Mobilizing CAM - Interested in short term trips??

Karin Rountree, short-term coordinator and campus rep for CAM, recently visited the Mexico field.  If you are interested in short-term missions, she's the gal!  Contact her at krountree@caminternational.org if you would like to know more about a short-term trip!

Wondering what she's eating???  It's called a Salchica Snax!  It's basically a Vienna sausage in a wrapper with salsa...a favorite among the kids in Mexico.  While visiting a grocery store with our family, our kids told her it was disgusting, but had never tried it.  She insisted we couldn't say it was disgusting unless we had tried it.  We all had to take a bite after that!  And we confirmed our suspicions!

Easter Sunday

HE IS RISEN!  HE IS RISEN INDEED!

Sunday Service in Mexico was amazing!  We attended church together with about eight other churches in the area at our CAM Camp in Amaelco.  Praise God...two people came to know the Lord at this service!

After church, we stopped to get some nieves (Mexican ice cream).

Nuevo Nacimiento Retreat

Our church, Nuevo Nacimiento, recently took a 2-day retreat to Hidalgo, Mexico where we worshipped, played, ate, and relaxed!  It was a beautiful time together!

Spiritual Emphasis Camp

During Semana Santa (Holy Week), the CAM missionary kids had the privilege of attending a spiritual emphasis camp at CAM's Koinonia camp in Amaelco.  They had a great week of spiritual renewal.  Thanks to all who helped put this together!

A short visit to Texas

We made a quick trip to Texas mid-March.  While there, Brent preached at Grace Bible Church in La Vernia (our sending church) and did a super job!  Caleb and Haley did the special music.  Haley sang the song she wrote (see previous blog for sampling) and Caleb accompanied with the guitar.  It was amazing!

Sweet Memories with Gampy and Rara

Le'Ann's parents (Riney & Karen Jordan aka "Gampy & Rara) visited Querétaro in March.  Here are some highlights from the trip!

Making new friends with Leti, Carla, Carlos, Adriana.  This precious family touched their hearts.  They bought Le'Ann's mom flowers and gave them some chocolate.

Discovering Guanajuato- such a delightful city!

Le'Ann finally found some toilet paper in Guanajuato!  One of her prouder moments!

Eating delicious quesadillas at Leti and Carlos's home/business.

The market in Querétaro...always an experience!

Singing praise and worship with Haley

Le'Ann's dad is a motivational speaker and speaks all over the US to school districts, hospitals, and other organizations.  He taught the homeschool speech class while they were here.  For more information about having him speak at your organization, click here!

Annie's 12th Birthday

The Downs' women know how to celebrate birthdays!  We celebrate for about a month.  Here are some pictures from Annie's Birthday Month.

Celebrating with the Buhler Girls - They had a sleep-over and made t-shirts.

New shoes!  We celebrated with Annie's grandparents while they were here in Querétaro.

Family Celebration - We ate out at a Japanese restaurant.

Some of our Mexican friends had a surprise birthday party for Annie and Kathryn (who also celebrated her birthday recently).  The girls helped cook quesadillas and had a great time together!

ESL Classes Continue to be Successful

The ESL (English as a Second Language) classes continue to be a success in our community center in Querétaro.  We currently have about 40 students with hopes of more growth.  Le'Ann teaches the children, Haley teaches a youth, and Brent teaches the adults.  Le'Ann's parents visited in March and the adult classes were able to interview them in English.  It was great to how much the students have learned over a few months.  Brent is also teaching at a local business next door to the church.  He has about 10 adult students in this class.  Please pray that God will continue to use this ministry as a form of outreach.  If you are interested in sponsoring a scholarship for a student that can't afford classes, please contact us at bdowns@caminternational.org.  The classes cost the students about $15 a month for 8 classes per month.  These costs cover expenses of copies and supplies.  Thank you for your prayers in this ministry.

El Dia del Amor y la Amistad - February 2009

This year for Valentine's Day (El Dia del Amor y la Amistad) our church's youth group decided to have a romantic dinner for the couples of the church.  The kids sold tickets, decorated, prepared a delicious meal, and served the food!  It was a beautiful evening!

Fellowship & Future Stars ???

One thing we love about being in Mexico is fellowship with our Mexican friends.  We recently had our friends Jose Luis and Estrella along with their kids (Pablo, Jasmine, and Nicole) over to have comida with us.  We had a great time!  The guys played chess, the ladies visited, and the kids played "Lips" (Wii's karoke game)...that is until the adults interfered!

Haley's first invitation to a Quince Año

In February, Haley was invited to a Quince Año by one of the neighbor girls across the street from us.  Haley had a wonderful time and looked beautiful.

Team Taco

CAM has recently undergone some restructuring.  In the past, we operated in circuits.  Now, we are operating in transformation teams.  The purpose of these teams are to help each missionary grow as disciples in order to better disciple others.  If you are in a cell group at your church, this is very similar to what we are doing.  The CAM buzz word/expression is T2 - Transformed to Transform.  Basically, we must be transformed in order to help transform others.  Within our T2 group, we grow together as disciples, take care of CAM business, and encourage one another as we reach out to share the Gospel with our Mexican neighbors.  Check these four different websites or blogs that can give you more information.  The first one is CAM International's website.  It will give you an overview our our organization.  The next one is the T2 Blueprint which gives you information about CAM's Transformation Teams.   T2 Sandbox provides highlights from different T2 Teams.  Finally, the other T2 blog that we'd like for you to visit is our team's blog.  Our T2 team is called Team Taco.  Check it out to find out what our CAM T2 Team is all about! 

Cena Matrimonio (Marriage Dinner)

Once a month, our church has a dinner for married couples.  At this dinner, we serve a meal, have a message, and do some fun activities.  At this one in particular, we had a "Newlywed Game."  It was great fun to see how well the couples knew each other!  Thanks to Bob and Sharla Buhler, CAM missionaries, who did an outstanding job organizing this event!  Please pray that this ministry will continue to grow and be used to glorify God and produce strong marriages that honor Him.

Giving English Classes

Our Community Center, "El Puente," is now open.  "El Puente" means "The Bridge."  It is our desire to be the bridge between the people of Mexico and Christ.  Through the community center, we are offering English classes with the plan to offer other types of services and classes as we grow.  After our first two weeks of English classes, we have approximately 40 students.  We teach classes Monday and Wednesday at 10:00 am, 4:30 pm, and 7:30 pm.  We also have classes Thursday afternoons at 6:00 and two Saturday mornings per month.  Pray that God will give us many opportunities to share Christ with the non-believers that attend.  

Quesadillas with Letty and Juan Carlos

Every Friday night, Letty and Juan Carlos make and serve quesadillas from their home to the people in their colonia.  These are the best quesadillas that we've ever had!  Letty and Juan Carlos, along with their daughters, attend our church.  Just about every day Caleb asks, "Can we go to Letty's on Friday for quesadillas?"  Come visit us and we'll take you there!

Monthly Evangelistic Movie Night

Once a month, our church, Iglesia Nuevo Nacimiento (New Birth Church), has an evangelistic movie night.  Please pray that we will reach more and more people for Christ via this form of outreach.  The attendance was small for this first time, but we know God can do amazing things and we expect more people in attendance the next time!