our house, I don't know if I've seen one. In Vista Hermosa, where I try to work every Wednesday, it's very common. There's this guy that mounts his bullhorn on top of a white van, and away he goes selling ice cream. A couple of times, I stopped him when he was making his rounds, and bought some sort of homemade ice cream off of him.

A while back, as I was sitting there in the rented house where we do our ministry, listening to the catchy jingle coming from the ice cream truck, something dawned on me. This guy has a product to offer, drives around the neighbourhood, hoping someone has a craving for ice cream, selling them what they're looking for.

Here I am, looking/struggling to find ways of presenting the gospel in this community. What I have to offer is not a product, I am not a salesman, but a messenger sent by God, but in many ways, me and the ice cream man are similar. Both of us are going throughout the community, broadcasting the good news of what we have to offer to the people. The ice cream man is using the tools he has at his disposal: a reputation of good homemade, well priced ice cream, a bullhorn with a cool jingle, and a very recognizable van. I on the other hand, have much more powerful tools on hand, but the question is, am I using them properly? What would happen if the ice cream man would buy a little brown car (nothing against little brown cars by the way, just inconspicuous) take down his bullhorn, close all his windows, park in front of his garage with his ice cream hidden inside? As a Christian, I have the most powerful tools in the world. The Holy Spirit working in me and his transforming power working in the world. I also have the prayer tool, very often overlooked, and definitely underused. Thirdly we have the power of example. We can, and must show the world Christ, through our actions and our words. This is not an exclusive list, I'm sure you can think of more tools that we as believers have at our disposal. The Lord has given us these tools, but am I properly using them as I seek to share the gospel with the many needy people in this community that God has placed me in? This is a question that I have to ask myself as we continue to serve Christ with our lives.

I wonder what is the more successful venture? The sale of ice cream, or the spread of the gospel? Who is having more of an impact in our communities? The ice cream man, or me and you?

Update

VBS ended last week doing well. Kids kept coming excitedly, and we kept getting more tired. We were thankful for the week to be over but also thankful for how it all came together. This morning LeRoy left for Campo Tomas to help at the Adolescent camp (ages 12-14) until tomorrow around noon. He's leading a devotional tonight and helping in any little way he can.

Yesterday we went into Chihuahua and finally were able to pick up our FM3 papers. So we have them in our possession and the waiting game is over. We were also told of a place in Chihuahua where we could renew our vehicle permit. So now as long as we can renew our Mexico insurance over the phone LeRoy will not have to go to El Paso by himself in the next month. We are very thankful for that. Now just have to make sure that it's possible to renew that over the phone. It all expires the beginning of August, so it does need to happen soon.

VBS

Oh how we are so exhausted. LeRoy has been doing much more than I have for VBS, but I think we're equally as tired. Other than that, VBS is going great. I'll start with Anahuac's. LeRoy goes there every morning to teach the 10-13 year olds. Monday they started with 14 kids, and today already had 38 kids. They really only have 4 people there so it's a lot more tiring and busy I think. Our VBS in Vista Hermosa has also gone well. The kids have enthusiasm and seem to be having a great time. The weather has been perfect (other than very hot) so we've been able to do a lot of it outside. Monday we started with 19 kids, yesterday had 28, and today had 37. That's a large group, when we have such a small space. But God is working and the kids are having fun learning about Peter. Friday we will be ending our week with the parents joining us (is what we're hoping for) so we can show them what we've been learning and have a time where we can hopefully connect with these kids' parents. We are praying that through VBS we can have some connections for the future. We have yet to even see many of the parents whose kids come to kids' club and now VBS. Thank you for praying for us this week. We knew we were going to be tired, all 4 of us, and today it's hitting just how exhausted we ALL are.

On another exciting note we got a call this morning that our FM3 papers are ready!!! So we are planning to go into Chihuahua on Monday to finish this off. Sure hope we won't be told we have to wait once again and that we'll actually have them in our hands when we leave their building this time.

Still Here

We are still here, but have been horrible at keeping up with anyone lately, including writing something short and sweet on the blog. So here is just an update from a couple previous posts. Our FM3 papers have still not come, so our trip to El Paso was canceled:( But after a few very discouraging down days, God helped us re-focus and helped us be okay not to have that needed break. Please pray that our papers do come soon. Our van insurance and vehicle permit to be here is due sometime between end of July and middle of August. This means that once our papers come LeRoy will have to (no choice) drive up to renew the vehicle stuff. We are praying he doesn't have to go before end of July in case baby decides to show up, but are disappointed that he'll have to make that long trip by himself due to the circumstances with a new baby. We are hoping he can wait until my mom and sister are here in August, even though it still would suck, but then I at least don't have to be alone with 3 kids for a couple days, and he doesn't have to make is such a quick trip, but rather do a bit of stuff for us there right away.

VBS is this coming week and we have mixed emotions. It is going to be an exhausting week for all of us. The mornings are taken up with LeRoy and Brooklyn at VBS with our church in Anahuac. LeRoy will be teaching a group and Brooklyn will hopefully enjoy being apart of her own class. I will go one or two days to show support, but have not committed to anything there. The afternoons will be taken up with our VBS in Vista Hermosa. Thank you for praying, we have enough people helping us that it should be a great time. We feel like we are nearing being ready for it, but are very nervous as well since we have never led something like this. We pray tons of kids come, but at the same time not TONS because of it being our first time and figuring out how it'll all work on a small yard with a small house. But we know God will be working in us, through us, and in the lives of those kids. Pray that we all (including Brooklyn and Emma) will have the patience, energy, and love for each other to make it through next week. We are looking forward to it, but also know it could be very tough.

All week, little by little, I have been working on a prayer letter. My mind keeps getting stuck and not letting me have ideas and finish it. But hopefully soon you'll have our new prayer/update letter. Hopefully before the baby comes. haha Then again, I am so ready for the baby to come I hope a prayer letter doesn't stop him. Then I could actually maybe think of what to tell you all.