February 10, 2009 – Maryl and I have arrived home, safe and sound after two weeks in Mexico. We started our ministry off in Puebla (city of 3 million – at 7000 ft sea level) with a great group of pastors from all over the local area of Puebla, teaching and leading in worship. Then we drove to Veracruz, on the Gulf Coast of Mexico, where the weather was amazingly and unseasonally blustery, windy and coolish. That actually made our time Fuente de Vida very comfortable for us and a little too cool for some of them.
We had 9 services in four days. The response was incredible with the altars filled with hundreds of hungry people, singing a new song of freedom, plus about 30 new converts! The church seems to be healthy, joy is abounding, their worship is strong and the leadership growing. There was close to 1100 people total in two services. We also were able to spend a lot of time with their worship team, singers and musicians as well as their worship pastors, Sarai and Alvaro. Two quality, young and wonderful people. Not only skilled but hearts of gold and a great love for the church and the worship teams. Worship and a heart of faith is alive and well in Veracruz. Mark and Aimee Jaquith were our wonderful translators for us (as well as drivers!)
After Veracruz (I got to watch the Super Bowl in Spanish! How great is that?) we (Mark and Aimee Jaquith, Maryl and I) drove back to Puebla for a lineup of ministry that would keep us busy until we left the next week. Tuesday morning (Feb.3) Maryl spoke to hundreds of women concerning their calling in God, I heard it was electric and inspiring to so many ladies. That night I spoke to the hundreds of leaders and pastors of Fuente Para El Mundo (Pastors Phil and Judy Jaquith) about being prophetic leaders, broken, bold, believing leaders. Somehow, I think I have experienced a lot of that, especially the broken part!
Wednesday morning we got to work with and teach the worship leaders of the church (and a couple of other churches) for 3 hours. What a wonderful group of leaders with a big heart for the people and worship. In the evening we worked with over a hundred musicians (from many churches) on flowing together in worship.
Thursday I got to golf with Pastor Phil at El Cristo, a beautiful course under the shadow of Mt. Popocatepetl, an active and smoking volcano. Got my first sunburn of the year and broke 100 – the good the bad and the ugly. That night was a wonderful session with the singers of the church, getting them focused, strong, and purposeful in their gift. I love working with singers especially. Hearing the change in their sound is so thrilling, and seeing it on their faces is priceless.
Friday night, after a great time of worship with the band at Fuente, I shared briefly on Psalm 139, but then Maryl blew them away with a great talk on how God comes to us, reveals Himself, and then helps us in every situation. The altar was packed as God revealed Himself to so many that night. There seems to be such a sweetness in the Mexican people as they receive all that Jesus has for them. It is delightful to watch and be a part of His good news!
Saturday we got to see the beautiful home that Pastors Phil and Judy are having built on the hills of Puebla, overlooking the city and in view of Mt. Popo. Through generous gifts and perseverance over the years, they will soon have a great home for meetings, family, guest ministry and retreats. God is amazing in honoring and blessing this faithful couple.
Saturday afternoon was the big moment of our time in Mexico. The tenor saxophone, that many of you donated to purchase, finally got it’s debut in worship with brother Guillermo playing it skillfully throughout the worship. I shared and taught on Biblical Worship and the heart of what God is really after – our hearts! Then I got to teach on our delightful response in different ways, going through the seven words of praise and leading them into great expressions that exploded clear into the back rows of the sanctuary. At one point we danced and danced and danced and no one wanted to stop. (Personally, I was amazed at my stamina. Maryl and I have been faithfully exercizing daily, and it really showed here, at 7000 ft elevation – we stayed up with the youth the whole night – with energy to spare – rare moment for a 56 year old!) You know, I so appreciate cerebral, thoughtful and sweet moments of worship, that I have grown very accustomed to in the States, but I truly miss being very physically and emotionally expressive before a living God who is ‘dancing over us with joy’! That day we joined the dance. Not one was left behind. We also had moments of sharing the experience with each other, praying, clapping, laughing together was so healthy and moving.
Sunday was the capstone of worship and vision for the church in Puebla. After a great release on Saturday, I shared on everybody’s part of the Community of Praise in Puebla, sowing vision for what God has for each of us in His Body and for the community. I was able to show through my experiences with so many wonderful people in my life, and the Word of God, that God uses us all uniquely and wonderfully to express Himself through His Body to a skeptical world. It turned out to be Membership Sunday at Fuente! Good timing! Once again many came forward to receive Jesus and then the altar was flooded with those who felt inadequate, restrained, dried up or discouraged, to receive all that God had for them and to be released to be a joyful vibrant and grace-filled child of God. Jesus is alive and well in Puebla. A big thank you to the Pastors of Fuente Para El Mundo and the wonderful people of the church for your faithfulness to your loving God. He has great things in store for your city.
And thank you, to all reading this, for your part in supporting us and praying for us as we go to nation after nation to proclaim His goodness, His grace and His freedom to all. We love you all and believe for God’s greatest blessings on you.
Tim and Maryl Smith, Your Worship Missionaries