Cristo de las Noas

Second Highest Statue of Christ in Latin America


Monument in a cave replicating the birthplace of Jesus





Brian and Leslie atop the mountain of Las Noas

Back in Texas

I'm back in Texas by the grace of God! Christmas morning at church, I was talking with the pastor's son, and he told me that Monday morning they would be traveling to San Antonio. I was exstatic! I told him that I was going to be making the same trip, and then on the Houston. God had provided me traveling partners for crossing the expansive deserts of Northern Mexico. The pastor's son, Juan Carlos, rode along with me in my car. He is only 16-years-old, but he is unusually mature, and I enjoyed getting to know him. He has a heart for God's kingdom.

I also enjoyed getting to visit more with his father Juan, the pastor. The stories of our spiritual journeys share many common elements. I spent the night in San Antonio with a couple that hosted us because it was already midnight when we got there. Tuesday morning I drove on to Houston, and I spent time with my dad's parents and my cousin Mike.

Yesterday I traveled back to West Texas, and I am here with my parents and sister finally. It is a blessing to be able to be back with them.

The extra time that I spent in Mexico was really special, and I got to spend much desired time with my friend Leslie and her mother and brothers. I praise the Lord for providing for all of my needs while I was in Mexico. Even though my car broke down over the holiday weekend, a brother from church agreed to fix it on the morning of la Noche Buena (Christmas Eve). It was not an expensive repair, which is a great relief to me since I have not been able to start working yet since graduation. Everyone I was with there was very generous with me, and the spirit of giving was evident in all. Our God is good!

Change of Plans

Hey everybody! Well, I continue here in Mexico. I had planned to leave early tomorrow morning (Friday), and today those plans changed. My car overheated today while I was driving downtown Torreon with my friend Leslie, and I have not been able to see a mechanic yet. Tomorrow morning I will take my car to Brother Nacho from the church here, and after he has a look at the car, I will hopefully be able to have a prevision of when I will return to Texas. Thank you all for your continued prayers.

I don't know if I will be here or there for Christmas, but for sure I will be celebrating the birth of our Savior wherever I am!

Signing off,
Brian

Living the True Christmas

Yesterday was a relaxing day. In the afternoon we went to the mall to back tickets for the movie "Las Crónicas de Narnia. " The mall where the cinema is located is beautiful! Then Rolando, his friend Pepe and I went to bowl. Well, I came out victorious!... if the lowest score were the win the game :P Just kidding. I lost both sets, but it was fun.

Then we went to visit Rolando's older sister and her kids. I am so thankful to have met more of Rolando's family.

Then last night ten of us went to the movie together. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is such a beautiful story! It is a powerful illustration of the fact that reality is so much more than we see with our normal eyes. The Creator had to deal with a great cosmic rebellion, and we play a big role is the restoration of creation to his "shalom." I liked some specific scenes, like when Aslan (who represents the Christ) breaths on the dead creatures to give them life again. That reminded me of Jesus breathing the Holy Spirit on the disciples after his resurrection in the book of John.

I also like the statement that the Lion (Aslan) is not tame, but he is good. We cannot figure him out, and he is dangerous at times, but he is good!

This morning I called Don Pedro H. Rivas, the president of a local university here, and a long time friend of my family. Rolando and I plan to go visit him this afternoon. Brother Riva and his dad were great friends of my Papaw. It is a pleasure to get to bring them greetings for my family in the name of Christ.

I hope you guys are being able to celebrate Christmas in its true meaning with your families. Christ has been born in our hearts!!!! May we boldly share this wonderful news so that others around us might have the blessing of celebrating true Christmas, the gift of Christ being born in their hearts. May we especially be attentive to family members that don't know Jesus themselves.

God is with us!!!

Meeting with La Comunidad Cristiana

Last night was really neat. Rolando and I first went to a ceremony for the graduating class of the medical school where his mother teaches. She was their favorite teacher so they asked her to be the guest of honor and make a speach. She is highly respected there.

Then I went to meet Rolando's paternal grandmother. She is also the grandmother of three of my other friends at ACU: Elizabeth, Carlos and Rodrigo Macías. It was really good to meet here.

After that I went to a celebration of the local church here at the home of a sister in Christ. We sang, and a lesson, and then ate tamales. I got to meet Leslie, one of Rolando's friends that I have been corresponding with for a couple of months, and that was really a blessing. I was really thankful to get to meet with the community of faith and worship the Lord together. I haven't been able to load my pictures of last night on Rolando's camera, so I will try to put them here later.

Be blessed!!
Brian

Some Photos

My time here on the net is limited, but I'll try to keep you informed as I can. Tonight we are going to go to a posada with the church group. It is a tradition here in which groups act out the scene of Mary and Joseph wandering around Bethlehem seeking a place to stay (posada).

Then we will be going to the movies to see The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. They say that the theaters of leather seats and tables with waiters and waitresses. Wierd! but cool.

Well, I better go for now. Abracos!

De Torreón, Coahuila

Hey everybody!

Everything went well with graduation Friday night. I had the weekend to visit several special people and prepare everything for my road trip. Now I am in Torreon, Mexico with my friend Rolando. We are staying in his mother's house. I look forward to meeting several of his friends this week.

Last night we spent the night in Piedras Negras just across the border from Texas. We were hosted in the house of some special family members of my mentors Jorge and Peggy. It was a wonderful stay.

Today we left Piedras Negras at 9:00 in the morning for Torreon. We stopped along the way at a place called Cuatro Cienegas in the middle of a vast desert. It is a place were beautiful blue springs of water emerge into pools of water that are as clear as glass. And the place was sooooo peaceful! You could not hear a sound.

Between Cuatro Cienegas and Torreon we passed through the most desolate place I have ever seen. Just white sands and sparce desert vegetation. The mountains were beautiful and majestic! I hope to upload pictures for you soon.

After the Freeze

Well, tonight is the big night. I will be seated in the colliseum at 7:30 with a thousand other students ready to walk across the stage. Graduation is finally here. I will take time to relax as Rolando and I make a road trip starting Monday. It should be quite fun.

Next semester I will stay here doing some teaching and translation work. During that time I will be seeking open doors to go serve the Lord abroad. I am looking for a team of people with whom to plant churches who are filled with the Spirit.

It has been bitterly cold here for the last few days. The temperature did not rise above 0°C for more than 60 hours. We spent a couple of nights with low temperatures of about -10°C. Now things have warmed up, and currently we are at 8°C. Most of the fall leaves lost their color during the cold spell, and things are as dry as they get. The current humidy is 15%. You cannot apply enough lotion to keep your skin for cracking and bleeding.

The sun has been a blessing today. Even though the temperature is fairly cool, that sun feels warm on our skin after the bitterly cold days behind us.

Ah, my friends Joel and Jessica have been preparing to go to China, and God has finally opened a door for them to go teach in Taiwan! It is a beautiful story.

Terminando

Hoje eu terminei minha última aula do mestrado! Glória a Deus. Ainda falta um grande projeto pra fazer, e depois uma prova final que faço em casa. Dentro de pouco estarei LIVRE!!! Mas pela graça de Deus, mesmo com muito trabalho ainda por fazer durante esta semana, sinto a paz do Senhor. Para Ele seja toda a glória pela vida que eu tenho, e pela oportunidade de continuamente servi-Lo e as pessoas ao meu redor. Tb quero Lhe dar graças pq se está mostrando fiel para me prover trabalho para o ano que vem. Deus é fiel.

Lhes peço que estejam orando pela viagem que vou começar segunda-feira, 12 de dezembro. Vou dirigindo pro México com um amigo meu para a casa dele. N sei quanto tempo vá passar no México, mas espero que seja uma bênção para ele e prà família dele.

Obrigado por todas a suas orações, e pelas suas palavras de encorajamento. Que Deus continuamente abençoe vcs.