Rebounding and redemption

The other morning, Billy and I were playing basketball and we were teaching Olivia some things in basketball. (Well, really Billy was teaching basketball, I was just teaching vocabulary - LOL). I would tell Olivia what we called it when the basketball is shot, doesn't make it and one takes possession of the ball. After teaching her a few minutes later I would ask her again. "Olivia what do we call it when someone misses the shot and someone must get the....." I tried to help her with the "reeeee" and she looked at me and said "redeem." After we had our laughs we explained to her that it was "rebound." That little incident kind of set a tone for some things later in the day.

In the evening yesterday several things happened. Rachel and Olivia went and served disaster relief workers their evening dinner while Rick continued teaching the second half of his "sound technician" training. While all of this was going on Billy and I met with a few young men for a Bible study and discussion.

In our Bible study, in Spanish, we first read from Psalm 1 and discussed the importance of reading, thinking, and "meditating" on the Word of God. From there we followed up by reviewing the first two catechism questions from the Baptist Catechism. We then went in to working on memorizing the order of the books in the New Testament. Then we turned our attention to the book "A young man after God's own heart." This gave us a well-rounded education for the evening. After all the "teaching time" was over we played some basketball on the property.

Back to the matter of "rebounding and redemption." One of the ways that we are teaching others here is by simply reading through the scriptures and other books taking time to stop and ask if basic words are correctly understood. For instance, we have discussed words such as "Soberano" - Sovereign, "Discipulo" - Disciple, "Inmutable" - Immutable, and many others. It has been refreshing and also very enlightening to me personally.

I shared with Billy and Rick last night that some of the lessons that I have learned include:

Don't assume that words are understood

Don't rush the one you are teaching

Take time to read with the person, not just assign reading

Thank you again for following these posts and for praying for all of us. We also enjoyed a nice trip to Mexico yesterday as indicated in our picture above. Thank you also for praying for Olivia. Her bug bite is much, much better and the signs of infection seem to be going away. Praise the Lord!

In Christ,

Aaron

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Pray for the those affected by the shooting

Thank you all again for following the blog and keeping up with our mission stories. I must apologize for the fact that many of the blog posts are so lengthy but there is really no other way to keep everyone "up to date" on what in the world is going on.

Let's see, where should we start from the last blog post?

Hermano Pedro and Family
As mentioned by our sister and fellow mission partner, Sarah Weber, Hermano Pedro is recovering nicely at home. Thank you all so much for praying for him and his family. We ask that you remember to pray for them especially given the fact that he is the only one who works in his family of 10. He is going to be out of work for at least one month, if not two or three. For more information, please visit Sarah's blog at: http://drolldigression.blogspot.com/2012/04/update-and-request.html

Discipleship and Resources
If you are one who gives to Psalm 67 Missions Network on a regular basis, or have done so on any occasion in the past, I would like for you to know that some of your donations have gone to provided sound materials to areas that have very little access. One young man (12 years old) specifically asked for a book that would help him study the scriptures every day. He is meeting with us and reviewing the questions and answers during our visits. Other materials that are being used include a Songbook in Spanish developed by our fellow partner in the ministry, John Spencer, tracts by Mathais media, and books (such as the Baptist catechism), which are used for Sunday School. All of the products are in Spanish and are being used in a congregation that has not been able to purchase their own materials in the last 3 years or so. (More will be posted about this at a later date as Billy Jackson (photographer and mission leader in training for Psalm 67) is currently editing a video report from locals here in the Rio Grande Valley who will speak to this need. Pray for Billy as he is currently editing materials from this trip as well as a Bible Conference he recently attended.




Pray for those affected by the shootings
You are probably thinking, "why haven't you discussed this already!" Well, I thought I would share with you that this morning Billy Jackson and I went to the Baptist Campground and volunteered to help serve breakfast to a group of Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief volunteers. They are in the area because parts of the Rio Grande Valley have been declared disaster areas due to the violent storm that went through last week. After we were serving, Rachel and Olivia (our four year old daughter) joined us. As the staff and volunteers were gathering together one person asked for prayer requests. Olivia, having heard us a few days earlier speak of the situation in Mexico along the boarder, mentions "pray for the people in the shooting." I thank the Lord that she would be prompted to remember the people affected by this reality of war. We then joined together and prayed, knowing that the Lord, He is faithful, and He will answer us. Please join us in praying together for the freedom of all peoples and the end to the war in Mexico. Our conviction is that the only way that there will be justice and peace will be by the Gospel transforming persons, communities, and cultures.

We love you all!

The Suttons (and the rest of the team)


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Follow up - A la carte items

Allow me to mention some things sporadically to also bring you "up to date."

Sunday School
Yesterday for Sunday School, Rick lead a group of 9-11 year olds, Billy and Rachel worked together with the younger kids (and also in children's church), and I taught the Adults and teenagers together. In our class we finished going through the "Dos Formas de Vivir" (Two ways to live) tract. After we finished this tract (which we have been working on for a few months now), we began to turn our attention to question #2 of the Baptist Catechism. Having already discussed question #1 about What is the "fin principal" or "chief end" of man, we turned our attention to "What rule has God given man by which we may know how to glorify and enjoy Him forever."

The answer to the question "The Word of God contained in the Old and New Testaments is the only (unica) rule that God has given man by which we may know how to glorify and enjoy Him forever." Here are two quick thoughts on why this resonated so much with me already this week.

First, we discussed in class that if one is to know and be a follower of Christ, one must do so, only through the Word of God as mentioned in the lesson. It is impossible for a person to come to the knowledge of the True and Living God apart from knowing Him in the Scriptures. The Scriptures alone are sufficient to make one "wise unto salvation." Therefore we cannot understate the need and priority of getting the Word of God in the hands of all peoples of all languages. It is also important that we teach them to obey "everything" that the Lord has commanded us. (Matthew 28:18-20).

Secondly, in an effort to explain in greater detail that the Scriptures alone are sufficient, we looked at what is going on in the context of the Valley community. Brothers and sisters, please pray because there are many that are teaching "Jesus+" or the "Bible+." I can assure you as I assured the hearers on Sunday morning that this is no Gospel at all, but is a teaching of the enemy and enslaves people. For example, while we were driving around Saturday we found that many streets had the presence of Mormon missionaries. There were people absent from the congregation on Sunday morning because they have (since the last time we were here) been lead to a "Jehovah's Witness" service. Though I advocate that we must treat both camps mentioned above as people created in the image of God, we must at the same time tell them and others that they teach a foreign God and not the True and Living God that is mentioned in the scriptures. We can be friends, but we are not brothers in Christ. We must love them, but we do not love their teaching that enslaves people. The camps mentioned above do not believe that the Scripture alone is sufficient. They do not believe that Christ alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. These, my friends, are non-negotiable for those who desire to know the True and Living God. They are essential, not because I said so, but because this is the plain teaching of Scripture.

There is so much more to talk to you about. Please pray for our team, please pray for Olivia as she has a little bug bite that we are watching for infection. (Hey, I told you that the information included in this post is going to be sporadic).

In Christ,

Aaron

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Mission Update

Buenos Dias everyone!

Here were are in the Rio Grande Valley again and I would like to bring everyone up-to-date on a few things and specifically ask for prayer in a few different areas.

Here are some thoughts about a few of the days.

Thursday
On our trip south we ran in to a little problem of tornados crossing the highway in front of us. Though we did not personally encounter a tornado, it caused us to stop and wait for the storms to cross before heading south. We later stopped at a familiar place along our normal travel route and spent the night.

Friday
Friday we arrived at the Valley and made contact with the people from the congregation. Rick began a "Sound Technician" class with two people. His impressive training program was developed by him personally and he is now translating the details in Spanish.

Saturday
Saturday proved to be an event-filled day. Billy and I completed our morning jog to the local coffee shop. (I say jog, but it was more like 40% jog on the way there only and the rest was walking). Rick continued with round two of the sound Technician class. In the middle of the day a man who we refer to as "Hermano Solis" was working, cutting trees, when he was cut by a chainsaw, down to the bone. He had surgery later that evening. We were able to be with the family and pray with them, encourage them. Hermana Solis (the wife) was such an encouragement. As we were sitting in the hospital (knowing that the family has been through a lot lately), she asked if we could give her some scripture that she could cling to and find strength and encouragement. It was a joy to see her with her copy of God's word each time we visited.

Sunday
Sunday we all got a very early start and had a full day of plans. We ordered tacos for the congregation for breakfast and fired up the coffee pot for those who would come early. Billy ran the bus route at our previously established stops. We had a great service (about 40 or so in attendance). Enrique completed his first assignment as new "Técnico de sonido" and did a great job, I might add. In the message Sunday, we looked at the subject of baptism and how this relates to a visual reminder of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The day ended up with us resting for a while, then picking up Hermano Solis from the hospital and taking him home to be with his family.

I am writing all of this things to you, now on Monday. There are many other things that I would like to share with you, and by God's grace will do so perhaps in a follow-up post. Thank you all so much for reading, praying, sending, and going. Never forget that those who stay and support us in going are just as much part of the mission as those who go. We love you all!

In all things...Christ preeminent!

Aaron


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad