Allbutt Journalings
What have we been doing in recent days
An online web journal (weblog) of Mike & Vanessa Allbutt. (Updated as often as we remember to.)
Monday, November 30, 2009
Moving Ahead
Hasn't the year gone by fast? If you are like us then you will already be making plans for the new year to come. We are so pleased at what God has done in and through us this past year and we look forward to the year ahead.
Mike enjoying a recent surf swell.
Housing
In our last newsletter, we shared our expectation of living in the same house until we returned to Australia in mid 2010. Circumstances have changed for the owner of the house, who will be returning to live here soon. We have been blessed to house-sit these past two years, paying only minimum rent and using the furnishings this house came with. Within a week of being informed, we had a new house to rent. Over the past few weeks we have been preparing for the move which we will be doing shortly.
Our new house. (Yes the road is steep!)
We need to thank everyone who has ever prayed for the sale of Mike's website business, because your prayers have been answered! The payment has gone through, and we have finished paying off land! It's the first time we have bought land, and the funny thing is, it won't be in either of our names. Due to Mexican law, only Mexicans can own land within 50km of the beach, so our little white skinned, blonde haired, blue-eyed Mexican (Olivia) will be the legal owner. Our plan is to build a home on this land sometime in the future.
Travels
In September we took a road trip to Cuernavaca (near Mexico City). While we were there, Vanessa flew to Cancun to visit her close friend Melissa from Australia, who was on here holidays. It was an awesome opportunity to catch up, more so since Melissa returned home to find her cancer had spread, and was not responding to treatment. She died a month after the Cancun trip. It hasn't been easy for Vanessa, but we are very grateful for the weekend spent together, and the good memories she has of her friend.
While in Cuernavaca, Mike was able to go to Mexico City to process lots of official documents. The outcomes are that Olivia is now the proud owner of an Australian passport, and Mike has a 5 year visa to enter the USA. This will make our future travels much easier.
In October, Mike left Vanessa and the kids for the second time in two months, to travel with Mando to LA. Together they attended the US Christian Surfers conference which was a good time of refreshment and making connections with many Christian surfers. We are hoping that mission teams will soon come to serve Christina Surfers Mexico in years to come.
Ministry
The Surfers Bible in Spanish (Biblia del surfista) is now available! We received and nearly distributed all of our first box, so a HUGE thank you to all those who help fund-raise for them. We've been able to give away many bibles to the local hard-core surfers and friends who are really seeking God. Please pray with us that those who read them will be impacted and changed forever.
Christian surfing movie at the beach.
Since the National Selection Contest in July, we have been able to help out at two other local tournaments: a bodyboarding contest for local youth in October and the big November Surf Contest. Our main role has been to keep the beaches clean, managing the bins and serving free water. But more than that, we seek to be a positive presence on the beach. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve and for conversations held with locals and tourists who attend these contests.
Beach trash cans are now permanently at key locations.
We have been blessed to see Thursday night Bible studies grow, and have started running the Alpha course for those who want to know more about Jesus. We continue to pray that the people we have contact with will not only hear, but also understand and make decision to follow Jesus.
Vanessa continues to run the Mothers' Group every Tuesday. The group has really grown, with about a dozen mums involved. We are not sure what next year will hold, as we have been meeting at our current house. The house we are moving to will not be appropriate for hosting the group, but we trust God will provide an adequate venue. Vanessa also meets with other ladies' Bible study on Monday nights. Although there is not a big attendance, it has been a special time of refreshing and encouragement for her.
Family
Joel & Priscila in a recent parade in town.
Joel turned three in September, and has joined Priscila in going to kinder. This gives mummy a few hours leisure time during the week, while Olivia sleeps. They both enjoy going to school, especially the days they get 'tacos' for their recess!
We also celebrated Olivia's first birthday, and are amazed at how quickly this past year has gone by. She made the transition from crawling to walking now, so hopefully she'll keep up with her brother and sister now and be less frustrated.
Praise Points
- For the many good relationships we have here
- For an excellent opportunity to serve the community recently
- Thursday night surfers bible study is developing well
- For the safe travel of Mike and Mando to USA and the networks made at the conference
- The Spanish Surfers Bibles are being distributed (but more needed)
Prayer Points
- Those who read the surfers bibles will be impacted and changed forever
- Alpha course participants will become followers of Jesus
- Outreach to ladies via playgroup & bible study
- For guidance in decisions regarding ministry and how to be most effective
- Unity of the team as it grows
Thanks again for all your prayers, support and interest. We appreciate you!
Adios from Mike, Vanessa, Priscila, Joel & Olivia
P.S. Merry Christmas and happy new year.
And email us back with news of what you have been up to!
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[By Mike 10:30 AM ] +
I trust that this Allbutt Journalings helps bring you up to date with what I have been up to recently. If you want to contact me then click here. Thanks for reading some of my thoughts. If you want to read some of the older files then they have been stored in the archives here.