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Tuesday, 07 July 2009
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This past weekend, Pan de Vida hosted an appreciation supper for the local Mexican businesses that make donations to the ministry here. Some donate chicken, milk and food weekly while others have donated vehicles to truck in the water or hired construction companies to provide us a road.
The directors want Pan de Vida to not be about receiving but also about giving back. These events also teach the children etiquette in social settings. Several of the youth worked to paint welcome signs and clean up the facilities. The youngest children were dressed up as greeters to the guest. There was a slide show that educated them on the growth of the facilities and number of children. Three of the older and long term youth gave testimonies of their life before and how God has provided them opportunities through the ministry of Pan de Vida. Then they worked together to serve the donors a meal. Many helped all day in the kitchen making tamales and atole (a hot flavoured corn meal drink), which is a traditional meal here and used on special occasions. The others were the waiter/waitresses. We were also entertained with music by a couple of girls that are in the Church worship team.
Some of the younger girls sat at the table with me and Ira. We had a few visitors sitting beside us and we really feel God used this time to minister to them. They were asking questions about the kids and the biggest impact was for them to personally witness how polite and interactive the children were. We pray that each one took more knowledge of Pan de Vida ministry with them and how it is the work of God that really makes the heart beat within the walls.
Acts 20:35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ' It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
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This past Saturday, June 27, 2009, graduation was celebrated at Pan de Vida. We did not have any youth graduating from high school but several received certificates of promotion into the next educational level. It is different here in Mexico, but examples are that some of the children went from elementary to Junior High, from Jr. High to High School.
The event starts with prayer then honor of the Mexican flag which was presented to the new marching staff for next year. We were then blessed by a message from Guest speaker Arturo Gonzales. Each class did an end of the year presentation. These are lessons of team work and also focused on giving praise and glory to God for His goodness to us. We had many dance skits, some drymes (a play to music), recitation of scripture and entertainment by Jack Sparrow.
In between segments, the students were presented their certificates of promotion. This year the school also recognized the students who had special achievements and highest grade point average for their academic level. It is great to see the smiles on the faces of the students when they are praised and recognized for their hard work. We pray this will motivate them to continue to strive to overcome many of the obstacles they have faced in their life.
Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Welcome to Graduation
Honor of teh Mexican Flag
tranferring of the flag
our congregation
Dance to Vida (Life)
Dance to Supernatural
Dance to I Believe
Jack Sparrow
Preschool Manos Arriba (Hands up)
Dryme to Revolution
Dryme to Shackles
Alexis reciting Psalm 91:1-5
dance to Tumbas(You Lie Down)
Certificate of Promotion
Our new High School students
Special Achievements
highest grade point averages
Thursday, 25 June 2009
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Hi Everyone! Forgive me that there has been so much time between updates. Life has been routine the last few weeks as school is near summer break. Graduation will be this weekend with many of the classes preparing for that. In the meantime, the Directors, Pastors and church leaders have been preparing for the Pastor's conference that Pan de Vida will host July 9-11. This means I will soon have much to post about, other than that, it the routine life of keeping everything running.
One new change at Pan de Vida is that we are now more involved with the direct ministry at Dulce Refugio in Aguascalientes. Marce, the director at Dulce Refugio, decided that she would like for the kids to have spiritual guidance through church formation and development. Each weekend, one of the Pastors or church leaders from Pan de Vida, travel to Aguascalientes to now do these services. In addition to that, they lead a Saturday night devotional and adult Sunday School class. Two or three of the older youth from Pan de Vida usually go as well to help with worship time and teach in the Sunday School classes.
This past weekend, Paco and Elena traveled to Dulce Refugio. Paco did a service about the consequence and remedy of sin incorporating some visuals for the kids to relate to. Marce feels that with the move to the new site soon, she wanted to be prepared as well to have a more structured Church so she could welcome people from the community to come learn and attend.
As both Orphanages spiritually grow, Ira and I know the importance of speaking Spanish has become necessary. We have come a long way in 2 years but still need to fine tune this. We are now in the planning stages to attend an in depth, 1 month power study language school, hopefully in October. We know that knowing the language is key to growing into Christian mentorship. The kids are great and have adapted very well to our "Spanglish" but as things revolve with volunteers, the more we need to make this a priority. Please keep us in prayer as we enter this phase of ministry.
1 Corinthians 2:12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
Friday, 29 May 2009
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Pan de Vida had a whirlwind of a day and fun was had by everyone. Malen, who works in the office, organized a local business to do a day project at the school of painting the classrooms and exterior along the courtyard. They also painted one wall in the auditorium. The team consisted of 120 members from the local Sabrito/Pepsico...which is equal to Lays potato chip and Pepsi company.
Each team member sponsored a child for the day and brought them a gift. The day started by them arriving in a caravan of vehicles and buses. When 120 people come, and most were all at the same time, there is a certain energy about it for sure. Then the team member was paired with their child for the day and they had one on one time. It was so encouraging to see each child have someone to talk and share with. You could tell the team members were very interested in their lives and giving them all encouragement to continue toward their dreams. It was also a time for the children to witness to their sponsor about their life with Christ.
After the one on one time, the "couples" were then made into teams. Each delegated to a certain area of the school that they would be working on together. It was nice to see the kids enjoy the work along side their mentor and bond and have lots of laughs together.
There was also a couple of Mexicans that came fully dressed as revolutionist and entertained the little ones. It was so very hot outside, but the kids didn't let that interfere with the games.
Eventually it was lunch time, so the gifts were then given to the kids and we all came together in the dining hall to share a meal and watch an inspirational power point presentation. Everyone got distracted with spending time together that the work never got finished, but we all know the most important part of what happens is more about the relationship. The company is going to hire some people to come and finish the job and then the school will be fresh as school comes to a close and ready for new classes after summer break.
Proverbs 16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
Sunday, 17 May 2009
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It has been a very eventful week at Pan de Vida. It started out with the church sending the Mom's on a Mother's Day brunch. It was a wonderful time of Christian fellowship and devotional. We focused on Psalm 1:2-3.
The Directors, Dario and Elena, also returned from a trip to Iowa where they attended the graduation of Veronica (Vero). She grew up at Pan de Vida and has attended Dordt for the last 3 years where she took extra credits to fulfill the requirements to graduate. She will now do her student teaching.
Cecy, who also grew up in Pan de Vida and is sister to Vero and Ana, who volunteers at Dulce Refugio in Aguascalientes, is home visiting for 6 weeks. She has been in India for 2 years attending a University there in studies of social services. She shared her testimony on how God has stretched her and strengthened her through cross-cultural challenges.
Then this past weekend, Nayeli graduated from the ILMES program taught at Pan de Vida. ILMES, the nickname for the Instituto Libre de México de Estudios Superiores (Free Mexican Institute for Higher Education) is the christian college based in Pan de Vida which currently offers a bachelor degree in education. She will now move in late July or early August to an Orphanage in Puerta Vallarta to teach and work.
It is such a blessing to see these girls, who have been at Pan de Vida since they were very young, become women and disciples in their own ministry. God has molded them into fine young ladies full of energy and passion to serve.
Psalm 1:2-3 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water. which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Angie leading devotional 
Mother's Day brunch/devotional 
Vero
The ILMES class, Elena(far right) is a volunteer staff member and instructor for the course
Angie leading devotional
Mother's Day brunch/devotional
Vero
Tio and Cecy
Nay
presentation of diploma
The ILMES class, Elena(far right) is a volunteer staff member and instructor for the courseIraBobbiMaxwell
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- Name: Ira & Bobbi
- Member Since: 8/18/2006
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About Me
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We have 2 sons and 1 daughter between us. We are from Nova Scotia Canada and currently serving long term missions at an Orphanage in Querétaro Mexico. The name is Pan de Vida which means Bread of Life. The Christian organization we serve through is Children of Hope. www.childrenofhope.info for more information on our ministry. In addition to building relationships with the children who are being educated through an on-site Christian school, Ira supervises and does the maintenance work while Bobbi supervises the kitchen and visitor's dorm. We assist with short and long term volunteers. Ira also helps in the administration and labour of teams and the projects they will be doing. As we learn the Spanish language, we hope that the relationships we build, will work into developing the children into stronger relationships with Jesus so they too will become disciples. We want them all to know that God has plans for them, plans to give them hope and a future! To partner i
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