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FrançaisFour Teams in Two Months! (Part 2)
Hopefully you've been able to read my last update that talked about our two+ weeks serving the Lord in Morelia, Michoacán. Now I'm excited to share about our April team ... and more!
Dynamic Women in Missions (DWIM) Trainings
A few weeks ago, One Mission Society (OMS) Mexico hosted several women from a security-risk country for an intensive of three trainings from OMS' Dynamic Women in Missions ministry. We traveled to Toluca, which is in the state of Mexico, about an hour and a half from where I work/live.
This unique and large team consisted of our DWIM Mexico trainers, DWIM USA trainers, and the visiting women.
First, the Mexico team trained the visiting women in Seed Sowers, which gives them tools to host a Bible study, have a Gospel conversation, share a 15-second testimony about their salvation, and plan where/how they'll implement these techniques. Then the visiting women, plus Mexican women from the host church, completed Train the Trainers, where they learned how to lead Seed Sowers trainings. After this, these newly graduated trainers from Mexico and the other country led Seed Sowers on their own (with the more experienced trainers available to provide feedback) for a new group of Mexican women. All these women love the Lord and will, no doubt, continue spreading the Good News through these methods.
By the time we left Toluca, 22 women were equipped to lead Seed Sowers trainings! In addition to the seven visiting women, four Mexican women completed Seed Sowers. This is exciting, especially as we think about DWIM ministry now having a presence and empowering women for Christ in a new way throughout this security-risk country.
These are pictures from the trainings. Each of the visiting women was given a new suitcase and gift card to purchase supplies and goodies they can't typically access in their country (top left), made possible by donations from several generous individuals and churches. I led a brief devotion one morning-in English and Spanish! This sweet boy from the church brightened my days! (Out of an abundance of caution, I've covered some faces to protect identities.)
Every short-term team experiences some level of spiritual warfare, but this team was exceptional (the devil clearly doesn't want the Gospel to spread in Mexico or the visiting women's country)!
Among other hurdles, I had my first experience in a Mexican hospital. (Check that off the list!) While I was sick at the time (along with a few other team members), I wasn't the patient. I arranged transportation to a hospital near our hotel and went with this USA team member to be of assistance. The staff was kind, and the team member received care necessary for her health to improve (which it did!). The Lord helped me greatly with communicating on our short-termer's behalf.
Field Personnel Ebbs and Flows
OMS offers a mid-term mission opportunity called Embark that's designed for people (typically young adults but not always) to spend anywhere from one month to one year working in cross-cultural ministry. Many Embarkers serve the Lord through this mid-term capacity because they feel called to explore full-time missions.
OMS Mexico hosted our first-ever Embarker from January through March, and we're preparing to host several more in 2026. Our second Embarker, a college-age woman, arrived yesterday (May 4)! Please pray for us, especially Jenny, our Embark coordinator, as we welcome this new mid-term missionary and the other Embarkers (of various ages) who plan to join us later this year.
Prayer Requests and Praises
I've been living and serving in Mexico for almost a full year. (Whoa!) That means it's time to renew my temporary residency. Praise the Lord for our amazing immigration lawyer arranging an appointment the morning of May 12 to renew my residency! Lord willing, this renewal will cover me for the next three years. After that, I can apply for permanent residency, which is what the other three OMS Mexico missionaries have. Please pray for this process and immigration appointment to go smoothly!
We have an OMS Men for Missions work team coming to Mexico City from May 9-16 to help with various projects in the OMS Mexico seminary building (among other things, this is where our OMS offices are). Please pray for their safety, for them to enjoy Mexican culture and connections, and for we on the field to know how to best serve them.
As I mentioned above, the Lord keeps helping me on my Spanish learning journey. It's always fun and stretching to interact with people around me, especially as I have opportunities to serve as a translator, whether for smaller conversations or in group settings. I've come a long way and am grateful. Please thank the Lord as you continue asking him for Spanish growth!
"Gracias" doesn't begin to express my gratitude for your faithful investment, prayers, and partnership! I trust you're seeing the Lord work in your lives; please let me know how I can be praying for you and praising the Lord with you.
Until next time,
