Hello from Mexico and a huge thank you for your prayers. You have seen us through some major ministry events and you have helped us survive the winter cold. No, it’s not that cold down here, but then again, I am not talking about that kind of cold. Both Kay and Steve have suffered through having all the symptoms of the typical cold. And are we glad to be over most of them.

As for ministry events we have seen the highs and the lows. Let’s begin with the low. Around the first of January the pastor of the North Side Christian Church, Hector Romo, resigned with less than three weeks’ notice. For both the Carpenter and DeLeon families this meant taking on the immediate new role of encourager and facilitator. We immediately stepped up to encourage the leadership and the congregation. In retrospect this has not been an easy six weeks but we have been encouraged by the commitment of the church members and their stepping up to new responsibilities. We are now meeting weekly with the leadership and very soon Vic DeLeon will begin offering them a practical course in biblical leadership. Church members are leading the Sunday school classes, coordinating the Sunday service and the Wednesday Prayer Meeting. Victor and Steve are helping with the preaching responsibilities along with Percival, David and  Ulises church leaders. Please keep the North Side Church in your prayers and our efforts to encourage and build up the congregation.

Meanwhile in Tultepec we have continued with the home bible studies, although sickness has taken its toll. Our study in Tultitlan was cancelled due to our being under the weather while our study with Tania was cancelled when we arrived and found her suffering from laryngitis and Santiago, her two year old, had an ear infection. We did meet with our Wednesday night study and were very pleased when at the end of the study the couple decided that they would like to be baptized. This will happen very soon. Praise the Lord!

English class at the Eagles Community Center has started up again for the spring session. We teach an hour and a half class in the morning and in the afternoon each Tuesday. This also gives us the opportunity to touch base with Ruben and Jorcy who also minister with the Eagles Christian Church.

We would like to extend a warm and very LOUD thank you to all who assisted with the Church in a Box project or gave an unspecified gift at the end of the year. Your gift accompanied by your prayers and the prayers of many others, has resulted in a very successful project and will result in touching the lives of many of your brothers and sisters in Christ and in bringing others to the foot of the cross of Jesus. We are humbly overwhelmed by your generosity and your love in action. Thank you!

Now may the Lord bless you and keep you in His eternal love.

Steve & Kay