Update from the Allens

WE SHOULDN'T BE SURPRISED that almost every time the doors of our
Mexico City churches open there are new people, or folks that have
not come for a while, walking in. The atmosphere is friendly,
especially at the occasional coffee times and pot luck dinners.
Pastor Juan and Eva have a wonderful way of sharing God's Word with
both adults and children. People are inviting friends, family, and
co-workers.

The Myers family has returned to the house we were holding for
them. They have agreed to let the Coapa church continue meeting in
their living room for the time being, but the group may soon outgrow
the facility!

WE SHOULDN'T BE SURPRISED that our new apartment is just right for
our needs. The move went smoothly, though not without a few
glitches, which is normal! When we moved in, the street in front of
the apartment building was a relatively quiet side street. When we
returned from vacation, we discovered that our street is now the
detour for the main road a block away that has been closed for
construction of an overhead express lane. We thank the Lord for
helping us find this first floor place with very nice landlords.

Prayer requests and praises:

Leadership classes have started in Mexico City. It is very
encouraging to see the number of church people who want to be
included in leadership training.

We hope to make a trip to the Yucatan in October to teach leadership
classes.

None of our church people were seriously affected by the hurricane
in July.

There will be a women's retreat near Mexico City in November.
Please pray for the planning phase that is in progress right now.

Your partners in missions,
Gary and Jann Allen

Return to Routine

School has been back in session for a couple of weeks now and we are seeing the city and our neighborhood returning to a routine. There is something comforting about this rhythm that seems to pervade much of the world. In the late summer, students return to school, people return from vacation, and the rains come in Mexico.

Attendance at the Casa de Paz church has been steady at about 50 people on Sundays for the last few weeks. We are all encouraged by the faithfulness of Pastor Juan and Eva in inviting new people and the ways that other members of the church are welcoming and embracing the new people.

The Coapa home church group has also seen encouraging signs as they recently had over 20 people in attendance. Their current challenge is to find a new place to worship as they have outgrown the living room where they are meeting.

The clinic at the Casa de Paz church has been slow this summer but we trust that things will pick up again as students share their colds and coughs and minor illnesses. Julianne Gilmore is getting to know the routine and will be helping out with registering patients on Wednesdays. Our assistant, Lilian, is starting nursing school today. This is a dream she has had for many years and thanks to the generous gifts of many of you, she can finally realize that dream. This morning in the clinic, she was tearful as she prayed and thanked God for this special day in her life. Would you be in prayer for Lilian as she enters school and for her family as the adjust to not having her as available as before?

Thank you for your continued prayers and financial support of the growing work in the Mexico Mission District. Let us know if there are ways that we can be supporting you and your churches as together, we seek the fulfilment of the Great Commission.