Who is this King of Glory?

The Lord Almighty! He is the King of Glory! Psalms 24:10
This is one of the memory verses.

Last Thursday I rode around the colonia with Elizabeth, visiting some of her girls. We prayed for the girls as we rode from house to house, and then helped them memorize verses. Every verse that they memorize has a song with it, so this makes it easier for them (and me). Normally visits include playing games, eating a snack, reading a book, praying and memorizing with the kids- we were short on time, so we just memorized and prayed. So, yes I spent a few hours riding my bike around praying and singing Bible verses in Spanish with girls as we sat on their front step. I love my job.

Saturday is Torta. A torta is a roll stuffed with yummy things like hot dogs and vegetables. Torta is the program where we feed about 200 kids a torta, an orange and a glass of mango water (like tang). The first shift goes grocery shopping at 8:30am. I was on the next shift. We cooked, sliced and chopped for two hours. The next shift stuffed it all in the roll, then we came back to be with the kids. First we sang a few songs and prayed, then, as fast as we could, handed out the food and drink. Then we delivered extra tortas to families in the colonia who helped cook, or who just need the food.
Saturday night we went to a city wide worship service. I met many Christians from other churches in Fresnillo, and began to learn some popular spanish worship songs.

Sunday morning was my first Church service at Gran Pastor. It was a blessing to see many familiar faces, and SUCH a blessing that I could understand much of the sermon. I know that God gives me special understanding for things like that- all glory to Him. On the other hand, I was overwhelmed with the newness of it all that I cried some. Gran Pastor has a liturgical service. To me (and this is just my idea) that means that they wear robes and recite prayers from a book - or overhead, and there are big banners. These are just surface things, and I know that Gran Pastor is Christ's Church just as much as Grace Community or Fourth Presbyterian. I am thankful for that, and I know I will grow to love it. Even by the end of the service I was feeling much better. I think I will really enjoy the worship once I learn the songs. We sang many songs including Rey de Gloria (translated King of Glory by Third Day, which happens to be one of my favorite songs) and they brought Katie and me to the front to pray for us.

Sunday afternoons the team gets together to pray. Oh, it was wonderful to pray with a group in English. We also watched a video about cities (whole cities!) that God has transformed. The cities had been plagued by alcoholism, drug addiction, witchcraft.. etc. Cali, Columbia was one of them. A city that used to be the home of 7 drug lords, who had control over the government and everyone in the city. After the first city wide prayer meeting, people started coming to the Lord in masses. After one of the main pastors was murdered, the Christians were even more united and prayed more and more. In a few years 5 of the drug lords were caught, and the churches grew like crazy in size and number, and the city was no longer living in fear of the drug trade. Other places were, a suburb of Nairobi, a valley in Guatemala, and a small retirement town in California. All of these transformations began with prayer- churches united in prayer. I am so excited to see God change Fresnillo like that! I am excited that we are already joining with other Christians to worship.

Well, it has been over a week since I arrived in Fresnillo. I still love it. It is beginning to sink in that I am going to be living here for a while. And I have just a hint of feeling like this is home. It helps that our bond is Christ, and we are a family in Him. The reality that I just met my family a week ago is still there, though. At the same time, the new things keep coming, and speaking in Spanish all day can be tiring. So I feel like I am going uphill and downhill at the same time. But, of it is always so sweet to remember that God has brought me here, and He is fulfilling my dream! He is my strength and my comfort, my shelter, my constant One.

Praise God with me:
-more understanding of Spanish (making Mexican friends is a good sign that Spanish is going well)
-I have brothers and sisters here
-city wide worship

Pray for
-Unity of the Christians in Fresnillo, perseverance in prayer, humble leaders
-God would use that to change Fresnillo, and so many would come to know Christ
- continue learning Spanish
-that I would look to God for everything I need

Thanks for reading friends!
God bless you!

Mara

Dios Cumple Sus Promesas

I am in Fresnillo. I love it. I really really love it here. Not that the city is amazing, beautiful or perfect weather- not any of those actually, but I am so happy to be here. God is fulfilling my dream, and that is amazing. He is an awesome God and He is faithful.My house is amazing- I already talked about that some. We have 5 turtles, an open patio with lots of plants, I love my room! It is tiny but has a high ceiling with exposed rafters. The walls are yellow, and the floor is green tile, bare wood door. Oh, it is all so perfect.

Monday was my first full day here, and also the team's day of rest. So, I began by spending some time with God- praising Him for brining me here, and also letting Him comfort me, and give me peace. Meredith showed me around a little and we went grocery shopping. I rearranged my room and started unpacking. For dinner Meredith, Becca (temporary roommatee for 2 weeks), Katie (fellow new missionary), Elizabeth(my 'buddy'), Gretchen, and I went to a yummy taco place. Now, erase hard corn chip shell, ground beef, lettuce, etc. From your mind. We had 3" tortillas with shredded beef, cheese, and salsa and lime. Monday was a very hot day, and even at night our bedrooms were still too hot to be in. SO, we slept on the patio! So nice outside, and so fun to sleep under the stars. All 3 of them. :)

Tuesday was planning and meeting day. All of this takes place at the Patio- my house. Katie and I officially met the team over breakfast. Then we began planning for next week's Club, and for Vacation Bible School- The theme for VBS will be " Dios cumple Sus promesas" "God fulfills His Promises" How true. So, first we talked about these events then spent time cutting out shapes from construction paper, planning the songs and dramas, and getting to know the team. Most of this was in Spanish too, since some of the team only speaks Spanish. We had a team lunch together, and then had a missionary team meeting in the afternoon. The team welcomed me and Katie and prayed for us- that was special. I rested for a bit, and then went to Cell group. Cell group is a fellowship and Bible study time for about 30 people ages 16 - 35. We sang a few songs, read a passage, discussed it, and then prayed with a prayer partner. At least that's what I think happened, because I understood very little of what was said. Except, I know my prayer partner, Cristina, prayed for me to learn Spanish and make friends. I already feel very at home here. The team is taking such good care of us and the Mexicans are so patient with our Spanish, and so welcoming.

Today was Club day. Started off by setting up and praying. Then we split up and either walked or took a van to surrounding neighborhood to invite and pick up kids. We had about 40 kids in the morning and 90 in the afternoon. We started out with the big group to sing some songs- including memory verse songs. Then Estephan acted out a little drama of Jesus healing the crippled man. We broke in to smaller- age groups and talked about how God takes care of us and gives us what we need. So the kids talked about what God gives them that they are thankful for, and made a little craft. In between Clubs, Elizabeth and I spent time with Maricela- a 10 year old who has been coming to Club for 5 years. Last week Maricela prayed to accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior and commit her life to Him! (Praise and Glory to God!) We played Twister, got a snack from the store, read a book about Saul's conversion. Elizabeth and Maricela talked about how the Holy Spirit lives in us and can change us, and we prayed together and then walked her home. Such a blessing to spend time with her and see God working in her.

Tonight I got my bike out of the shipping box and put it all together. Everything arrived safely, Praise God! I am ready to ride tommorow. This is important because tommorow I will go with Elizabeth to visit more kids. They are not within walking distance of us or each other, and all 3 vans are signed out, so we ride. I am excited. Tommorow is also chore day and Friday Katie and I begin much needed Spanish lessons.Tonight I also had a hamburger from a little cart around the corner. This is a favorite for the team. I had mustard, mayo, ketchup, pickles tomato, green peppers, ham, pineapple, mushrooms, and something else that I am forgetting. I told them to hold the lettuce (could have bacteria- but I will work up to it) and the chilies. Suprisingly good.Ok, the altitude, sun, and kids wore me out today, so that is all for now.

Praises:
-I am communicating in Spanish
-Everyone is so welcoming and loving
-We arrived safely with all our luggage and my bike made it too
Please pray for:
-Maricela to grow, and heal from emotional hurts. Pray for her family as well. We do not know what her home life is like, but 90% of these children are abused in some way at home. Pray for her family to come to know Christ and to be changed by the Holy Spirit.
-The Club kids who come next week. We will be sharing the gospel with them.
-Me to learn Spanish, for understanding the language
-To be open to God molding me and growing me.
-Safety as we ride our bikes.

Thanks for your prayers!God bless you!
Mara

Please write me! I would love to hear from you. Check my email for the mailing address. If you send something more than just a letter, pray in makes it here. They almost always do, but we don't have because we don't ask God

Why Mara is in Mexico

For those of you who do not know yet, here is a summary:

I am working with Christ for Children International in Fresnillo, Mexico teaching kids about Jesus and living for Him. CFCI has a team of 11 missionaries and a Church in Fresnillo. We have Bible studies, cell groups, Kid's Club, Pandilla (youth group), and other programs every week. I am working with ages 2-10 in the Kids Club and spending time with the children and their families. I have commited to thirteen months in Mexico, with the possibility of staying longer.

I am raising my funds for flights, living expenses, insurance, stipend, etc. The total I hope to raise is $16,000 for the 13 months. If God is leading you to contribute, send a check to CFCI (see address in my email). I am grateful to God for all the funds he provides. I could use much prayer as well! I would love to hear from you- email me or send me a letter. If you do not have contact info, email me at mara_whitney@yahoo.com.

2 more days

Well, I am still in Maryland with my family. I leave for Mexico on Sunday! Only 2 more days.

Here are answers to questions that some of you have had recently:

Where will you be living?
I will live in what they call "the patio". It is a small (by US standards) house with a courtyard in the middle. All of the rooms open to the courtyard, so I have to go outside to get to the kitchen and bathroom and any other room. This is the type of house that I have dreamed of living in since I was 10. It is also the place where we have some team meetings and lunches, Bible studies, and other group events. Since I love being in the center of the action, where all the people are, this is also exciting for me. The best part, though, is that I get to live with my friend, Meredith.

Who is Meredith?
Meredith Omland was my counselor for about 6 years in the youth group at Fourth Presbyterian, my home church. She discipled me as I learned to serve Jesus and live for Him. Meredith has been in Fresnillo with CFCI for 8 years now.

What are you looking foreword to most?
I am so excited to see God's power. I am expecting to see Him working in ways that I know are possible but have not seen. I am joining a team of 11 missionaries who are filled with the Holy Spirit, united for one purpose in Christ's name, and devoted to prayer. I have faith that God will continue to do amazing things in Fresnillo. I have heard reports of how God has been working through CFCI for the past 10 years. He has turned lives around- freeing alcoholics from their addiction, healing broken families, and taking children who have been abused and neglected, and giving them hope and joy in Him.

What is your biggest fear?
God has given me so much peace and I know that I am in His hands, but some fears still pop into my head sometimes. One is that I would just not get the language, that a year would go by and I would still be struggling with conjugating verbs. I know this is irrational because I have studied Spanish for years, and I will be immersed in the language. I am also afraid of the pain of being separated from my friends and my family. But, I know that God will use that to grow my character and my faith.

What is Fresnillo like?
Will you have running water and electricity?
Fresnillo is a city of about 250,000 people in the state of Zacatecas. Yes! We have running water, electricity, Internet, phones, etc. The main thing that I will not have is heat or A/C. (Mara, would you need heat? You are going to Mexico!) Fresnillo is at 7,000 ft elevation, in a semi desert climate. It is hot and dry during the summer and cold in the winter- especially at night.

Well Friends, I'm off to Mexico!
Dios le bendiga!

Mara