What Parrots Can Teach Us

This morning around 7am, as I was wrapping up my morning walk, the flock of parrots that now inhabits our valley took to flight to greet the day.  The sky was suddenly filled with their joyful cacophony of squawks and screaks as the 30+ of them  took to the cool morning air.

I watch them every morning that I get to walk, marveling at the their brilliant green, their maneuvering as group.  I hear their "noise" and wonder how they could ever learn to mimic human speech.  Mainly, I just enjoy the freedom they have as they fly on the winds over the busyness of the city.

As I watched this morning, they seemed to be waking and launching into the day with joy.  After flying around as a flock for about five minutes, greeting the new day, the flock began to break up--groups of four, six and eight birds, peeling off--I imagine--to go to their various feeding sites.  They always break off in even numbers...because, as we learned in natural science class somewhere along the way, parrots are monogamous--they have one mate for life.  So, they break off in even numbers, always.  Those small groups then begin to break off as well...into groups of two, off to face the day.

As I came to the end of my walk, and the sound of rejoicing parrots was fading, I realized what a model they are for us.  They begin their day in praise, all together in the strength of their numbers.  Then, as the needs of the day call to them, the break off into groups--four, six or eight.  And, finally, the take off, two-by-two.  Don't they reflect how we are to be as God's people??  We're to gather in numbers at some point during the week (in North America, usually on Sunday) to greet our God and lift our voices in praise.  Then, we can break off in smaller groups...even down to twos...as we walk as disciples, side-by-side in the daily grind of life.

Well, this morning, I give thanks to God for those noisy, screechy, beautiful parrots that raise their inharmonious voices to the day...and I add mine to it, thanking God for His goodness as I prepare to face the day.

Cost of an Education

Miguel came to me about two weeks ago.  He was stressed, and I was afraid he was coming to tell me that he was leaving the seminary.  Instead, he told me his story.  Miguel is 19-years-old.  His mom is a teacher and he has several brothers and sisters.  He came to explain why he had not turned in the last four assignments in my Ethics class.  After classes at the seminary, he told me, he goes straight to work.  He manages six or seven candy and snack stands on some of the major roads in the city.  He leaves seminary and begins making rounds to each one, replenishing their supply of candies, sweet rolls, magazines.  Not for just a couple of hours, mind you--for the next six to eight hours, long into the night.  He shared with me that his mom just doesn't make enough as a teacher to pay all the bills of the house and schooling and personal needs, so he has to help to keep the family together and "in the black."  However, he was stopping by to tell me that his seminary education was so important that he was giving up some of his work,  that he had discussed it with his family and they were going to cut back on expenses still more so that he could get all his seminary work done.

I was walking out of the office recently and Esteban was sitting in the foyer of the seminary doing something I never imagined of him.  Esteban, on first glance, might be the type of fellow you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley--day or night!  But, then he smiles, and the peace and love of God just radiates from his face.  He's not the best student, but he is a tenacious and determined student, sure of his call, and set on reaching the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ.  So, what was this fellow doing?  He was sitting among several balls of yarn...knitting!  In my utter surprise, I exclaimed, "Esteban--what are you doing??  Are you knitting??"  He looked up, smiled that beautiful, disarming smile, and replied, "Well, I'm making scarves to sell."  And I returned, "What?  Why?"  Esteban explained, "Well, if I want to stay in seminary, if I want to pay the bills, I have to do something!"

Miguel and Esteban...just two of our 50+ students, doing whatever it is they have to do to get a seminary education, to get the training they want and need so they can serve their Lord in the most effective way they can.

The seminary program for dorm students costs about $250/month...and includes all course work, room and board.  Non-resident students pay about $120/month.

More...Interview with MNN

The recording of the live interview with Jon is now available as well.  Just turn on your speakers and go here:

http://www.mnnonline.org/player/?media=interview&id=2555&length=&date=

We are so grateful for your continued prayers as we navigate the difficulties of life here.

A Gift from St. Phillip's UMC!!

Don't you just love it when God just brings everything together in a wonder way??  We took our daughter to college in Texas in August, and while there we stayed with a wonderful friend, Barbara, that we met one Sunday back in 2005 when we were sharing in a church in N. Georgia.  While in Texas, we went with our friend to her friends', Steve and Suzanne's, home for dinner...and in the midst of our conversation, I mentioned that we were in desperate need for computers in our office at the seminary, that our computers were so old and slow that it very much affected our labors.  Well, Barbara and Suzanne are both computer teachers...and Steve is a pastor at a church that was just then replacing their "older" but still very functional computers!!  To make a long story short, they all put their heads together, invited others at the university and the church to jump in...and we now have "new", fast, fully-functioning computers in the seminary office...and they are networked, and they all have internet!!  WOW!!  Thank you, St. Phillips UMC, for the gift of computers...and thank you friends in Georgetown and at Southwestern University for helping all of this come to pass!!

 

 

Itzeel, our Admin. Asst., and I are getting ready to set 'em up!!

Itzeel LOVES her new "compu"...and is already catching up on student grades, seminary publications, and all of that!

Panchita is able to see her work more clearly as she takes care of all the seminary finances.




We are so, so grateful to those who gave time, resources and all that went into make this possible!  May the Lord bless you all as you have blessed us!

Oh yes...and the Dean is a happy fellow too!!

Interview with MNN

On December 1st, Mission Network News interviewed Jon about the violence and its effect on the ministry in Monterrey.  You can read this interview here:

http://www.mnnonline.org/article/15035

Feel free to share this link with others...and do keep us in your prayers!

Herrins in Mexico -- Thanksgiving 2010

We hope YOU had a wonderful Thanksgiving...and I can promise you that ours was good. Of course, it's during the holidays that we most miss "home," and it was no different this year! To make matters even more difficult, our Megan was with our Jesse in Texas...so we were down TWO children from usual. However, Jeanne Lee, Andrew and I had a wonderful time...!

Just so we wouldn't be sitting around moping, the Lord saw to it that we were well busy through Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday started off with Jeanne Lee making 12...that's TWELVE...pumpkin pies for the high school (Instituto Laurens) Thanksgiving dinner that she would be a part of on Thursday.

...and her "magic" was delicious!

Jeanne doing her "magic"...

But, of course, before Thursday, the teachers' college (the LEB of Instituto Laurens) had their dinner on Wednesday evening. My third semester students were asked to tell the story of Thanksgiving and talk about a traditional Thanksgiving meal...so we got in about three days of practice...and did our thing Thursday night. It was a lot of fun...and it was great to see student who had struggled with English at the beginning of the semester now reading fairly fluidly. The meal there? Chicken, rice, broccoli, and spaghetti with cilantro pesto sauce...and flan for dessert! Not too Thanksgiving-y for us! ha,ha... But, a good time with the students and teachers.

Introducing my 3rd Semester students at the Program

Some of my 3rd Semester students

Then, Thursday rolled around...and it was off to work again! It's not a national holiday here, Thanksgiving, so we just pressed on as always. I went off to the seminary, and Jeanne Lee and Andrew got things together for the high-school mid-day dinner. Jeanne Lee was to speak to the assembly (some 70+ students and teachers) to talk about Thanksgiving and the reason for the day. My wonderful, tender-hearted wife became rather emotional during her talk, and some of her teacher-friends came quickly to her and helped her finish. However, what happened later is the best part...! I came home from work early to share Thanksgiving with my family--just the three of us. However, just as I arrived, two of Jeanne's students--Samuel and Melvin--arrived at our door...with a huge cheese-cake pie!! They said, "We knew you had a hard day today, Miss, and we just wanted to do something for you...." WOW! Two seventeen-year-old boys thinking to do something like this for their teacher?? Well, that's the difference that Jeanne is making in the lives of these teenagers. Both of these boys are in Jeanne's book club...meeting every two weeks to discuss a novel they're reading together...and to talk about life in general.

Thanksgiving Dinner...friends in the background...!

A DELICIOUS feast for us!

We, we invited them in...and they jumped on the X-Box with Andrew. Sam also came over that day. Sam is from Ohio...and is here in Mexico alone, staying with a friend of the family. He is living about an hour-and-a-half from the school...and has really been missing home, so he stayed with us three days this week. Since Sam, Melvin and Samuel had all fairly gorged themselves at the school dinner, they declined our offer to eat, and just sat in the background playing X-Box while the three Herrins joyfully ate Thanksgiving together. As Andrew said, "This is one to remember!"  We love you all and hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

The J . A . M ....

And just so you don't forget about our amazing children, I better give you an update on their lives as well!

Jesse!  She's at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, working her way towards her bachelor's degree.  As she comes to the end of her first semester, we rejoice that she is doing well.  Oh, she has faced the difficulties of going to college in the US as a TCK (Third Culture Kid)...but she seems to be maneuvering the obstacles and frustrations with her usual determination and stick-to-it-iveness.  We are so proud of her...and can't wait to have her with us for Christmas--her first time to come home since she left--and to catch up with her on all the doin's of life!

The ever-lovely Jesse...

Riding in Style!

Oh yes...great hat.

And the Megan!  She is moving right along in life.  This year, she continues to home-school, yet stays as active as anyone I know!  First of all, she is tutoring at Instituto Laurens--right now a young lady in elementary school.  She meets with her two days a week.  Then, one evening a week, Megan teaches a history and culture class at the Teachers' College--yes, that's right--the Teachers' College.  She is teaching them basic American history and culture, and relating it to their future professions as kindergarten and elementary school teachers by teaching them crafts that go along with the celebration of all the main American holidays--this is important for those who hope to teach at bi-lingual schools.  They love her!  And, after the studies and work is all done, Megan goes out her friends from church and school for a good time.  She is active at the church as a greeter and as a child-care worker.  Just watching her leaves me exhausted!!

Megan tutoring...

At the teachers' college

At the "Noche Mexicana" festivities....

And, the Andrew!  He, too, is home-schooling this year by choice...and it seems to have been a good choice!  Otherwise, there's no way he'd get it all done....  He is off to basketball practice Mon-Fri. for three to four hours each day...and he is playing WELL!  We are really proud of him.  In addition to basketball, he has taken an affinity to the drums, and we get to enjoy his drumming daily.  He is taking lessons with one of the seminary students each week...and soon hopes to be playing in the praise band at church.  And, speaking of church, he is very involved with the youth program...going out with them several times a week, working as assistant leader of his discipleship group.  The boy is unending energy incarnate!

Boy can move the ball!

And it went right in!

Drumming with Juan Carlos

So, there you have it!  The J.A.M. is doing great!  We are so, so proud of our children...for the lives they live, for the examples they are to those around them, for the help they are at home.  And, we thank you all for praying for them as they discover God's dreams for their lives...as they travel--Jesse in the US, and Megan and Andrew around this huge city...as they are an integral part of this ministry.