The Only Shares That Are Going UP!

As friends of the Mexico Mission District which includes Mexico City, you have an awesome opportunity to invest right now in some shares that are guaranteed to bring longterm gains. How is this possible you might ask with all of the economic fears in today's down-turning market? Is this another scam out of Nigeria or China? No!

Today is the day you can invest in Mexico Country Shares! These are hot commodities and likely won't last long. The Mexico Country Shares are used to support a variety of Mexican-led ministries that go hand-in-hand with the other mission activities taking place in Mexico.

For example, the Mission District Director (Jorge Guarello) is responsible for overseeing 10 different churches throughout Central and Southern Mexico. Most of these churches are led by pastors who don't have a lot of experience. Many of the churches including the one of which the Director is the pastor do not have enough resources to pay a living wage to their pastors. Country Shares are used to pay for the Director's travel as well as his family's grocery money. He is known to share these funds with other pastors who don't have enough to meet their monthly needs.

The Mexico Country Share Budget for 2008 is a little over $31,000. Churches in the Great Plains Conference have committed $7500 this year and South Canaan FMC has committed $500. That leaves $23000 available for your church or Sunday School class or family! Would you prayerfully consider how you might partner with us in seeing these vital Mexican ministries not just survive but thrive? Feel free to email your questions or comments to any of the missionaries you see linked in the right hand column of this blog.

Belated Update from February

Friends, here are some news bits from Gary and Jann Allen's February newsletter. You can email them at garjann@gmail.com if you would like to receive their updates in your email.

Several new and exciting things have happened this month.

-- Janette Miller has opened their home to a Women's club for the
church and neighborhood women. It is drawing many women and meeting
various needs. Since we will probably be moving into that house when
the Millers are on home assignment, Jann has also been an active
member of the club.

--Another round of English classes has started. Jann teaches the
basic class, Gary helps with whatever level is needed. Through the
classes we have made a contact to help a university student with
English needed for an economics class. Jann's students showered her
with candy on the "Day of Love and Friendship."

--We opened our guest room to two different couples this month. What
a great chance to renew friendships!

--A VISA team from Peterborough, Canada has been here for the last
week and a half. They have been a huge help finishing up several
construction projects at the Tizoc (our oldest church in Mexico City)
and presenting some exciting and entertaining programs for the
children. The roof of the church parsonage was leaking. They
discovered some termite damage in the process of repairing the roof.
The damaged roof supports have been replaced and the infected areas
have been treated for the termite problem. Just a few of the tiles
needs to be replaced and they have been ordered. We have made new
friends during their stay and they have helped the Tizoc church make
a number of new contacts in the area.

--The COAPA church plant celebrated its first anniversary with a pot-
luck dinner celebration. (The truth is we have a potluck dinner the
first Sunday of every month anyway to celebrate the birthdays of the
members during the last month. The anniversary celebration may have
guaranteed a bigger or better dessert selection!)

In His Glad Service in Mexico City and area,

Gary & Jann Allen