Saturday, December 27, 2014

Herrin Update - December 2014

Dear Family, Friends, and Partners in Ministry,

Wow! God is good…and life moves along here on the “Edge.” We hope that 2014 has been a good year for you and that 2015 will be even better! We can't believe another year has passed so quickly...and what a year of change!  It’s time for us to catch up with you on life, so let’s do it!


Many of you may recall that Jon returned to pastoral ministry (part-time) in January of this year, basically filling the pulpit for the First UMC of Rio Grande City.  In June of this year, Jon resigned from his full-time position at South Texas College in order receive a full-time appointment as pastor at the FUMC of Rio Grande City!!  He is SO happy to be back in ministry, but it was a bit of a struggle to get back into it.  It had been NINE YEARS since we left Coosa UMC in the North Georgia Mountains to go serve God in missions, first in Venezuela and then in Mexico. Now, Jon is loving parish ministry once again...and that's where we plan to stay!

 

Rio Grande City is about 50 miles from our home in McAllen. The church has two Sunday services—one in Spanish (9am) and one in English (11am)—and enjoys a community-wide Bible-study time on Wednesday evenings (beginning in January 2015). Please pray that God will continue to strengthen the congregation and guide us as we serve here.

In addition, Jon has begun serving in campus ministry at the small, South Texas College campus here in Rio Grande City.  He is available for counseling two days a week, and he will be presenting seminars for students and staff twice a month beginning in February. The seminars will address practical, spiritual, relational issues that will give the students tools and skills for dealing with the difficulties of border life.


Jeanne continues to teach ESL for South Texas College where she is able to help immigrants and visitors learn English.  She has had students from Mexico, Cuba, Japan and Korea in the last few months…so she is touching FOUR countries without even leaving ours!  Besides teaching the ESL courses, she has started a book club with seven of the women, and she is enjoying reading with them and strengthening their cultural understanding through discussions.

The J.A.M (Jesse, Andrew and Megan)!
They tied the knot! They jumped the broom! They're MARRIED!  On Friday, December 19th at 4:30 pm at the Union Church in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, Jesse and Edgar were married!!  We are so happy for them.  It has been a long journey, but they do seem made for each other...and they have the world before them. Megan was one of Jesse's bridesmaids, and Andrew served as one of Edgar's groomsmen.  Jeanne and I...well, we decided just to be 'parents of the bride!'  


Jesse is a 7th Grade teacher of language arts, social students and United Nations at the Colegio Ingles in San Pedro (part of the Monterrey metro area) and Edgar is a high school art and home-economics teacher at the Colegio San Patricio in San Pedro. They both work together in their church with the children's program. We rejoice in their union...and look forward to the unfolding of their lives together. Pray for them as they embark on this journey together.

And, Megan GRADUATED!!!  She is now a 'graduate nurse' and has accepted a position in the Emergency Department at the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance, one of the leading healthcare providers in South Texas.  She begins her new job on January 15th.  We are SOOO happy for her--for her completion of the program and for her going after and landing the job of her dreams.  Pray that she will be able to bring healing of body and soul to those she serves.

 


Finally, Andrew is doing very well in school. He is the final semester of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at his school.  He remains active in the National Honor Society chapter and other organizations at BETA High School. He has begun the process of applying to universities, and has already been accepted in four and has been offered significant merit scholarships by two of his top choices. He will graduate in June of this coming year...and he will take off to find his way in this world. Pray for him that he makes a good choice in the college selection process, and pray that he finds good people to be with at the college of his choice.

 

…And that’s all the news from the Herrins!

If you would like, you can continue to support our ministry through The Mission Society.  Your gifts will allow us to purchase Bibles and provide resources for the STC Campus Ministry and for community ministries.

Follow us on FacebookTwitter…our Blogs.  And, do drop us a note—mail or e-mail!  We always enjoy hearing from you…and we’ll always respond to your notes.

We hope you all enjoyed a Merry Christmas and that 2015 will be a Happy New Year!  We thank you for your prayers, encouragement and your friendship through the years. 

With great thanksgiving….

     Jesse, Megan and Andrew (The J.A.M.!)


The Herrins serving through the Rio Texas Conference of the UMC and with The Mission Society.