November 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!

We can, and should, still be giving thanks, even though the official US day, (and the turkey, and the stuffing, and the pie) has come and gone. We had someone ask us, "What do Mexicans do to celebrate Thanksgiving?" And the answer is that it's not a Mexican holiday. But we celebrated with co-workers, friends and family. We have so much to be thankful for. This year by all accounts has been a rough one--especially economically: high food prices, oil prices, mortgages and markets collapsing, not to mention the Seattle sports scene (even we who are far off feel the pain). But we know that God is still in control and He is good. So we give thanks to Him. Let's make this letter a list of Thanksgiving.

We are thankful for our children. Drew is reading and 'riting (yeah, he'd probably spell it that way) in Spanish and English, and cruising ahead in school. Oh, and he lost two teeth this month. Gavin got a brace for his feet in January and it has worked amazingly well. He's running now and is our observant engineer. Fiona is a little ball of smiles and energy who is strong and beautiful. We are thankful for each other. God has blessed us with a healthy marriage that allows us to minister and serve here in Puebla. We are thankful for the leadership of the church, for Christian, Tim Blycker, Pedro, and Carlos. We are thankful for Laura who is serving children and women. We are thankful for people in the church who are serving: Sofia with children, Leandro with youth, Hiram with music, Liz with snacks, Kari with cleaning (there are many others, but we'll be brief). We are thankful for the 10 ladies who were baptized in February. We are thankful for new families who have been attending. We are thankful for real growth in people in our weeknight Bible studies. We are thankful for the opportunity to have a permanent church building some time this coming year. We are thankful for "Jose" from Madero University, with whom Tim has been working for 4 years. He decided to become a Christian 2 weeks ago on top of a 14,632 foot mountain. We are thankful for you, for reading all the way down this list. Thank you for your prayers for us and with us. Please thank God with us. And add your own thanksgiving items to the list for 2008.	Our pre-Thanksgiving dinner with cousins.

Our family with Grandma in Acapulco

This Thanksgiving is our fifth in Mexico. That means next year will be furlough time, a time to report in person to the people and churches who partner financially with us and pray for us. We anticipate driving to the US some time after May 15 and taking a roundabout way to Tacoma (via Barbara-Lee's family in Pennsylvania). One of our biggest needs right now is for a family to stay in our house here during our time away. We feel that God wants us to come back to this neighborhood and begin a ministry specifically here. In that case, no doubt He will provide someone to keep the house. We'd like to enlist you to pray with us about that (and if you'd really like to live here, well, let's talk!).

PRAISE
1.	See the above thanksgiving list!

PRAYER
1.	For partners in Laura's support. We have received $50/month for her support. Our church and Laura have agreed to move ahead in faith with her work. Please pray that God would provide for her needs, either with gifts or another flexible part-time work opportunity.
2.	Again, please pray with us about a family to live in our house during our time away.
3.	For Christian, that God would continue to prepare him for solo leadership when we leave.

With thanksgiving
Tim, Barbara-Lee, Drew, Gavin, Fiona

mexico@theglessners.org
http://www.theglessners.org

Mailing address:
APDO 1072
Puebla, Pue. MEXICO
C.P. 72000

Phone: 011 (522) 222-48-50-07