Audio Books: Pilgrim's Progress and The Life of David Brainerd

Recently I was reminded of two great Christian books that I read when I was younger, The Life of David Brainerd and Pilgrim's Progress. Though I did not have the discernment in younger days to grasp the deep meaning of these books, it occurred to me (I believe by the Spirit) that it would greatly benefit me to read them once again.

"But!", said my inward self, "Ye hast not time wherewith to read them!"

How foolish is my inward self...

I then remembered that these books have audio versions that have been put out on the internet for all to hear for free (they are public domain). You can download them and listen whenever you have the opportunity.

Here are a couple of great sources:

* Pilgrim's Progress
* The Life of David Brainerd

May I be so bold to say, that if you hear these books and either think them trite or over-the-top, that you have a fundamental problem: you do not know what it is like to be a Christian. You are either dull in your hearing or too immature to comprehend it, like I was when I first read them. I cannot help but remember how self-righteous I felt when first reading Brainerd's diary -- how wonderful I felt that I too felt as guilty as he. Where I have so woefully faltered in the book is where Brainerd describes the majesty of God's glory, the richness of God's love for him and the overwhelming love Brainerd had for the Indians that he ministered to. It at these points that I have suddenly lost interest...like I have suddenly seen my own lack of love for God in the mirror and I'm horrified. It's the same feeling I get when I read of David dancing for joy for God's glory and wonder if I will ever have that same joy.

One more thing...

The people to whom Brainerd's book might be the most profound are to those who have grown up listening to the Law of God (in Christian homes) and whose vain hearts have found all manner of ways to conceal their hypocrisies (like me). I don't have to name names...you know who you are. To be able to peer into the heart of a man whose soul has been converted and that overflows with love for God and His people will, to those who can bare it, reveal the deep gap between vain, fleshly legalism and true Christianity. It will make you realize that becoming a follower of Christ truly requires an act of God (outside of your own filthy rags of service).

I trust that these will be a blessing to you.

Mr. Wiltse's Siesta

This is Jason, who is one of the students in the Pastor's College. He is taking a nap on the roof of the church in Santa Ana. I don't remember if this was during our work, or during lunch.

Nelson & Marie's New Baby

This is Marie, who is holding her 3-month-old son (what hair!). She is the wife of Nelson. Also shown is one of their other sons.

Yet More Photos from Week 1

This was a common sight in the mornings of the VBS at the Santa Ana Church. Please pray that each of the 202 children that came through our doors would have heard the Gospel, and that God will work in their hearts to tell their parents and friends of what they learned.

This was a common sight wherever our group went. 2 Chevy Subdivisions were our main mode of transportation wherever we went.
Pictured: Emily, Autumn, Renee, Mrs. Cleveland, Mrs. Killy, Heidi, and Horte

More Week 1 Photos

My lovely sister, Autumn, who is holding Ruth (Jose's (squiggly over the 'e') daughter, I believe)

Mrs. Heyerly and I brought Mt. Dew for Horte (who loves it, and us!). This delightful beverage is not made in Mexico.

Team 1 Group Photo

From Back to Front, Left to Right
Michael, Matthew, Nathan, Autumn, Nathan, Jason, Ryan, Mr Ahrendt, Jonathan, Andrew
Heidi, Emily, Judy, Rhonda, Branda, Kelly
Mr. Killy, Lynnette, Renee, Raymond

Photos of Group 1

I wish I had a better selection of photos, but this is all that I have for now. Also, I think that I might be limited to 2 photos per post.

Our illustrious leader, Mr. Killy at the Houston Airport.

Nathan, Andrew with Raymond and Esdras in the Church in Santa Ana

Mexico - Week Two, Wednesday

Today we had over 150 kids at the vbs. Things went really well. Tonight Gonz went to the tent to preach the any of the kid's parents who would come, a few families showed up, This looks like it might be promising for a future church plant. Tomorrow is the last day of VBS, It looks as if it might be the difficult day in that we might have the most kids, and people's emotions will be interfering with them due to emotional connections with the kids.

Today we saw a parade in Santa Ana for a Catholic celebration, Down here the people believe a mix of Catholic beliefs, and what was the religion of their ancestors hundred of years ago. There is much idolatry, and much drunkenness to go without he celebration. A group of people from our group gathered together to pray for the people of Santa Ana while this parade was happening.

After this, we went to the Garcia's house for food and fellowship. This was cut short however because Gonz had to go preach to the people of Arenalez. The Food was very good, and many people stayed even after Gonz had to leave.

Pray for the VBS tomorrow, that all the members of our team would be able to finish strong, and that the gospel would go out the kids of Arenalez.

-Andrew

Mexico - Week Two, Wednesday

Today we had over 150 kids at the vbs. Things went really well. Tonight Gonz went to the tent to preach the any of the kid's parents who would come, a few families showed up, This looks like it might be promising for a future church plant. Tomorrow is the last day of VBS, It looks as if it might be the difficult day in that we might have the most kids, and people's emotions will be interfering with them due to emotional connections with the kids.

Today we saw a parade in Santa Ana for a Catholic celebration, Down here the people believe a mix of Catholic beliefs, and what was the religion of their ancestors hundred of years ago. There is much idolatry, and much drunkenness to go without he celebration. A group of people from our group gathered together to pray for the people of Santa Ana while this parade was happening.

After this, we went to the Garcia's house for food and fellowship. This was cut short however because Gonz had to go preach to the people of Arenalez. The Food was very good, and many people stayed even after Gonz had to leave.

Pray for the VBS tomorrow, that all the members of our team would be able to finish strong, and that the gospel would go out the kids of Arenalez.

-Andrew

Mexico - Week Two, Tuesday

Today At the VBS, we had just over 100 kids, Things went relatively smoothly. Many of the kids who came early went out into the field next to the tent to play frisbee with some of the youth who weren't busy with other responsibilities. After this, all the kids sang songs led by Claudia Garcia (pronounced Cloud-eia) and the youth group led in demonstrating the motions for each song. After this the kids split into groups and went off to their various stations. Overall the day worked out very well in terms of organization.

After the VBS, we went back to Santa Ana and worked on the church construction. Most of the demolition was finished, but more work was needed, bricks were re stacked after being moved from one of the church to the other, and an area next to the basket ball court started being leveled for the future office of Gonz Garcia.

Tonight we went to Jon Cummings' house for pizza and fellowship. many stories were swaped before everyone piled in the two suburbans to come back here to the church in Bugambilius around 9 o-clock

Tommorrow we will need prayer for the VBS as we will probably have more than 100 kids again.

-Andrew

Mexico - Week Two, Monday

Mr. Killy Preached an excellent sermon yesterday, complete with fire and brimstone. It was easy to tell by his preaching that the Lord was leading him in what he was saying to us and the people of the church in Santa Ana.

After The sermon we ate and then went to Arenalez to set up the Tent. The two largest poles for the tent protruded from the top of the box truck they were being hauled by, and one of them hit a tree and bent about 45 degrees. At first we thought this might be a problem, but we were able to use one of the other poles in place of the one that bent, leaving the front of the tent a little lower than intended. All of the tent space is usable, so we praise God for that.

Today, weather was very unusual, it rained all day. Here in Guadalajara, it usually rains every day for about an hour, but, for the first time this year, it rained all day. The rain in some ways was a blessing, because it kept the fire ants inside their hills, and out of the tent. The VBS went very well, and we had a little over 80 kids. Tomorrow we will probably have more, and will need to have games outside of the tent, we are praying that this rain might end for that.

Lastly, we worked on cleaning the stucco off of a few walls in the church in Santa Ana, for a planned clinic that they hope to set up for the people of Santa Ana. The process of cleaning stucco off is relatively simple, it involves a hammer, a chisel, and a lot of dust.

Pray for the VBS this week, the people of Areanalez are very needy, and it looks as if we may have more kids than last week, Lord willing, pray that the team would be able to manage the kids in a way that every one of them might be able to hear the gospel.

-Andrew

Mexico - Week Two, Saturday

Today, The First group went home, and the Second group arrived. As with last week we did orientation and everyone settled in. In the afternoon we went to the church in Santa Ana, and the Guys played soccer with People from Santa Ana as a ministry. The Gals did a bible study with some of the Women of Santa Ana. After this we all ate tamales and came back to bugambilius to allow everyone to rest from the long day of flying.

Tomorrow we go to Church in Santa Ana, and Scott Killy will be preaching. Pray for him, and the translators to have God's guidance. After this we are going to Arenalez to set up for the next day's VBS.

-Andrew

New Events Calendar

Living Word Youth now has an events calendar! We're still in the process of adding events to the calendar so stay tuned!

Mexico - Week One, Thursday

Over the last few days we have been very blessed at vbs. we had over 150 kids at VBS on Tuesday, and then on Wednesday, we had 179. Today on the final day of VBS we had an attendance of 203 kids. God saw in his provision to give us enough supplies for these numbers that are way beyond our first expectations. (two years ago, our busiest day of VBS was just over 90 kids.)

Tonight there is an event planned for the kids to come back and to bring their families. We pray that the kids would come and bring their parents. We especially pray that many fathers would come with their wives and children, because the fathers are the hardest to reach.

-Andrew

Mexico - Week One, Monday

Pancakes today, and then our first day of VBS. God blessed our first day with 79 kids. Lunch was served at the church in Santa Ana, and construction began afterward. Most of the work consisted of digging holes and removing large rocks that were in our way, in order to prep for further construction. After several hours of this we all went out to eat before we came back to the church in Bugambilius to retire for the night.

-Andrew

Mexico - Week One, Sunday

Hello, Everyone, This is Andrew Colchagoff, and I will be keeping everyone updated, on what is going on down here. Everyone arrived yesterday at Guadalajara Airport safe and sound yesterday. The jet we flew out of Texas on was relatively small. When we arrived in Guadalajara, the airport was almost deserted, compared to two years ago when the youth arrived. The entire group was given one press of the customs button, which came over as green, and then every single one of us walked through with no problems. We were picked up by Jon Cummings, Horte, and Gonz. They were driving a fleet of vehicles that consisted of two Chevy Suburbans from about 1981, and a 95 Blazer. On Arrival At the church in bugumbelias, We were greeted by a lunch of Pollo Pepe, which is a kind of Mexican fast food consisting of chicken, tortillas, and salsa.
After getting settled in, we went to the church in Santa Ana, and mingled with the youth of Santa Ana, The girls did a youth group, and the guys played soccer (or futbol). After this we were served dinner by the church people of Santa Ana, and returned to where we were staying. Everyone slept like rocks.

Today, we went to church in Santa Ana, and heard a sermon from Gonz, Translated by Horte and a few others. After this we were given an excellent lunch of Quesedillas by the church people of Santa Ana, and handed out tracts for the afternoon, letting the neighborhood know about the upcoming VBS. After this, we went back the church in bugumbelias, and had dinner. Which was followed by a time of rest. Tomorrow the work starts.

-Andrew

Guadalajara Training Day Saturday, July 8th

All members of the 2006 Guadalajara Mission Team are expected at the church office this Saturday morning at 8:45 a.m. until between 2 and 3 p.m. Much of the day will be focused on VBS Training learning the different crafts, games, and Bible Story lessons. We will also continue practicing our Spanish songs. Lunch will be provided and the day will conclude with some final details concerning safety, our daily schedule, and travel expectations. The team should also expect to bring a bag of luggage home with them that is filled with VBS supplies, Bibles, tracts, or other various items needed on the trip.