Tuesday, 02 December 2008
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Below is the latest update of "Best News". Please share this with your friends and family. We would love it if you would print it up for your church bulletin board or as a handout. As always, we appreciate so much your prayers.
Mark and Pam Best and Family...Best News
Acts Alive Team – Guanajuato, Mexico
San Miguel de Allende marknpam@gmail.com
Guanajuato, MEXICO www.actsaliveteam.org
US Tel: (936) 622-3415Christmas Greetings to all from San Miguel de Allende, MEXICO in the state of Guanajuato!
Our Move... Your missionaries, Mark and Pam Best and family, have moved from the state of Durango, Mexico to San Miguel de Allende in the state of Guanajuato. We will continue an on-going relationship with the Work in Durango and the Brothers there. We are excited about working in towns and villages in the northern half of the state.
After leaving Durango, we made a whirlwind tour of several cities throughout Mexico looking for God's will for a place to serve. After reading verse 6 from Acts 16 about Paul's "Macedonian call", we read that the Holy Spirit would not let Paul go to Asia. Then they tried to go into Bithynia but the Spirit did not permit them. Isn't it interesting to know that there are some places we are NOT to go, even when our motives are right? God will lead and direct our paths if we will let Him. We believe He has done that. The Bible says that the steps of a righteous man [family] are ordered of the Lord.
More than five years ago on June 1, 2003, we arrived in Mexico from Guatemala and then traveled to Durango. We had a clear direction from the Lord and we knew we were to go. We didn't know all of what God was asking of us. We didn't know all it would cost. Our whole life has changed since that day. We are so glad we listened to the Lord and went. We look back and see how God has blessed us and the Work. We thank Him for the privilege of being a part of what has happened in Durango, the growth of the churches and leaders. And God is continuing to move there....
Holy Anger... As our family left Durango, the Brothers in the churches became angry. Not angry at us, but at the situation of their city in such spiritual disparity. They are determined to take a stand against all the evil associated with the drug war. Jaime G., our National missionary, seems to be spearheading much of the energy within the churches. A couple of weeks ago an event was held at the city dump area where missionaries from another agency feed the homeless people. An outpouring of the Holy Spirit took place and more than 70 people prayed to make Jesus their Savior. The names and addresses were noted and as a result of these conversions, plans are being made for 7 new house churches in formation. In Canatlan, two new churches are being planted in nearby villages. Many of the Brothers say they are experiencing revival.
We are excited to see what the Lord is doing in Durango. Please remember to pray for the believers and leaders who are on the front lines in Durango.
More News from Durango...Jaime is working with the Regional Baptist Convention in Torreon to partner with the Work in Durango. The Baptist Seminary there is planning on having students do church planting in the corridor that passes by the town of Nazas and on up to Rodeo.
Jaime and Mark plan to meet with a Pastor in San Luis de La Paz (Brother Alberto) here in the state of Guanajuato. He is a recognized National missionary with the National Baptist Convention of Mexico, the same as Jaime. Mark went last week with Jaime to deliver a water well drilling machine to Oaxaca. It turned into a real blessing because the Baptist Seminary there is in need of another water well dug because they are running out of water. They had a great trip and met with several of the leaders in the National Baptist Work
Guanajuato... Most of what we will be doing in the next few weeks and months will be to getting
to know the physical area in which we are now serving. We will spend a lot of time getting to know the people, the culture here, and, searching for God’s will in where to begin. We need to develop a strong prayer strategy and to invoke the help of US churches in preparing the soil for the Seed. Please pray for safety in our travel around the area. Pray for Mark and Pam as they seek God’s will for their new ministry. May every step be guided by God’s hand.
Family news...In case everyone doesn't know yet... we are going to be Grandparents! Jennifer
and Aaron are pregnant. Please write and tell us what your grandparents are called or what you are called as a grandparent. We are trying to come up with that special name.
Emily (3 yrs old) suggested that Mark be called “Jelly King”. Anything better out there? Please pray for Jennifer’s pregnancy, Aaron’s patience and care of her.
Andrew is doing well. Our move caused him and Jennifer a lot of stress as contact with their parents was very limited. They are much better now that communications are back up and running. Please pray for Andrew as God continues to prepare him for His service.
The other children are also adjusting well. The move was stressful and caused a few tears as they were not allowed time to emotionally prepare for the quick pullout from Durango. Please pray for our children as they adjust to a new life in a new city with new friends and experiences. We pray that they will see the hand of God in every step we take.
Again, we are so excited that you are partnering with us in our ministry. We covet your prayers. We would welcome a visit, phone call, or email anytime. We also thank you for your continued support of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering to support missionaries around the world.
Mark and Pam Best and Family
Acts Alive Team
San Miguel de Allende
Guanajuato, MEXICO
US Tel: (936) 622-3415
BEST NEWS
July –August, 2008
Greetings to all from soggy Durango, Mexico...
We are in our rainy season here and this year we have had LOTS of rain and LOTS of mosquitoes. Dams are in danger of breaking and flooding homes near. However, we discovered that the most urgent problem right now is mosquitoes. A local Pastor said all his children are sick from mosquito bites and many of the neighbors. Warnings are out that we may have many cases of malaria and dengue fever. Please pray for these villages and those that are ill. Pray that we can effectively respond to this crisis in love and with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Disaster Relief...
Tuesday, September 1, a disaster relief team from SBTC-Texas will arrive, mosquito netting, screens for windows, fogging machines, and insecticide to try to get relief to the affected, mosquito, infested villages. Pray for travel mercies for this team and that they will be successful in treating mosquitoes.
Mexico National Convention...
This past month our family went to the National Baptist Convention of Mexico in Oaxtepec, Morelos. We spent the week attending seminars, and meeting with various convention leaders as representatives from the Mexico Mission (IMB). Our national missionary, Jaime Guerrero, drove our 15 passenger with 10 brothers (representing 4 of our churches) from Durango to the meetings.
Partnership with Torreon Seminary...
At the Convention, Mark and Jaime had a positive meeting with the President of the Baptist Seminary in Torreon and the Vice-President of the Laguna Convention in Torreon. It was a step to increase our partnership with the seminary and convention and to begin plans for a working relationship involving students doing practicum in church-planting in the state of Durango. Jaime and Mark will travel next week to Torreon to further this dialogue. Pray for Mark, Jaime, and the leaders of the seminary as they plan to use God’s new leaders in Durango.
Violence in Durango...
In the past few months, we have seen violence on the rise here in Durango. Many murders have occurred, both from the police force and from the drug cartels. Pray that the violence would cease and that the peace of Christ would reign in the hearts of the people. Pray that we can work freely throughout the state without being in harms way.
Canatlan...
Brother Johann is leading the church there to minister to the seasonal apple-pickers. Every year during apple harvest, the Indigenous men and women come down out of the mountains to work in the apple orchards. The government provides housing for these temporarily displaced people. First Baptist Church of Canatlan has been given permission to come in and provide a spiritual outlet for these people. The brother and sisters in this church have been providing Christian concerts, movies, and evangelism. Pray for the Indigenous apple-pickers that accepted Christ in Canatlan. Pray as we begin to disciple them and that they will carry this Gospel pack to their villages in the mountains.
Vicente Guerrero in Mourning, Again...
The Pastor of the Baptist church in Vicente Guerrero died suddenly last February. A few days ago his son, who had been in training to become a Pastor died after a lengthy bout with Lupus. We just received word that his younger son died suddenly. The family and church is devastated. Pray for the church and community during this time of extreme grief. Pray especially for this mother who has lost her husband and two sons since February.
Family Issues...
Mark's Mother has had a lot of serious medical problems and continues to lose mobility. She has decided to have a hip replacement surgery sometime next month. This may be a risky surgery as she is in poor health. Please pray for Ethel Best and all of Mark’s family as they support their mother through all of her health issues.
Jennifer, now married, and Andrew are now back in school. Andrew is continuing his studies at Blue Mountain College in Mississippi. Jennifer and Aaron are at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. They are currently living in a hotel until a married student apartment comes available. Please pray for Andrew as he is attending for the first time without his former room mate Aaron (now his brother-in-law) and sister Jennifer. Pray for Jennifer and Aaron as they search for a job and housing.
Pam and the rest of the children, except for Emily have returned to homeschooling. Pray that Pam will continue to have patience and be completely guided by the Lord as she teaches and trains these children to be servants of the Lord.
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