This year is Mexico’s bicentennial celebration. On the 16th of September, 1810, Mexico stated its independence from Spain (even though the actual declaration came 11 years later). Two hundred years have gone by which is a long time for man but for God it is only a flash.
The changes that have taken place in Mexico in the last 200 years are incredible. It has grown from a population of 6 million people to a 110 million people; from horses and mules to super highways, from six months mail service to high-speed Internet. In all this our God has not changed. Among all the festivals we have continued sowing the Word in all the areas that we can.
Our Christian Secondary School started classes once again on the 23rd of August. This year we have a new challenge as we do not only have our regular students but we also have 3 Huichol Indian students who are living on the premises and studying. We also have now registered with the government to open a primary school. We have already received the authorization and we are now working on some paperwork that needs to be finished. Our plans are to open the school in August, 2011.
The 15th of September is a big Mexican celebration. This year with all the violence that has been happening many people were afraid to leave their homes. To combat that fear we got together with 4 other churches in the city and celebrated a Christian Fiesta. We used the county fair grounds and had a great time with all the 3 ‘F’s’ (food, fellowship and fun). The youth did skits, while the rest of us just enjoyed fellowship and feasted. Being able to join together with other Christians of different denominations is a great testimony to the community. This is what made the New Testament church strong.
Church buildings are necessary. Without them we have no place to gather together. Out-growing a church building is a wonderful experience. In the small town of San Luis de Lozada we have had to double the size of our small church building. The town's people are responding to the gospel and the number of believers is growing. Little by little the building is going up. This month we will be finishing the bathrooms and we hope to have the new section roofed by the end of October. Very soon we will be dealing with the same situation in other churches where we minister.
Ministry is a family thing and we are blessed to have all of our family involved in the ministry. Over all we are very grateful for the miracle that Jesus has worked in Sister Elizabeth. The cancer that had invaded her body is gone and she is on the road to recovery. Brother David is now able to get back to his reading and counseling that has become his ministry. Agustin and Damara are working well along side us and have been a great blessing in many areas of the ministry. Simri and Vanessa continue in school, Simri in Sydney, Australia, while Vanessa is here with us in Tepic. Lucy is very involved in many aspects of the ministry, as it has become a fulltime job for her.
Our special need at this time is to purchase a good used vehicle here in Mexico. We need just over $5,000 dollars for this purchase. We covet your prayers and your faithful offerings.
Philip, Lucy, Simri & Vanessa Tolman
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