Mexico's Bicentennial Celebration

This week Mexico is celebrating 200 years of Independence.  I can remember when we celebrated this as a country in 1976.  I was sharing with my daughter Natalie that I was in a special play at school that had a bicentennial theme.  There is even a picture in the yearbook!  Oh to be in the 7th grade again!

This past Sunday we as a church celebrated Independence Day. (the actual date is September 16th)  Here in Mexico we celebrate normally on the eve of the date.  So, September 15th is when the country starts it's festivities.  This is also true at Christmas.  Mexico celebrates Christmas on Christmas Eve.  It is almost like they can't wait so they do it early.  My kids actually like this.

We are praising the Lord for what He is doing at Nueva Vida!  We are allowing the church folk to organize and carry out the activities this year.  This is in preparation for us leaving for our furlough next summer.  It is so exciting to see everyone come together.  We have a very gifted man in our church, Alberto.  He organized our Bicentennial celebration.  Everything went very smooth.  Sam, unfortunately, was unable to attend due to a strained back.  We had 120 folks come and enjoy the food, fellowship and festivities!

We had a dress up contest. 

We almost ran out of space!

Here are the salsas that the guys made!

Alfonso, preached and did an awesome job!!

Benjamin, a man in our church, did a clown act for the kids!

Alfonso led the church in the "grito".  This is the famous shout where we end in "Viva Mexico".

These are our deaf friends.  They love to come to special activities!

Special thanks to Axel, the young man on the left.  He took all these pictures!  He is a professional photographer in our church.  We are so blessed to have his family in our church.  His dad, sitting next to him, is our sound man and his mom organized all the food!