In a area, tucked high upon a mountain in the state of Oaxcaca there is village called La Cumbre, where people walk several miles every Sunday to hear and learn about

This little boy is like many other little children in the villages surrounding Oaxaca, awaiting a name. You see here in several of the villages parents wait to name their children as they do not know if they are going to live. Several are called Precious, Bella (which means beauty), or just Sweetheart until they actually receive their names. But when they do you can rest assured that they have taken time to choose the very best name they can find for each one has a unique significance. My question is not what there name really means, but is their name written in the lamb's book of life? God knew who they were from the moment He created them. I would love to come into the presence of our maker and have Him call me Bella and allow me to enter (which by the way I know will happen). Help us to make sure children like this little guy and the thousands like him are given the same opportunity to hear their names called out, what a day of rejoicing that will be!

How many teachers of Bible School or Sunday School feel like your teaching and no one is listening? Think again, it has been 37 years since I was in VBS and look at your works now!!
Who would have ever imagined that my early years in Bible School could have helped people feed themselves? I learned to make angels with only ribbon, christmas ornaments, and a glue gun when I was a little girl and I happened to be praying one morning for new ideas to introduce to the ladies in the villages, when God reminded me of the little angels. First of all God, "can I remember how to do this as you know I am old as dirt and have slept a little since then?" He gently guided me to find all the material for very cheap prices, helped my old brain to remember every detail on how to make them and then smiled when all the women we showed them too made a profit off of each one they made. Not only were they a big hit, the women in Loxicha were able to sell enough of them to use for food, not only for their own families, but to provide food (despensas) for those who had nothing. I am always amazed at how God works, do you have a craft you can share, come and teach those who want to learn, who think that they are forgotten. If you can not come pray and maybe you can share with me by email, it does not have to be something elaborate just creative and then watch as God does the rest

I have no idea what type of job you have or if you even like it, but in our line of work we not only love our jobs but we are blessed over and over. However, we received the biggest blessing ever this year when the new church plants that we had started about 6 months ago all got together and started talking about a name for their churches. The first gift for us was that they consider themselves a church and not just a Bible study or cell group, secondly that all the 3 areas came together to talk about their name and thirdly that they wanted a name to identify themselves in their communities. For our team this was a blessing straight from Heaven, however, God decided to give us an early Christmas gift as they told us their new name, "Community of Faith of Oaxaca". I am not sure if I was more touched by the name they came up with or with the great pride they had in telling us their new name. We asked them how they came up with it and they simply replied, "that they have seen how and what church really is with our groups and with our team and that they want just be an extension of what God is up too here." I love this gift, as I did not even have to unwrap it or have to worry about getting something for the one who gave it to me, I just got to enjoy it. Merry Christmas and well done COF for your team in Oaxaca and all over the world, keep up the good work.

How many of you have children in your home? What are they doing right now? Playing Xbox or just maybe watching TV? This little girl does not even know what that is. She has an important role in her family, making sure that the chickens get fed and watered, which in turn makes sure that her family gets to eat as well. We have been observing families who have been given a hand up, not a hand out, how they value what has been given to them, how they appreciate it, how hard they work to tend to it and how it has given them a sense of self worth. I wonder sometimes if we are teaching them or if they are teaching us. The Bible says, "and a little child will lead them". How appropriate.

These precious people are from and area called Loxicha. Victor the tall one by Kerry, is the pastor and the other man pictured is Feliziano. They have recently started an incubation production in their new incubator and are excited and praying for all of the eggs to hatch. Please join us in praying for this it means they will get to have protein in their diets and be able to share with the orphans and widows in their village and surrounding communities. This also gives them and excuse to share God's word with them. How cool is the God we serve to use agriculture as a way not only to fill their stomachs, but to feed their souls.

Day of the dead is a celebration here in Oaxaca and all over Mexico that is very real and celebrated by almost everyone. The people do this from fear of the dead rather than respect for their relatives who have passed. They believe that not doing this would anger the spirits and cause them bad luck. Business owners all close for this 4 day weekend and spend time with their families as they all build their alters in attempt to reach their dead family members, even to the point of sleeping at the grave yards throughout the night. They place breads, candies, mole, nuts and skulls of sugar on the alter with hopes that the dead will pass by and eat what they have prepared for them in remembrance. Fireworks explode all over as this is supposed to guide the spirits of the dead back home. We share this with you not to cause you to think how odd, but that you would pray that satan is bound during this time of darkness and lies and that Jesus, Lord of all would be the light during this time of evilness and deception. He is and will forever will be the Ruler of all.