Life on the Edge...
E-Update—August 2011
Jon & Jeanne Herrin
Jesse, Megan and Andrew
US/Mexico Border - McAllen, Texas
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IT'S BEEN A WHILE!!!
Some of you are hearing from us after a very long time...some for the first time! Well, it goes like this...Jon was cleaning up the 'address book' for our e-mail addresses...and, suddenly, all the addresses were gone. Stuff like that ever happen to you?? We're guessing it was that invisible creature that lives in our machine that did it. Anyway, we've pulled all our old address books from CD-backups, pen-drives and old files...and just put them all together in the address book. That means, some of you are receiving double dippin's...some of you who asked to be removed are back on again (just reply with "remove" in the subject line!)...and some of you are getting this who may have never seen one of our e-updates before in your life!! In any case, here's hoping that all of you receive this note with grace at the very least...and thanksgiving at the most! Feel free to forward it...and others can be added by replying with "add me!" in the subject line.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIFE TRANSITIONS...
We are settling into our new lives here in McAllen, Texas, (a metro area of 700,000+, 90% Latino, on the border of Mexico) as well as can be expected. After some initial culture-shock and other forms of befuddlement, we are getting our feet on the ground and our lives in order...and in gear.
Of course, this new chapter of life and ministry comes after three years of service in Venezuela and then three more years in the city of Monterrey, Mexico, where we served and ministered through the John Wesley Methodist Seminary and the Laurens Institute. In both settings, we had the amazing and life-shaping opportunity to be a part of the formation of young men and women. And, we must add that YOU, too, had a great part in this ministry through your gifts and prayers. Thank you so much for partnering with us in this ministry that seeks to shape and transform lives through God's Good News.
On this side of the border, the ministry and service continues! We continue to find our way as God reveals the way. As we will relate below, ministry continues through church planting, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, on-going ministries in Monterrey and far-reaching ministries in Venezuela, Honduras and beyond!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JON and JEANNE...
Jon has already found an outlet through education by which he will be able to continue his ministry of teaching--of equipping and encouraging young men and women from all walks of life. Jon has accepted a teaching position at the local community college where he will be working with academically disadvantaged young people, helping them develop the skills, abilities and confidence to enter college-level studies. This is right up Jon's alley as he generously uses his gifts of teaching and encouragement in this setting.
Jeanne is opting to stay at home for this first academic semester back in the US. Jon and the kiddos need someone 'at their back' to keep all the wheels rolling smoothly as they go out in the world each day. However, Jeanne is not one to be tied down! She is already making friends and doing things with those new friends--the older lady who lives next door, a old friend from long ago found and re-united, spouses of other teachers at the college. In the two months we have been here, she has already opened our home to receive four families from Monterrey. Three of those families spent a few days with us and enjoyed her wonderful hospitality. Yes, while she cares for everyone in the home, she continues to reach out and into the lives of others.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THOSE HERRIN KIDS!!!
Jesse now lives in Austin, Texas, where she studies to become a teacher. She is attending college full-time--in her second year now!--and is working 35 hours a week as well! This girl doesn't slow down. She presses on ahead with all her energy. We are so proud of her in her studies and work. Please pray that she is able to maintain that energy and excellence in her studies...and that she is able to find the right community of faith where she will find friends who will support her through the tough college years.
Megan begins studies at the community college this coming week!! Yes, as a home-schooler in her senior year, she is able to attend the college through the dual-enrollment program. So, Megan is excited to move steadily towards her dream of studying nursing. When she graduates from high-school next year, she will already have close to a year of college under her belt--Go, Meg!
In addition to her studies, Megan has become involved with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship--a ministry that reaches out particularly to college students, providing a place to grow in the faith and teaching students how to live and share their faith. Meg looks forward to continued involvement in this wonderful organization.
Andrew has begun high school!! For the first time since 1st grade, Andrew is back in American school...and loving it! He is taking courses like pre-AP Math, Spanish II for Native Speakers (of course!), English, Technology and other classes. With one week behind him, he is confident that this is going to be a really good semester. And, he was able to play basketball in the summer league through the local Boys Clubs. Energy unbounded! Go, Andrew, go!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MORE ON MINISTRY AND SERVICE...
Besides Jon's teaching, Jeanne's home and community service, the children's schooling, we find ourselves drawn to a new church plant here in the Rio Grande Valley. We have not yet been with them long enough to know if this is indeed the place for us, but we continue to fellowship with this wonderful, passionate group of folks who are striving the live the faith...and help others do the same. We'll let you know how this story unfolds in the days to come...but do pray for us as we strive to find the right place for us.
We also continue in ministry in Monterrey providing human and material resources for the seminary and the institute. We have already delivered over 2,000 books to the institute for their reading corner project...wow!, and are they happy! We go back in September to meet with the administration to see how we can continue to help these wonderful teachers and children to grow in their love for reading. At the seminary, Jon has been invited to teach a week-long course...and the Bethlehem Church in Dothan, AL, just provided a gift of bilingual New Testaments to be shared with seminary students and student teachers! So, the ministry in Monterrey will continue.
Finally, we have received invitations to go and teach in both Venezuela and Honduras in the coming year!! Now that we have come out of Monterrey, it seems that God is opening doors of opportunity--albeit 'short-term!'--into new places. In effect, God is increasing our borders...even when we thought we were shrinking our scope of ministry! God is good...all the time!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ON THE HORIZON:
Aug. 29th -- Jon begins teaching classes for the community college for under-prepared students.
Sept. 3-4 -- Jon, Jeanne, Megan and Andrew get to go north to spend two days with Jesse!!!!
Sept.23-25th -- Herrin Family will be in Santiago de Nuevo Leon, Mexico, for a church retreat.
Oct. 7-9 -- Herrin Family will be in San Pedro de la Garza, Mexico, for a drama presentation (tentative)
Nov. 24 -- Honduran missionary families serving in Monterrey gather at the Herrin House for an American Thanksgiving celebration--five families, some 30+ people!! (Pray for us!!! ha,ha!!!)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRAYERS AND PRAISES...
--We give thanks and praise for God's provision of our needs.
--We are so grateful for all your prayers and your gifts....
--Pray for all of us as we continue to adjust and get accustomed to life on the border, "life on the edge!"
--Pray for our children as they study...and as they live lives of example before their peers.
--Pray for our family as we strive to minister as a family, as we form life-changing relationships in the community.
...and we pray for all of you in North America and all you are going through in this time of uncertainty in the midst of roller-coaster financial happenings.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As always, we are so grateful for your love, your prayers, your mission-heart, your faith, your support, your encouragement...your being faithful to the call of God in your lives. Please stay in touch...and we shall do the same!
With much love and great thanksgiving...
Jon, Jeanne, Jesse, Megan and Andrew
www.themissionsociety.org/people/herrins
http://herrinmission.blogspot.com
herrinmission@gmail.com
You can extend your love and ministry through us to the Rio Grande Valley, to Mexico and beyond through a one-time gift, occasional gifts or an extended partnership:
The Mission Society
P.O. Box 922637
Norcross, GA 30010-2637
Designate gifts: Herrin Support 5/290
No comments:
Post a Comment