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.
Merry Christmas from Leo and Pilar
It seems like everything gets really busy this time of year and the whole month of December gets compressed into what seems like a week. We are four days past our thirtieth wedding anniversary, one week from graduation and all those activities, just over two weeks from Christmas, and then the year is over. 
The Bible studies we have been leading and hosting are winding down and taking a break over the holidays, most of the students will go home on break after graduation, surf school takes a break, and we look forward to a couple of weeks to work at a slower pace so we can plan and regroup for next year.
We plan on staying here in Mexico this Christmas. We will miss being with family and friends but at the same time enjoy being here with our new family and friends. We are realizing more and more that Christmas is about what God has done for us and not what presents we find under the tree.
Students from one of the classes, The Minor Prophets, asked us to be Joseph and Mary in a timeline they were doing to illustrate the topics they had covered this semester. They had stations illustrating each of the Old Testament books they studied and ours was the last one. One of the students told about the station we were in. He said the prophecies they had studied pointed to Jesus and his coming to live on earth with us and that He was the focal point of history. None of the prophets realized what their part in the larger picture was, but they each one did their best to represent 
God to the people.
His words to us was that though we may not know the whole story as we serve the Lord , we should do our best to make Him known and at the end of history we will see how it all worked together.
We are so thankful that you choose to spend time praying for us and support us as you do. We would not be here without the support of friends and family sharing with us. We hope and wish and pray for you to have a Blessed Christmas and a great New Year in 2013.
In the coming year if you want to partner with us financially you can click on the Become a Financial Partner button on our website at SGWM.com/gray for bank draft or credit/debit card. Or you can send checks 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
Posted in Monthly Update, Uncategorized by Mike Thiemann with comments disabled.
November News
It’s almost Thanksgiving and we have so much to be thankful for, especially as Christians. We have the privilege of serving the one who has given us everything we need and blessed us beyond what we deserve. We hope you enjoy this season with family and friends. Pilar and I are planning
to cook a traditional Thanksgiving meal for the students who don’t go home on break. It gives them and us such a sense of family and home. We are really thankful for those of you who have been supporting and praying for us here in Mexico. I certainly don’t understand how he does it but God works through you so that we can be here for you , representing Him in Mexico.
It is harvest time here – we feel the chill in the air of autumn, the fall semester is well on its way, and we are starting to work on plans for the semester break in December. We see and hear of God’s harvest time here in Mexico through the testimonies of the students. It is so amazing to see His hand on their lives as they study to serve Him. In 2 Timothy 2:2 Paul tells Timothy “And the things you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” I got a short Facebook note this week from one of our graduates just saying thanks. She is teaching and discipling others using what she learned here at the College. Our prayer is that many more will be trained and will leave to share with others what they are learning also.
It looks like the next few months will be busy and challenging. The director of Casa Horizonte Orphanage ( a special needs orphanage for severely handicapped children) is leaving at the end of November. The orphanage 
was built on the college property so that students can have the opportunity to learn about children with special needs and put into practice what they are learning at the college. Currently there are three children and eight staff members and volunteers who provide twenty four hour a day care for them. The leadership of the Bible College has been asked to oversee and direct the orphanage when the director leaves at the end of the month. We have been working with him as he transitions out and are getting to learn those lessons ourselves.
The aim of Casa Horizonte is to care for children with special needs unto the glory of God. As the Lord provides it will grow into an orphanage for sixteen to eighteen severely handicapped children. Most of them will be at Casa Horizonte for the rest of their lives. I am excited about the opportunity to be more involved in this wonderful ministry. The three kids have been such a blessing already in the times I have been there. They are always happy when anyone comes to see them. I have to admit I am a little apprehensive too as I’ve never been involved in an orphanage ministry before. I know it is close to God’s heart to care
for them though. Needless to say, I have been praying for more help. One of the students who graduated in May, married a young lady from Ensenada, and has come back to help us at the College. He is helping me with the day to day managing of the students and some of the projects we are working on. He couldn’t have come at a better time. Also our son Alex has returned to Mexico to serve as a missionary. It is nice having one of our boys around again. Since he graduated from the Bible College in May he has been working in Pensacola. He will be serving here with us at the College. I hope you will pray for us through all these changes. I know God has a plan and we are all a part of that plan so that He will get the glory and many will come to know and love Him. 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
Posted in Monthly Update, Uncategorized by Mike Thiemann with comments disabled.
October Happy Mexico Anniversary!
It’s hard to believe we’ve been here three years now. We arrived in October of 2009. It seems like yesterday when we look at all we still want to do and at the same time it seems like we’ve been here much longer when we think of friends and family that we miss.
I kind of like to reflect on what has happened in the time we’ve been here to help me keep things in perspective. It has been quite an adventure and God has been at the center of it the whole way. I’m sure everyone around me sees it differently but here’s my story.
Year one was one adjustment after another. Finding our way around, trying out a new language, living in another culture (though similar to what we were used to but so different too), settling in to a new home, new ministry, new routine, new food, new currency, new coworkers, new church, new friends,it was a whirlwind of changes. It was kind of like living in two worlds the new and yet tied to the old. Our truck was stolen and miraculously recovered.We went on a mission trip to mainland Mexico with our students. We were surrounded by college kids all day who love the Lord and are looking for ways to serve Him and don’t seem to mind that we are older and have trouble speaking their language. Somehow by God’s grace we not only survived but found ourselves enjoying the challenges and the growth we were experiencing in our lives.
I think year two was the year for expanding our horizons. One of the key members of our team at the college moved back to the states and my role changed quite a bit. I worked closely with him but still at times being in charge of both operations and project was a bit overwhelming. We were able to finish a lot of projects that weren’t quite finished. We also took over hosting the teams that come to help. I didn’t get much training in that area and had to figure out a system to keep up with all those details. It was so fun getting to know people from all over coming to serve. I think all our previous mission trips with the high school group helped prepare us for that. The college is in a remote valley north of town and since we were spending so much time there we were feeling just a bit isolated from the Ensenada community and other ministry opportunities. I like to surf and Pilar likes the beach and somehow we found a surf ministry on Saturday mornings to help.Ensenada Surf and Skate has a Bible Study then teaches local kids to surf. It was just what we needed to get us in the community doing something on Saturday mornings. We like the guys and gals that come each week and enjoy watching them grow. We went on a couple of surf trips with them and helped with their surf movies and skate outreaches. 
Pilar was asked if she would host a women’s Bible Study at our house on Tuesday mornings. She was really missing the relationships with her friends in Florida and needed some ladies to fellowship, study, and pray with. It has been amazing to see that group grow as they study God’s word. As we look back we see God’s hand and His faithfulness in helping us every step of the way.
Year three has just been incredible. It has been a year of amazing miracles of God’s provision at the Bible College. We can only praise God for all He is doing. We have had some great interns who have been such a blessing this year. They serve for four to six months. We have continued to get such great students at the College who are so encouraging to watch and see growing in their walks with the Lord. Our son Alex was one of them and he graduated in May. The summer was filled with teams visiting and working. It was so amazing to see God at work in their lives as they served with us. Most of the students couldn’t believe all the changes they made over the summer. We started the summer with very little money for the building projects and a lot of projects to get done. Each team that came brought funds with them that were just the amount we needed to finish the new dorm 
and the addition to the chapel. We also had a Canadian contractor join our staff. His construction knowledge and work has been nothing short of incredible. God’s timing is always best. Not only do we see fruit from the Bible College we see God’s work in the lives of those coming to Surf School. Last week one of the guys lead the Bible Study for the first time and he did a great job. Two or three others have been given the opportunity to speak and were such a blessing to us. I lead a Bible study for men on Thursday nights. We just finished the book of Mark. Yes I was missing that too like Pilar, it just took me longer to realize it. There’s just something about studying the Bible with a bunch of guys who love the Lord. We also joined Saving Grace World Missions this year. They are the Mission agency that processes our support, keeps us up to date with the IRS, and helps us keep in contact with you. They email our newsletters,host our web page, send out prayer requests, and check up on us periodically to see how we are doing.
What’s up for next year? Only He knows for sure. We pray that He will continue to use us and give us opportunities to serve Him. We are so excited to be here and want to thank each of you for your prayers and support. You are so much a part of who we are and what we do. What an awesome God we serve.
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
Posted in Monthly Update by Mike Thiemann with comments disabled.
September Update
School is back in session and is bigger and better than ever before. What a tremendous blessing to have forty three students living on campus this semester. It’s exactly what we are in Mexico for. Our aim is, To be a place for believers to be rooted in God’s word and sent out by Him to reach the world for Christ..”
These students are from all over Mexico, the US, and one from Nigeria. They come to study the Bible and grow in their faith and walk with the Lord. I can’t think of a better place to be than with people like that. It’s like being around friends at church all week long.
It’s hard for us to believe but we are the oldest people on Campus. A lot of the students kind of adopt us for a couple of years. Pilar is becoming more and more their Mom away from home. She brings home clothes to sew, projects she’s helping them get done, helps with the grocery shopping, runs the campus store, and is always there with a smile and a prayer when they need it. A majority of the students work with me on the operations crew so I’m more of the boss, Jefe in Spanish. For some reason I get called that a lot here, even in town by people I don’t know. I used to be bothered by it but I think that here it is said with fondness and respect. One student did mention I’m like the Dad making sure everything is alright and keeping them out of trouble.
We sure appreciate those who are supporting us and are praying for us as we work with the students here. We have a sense of making a difference for His Kingdom. As we hear reports from around town and around Mexico, we see God is moving and people are responding to the gospel message. It is so exciting to be a part of His plan. We hope you will continue to pray for us and the students.
Pray too that others will join us in the ministry here. The fields are ready to harvest but the laborers are few. Our prayer is that God will call many to serve Him and come alongside and partner with us ministering to these students.
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
New Dormitory and Offices
Chapel (Shiloh) Addition
Posted in Monthly Update by Mike Thiemann with 1 comment.
August News
What a great summer so far. We have had week after week after week of teams coming to help us here at the Bible College. What a blessing to have them come and share a part of their summer with us. They are all so fired up and ready to help. Despite what the news has been saying they come to Mexico and share their time, talents and resources to move the college forward.
Our projects this summer include the expansion of Shiloh – our worship center, finishing the new student dorm – Nazareth, moving the store – La Viña, adding gravel to our road, expanding a parking lot, improving the landscaping, and a whole lot of other projects. Our returning students will be so surprised and blessed by all that has been done this summer.
Pilar and I would like to thank all who have come to help and pray that God will draw you close to Him and bless you for serving him in Mexico. Thanks too for partnering with us and allowing us to continue to serve Him here at the Calvary Chapel Bible College Mexico. We want to be a place where believers are rooted in God’s word and sent out by Him to reach the world for Christ.
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
Posted in Monthly Update by Mike Thiemann with comments disabled.
June News
This has been a most incredible spring for us. There are so many flowers and plants blooming like crazy at the college and on the road to the College this year. God is so amazing how He plants and waters and makes so many different and incredible plants grow and blossom.
We’ve been in Mexico now for two and a half years. It seems like we have been here longer because it feels like home and sometimes it seems like we just got here and are still amazed that God has put us here. Recently we’ve seen a lot of the things we have been doing beginning to blossom and grow because of seeds planted and being watered. Paul talks about that in 1Corinthians 3:5-9 he planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth and the increase. It is so encouraging to see what He has done.
Our son Alex graduated from the Bible College here in Mexico in May. He was co-valedictorian with another student from Mexico. He gave a speech at the graduation ceremony and everything. We are so proud of what God has been doing in his life. He moved back to Pensacola to work for a while and plans to return to Mexico as a Missionary at a later time.
At the graduation one of my former students, Jose’, was so excited to tell me he was starting five small groups with the high school group at his church. He was in my Discipleship class and one of the leaders of the small discipleship groups that meet on campus once a week. He is training the leaders of the small groups and will meet with them regularly to help them develop as leaders and disciple makers. Another one of the students who has a lot of 
discipleship training from his church in Mexico City is leading a Bible Study in a migrant farm community outside Ensenada. It only took a little bit of encouragement to get him started and I have been amazed at how God has blessed him and provided for everything he needed. This summer he is working there with another ministry and keeping the Bible Study going.
Ensenada Surf and Skate – the surf ministry we help with on Saturday mornings, continues to amaze me. We see some of the kids there maturing and stepping in to help and are teaching the Bible study or sharing what God 
is teaching them. They are getting better at surfing too. Though I haven’t been able to surf the past few months I still enjoy seeing them and hanging out with them on the beach.
Pilar and I both see God working in our Bible study groups. The relationships and friendships we have been able to establish have been so special to us. A lot of them are missionaries like us, so we share in their triumphs and difficulties. We both thank God for the opportunities we have to be a part of their lives as they serve Him in Ensenada.
Now that school is out and summer is here we are busy hosting short term Mission teams. It is so incredible to see how God works on people’s hearts as they serve alongside us and help us at the College. Our prayer is that He will call many of them into missions and that they will experience His love in new and fresh ways while they are in another culture.Corrie Schweigert interned with us last semester came to Mexico with us two summers during her high school years. It was fun to see her grow in her walk with the Lord and love for Mexico while she was with us.
There is so much more to say but we want mostly to say THANK YOU. Thank you for partnering with us in your prayers and support for us and for being a part of what God is doing in Mexico. Without your support we wouldn’t be here and we are so thankful for you.
In case you didn’t get the new address and 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
Posted in Monthly Update by Mike Thiemann with comments disabled.
March 2012 Newsletter
Greetings Family and Friends,
We have made a change recently and wanted to give you a brief update. Pilar and I have joined Saving Grace World Missions in Yorba Linda, California. A lot of missionaries work with an agency like Saving Grace World Missions for accountability and administrative support. For those of you who are getting this newsletter and are supporting us and praying for us, we really appreciate your being a part of our ministry. Pastor Mike will fill you in on some more of the details at the bottom of this update. We do believe this new partnership is the Lord and are excited about being a part of their vision for Missions and reaching the lost world for Christ.
Ministry Update
Pilar and I both serve at the Calvary Chapel Bible College. She manages La Viña, the campus store. She also helps in the kitchen and goes shopping with Lupita, our cook, every week for groceries in town. It has taken some time but she is not afraid of driving here now and gets around like a local. If you’ve ever driven in a foreign country you know what I’m talking about – not bad just different. The Lord keeps adding some amazing ministry opportunities to her schedule. On new addition is on Tuesday mornings hosting and co-leading a ladies Bible study at our house. There are about twenty who are now coming to the study. Another opportunity the Lord has blessed Pilar with is leading a Thursday night study across town for a different group of ladies while I lead a men’s group a few blocks away. I am blessed to have her as a wife and agree with Proverbs 18:22 when it says, “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing.”
My days are spent as Director of Operations at the College. I have three interns, a builder, and a bunch of students who help me keep things going and cleaned up. It is a little more difficult than I had imagined since we are in a remote location with limited resources – water, electricity, sewer, vehicles, tools and equipment, phone service, and internet. Somehow we manage but it is always a challenge. It stretches me and makes me more flexible in how I have to do things – I guess I was spoiled being able to drive down the street and pick up what I needed to fix stuff. One of my greatest joys is to teach a class on Discipleship on Monday mornings. I teach the small group leaders who lead small groups on campus each week. It is great to see the impact that making disciples has on those who are making other disciples. It’s like multiplication instead of addition.
Another ministry the Lord has given us is to surfers at Ensenada Surf and Skate. We have a Bible Study on the beach and give surf lessons to kids in the community on Saturday mornings. It is such a joy to see the kids catch their first wave but an even greater joy when they come to know Christ as their Savior and start growing in their walk with Him!
Continue to pray for us as we serve here. It is truly a blessing to be a part of what God is doing in Mexico.
God Bless You,
Leo and Pilar
A Note From the Director
Greetings! Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Pastor Mike Thiemann and I have the privilege of leading Saving Grace World Missions and working directly with all our missionaries all over the world.
I wanted to write you a brief note for a couple of reasons. One is to introduce myself and the second is to help answer any questions you might have.
It is the vision and passion of Saving Grace World Missions that our missionaries are the most loved, cared, and prayed for missionaries out there. However, the only way we can accomplish this goal is through all of us linking arms together and doing our individual parts. Leo and Pilar are called by God to go and minister in Mexico and God has called those of us who are at home to send them well. I encourage you to seek the Lord on what your part is. Has God called you to partner with them in prayer or administrative support and or financial support? However God has called you to be involved in the Great Commission and in sending Leo and Pilar to Mexico we are here to help you.
You are receiving this e-mail because the Gray’s added you to their e-mail list. If you wish to be removed to to use a different e-mail please don’t hesitate to notify me.
If you wish to sign up to receive weekly prayer requests from Leo and Pilar and the rest of our Missionaries you can do so by visiting –http://sgwm.com/wp2010/category/prayer-requests and filling out the e-mail sign up form on the right side of the page. And don’t worry. Your e-mail will never leave the safety of our lists and won’t be used for any other purposes.
If you desire to partner with Leo and Pilar financially you can do so in a couple of different ways –
- Electronically (Check or Card) – visit their website at sgwm.com/gray and on the right hand side you will see a button that says, “Become a Financial Partner.” That will take you to our donation page. There you will have a couple of different option. The main two I would like to highlight is the, “single gift” option and the, “monthly gift option.” The single gift option is there for you if you desire to give a one-time gift and the, “monthly gift” option is there if you desire to give on an ongoing basis. If you click that it will ask you what date you would like your gift to be processed (on the 3rd or the 18th). I would highly encourage you to consider the monthly gift option simply because it helps the Gray’s manage their budgets and know how much is coming in on what day.
- Check or Cash – You are welcome to send in a check or cash to – 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.”
I want to thank you for taking the time to read this note and again if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact our office at 714-993-4801.
God Bless,
Pastor Mike Thiemann
Director
Saving Grace World Mission
mike@sgwm.com
Posted in Monthly Update by Mike Thiemann with comments disabled.