http://bobwaag.myadventures.org Bob Waag - Adventures In Missions - Matamoros, Mexico FYM en-us Wed, 8 Oct 2008 04:18:41 GMT 30 http://bobwaag.myadventures.org/?filename=fasting-part-ii http://bobwaag.myadventures.org/?filename=fasting-part-ii As I wrote on Tuesday, the FYMs and leaders are all putting into practice this week what we are learning about fasting.  Today is the last day of our fast, and tomorrow morning we will all join together for a Celebration Breakfast and an end to this time of fasting.  God has spoken to each of us during this time of denying our flesh in order to seek Him.  As we empty ourselves, we allow Him to fill us with His presence.  During our class time this morning we shared what the Lord had been speaking to us during this week.  Read from Laura about what Lord is doing in her life through this week of fasting...   WHY FAST?  Well mainly because JESUS SAID TO!  This week we have been learning and living in a mode of fasting.  This mainly consists of certain meals being cut out and replaced with time with the Lord.  I have to admit I was a bit nervous if you know me at all you know that I do love my snacks and special treats!  I Fri, 8 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://bobwaag.myadventures.org/?filename=fasting http://bobwaag.myadventures.org/?filename=fasting In Luke 5 Jesus said that when the bridegroom had been taken away that His disciples would fast.  This week the FYMs are trying this out.  The entire group is studying the topic of fasting, and the best way to learn is to put it into practice.  Throught the week we will be living out different aspects of fasting.  Some days we will miss one or two meals, other days we will eat small portions or simple foods.  Fasting is new to some of the FYMs, while others are have been practicing it for years, so we are walking it out together, encouraging and challenging one another as we go.  I believe that this will be a fruitful time for the entire team as we allow God to fill our physical hunger with the true bread of life.  Please be praying that God would use this week to touch the lives of each FYM and through them the lives of all with whom they come in contact.  God bless! Tue, 5 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://bobwaag.myadventures.org/?filename=back-to-work http://bobwaag.myadventures.org/?filename=back-to-work The FYMs have been back in Matamoros for a couple weeks, and are getting back into life and ministry here.  Look at what they have to say about their time back so far.    It is weird because it's been three weeks already and it has gone by really fast. We received our schedule for the semester and it's looking good. We have a lot of things planned and I am excited for it to start going. I have decided to change my internship. I no longer go to the school, but now I go to the prison. I am very curious to see how God is going to use me there. I have been reading a book named "Irresistible Revolution: Living as an ordinary radical," by Shane Claiborne and it has taught me so much. It talks about how the world needs Christians that love God with all their heart and show the love of God to others. I just feel like I have not reached that point yet but I want to get there. I want God to take over my heart completely and I don't want to hide it. Sometimes I just have stop, t Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://bobwaag.myadventures.org/?filename=back-in-mexico http://bobwaag.myadventures.org/?filename=back-in-mexico After a couple days of driving, flying, and losing and finding luggage the FYMs have arrived in Matamoros after their Christmas vacations.  We all look forward to an exciting semester of continuing the ministies we began in the fall, while also working with the short-term trips that will be coming to Matamoros this spring.  These trips will be an opportunity for the FYMs to put into practice the teachings and leadership they have been learning during their time here so far.  As a part of these week-long trips, we plan to work alongside the participants in different areas of ministry and hope to build a couple houses like Lupita's house in this picture.  Please keep us in your prayers as we jump back into work and life here in Mexico.  God bless! Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://bobwaag.myadventures.org/?filename=thanksgiving-week http://bobwaag.myadventures.org/?filename=thanksgiving-week                 When thankfulness comes from our heart thanksgiving becomes more than a Thursday on a calendar it becomes a lifestyle for a Christian.  According to1 Thess. 5:18, Heb. 12:28, Ps. 69:30, and Ps. 147:7 thanksgiving is what our hearts should be about but sin is what happens when we are ungrateful and unthankful (Romans 1:21-32). They did not glorify God nor give God thanks, and when that occurred they walked right smack into a bunch of other sins.  Since I've been down in Mexico I have looked around and started comparing myself with the people down here, and in my heart I thought "God, you have blessed me so much.  Thank you, God."  In my heart I thought that God was teaching me gratefulness by comparing what they have to what I have, what their health is to my health, or their poverty to mine. But then God has been teaching me that the comparison to others was hindering my thank Fri, 23 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://bobwaag.myadventures.org/?filename=more-construction http://bobwaag.myadventures.org/?filename=more-construction Last week the FYM team (and leaders) enjoyed a break from the normal schedule when Marcus, Greg, and Jay came down from Berean Bible Church in Columbus, Indiana.  Though it was hard work, and we were all exhausted so much of the time, we all learned more about working together as a team and completed numerous projects around the base.  The group also went to the city's old dump, where people still sometimes go to look for aluminum, and this is always something that touches the FYMs' hearts.  I'll let the FYMs tell you what God has been doing in them this past week. Okay, so this past Sunday we went to visit our friends Laura and Adolfo again and they are doing better. Laura said she has been praying for Adolfo all week and it turns out he didn't drink that whole week. How cool is that!...it so awesome to see this happen because she was just wearing the holy death bracelet about 2 weeks ago and now it's off her wrist and she's praying. I can't imagine what God is already Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://bobwaag.myadventures.org/?filename=construction http://bobwaag.myadventures.org/?filename=construction This week three men from Berean Bible Church in Columbus, Indiana have come down to help with construction on the church building.  The FYM team gets a break from their normal schedule to help out with all that needs to be done over the next four days.  Just this morning we poured the concrete for the hall of what will be the new guys' dorms, sealed the roof on the guys' side, and connected the wiring for the new rooms, and there is still much more to do!  This is going to be a week full of hard work, but we are all excited to see some more of the plans for the church coming together.  Please pray that the Lord would fill each of us with His strength as we work to complete all the projects.    Tue, 6 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://bobwaag.myadventures.org/?filename=el-norte http://bobwaag.myadventures.org/?filename=el-norte Greetings from Matamoros, Mexico!  God is continuing to do great things in the FYM team here.  After a week of teaching from Scott Borg, we are all ready to work on aspects of our character that need improvement.  We truly were blessed by his visit, as he had much wisdom to impart to each of us.  He also brought the cold weather with him, so the FYMs got their first experience of the Matamoros winter.  Now I'll let the FYMs tell you what God had been doing in their lives recently. I would love to thank those of you who are praying for my team and for how God is growing me individually-I feel it so strongly, like I am just surrounded by a bubble of prayer and like I'm being constantly lifted up.  I've seen God moving really powerfully in the past week or so- we've had some cool times of being really honest as a team, bringing things out onto the table so that they can no longer secretly take root.  Please continue to pray for us, that we would lay dow Fri, 26 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://bobwaag.myadventures.org/?filename=mud-mosquitos-and-meeting-people http://bobwaag.myadventures.org/?filename=mud-mosquitos-and-meeting-people The FYM team has been here in Matamoros for one month now!  They have been getting adjusted to life in Mexico and have been leaning a lot from the Lord.  Listen to what they have to say:   There has been a lot of rain this week, so the streets in our colonia are pretty much flooded.  Somehow the people here still manage to get around.  We walk down the street struggling to stay clean and on our feet in rain boots, while the locals walk around in high heels or white tennis shoes without a problem.  It's crazy! I'm still in the process of adjusting to everything - life here, my "new language", and my new family/friends.  The people and the culture are amazing.  In its own way, Matamoros is so beautiful.  It doesn't look like New York and there aren't any tall buildings, but to me it feels good.  I feel at home here - the same way I've always felt in Latin America.  Even though I'm still getting used to actually living here, I feel Wed, 17 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://bobwaag.myadventures.org/?filename=a-couple-weeks-into-it http://bobwaag.myadventures.org/?filename=a-couple-weeks-into-it The FYMs have been here in Matamoros for about three weeks and are beginning to get involved in their ministry areas.  Here are some stories of what God is doing in and through them.   Recently we starting doing our WOW's (walking on water) this consisted of going out to different neighborhoods nearby and doing whatever the Lord tells us to do.  Honestly it is a little scary!  My group went to one neighborhood nearby then the one we live in.  We did some prayer walking in asking God to lead us to people that we needed to talk with.  In Libertad (where I live) we met a girl who was about 19 and she is AMAZING! We were actually just walking in front of her house and she came out to show us how to avoid a big puddle of mud on her street. (mud is a COMMON navigation situation) We began talking with her and spending time getting to know her.  Her name is Karen and she watches her little brother Angel during the afternoons.  She asked us to come ba Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://bobwaag.myadventures.org/?filename=new-fym-team http://bobwaag.myadventures.org/?filename=new-fym-team On September 19 the new team of First Year Missionaries flew in after their week of training in Gainesville, Georgia.  Over the past few days they have been getting to know the city and their neighbors.  Last week they all chose their internship locations after spending time in Listening Prayer, and this week they will begin their WOW ministry (Walking on Water, which is their time to pray and minister in the local colonias).  I'll let them tell you in their words what the Lord has been doing during their time here so far. Last week we spent a lot of time in prayer in regards to what the Lord will have us do.... I am working at the hospital with two other teammates... it was the one thing I would have said that I didn't want to do...but i felt the Lord tell me to go and it is definitely going to be hard but I know that God will move and use me.  We visited two times and then officially started last friday and spent time talking to one man who was going to have Tue, 2 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT