Last full day in Cancun…
Sunday blessings…
For this post, I’ll stick to my last full day in Cancun: Sunday, Feb 02, 2025. There is much more to share about the trip, but I need time to organize my thoughts about my overriding prayer for the future of our respective ministries in and around Cancun.
Since I had two weekends to work with this time, I could be with Iglesia Bautista Berea, downtown Cancun, for this Sunday morning service. The top pictures show part of the group in attendance and me trying to choose my words carefully.
Pictures don’t reveal the spiritual warmth, heartfelt singing, God-honoring testimonies, and hospitality on steroids. They made a huge effort to put everything together, including all the tamales and tacos you could eat and Agua de Jamaica to drink.
With everything in place, Pastor Jaime opened the service a few minutes early. When it was my turn to deliver the message, I said it didn’t feel like a church service… it felt more like a family reunion—which it was. This work was started in 1982…, and several pioneers are still here. Precious memories!
Next pictures: I’m standing between Victoria and Santos; the other picture is of Jorge giving a testimony before I got up to speak. Santos has battled cancer for some years and, in recent months, with heart complications. He was released from the hospital last week, having been told there is nothing more they can do for him. He has been—and remains—rock solid in his trust of the Lord. I wish you could hear him share his story.
Jorge has been here a long time, too. We used to share our wedding anniversaries every March 21st. Our wives are in heaven now. He helps Santos with the church family that assembles in Santos and Victoria’s home in another part of the city. Among other things, he covers the message when Santos cannot. Jorge has always been that kind of brother and servant.
Paulina Balam and her family were pioneers, too. She was present in the morning service and went straight to her mother’s birthday party… 80 years old! Her Mom still lives in Popolnah, a pueblo on the border between the States of Yucatan and Quintana Roo. We met the family many years ago. Today, we have a church family in the pueblo. One more amazing story for later! I hope to visit them on my next trip.
We arranged to meet up after the service and make our way toward the airport to visit a very special person: Ceci’s husband, Gustavo. He had a major stroke several years ago. I believe he was about 48 years old at the time. Ceci did a wonderful job of caring for him at home, even while working full-time. Gus has been in a care facility since last August (options here are so limited). He remembered us all, and his face just glowed when he saw us. Getting to hug him was a highlight of this trip.
Rosy has been part of us since not long after our house church was going in town, the roots of Congregación Alamos. She and her husband were dear friends to Linda and me. We lost Miguel to Covid early in the pandemic… and it was a huge loss.
What can I say? My heart is still tied to people who have been part of me for decades, and that love will never die.
My flight out was Monday noon… to Dallas and then Portland, OR. My granddaughter Kayleigh was waiting to take me home. I was exhausted, ears plugged, dehydrated, hungry… and anxious to go back!
What a beautiful day you had Greg, thank you for sharing. I can feel the love connection 💗 those people that have been friends for decades are the dearest. Time increases their importance to us and distance doesn’t diminish that. Glad you had such a blessed time!