Classes at the seminary go great! Jeanne is beginning to wrap-up her Introduction to Public Speaking course--the students have had a great time, and Jeanne has seen the introverted and shy become more comfortable speakers and the extroverted and uncontrolled become calmer and more focused. My classes have gone well, also. I stepped out of my areas of expertise by teaching Introduction to Ethics this semester--I have learned as much or more than the students! We have tackled some serious ethical issues...and I have seen my students really grow in areas of critical thinking. My Comparative Theology course has been a joy. My students are mainly third and fourth year students, so we've had wonderful, deep and sometimes heated discussions...but they've loved it, grown and are thinking in new directions. Perhaps the course that has been the most fun is the Church Planting seminar series that I gave for 10 weeks. This was attended primarily by laity...and they brought all their questions and experiences. During this course, I was able to visit with Miguel and Pati at their new church plant, and with Abel at his young adult gathering. These folks are energetic, visionary...and willing to try new approaches to church planting.
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| Jon with the Comparative Theology students... |
At the Instituto Laurens, Jeanne continues to teach English--grammar, writing and reading. One of her new projects this semester has been her "book club." She has a small group of students that now come to the house every other week to discuss a novel they are reading in common. Through this book-club, she is able to enter their lives in wonderful ways, and slowly but surely is communicating the Good News of God with these students. I continue to teach in Laurens' Teachers' College in the afternoons, and I'm developing a good rapport with these future teachers. They are finding in me someone with different values and a different worldview...and this is leading to questions and discussions that are opening the door to spiritual and faith issues. It is so much fun!!
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| Jeanne with her Book Club... |
You are probably quite aware of the situation in Monterrey--the violence continues and affects the world here. We continue to rebuild after the amazing destruction from Hurricane Alex in July. On top of that, the world economic crises affects companies and work situations. The people have a growing sense of fear...and more than ever seek direction and hope and meaning. Having a chance to be here at this time in history is a true gift...that we can have a part in bringing hope and healing to this world of hurt, fear and loss.
And, that brings us to Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. Of course, Thanksgiving we love because it stops us from all the going and running and doing, and calls us to give thanks to God for His many blessings, to give thanks for the friends and family that we have around us praying for us and encouraging us. Christmas...well, that's the reason for it all! God became human and lived among us!! (And, there are the gifts, songs and foods of the season as well...!) And, New Year's--not the mid-night party, not watching the ball fall in New York. No, I love New Year's because it's a reminder that we can always start over, start anew. It's a time to do things differently, to make new plans, to dream new dreams. It's an annual "do-over." Of course, every morning we arise is a do-over as well...and I thank God each day that I have a chance to do differently, do better.
Well, this is a little long...but thank you for reading. We'd love to hear from you!! Leave a comment...drop an e-mail (herrinmission@gmail.com)...and we'll stay in touch! God bless you all!!!
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