Training.....

On last Saturday, Monday and Today, we have been compiling and comparing using this book above called Discovering Your Ministry Identity, and the Birkman method.

A while ago Julie and I had completed these processes and received training and lovely colourful books that explained what team styles, organisational styles, and gifts we had, from how we answered questions about ourselves and how others saw us. We took the books, had our explainations and they really gave us insight into the type of people we thought we are and how others see us. Su Berkley (OMS Manchester) guided us through this process, and really helped us to see areas in which we are most effective, and other areas in which we need people beside us.

Apparently (now only apparently) Jonny likes to talk. You can decide if that's accurate of not! Julie is the careful planner, who likes to be in the background pulling the strings. Guess that kinda makes me her little talktive puppet!

The fun part was when we came together as a field team, and saw how we all could work together for the glory of God. It was fantastic to see how we could work with people, interact with people, when to include people, when to, and how to encourage each other. It is very easy to pigeon hole someone because we think we have them figured out, or to think that everyone needs encouraged!

We really feel drained by the training, but Gail & Deam Davis (OMS HQ) really facilitated this time, and God really came to teach us that regardless of the questions, the charts, and the little coloured boxes, He has created us all individual. He has formed us for a purpose, to glorify and uphold His son, Jesus.

A friend recently sent me a plan for his Sunday School class, and he summed up exactly what encourages us so much in our work, and we hope it does as you also labour for Him. It's simple, but it's all that needs to be said.

God doesn't need us, but He chooses to use us.

Mexican Culture

Last week we bit the bullet and asked a couple from the church out for dinner! In our first week at church we were introduced to them and their names are Benjamin and Gretal, and they have a gorgeous little girl! For the first weeks chat we could've crawled under a big rock as our Spanish was so bad that they hardly understood a word we were saying, and we stood in silence a lot of the time. But they were so lovely that we said to them we would practice our Spanish and then take them out for dinner!

So last week after church we took them out for a meal and they said they would show us some of Mexico City. Excellent! The Lord was really in that day as we were with them for over 6 hours and although it was tricky to explain somethings (Benjamin asked me to explain the history of Northern Ireland - Where would I start!) and much confusion, we had a fantastic time. We went for tacos, then for some ice cream, then they took us to Polanco(?) to a huge park, and we saw lots of cool Mexican dances, and then we went to go to the zoo but it was closed!

We then decided to go to the Mexican anthropoligical museum (I spelt that 4 times, I hope it's right!) which was really informative about Mexican culture.

We are having them to our next week and will put pictures of them on our blog as we said we would, to show people back home of our new friends!

Here are some pictures of the dancers we seen, and us in the museum!

Independence Day

On Saturday we celebrated Mexican Independence Day!

It was probably the most amazing party that we've ever been to, and it was great to see all the UNIFAM churches attending, and also dressing up!

We helped with the decorations and people had made such an effort to turn the Seminary into a total Mexican experience.

There was so much to do and all the money raised went to help fund the Seminary, and the work of God there. We had so much food it was unreal, and plenty of games, including one that ended up with Julie and I temporarily in prison (don't worry everyone it was only a game. We can see the headlines now!)

There were fireworks and dancing, and plenty of Mexican singing. But the most important thing was the Independence "el grito" (the shout of Independence) All the people shouted Viva Mexico! But they also shouted "Viva Christo" to help us remember that Christ died to give us true independence from sin.

We also found three Mexicans who you may recognise!

Carrubbers.....

We heard about this place from Andrew & Carol, and it seemed a cool place in Edinburgh! But this past week we have had a team here from Carrubbers and they are a fantastic bunch. We have worked together with the other missionaries to help with the Independence Party; we ate about 10 baguettes of garlic bread; and they (well me one time) have defeated Mexicans at football twice!

There are 8 of the guys, 4 girls, 4 guys, and of all different ages. It has been a pleasure to meet them and also to have some craic with them! Here they are below with Andrew & Carol:

(Left to right, bottom then top)

Andrew, Matthew, Mark, Cameron, Sue, LJ, Jonny, Rachel, Sarah, and Carol

Mexico....

We were very fortunate to be invited along last Friday to a new Mall opened up not far from our house. We went with the team from Carrubbers in Edinburgh, and Andrew, Carol, Robin & Margaret.

It was excellent to see the shops and reminded us of home a little bit, however the best thing about the place was the view, as you could see over a large area of Mexico City, even if it was really still a small peek at the whole city.

Bet you don't views like this in Fairhill!! (Hey!)

Our Family.....

We have been so blessed with spending time with our new missionary family in Mexico, since we're been here. We went out last Thursday for Colleen's birthday to a little Taco place near to our house. They have wonderful tacos, however they have a wonderful(ly hot!) selection of sauces!

We have enclosed a photo of our wee family, except for Robin Efing, who is hiding behind someone! We'll have pictures of individuals in the next while and have a bit more about them.

(left to right) Andrew, Julie, Jonny, Christian, Margaret, Colleen, Robin Mac, Maddy, Gary & Carol.

Sweet sweet music.....

Yesterday on our day off, we decided to travel into the centre of Mexico City with Gary to see if we could get Jonny a guitar. We went armed with a map courtesy of Margaret & Robin, and also some directions from Andrew & Carol.

Firstly we have to say that public transport in Mexico is fantastic, even if it is absolutely insane. For example, on our way home we had a bus with lovely comfy seats that didn't appear to be secured to the floor; a lady selling ice cream on the bus; and finally a fully costumed clown who was getting a ride home!

When we got into town the first thing we noticed were the people - no joking, we must have seen 10,000 people in town. There were people traffic jams everywhere. We also walked down a street for about 500yrds which is now known as "Chicken Street." Every shop on that street sold chickens. They were not in fridges but in the street, and every part (including the heads!) were in little piles for people to buy!

We walked round a few shops and there were a few good guitars but nothing that jumped out at us. Feeling dejected and ready to go home warm and tired, Gary suggested crossing the road for one last shop. The shop was really nice and they had a few guitars - but there was one amazing guitar. It is a Takamine guitar (this won't mean much to anyone, in fact it doesn't really mean much to me, but I've heard people who play guitar talk about them!) and when the lady told me the price I nearly collapsed! I knew that these guitars cost a bit of money, and when we did our wee calculation for money, it was very cheap, so cheap that we made her check the price again!

So we got it, walked with the box past all the thousands of people, jumped on the tube, onto another crazy bus, and arrived home, happy at a job well done!