March 2013 Update
I turned around only once and it’s March already. We got out of our routine in January for a little vacation time when our son Bryan got married and now we are in March. The spring semester is going good at Calvary Chapel Bible College Mexico. We have forty six students and nine staff members living on campus and four special needs children with four staff members living at the orphanage.
The transition in adding the orphanage to the college has gone really well. We are able to assign some student work hours to help them and several of the students volunteer a few hours a week to help too. Staffing is short and two interns are leaving this month so pray that we have others to volunteer and minister there with us. I get encouraged every time I go by to check up on things. The kids are growing and learning. One of the boys who doesn’t speak was trying to say hola the other day. The staff members really work hard with them.
Pilar continues to manage the campus store. It has become more of a hang out place for the students. It’s loud and noisy but fun for them. Her Tuesday morning and Thursday night Bible Studies are going well. It gives her some time to study and grow with other women here in Mexico.
I have eight students in my Discipleship Class and really am enjoying teaching them this semester. They each lead a small group of four to six other students each week. I occasionally get emails and talk to some of the others who were in the class telling me about the small groups they have started and some of the people they are spending time with. So I am encouraged by their testimonies.
Our friend Mambo, who leads the surf ministry we work with, is getting married this month. We will be hosting the civil wedding at our house. It was an honor to be asked to be a part of their wedding and we pray God’s blessing for them.
Language acquisition is still slow for us. I don’t know if it’s age or just not being exposed to enough Spanish. So many speak English here, we have to remind ourselves to use Spanish, so the learning has been slow. We do understand a lot more but still it is hard for us to speak it and think it.
Easter (or Pascua in Spanish) is coming up at the end of the month. It has always been one of our favorite times of the year. We pray that as we all celebrate the resurrection this year that it will bring much peace and joy and that many people will be drawn to our Savior. Happy Easter! He is Risen Indeed!
We sure do like serving here in Mexico and have a real love for the people here. Thanks for your prayers and support. We appreciate all of you so very much.
If you want to mail financial support and partner with us in our work here you can click on the Become a Financial Partner button on our site at SGWM.com/gray for bank draft or credit/debit card. Or you can send a check to SGWM 17451 Bastanchury Rd. Suite 203 Yorba Linda CA, 92886. If you send a check please make it payable to Saving Grace World Missions and in the Memo Line write – “Gray.”
To contact us by mail: By email:
Leo and Pilar Gray leo@ccbcmexico.com
3621 Vista Campana South #75 Pilar@ccbcmexico.com
Oceanside, CA 92057
Leo and Pilar
Posted in Monthly Update by Mike Thiemann with comments disabled.