Dear Friends and Family,

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR !!

We would like to thank all of you for blessing us with your prayers and support of our family and for the ministry in Uganda.  This year has seen many ministry opportunities arise in our church and in the community.  It has been exciting to see God move in the hearts of the Ugandan people. As a  church we have enjoyed meeting together both in church and in fellowships to pray, worship, and fill ourselves with the teaching of God’s Word. We look forward to this coming year to see what God has in store. You are in our thoughts and prayers as we enter this new year. God Bless You this holiday season as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus!

In Him, 

             Brian, Jill, Luke, Laylee, and Liana

Merry Christmas to you all! May the peace and grace of our Lord Jesus be upon you and may His joy fill your heart. God bless you all. Have a blessed wonderful season of Christmas. It’s our prayer that the Lord would make you channels of His salvation to many lost souls during this season.

Many events took place last month. We know that it is a busy time for everyone, therefore we will share briefly about some of them. I was invited to share the Word in a three-day meeting in a big city church for their church anniversary. I preached for those three days on “The Purpose of the Church.” The people were challenged. Many made commitments to live their lives to bring glory to the Lord. 

I was also invited to share the Word in a school in the morning school assembly on “Thanksgiving Day.” Most of the teachers are non-Christians. The Gospel was preached to the teachers and students. Pray that the teachers and students would put their faith in Jesus. 

One of our church members who is from a Hindu background had a birthday celebration and house dedication ceremony. Their Hindu relatives and Hindu friends from the village were invited, so we had the opportunity to preach the Gospel. In our area, we are not allowed to openly preach the Gospel. Occasions like this give us opportunities to preach the Gospel. 

We had State elections in our state and in four other states as well. Previously we had a government in our state that favored democracy. Now the government that is anti-Christian has come in power. The same government is in power in the central government as well. This government wants to make our country a Hindu nation. They are making public statements on TV like this, “Muslims and Christians have to come back to Hinduism because they were originally Hindus. If they don’t become Hindus, they won’t be allowed to live in our country.”

We praise the Lord because He reigns in the kingdom of man. The church is established by the Lord and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Please keep us in your prayers that we will be His bold witnesses. Pray also that during this Christmas season, He will give us many opportunities to preach the Gospel to the lost souls around us.

Thank you for being a valuable partner in the ministry of the Gospel through your prayers and financial support.

Co-workers in Christ,

Pastor 15* Family

*Names and Faces have been changed or omitted for security reasons.

Hello dear pastors, partners, and leaders. Greetings from our church!

I thank God that He has kept me safe. I also want to thank you for always praying for us. I hope that you will be blessed after reading this update and continue to pray for us.

I had a very encouraging and heart-refreshing time with the visiting pastors.

I want to express my gratitude to God that He has given me the opportunity to work in an organization where we feel like we are members of the same family! It was a very joyful time meeting with the pastors who came from America in November. We talked about how we can further the Gospel of Jesus. God filled our hearts with new enthusiasm through which we could carry the news forward with enthusiasm and force. We all shared the testimonies of our lives with each other. After hearing each other’s testimonies; we were greatly encouraged and looked forward to expanding the work of God. I thank God that we had this beautiful meeting and also that it happened in a very safe manner.

A widow woman was thrown out of her village and threatened to be raped and killed because of the Name of Jesus Christ.

A woman from our church is named DD*. She has three small children. Previously, her husband died suddenly. She is raising her children by farming on her own and by working in other people’s fields. 

About eight years ago, my father and I went to her village on a bicycle. At that time we told her about the Lord Jesus Christ. Right then, she believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and started coming to the house of God. Since then, she has been coming to church. She also brings her daughter who is now about 15 years old. Her daughter is also a very good believer and sometimes leads worship in our church. 

We used to go to her village once a week and have fellowship, until 3 years ago. But the upper caste people in her village opposed us. They gathered a lot of people to stop the church. They wanted to kill me and my dad. But someone warned us, “Today they are planning to kill you. Do not go to the village.” 

Because of the warning, we did not go to the village to have a worship service that day. But the people came to this woman’s house and threatened her. They said, “If you do not stop following Jesus Christ, we will do bad things to you and throw you out of the village.” 

This poor woman stopped having church fellowship at her home, but comes to our church every Friday and Sunday and also participates in prayer. Please pray for her. She has been thrown out of her house because she is a widow who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ. Because of this, she has built her own hut in a field. She lives their with her three children. I gave them an audio Bible this week so that they can always listen to the Word and worship and pray. May God bless their family.

A woman who is in pain and has weak bones is still preaching the Gospel.

I want to share with you about my mother. She is about 65 years old. She always has pain in her waist, knees, legs and hands. For this reason, I took her to a bigger city in November so that she could get good treatment. They tested her and found out that her bone density is very low. Because of this, she will have to take injections every day for one and a half years. She also often needs to take pain medicine.

Her bones are weak, but she is still young in faith and in the work of God. While we were in the big city, when I saw that she was in a lot of pain, I gave her pain medicine. About a half hour later, I saw that she was preaching the Gospel of Lord Jesus Christ to women her age. This was a great joy for me. I also see that when our church is over, she talks with the women, counsels them, tells them about the Lord Jesus Christ, and prays for them all. Please pray for her that God will heal her and fulfill every need for her treatment.

I am continuing to distribute audio Bibles!

I thank God that He arranged for some audio Bibles for our church. In order to get them, I drove about 300 km (186 miles) by motorbike and brought them back. Most of the people in our church are illiterate. They are very excited to learn the Word of God. I gave an audio Bible to a another family and I want to give more. I also gave Bibles to two believers who had been attending our church for about 8-10 years. They had been learning God’s Word but did not know how to read and write. I gave them audio Bible so that they can listen and understand well. Please pray that God will make more audio Bibles available so that I can give them to the uneducated people. The people who gave me the audio Bibles are now reluctant to give them to me. Because of the increase in persecution, many pastors have hidden their New Testaments. Some pastors have left their New Testaments at our house because they know that we are not afraid and will distribute them. So now we have 1,500 New Testaments. Please pray that we can distribute the New Testaments before Christmas.

Prayer Requests:

1. Please pray that our Christmas program and Christmas outreach will happen without opposition.
2. Please pray that my mother’s health gets better.
3. Please pray that it is possible for us to have children. We got a medical check-up done in a bigger city. All of the tests came back normal, except that my wife has a thyroid problem. May God heal her.
4. Please pray for our South Asia Admin’s father who is ill. May God heal him.
5. Please pray for our church to grow more in the Word of God.
6. Please pray that God fulfills our every need.

Thanks for your Christian love, precious prayers, and partnership in the Gospel!

God bless you all!

Pastor & Mrs. 11*

*Names and faces have been changed or omitted for security reasons.

Greetings to all of you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am very blessed by the Lord’s mercy! I am very excited to share the works of the Lord with you!

I thank the Lord that He is making the ministry that He has given me fruitful. I see those who have newly joined in the Lord growing in the Word of God. They have love for the Lord and stand firm in their faith in every situation.

Every Sunday we are reading through the Book of Romans. In chapter 14 verse 1, it is written, “Take into your company the one who is weak in the faith.”

Because the church here is becoming stronger day by day, there are many people in the church whom the Lord has prepared through me. They are also doing the ministry of the Gospel along with their other work. Because of this, new people are coming to the church and are getting connected. 

We are thinking of renting a room for the new fellowship that we have started. This would help the believers in that place not to have difficulty coming to church or have to travel far to go to church. We have found a church hall nearby in which no fellowship is going on. This week we will talk to the owner about renting it.

For several years I have been going to different districts to do ministry. The Lord has used me in those places. This was able to happen because there are many ministers ready in the church here who handle their responsibilities very faithfully in my absence. Last month I was able to go to the mountains for ministry twice. My vision in 2024 is to go to all the 13 districts where the Gospel of the Lord has not reached.

Prayer Requests:

• We are having a Christmas program on December 17th in an area that is about 150km from the area I live.
• On December 18-20 we plan to do outreach ministry.
• We are planning to have a Christmas program with children in the slum. 
• We are having a Christmas program with only those who come to faith from the mountain tribes and speak the mountain language on December 22. We are expecting more than 150 people.
• I am planning a Christmas program in the village where I live. We are expecting about 200 people. We are preparing a Christmas dance. All of those invited are non-Christian. 

Please pray for God’s protection over us and all of the programs! 

Thank you so much for your prayers! 

Pastor 12*

*Names and faces have been changed or omitted for security reasons.

Praise God for our second team that came from Calvary Rosarito! It was an all-ladies team who did a ladies conference here at Calvary Conexion Mexico. They did a two-day conference called “Women in War.” It was an amazing conference with multiple speakers, activities, games, food, and an awesome program for the kids learning about the armor of God. It was also such a blessing to have ladies come from 3 other local churches and 2 ladies accept Jesus as their Savior at the end of the conference! After the conference, the ladies helped us paint our new church building and did an amazing detailed painting on the children’s classroom wall!

As mentioned in our last newsletter, we have officially moved to our new church building! It was a big step of faith since our new building wasn’t completely finished. We didn’t have any bathrooms, nothing covering the windows, and no running water. Now, praise God, we have a functioning bathroom (not yet finished though), running water, and all the windows are covered! By having the windows covered, it has made a huge difference with it being winter time. We have hit as low as 33°F at night. Lord willing we will be able to insulate and seal the church soon. Not only for the cold, but also the bugs!

We are also so proud of a couple in our church named Dennis & Salvador. They have been through a lot in their relationship, and they have grown and matured so much in this year that they have been attending our church. Dennis had been trying to get close to God again in her relationship, but the church she was going to previously just turned a blind eye towards the things that her and Salvador were doing. Like living together without being married, leading a marriage Bible study whilst not being married, still doing catholic traditions while going to a Christian church and claiming to be Christian, etc. Dennis was the first to join our church with her kids, then Salvador started coming a few weeks later. With everything that they were learning at our church studying the Bible verse by verse, they decided to do the right thing and get married! So we have officially had our first wedding here at Calvary Conexion Mexico! God is good! (Big thank you to Kristy for taking their wedding pictures!) This is just one of the many testimonies that we have heard from our congregants. God is really transforming lives here in Calpulalpan. People are learning so much, because in the few Christian churches that are here, none of them study the Bible verse by verse as we do at Calvary.

As we began our Christmas celebrations here at the church, we first had a Christmas party for everyone who has been serving at the church. It was a fun party with games, delicious tamales, ponche, white elephant gift exchange, and a special mug gift for all of them. We are so grateful for all of them and for all that they have done. Everything that we have accomplished here at Calvary Conexion Mexico is thanks to God and all of them. It would not have been possible without them. We also had 3 Christmas movie nights at the church which was sweet! Click here for more photos

We also got to have an awesome youth Christmas party. It was such a blast having the youth from Calvary Cocoyoc join us for the party! We are very grateful that they made the drive out to celebrate together with our youth. It was such a fun time with lots of games, special Christmas message, a piñata, food, snacks, and more. Click here for more photos – Click here for a video

We are excited for our upcoming Christmas concert and also our Christmas Eve service. There will be photos in our next newsletter!

Now we would like to give a very special thank you to all of you! Thank you to all of you who have prayed for us through the good and hard times. Also a big thank you to all of our financial partners who have partnered with us through this first year of our ministry! None of this would have been possible without you all. All of this spiritual fruit that is being harvested here is yours as well! We would like to ask all of you to consider and pray about becoming a financial partner with us if you aren’t already, and if you are, to consider and pray about continuing to partner with us to further the Gospel here in Calpulalpan in this next year. Whether it is a one-time gift, monthly, or yearly gift, every gift counts no matter the amount. Thank you once again for all you have done, we are praying for you and your family! God bless.

⁶ Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Prayer Requests:

• Provision to finish the bathrooms at the new church
• Provision to fence in all the property that the new church is on
• For protection over the church building and property
• Provision for our family as we go into a new year with changes in our financial partners
• For wisdom in choosing and planning the Bible studies, activities, and events for 2024 for the church
• For wisdom and guidance from God as we plan to start the Church Planting Class next year
• For wisdom and provision for a big youth event that we are planning for summer 2024

Praise Reports:

• That we have moved to the new church building on the property that was donated to the church and are no longer paying rent
• That our family was able to move to a better, cheaper house that is still close to the church
• That we have a working bathroom at the new church building
• That we have an amazing group of servants at our church
• That God has provided for our every need this year on the mission field

ESPAÑOL

¡Gloria a Dios por nuestro segundo equipo que vino del Calvario Rosarito! Fue un equipo exclusivamente de mujeres el que realizó una conferencia de mujeres aquí en Calvary Conexión México. Hicieron una conferencia de dos días llamada “Mujeres en guerra”. Fue una conferencia increíble con varias que compartieron, actividades, juegos, comida y un programa increíble para que los niños donde aprendieron sobre la armadura de Dios. ¡También fue una gran bendición que mujeres vinieran de otras 3 iglesias locales y 2 mujeres aceptaran a Jesús como su Salvador al final de la conferencia! Después de la conferencia, las hermanas nos ayudaron a pintar el nuevo edificio de nuestra iglesia e hicieron una pintura increíblemente detallada en la pared del salón de clases de los niños.

Como mencionamos en nuestro último actualizacion, ¡nos hemos mudado oficialmente al nuevo edificio de nuestra iglesia! Fue un gran paso de fe ya que nuestro nuevo edificio no estaba completamente terminado. No teníamos baños, nada que cubriera las ventanas y no teníamos agua corriente. ¡Ahora, alabado sea Dios, tenemos un baño que funciona (aunque aún no está terminado), agua corriente y todas las ventanas están cubiertas! Tener las ventanas cubiertas ha hecho una gran diferencia siendo invierno. Hemos tenido temperaturas tan bajas como 1C por la noche. Si Dios quiere, pronto podremos sellar bien la iglesia. ¡No sólo para el frío, sino también para los bichos!

También estamos muy orgullosos de una pareja de nuestra iglesia llamada Dennis y Salvador. Han pasado por muchas cosas en su relación y han crecido y madurado tanto durante este año que han estado asistiendo a nuestra iglesia. Dennis había estado tratando de acercarse a Dios nuevamente, pero la iglesia a la que iba anteriormente simplemente hizo la vista gorda ante las cosas que ella y Salvador estaban haciendo. Como vivir juntos sin estar casados, dirigir un estudio bíblico matrimonial sin estar casados, seguir practicando tradiciones católicas mientras van a una iglesia Cristiana y afirman ser Cristianos, etc. Dennis fue la primera en unirse a nuestra iglesia con sus hijos, luego Salvador comenzó llegando unas semanas después. Con todo lo que estaban aprendiendo en nuestra iglesia estudiando la Biblia versículo por versículo, decidieron hacer lo correcto y ¡casarse! ¡Así que oficialmente hemos tenido nuestra primera boda aquí en Calvary Conexión México! ¡Dios es bueno! (¡Muchas gracias a Kristy por tomar las fotos de su boda!) Este es solo uno de los muchos testimonios que hemos escuchado de nuestros congregantes. Dios realmente está transformando vidas aquí en Calpulalpan. La gente está aprendiendo mucho, porque de las pocas iglesias Cristianas que hay aquí, ninguna estudia la Biblia versículo por versículo como lo hacemos en el Calvary.

Cuando comenzamos nuestras celebraciones navideñas aquí en la iglesia, primero tuvimos una fiesta Navideña para todos los que han estado sirviendo en la iglesia. Fue una fiesta divertida con juegos, deliciosos tamales, ponche, intercambio de regalos de elefante blanco y una taza de regalo especial para todos ellos. Estamos muy agradecidos por todos ellos y por todo lo que han hecho. Todo lo que hemos logrado aquí en Calvary Conexión México es gracias a Dios y a todos ellos. No hubiera sido posible sin ellos. También tuvimos 3 noches de películas navideñas en la iglesia, ¡lo cual fue genial! Haga clic aquí para más fotos

También tuvimos una increíble fiesta de Navidad para jóvenes. ¡Fue genial tener a los jóvenes de Calvary Cocoyoc uniéndose a nosotros para la fiesta! Estamos muy agradecidos de que hayan hecho el viaje para celebrar junto con nuestros jóvenes. Fue una fiesta muy divertida con muchos juegos, un mensaje especial de Navidad, una piñata, comida y botanas y más. Haga clic aquí para ver más fotos – Haga clic aquí para ver un vídeo

Estamos emocionados por nuestro concierto de Navideño y también por nuestro servicio de Nochebuena. ¡Habrá fotos en nuestro próximo actualizacion!

¡Ahora nos gustaría darles un agradecimiento muy especial a todos ustedes! Gracias a todos los que habéis orado por nosotros en los momentos buenos y difíciles. ¡También muchas gracias a todos nuestros socios financieros que se han asociado con nosotros durante este primer año de nuestro ministerio! Nada de esto hubiera sido posible sin todos ustedes. ¡Todo este fruto espiritual que se está cosechando aquí también es tuyo! Nos gustaría pedirles a todos ustedes que consideren y oren para convertirse en socios financieros de nosotros si aún no lo son, y si lo son, que consideren y oren para continuar asociándonos con nosotros para promover el Evangelio aquí en Calpulalpan en este el próximo año. Ya sea que se trate de una donación única, mensual o anual, cada donación cuenta sin importar el monto. Gracias una vez más por todo lo que has hecho, ¡Estamos orando por ti y tu familia! Dios los bendiga.

⁶ Pero esto digo: El que siembra escasamente, también segará escasamente; y el que siembra generosamente, generosamente también segará. ⁷ Cada uno dé como propuso en su corazón: no con tristeza, ni por necesidad, porque Dios ama al dador alegre. ⁸ Y poderoso es Dios para hacer que abunde en vosotros toda gracia, a fin de que, teniendo siempre en todas las cosas todo lo suficiente, abundéis para toda buena obra;

2 Corintios 9:6-8

Peticiones de Oracion:

• Provisión para terminar los baños de la nueva iglesia
• Provisión para cercar toda la propiedad en la que se encuentra la nueva iglesia.
• Para protección del edificio y la propiedad de la iglesia.
• Provisión para nuestra familia a medida que avanzamos hacia un nuevo año con cambios en nuestros socios financieros
• Por sabiduría al elegir y planificar los estudios Biblicos, actividades y eventos para el año 2024 para la iglesia.
• Para obtener sabiduría y guíanza de Dios mientras planeamos comenzar la clase de plantación de iglesias el próximo año.
• Por sabiduría y provisión para un gran evento juvenil que estamos planeando para el verano de 2024.

Reportes de Alabanza:

• Que nos hemos mudado al nuevo edificio de la iglesia en la propiedad que fue donada a la iglesia y ya no pagamos renta.
• Que nuestra familia pudo mudarse a una casa mejor y más barata que aún está cerca de la iglesia.
• Que tenemos un baño que funcione en el nuevo edificio de la iglesia.
• Que tenemos un grupo increíble de siervos en nuestra iglesia.
• Que Dios ha provisto para todas nuestras necesidades este año en el campo misionero

Hello family, friends, and fellow co-laborers in the faith,

What an amazing and fruitful year “2023” has been! Full of twists and turns in the ministry, in our family, and in our own personal relationship with Jesus. Yet, God has remained true, amazing, faithful, patient, forgiving, and merciful with us! 

Family life

Celebrating Birthdays

Biblical Counseling 

My new office and counseling room is taking shape! (those are gifts for the children’s ministry in the black bags!) We have had a lot of requests for Biblical Counseling this season! Thankful to God, Claudia and I have about 7 additional people helping us!

Bilingual Women’s Study

“Women of Worth & Purpose.” Equipping and discipling ladies to be equipped for every good work, God has prepared beforehand for them to walk in.

Church Planting Visits and Conferences 

Paul got to visit The Rock Calvary Chapel in Port Charlotte, Florida. Pastor Aaron Smith and his wife Robbyn were wonderful hosts! That’s the Sunday service in the photo above. 

The 2023 Mexico Pastors and Leaders Conference in Mexicali gave me the privilege of saying hello to Pastor Hassan Villegas (CC Acapulco), Pastor Lucho Garcia and wife Nori from Calvary Gracia Lima, Peru! And Pastor John Barrilaro of CC Mexicali, the place where Claudia and I met doing missions work when John and Laurie started back in 1995!

I had the pleasure of connecting with my former pastor David Rosales and his wife Marie at a the Pastors and Leaders conference in Mexicali! Claudia and I were part of Calvary Chapel Chino Valley from 1995-2006.

Newlife Rehab clinic

Men’s Ministry

Pastor Mike and Pastor Ted watching the football game! We find that sports and food are a great way to reach men! Next to me is my new friend Gerardo. Next to him is Mario Vega, our next church planter!

Staff

Patio Ministry 

Edgar was part of our life group and has gone with me to the rehab clinic and the youth prison to share his Christian testimony. Salvador has a great heart to worship God and will be accompanying me to the Rehab clinic in 2024!

“2024” plans if the Lord wills:

Bilingual Women’s Ministry missions trips and Paul’s mission trips:

Mission trips:

• Help host a women’s retreat in Morelia, June 20-24,2024

• Local one-day conferences: Ensenada, Otay, and Tijuana.

• Host a women’s retreat in Lima, Peru!

• Paul’s trip to Morelia, Oct 4-8, and the privilege of sharing at the retreat. 

Prayer requests:

• Women’s Bilingual Bible Study: Continued vision, table leaders, women who attend to be equipped and discipled.

• Rehab: Fresh vision and more committed and faithful men to accompany Paul.

• Biblical Counseling: counselors guided by the Holy Spirit and counselees strengthened in the Lord.

• One-day conferences in March and October. Topics, workshops, and hearts ready to be taught.

• Family: Lydia’s upcoming wedding, Poiema heading to Peru to finish her second semester, Cristian finishing high school and future plans, Natalie finishing her first year as a high school science teacher while getting her Master’s, Benjamin’s future plans and as for Paul and myself: Keep Jesus first, our relationship second, family and ministry. 

Praising God, for all of our family, friends, and co-laborers in the faith. Thank you for partnering with us, believing in us, reaching out to us, praying, financially giving so that the ministries we are serving in can be encouraged, poured into, and have all they need, to fulfill God’s calling and good works He has prepared for them. This is your spiritual fruit as well. Merry Christmas and a very blessed and prosperous new year, spiritually, and physically. 

The best is yet to come!

UnitedinChrist,

Boubion Family

The Tippie’s in Peru

Christmas 2023 Newsletter:

Hello from Oaxaca! It’s been a long time since our last update so we’ll just fill you in on what’s been going on the past couple of months. Things are going really well down here and we love serving the Lord here in Oaxaca.

A few months ago, Jon was invited to share at a church in the mountains, about 3 hours away from Oaxaca City. Since then, we have taken a team to do a VBS for the kids, and now some of the men from our church rotate going on Sundays, including Jon. They leave after church and make the drive up, spend time with some of the church body over a meal, teach a church service, and make the 3-hour drive back home. It’s a long day for them but they all really seem to enjoy it and have the desire to pour into the people there. This church is different than Calvary Chapel but now they have men teaching them verse by verse with sound doctrine.

In October we were able to be in California to celebrate our granddaughter’s 1st birthday with family. We also had opportunities to spend time with some of you while we were there. Jon shared with Calvary Chapel Saving Grace’s young adults, he had the opportunity to spontaneously share the gospel invitation at two events (Calvary SouthOC and Calvary Chapel South LA), and Jon and I got to share our missionary testimony with a mission’s class. We had hoped to see more people but we were all hit with sickness throughout the trip.

The men’s and women’s ministry started the book of Colossians. We continue to meet on the same night, have a time of worship together, and then break off into men’s and women’s groups. I teach the ladies and absolutely love it. Jon has some great guys who rotate teaching the men so that he can focus more on his Sunday sermon and online classes that he’s been taking through Moody. He continues to teach in Spanish and has improved so much. It’s amazing to see! He also has a church planting class that he teaches once a week, which is really helping build some of the men up who will hopefully one day plant churches in and around Oaxaca.

We are still going to the casa hogar (orphanage) once a month. This month is the 2-year anniversary since the first time we went with a team from Calvary South OC. It’s such a blessing to be able to go and spend time with the kids and staff. We have really built great friendships with all of them.

Jonny and Noah have really grown and changed. They are more outgoing (such shy guys) and have built some great friendships with some of the youth in the church. Please pray for their Spanish. They understand almost everything but are still shy about speaking. They are also playing with the worship team for one song this Sunday, while the kids from church sing. This will be their first time in front of everyone. Jonny plays drums and Noah plays the guitar.

Last Sunday we had 4 people take the step of faith and get baptized. It was so amazing to witness and we plan on doing another baptism soon for those who weren’t able to this time.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support for our family and the ministry here in Oaxaca. You all are a part of what the Lord is doing down here and we couldn’t do it without you!

As we close out 2023 and are about to celebrate the birth of Christ, let us not forget HIM in all of it. Not just at Christmas time, but every day. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all. We love you and miss you. If you would like to visit us, let us know. Also, for more frequent updates you can check out our Instagram and Facebook pages or send us a text. We always love hearing from you.

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6

Jon, Allison, Jonny, and Noah

PS…scroll through the pictures above.

Hi y’all! Happy almost Christmas! Man, I can’t believe the weeks go by SO fast! It has been about a month this my last update, and let me tell y’all, it has been a BUSY past couple of weeks. I’m excited to share with you guys what the Lord has been doing in and through me. Thank you for taking the time, may you be blessed!

Touching Lives

And the trips to Mexico continue! Early Saturday morning, together with the Calvary South OC Team and Anchored Relief Team, we traveled down to Tijuana, Mexico. We went to minister alongside Mexico Chaplains, as well as the Tijuana Police Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education Program (D.A.R.E.). There were over 200 kids here, some enrolled in the Youth Chaplain program, but others coming from the worst areas in Tijuana because of gang participation, drugs, and violence. On this specific outreach, I got asked to share my testimony with the youth. Part of me was excited, as always when I get to share about how the Lord has transformed me, but the other part of me was nervous- they’re so young, what if I say the wrong thing?

Luckily, I was continued to be lifted up in prayers from friends and family and the Lord was able to speak through me! During these moments of sharing my testimony, it always makes me think of Paul. How he had such a radical transformation, and throughout his years, he would be in front of magistrates and kings! It reminds me of the boldness and the courage that he had when he would speak and how he knew that the Holy Spirit would be with him. It amazes me how God continues to touch lives with my story as well. That day, more than 120 kids professed Christ and received a Bible for the first time! I was in awe. I couldn’t believe it but it continued to remind me how BIG and GOOD our God is! And to continue to be bold and confident because of Him!

At the Pulpit

The week of Thanksgiving, I had the opportunity to head back down to my home church, Calvary South OC and spend time with my friends and family there. A day before the service, I get a text from Christine, one of the Pastor’s wives, and she asked me if I was available to share my testimony of God’s faithfulness this past year. I didn’t need too much time to think about it- but without knowing what I was actually going to do, I said yes! Are you starting to see a pattern here in how the Lord is working through me… yeah, it gets better.

I wanted to draft a 2-3 minute speech in case I start talking too much and go over (typical me). I called Debbie (another Pastor’s wife) and asked for feedback and what needed to be changed. She was so sweet, and kindly she said, “Mayra, you are exhorting the church too much, we need to tone it down.” Ha, tone it down. Okay. And so I did. I wrote another speech and finally felt a little ready. The next day, I show up to service and I’m told I’m going to speak in front of the whole congregation- at the pulpit. YUP! You read that right. At the pulpit. Thankfully, I had my amazing cousin and friends with me- and once again, lifting me up in prayer and growing in confidence that the Spirit of God was going to move through me. And like always, He did!

Check out this link and fast forward to 23:00 to hear a recap of God’s faithfulness this past year, Living Thankful.

Missions Training School

On top of all these amazing experiences, school continues on as we start School of Ministry and School of Discipleship. During these classes, we are being reminded of what it actually means to follow Jesus, how to follow Him, and to count the cost of following Him. It has been a thought provoking class to say the least. Reminding me that Jesus’ path wasn’t one of success, fame, or even popularity. It was one that led to the cross. One that led to His death, resurrection, but also, it was an ultimate gain, for us! As His disciple, as His follower, I too must follow that path. To die to myself- my feelings, my emotions, my desires, my wants. And to be FULLY surrendered to a life after Him + His Kingdom.

We also started our teaching series through the book of Philippians on Wednesdays. This is probably my favorite part of the week so far! I LOVE studying the Word of God, and now I’m able to practice my gift of teaching with fellow students. I knew the letter of Philippians was going to be a challenge- Paul was in chains and writing about REJOICING! I knew the Lord was going to be working and speaking to me through it, and I was as ready as I could be. It has been so sweet continuing to see how the Spirit of God moves through me and allows me to see Scripture in ways I had never seen it before.

Praise Reports

• More than 120+ kids came to Christ during the Outreach!
• I was able to share my testimony in Mexico and at my home church, double blessing!
• We finished off a great year of School and ready to be refreshed for what this next year may bring!

Prayer Requests

• Please pray for the Youth Chaplains, for those who are continuing on in the 6-week Discipleship program and for their hearts to be moved.
• Please pray that I continue to trust in the Lord and His provision. I know He is faithful!
• Please pray for the students- may we have a time of rest and be refreshed by next year!

If there is anything I can be praying for you, please reply back to this email. God is so faithful and He continues to hear the prayers of His children. May you all have a blessed Christmas this year and be reminded and filled of the best gift ever- Jesus Christ!

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

ROMANS 15:13

Eternally Grateful,

Mayra Alejandra

I hope this season of life has been one filled with joy and gratitude as we exit Thanksgiving and find Christmas upon us. I don’t know about you, but if I don’t take the time to slow down then I can often miss the important things the Lord has placed right in front of me. So much has been going on and it’s so easy to be so consumed with tomorrow that I miss out on today. Planning and preparation is needed, but Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:34, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Just one verse before He tells us, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” The remedy for my busy and distracted heart is always more of Jesus. I pray in this season that He would help you to keep your focus upon Him and that He would help you to find joy and rest in the midst of all the chaos that life can bring.

It can be so easy to get caught up in what needs to get done that my focus can easily begin to drift. It’s so easy to be distracted with all the good things that come up. The Lord is continuing to show me the areas that I can be moved (Acts 20:22-24), and is continuing to teach me to trust Him and take me to new heights. As always, sanctification can be a much slower process than we might hope for or like, but He is not in a hurry and He tells us not to despise the day of small things (Zech. 4:10). I want to be able to say, like Paul, “but none of these things move me…” (Acts 20:24). The Lord is at work, and no matter what I might feel He is making me new each day, and He will continue to take me from grace to grace. I am excited for all the He is going to do!

Things back in Sonoma County…

As you know I recently passed off the middle school group over to a family and it’s a blessing to see how the Lord is progressing the group already. It’s been growing a lot and I’m excited to see the growth that takes place as the Lord uses Mike and his wife Leslie! Please be praying for them as they continue to oversee the Middle School youth group! It’s been a whirlwind of a season. Time is short before our departure and January 17th is approaching rapidly. Between work, teaching, serving in other capacities at church, and trying to be intentional with the time I spend with family and friends it has been somewhat overwhelming. Even in the face of feeling overwhelmed I know the Lord is with me and using this time and season to prepare me for what’s to come. I’m thankful for His strength and renewal and I want to have a trusting, learning heart to receive what He is teaching me in this season. It’s all prep, and Jesus said, “he who is faithful in little will be faithful in much.” Please pray that I would be faithful and finish well. Last week I had two speaking engagements, both were a first for me, and one of them was my first Sunday message up at Calvary Chapel Willits. It was such a blessing to see some longtime friends and family in the Lord, and what a blessing to see the growth that is taking place since they planted it around 7 years ago. I got to share on our purpose as the church to go and make disciples. Please pray that the Lord would continue to provide them with opportunities to be a bold and shining light in a dark place. Every Wednesday we have missionary training with one of our pastors to prepare Andy (the guy who’s also going to Peru) and I before we head out. This has been a blessing and has provided a lot of practical reminders to help prep us for when we leave and how to get ready to go.

Peru-bound!

Right now I’m working on getting all of my paperwork ready to apply for a visa in Peru. Documents need notarization and to be apostilled (that’s a new one for me: it’s kind of like an international notary). Outside of some of those practical things for immigration, I’m trying to take time where I can to get my belongings packed up and sold/donated before I leave. I’ll be keeping some things, but much will go, and I will be trying to pack as lightly as I can when I go. I’ve got a lot to do, please pray that the Lord would continue to clear my path and make clear to me what doesn’t need to get done that I’ve unnecessarily added onto my plate. Please pray that I would finish well!

Here’s what’s left to do:

• a few different cabinet/construction style projects

• passing on or selling anything that I’m not taking (or putting what is staying in storage)

• getting everything else filled out and returned in time before we leave (all the legal documents for immigration)

• clearing out my residence and getting it ready for rent/sale (minor construction involved there)

• getting any final things that need to be packed and ready to leave

How to get involved…

My greatest need is prayer! Would you please pray with and for me and for the ministry the Lord has set before me?

• That Jesus would always remain my greatest priority—especially when busyness and necessity wants to draw me away from the secret place

• That I would be intentional in my times of prayer and seeking Him

• That I would have eyes to see the needs He would have me fill and how I can get others involved

• That I would have His heart in all He sets before me

• To finish things well

• To enjoy time with loved ones before I leave

• For continued financial provision

• That I would notice and utilize discipleship opportunities 

• That I would be a blessing and help to the ministry in Trujillo

Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support! I cannot express how appreciative I am! It’s amazing to see what the Lord has been doing and I just want to thank you for being a part of it.

As the Lord leads you, if you feel led to partner with me financially, the greatest need is for monthly support. One-time gifts are always appreciated and are also a huge help as there are a lot of upstart costs and other things that can come up. Thank you so much!