Where to begin? The last two and a half months have been somewhat like living a Soap Opera. Although I (Steve) never watched them much, maybe a little bit as an adolescent, (and of course, that was for language learning!) I do remember that they were filled with way too much information. So, here comes the condensed version of Days of our Lives.

The ministry at the North Side Christian Church has (ICN) been very rewarding, but not without its heart breaks. The leaving of a pastor always creates a dilemma for some. Do they stay and build up the church or do they leave also? Well, some left. It was difficult to watch and frustrating at times. We praise the Lord for those that stayed and are building up the congregation. The leadership is taking their responsibility seriously and are encouraging the people. The leaders’ actions are encouraging to us. There is more participation by more people in the congregation in decision making and in serving. In part, our role is in directing the leadership to focus on what are the priorities of the congregation. Healing, mission and ministry are only three of many. These are being accomplished through fellowship and prayer, healthy doctrine (preaching through Acts at the moment) and service (food boxes for widows or others in need and home visits). Kay and Steve are partners with two Mexican couples and two Mexican women and another missionary couple, Victor and Pam DeLeon on the provisional counsel that is leading the congregation at this time. We are currently discussing worship patterns, finances, construction projects, Sunday school lessons and what classes to offer. OK, that is just a few of the subjects. Victor DeLeon is encouraging the men to think about Godly leadership and how that forms their own leadership. Pam is encouraging the women to develop a women’s ministry. Kay is working with several young women and helping them develop as teachers. Steve is working with the worship music team.

Accomplishments include completing the first construction project which was started around the middle of December 2012. It was a challenge to raise the necessary funding, and it was a growing time as well given all the distractions. A fellowship time has been initiated after the dismissal song has been sung at the end of the worship service. It consists of someone or someones preparing a light snack to be shared by everyone. It is a huge hit and appreciated by all.

Please lift up the North Side Church, her members, her leadership and her future.

The bible studies have continued along side the ministry at the ICN church. As with most home bible studies each one is a micro-cosom of the home and marriage itself. One study is on hold due to work schedules. Another is switching to a better time now that the mother is having to work. Another continues on track while yet another is not only on track but the family is beginning to attend the ICN church.

And now, before we turn to the coming summer ministry activities, let’s get soapy (as in Soap Operas!). Natasha is graduating on Saturday, May 11th from Milligan College. We are always very proud of Natasha and are looking forward to sharing this very special day with her and our family. We will be visiting Upper East Tennessee for two weeks in which we will attend the graduation, help Natasha move, visit with family, visit with doctors (our least favorite!) and seeing some of our church friends. Remember this is only two weeks and not an “official” visit. Next year we will be on furlough and get to see many more of you.

In June we will travel to Oregon for a family reunion. It is always a time we look forward to. This year is bitter sweet, however, because Steve’s father, Olof, is declining in his health and growing much weaker. Although Olof’s future is secure in Christ his earthly journey is drawing to a close. We love him dearly.  Please pray for Dad, for his comfort, for Steve’s mom, Lois and all the Carpenter family.

Another struggle that we honestly wish we did not have to pass through is a conflict with our bank in Mexico. The bank had the opportunity to prevent a fraudulent transfer of funds from our account, but didn’t. This has resulted in a suit being filed against the bank. Thankfully different documents including our phone call records support our claim that the bank was negligent in this matter. Without going into any further details we would ask for your prayers that justice be done on our behalf.

We don’t want to focus on struggles as there are exciting things on the horizon. . . . on to summer’s plans and your prayers. This summer the DeLeon family will host three REACH Interns. These interns will participate in activities at the different churches and help us with some activities in our neighborhood. They will not be alone as a work group from the Colonial Heights Christian Church of Kingsport, Tenn. will be joining us for ten days. We are looking forward to their time with us and their ministries (interns and work group). W are also very excited for Benjamin as he completes his third year at Milligan and officially becomes a senior. Not only that, he has made plans to serve this summer with CMF as an  Intern with Globalscope Spain. We admire his dedication to the Lord and to ministry and pray for his summer experience.

Well, we will bring our Soap Opera to a close. Thank you for tuning in. Until our next installment may our Lord bless you and your’s and the Days of Your Lives.

Steve n’ Kay

As for ministry events we have seen the highs and the lows. Let’s begin with the low. Around the first of January the pastor of the North Side Christian Church, Hector Romo, resigned with less than three weeks’ notice. For both the Carpenter and DeLeon families this meant taking on the immediate new role of encourager and facilitator. We immediately stepped up to encourage the leadership and the congregation. In retrospect this has not been an easy six weeks but we have been encouraged by the commitment of the church members and their stepping up to new responsibilities. We are now meeting weekly with the leadership and very soon Vic DeLeon will begin offering them a practical course in biblical leadership. Church members are leading the Sunday school classes, coordinating the Sunday service and the Wednesday Prayer Meeting. Victor and Steve are helping with the preaching responsibilities along with Percival, David and  Ulises church leaders. Please keep the North Side Church in your prayers and our efforts to encourage and build up the congregation.

Meanwhile in Tultepec we have continued with the home bible studies, although sickness has taken its toll. Our study in Tultitlan was cancelled due to our being under the weather while our study with Tania was cancelled when we arrived and found her suffering from laryngitis and Santiago, her two year old, had an ear infection. We did meet with our Wednesday night study and were very pleased when at the end of the study the couple decided that they would like to be baptized. This will happen very soon. Praise the Lord!

English class at the Eagles Community Center has started up again for the spring session. We teach an hour and a half class in the morning and in the afternoon each Tuesday. This also gives us the opportunity to touch base with Ruben and Jorcy who also minister with the Eagles Christian Church.

We would like to extend a warm and very LOUD thank you to all who assisted with the Church in a Box project or gave an unspecified gift at the end of the year. Your gift accompanied by your prayers and the prayers of many others, has resulted in a very successful project and will result in touching the lives of many of your brothers and sisters in Christ and in bringing others to the foot of the cross of Jesus. We are humbly overwhelmed by your generosity and your love in action. Thank you!

Now may the Lord bless you and keep you in His eternal love.

Steve & Kay

All our love,

Steve, Kay, Natasha and Benjamin

We pray that you and yours will know the PEACE of the Christ Child this Christmas. May He bless you and your plans for this season and in the coming year.

Christmas Cactus wishing you a Merry Christmas!

As we look back over the past few months and see all that the Lord has done in our midst, we are amazed. We are super pleased with the home we have rented in Tultepec, a northern Mexico City community. It may be smaller than the other homes we have rented in the past but it is cute and comfortable. We are also pleased that we have many opportunities to visit with people as we walk around the neighborhood.

At this time we have five home studies. One is with Luis who is the chicken guy. He owns several chicken businesses where they sell fresh chicken. Not exactly Kentucky Fried style. This is really fresh chicken. Since two of his businesses are in front of homes where we have Bible studies we obviously purchase our fresh chicken from Luis. Besides, it is the best fresh chicken around!

Luis’ Chicken Stand

Steve tries his hand.

One of our studies is in the home of Monserrat. We recently helped Monse move to her new rental, putting up curtains and eventually took apart the wooden base for her bed so it could be moved to the second floor. She was quite pleased to bid farewell to the sofa.

The end of the year has taken a toll on several of our studies as the people we study with have had to put in extra hours at work. We are looking forward to January when their schedules will return to normal and our studies will as well.

We are also looking forward to Natasha and Benjamin being with us for Christmas. Natasha’s roommate, Helen, and one of Ben’s friends will be visiting with us for aweek and then head home to be with their families. Having almost a month with our kids is a blessing come true.

Before we close this post we also want to tell you about a special project called, “The Indescribable Gift”. We read in 2 Corinthians 9:15, ”Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” Will you help us share this Gift with others? As you prepare to celebrate the joy found in the birth of Jesus this Christmas season, consider sharing that joy with others.

Your year-end gift will not only brighten lives in Mexico, it will brighten your holiday as well! Consider making an “indescribable gift” of your own by helping us purchase a “Church in a Box! That would be a portable canopy, a portable baptistery, a bunch of chairs and a few tables.  The reason for a “Church in a Box” is that the homes here are small and cannot support a study for more than five or six people. As the studies grow we will gather several studies together for worship and other activities. Eventually the studies will meet once a month and the space a “Church in a Box” will provide will be invaluable. This “Church in a Box” will be a huge blessing to us, our ministry, and the people we serve.

Space in front of four homes.

Common space.

In Christ!

Steve getting the Christmas Tree started.

Half way there!

Wow! Steve, that’s GREAT!

OK, this is the real one. Beautiful!

Hotel Campestre, Ixmiquilpan

Scripture and Song Service

Luis’ Baptism

Tania’s baptism

Prayer for Emiliano

Communion Service

The community center at the Eagles Church has begun English Classes. Kay is teaching the elementary children of which there were 3 in the morning and 31 in the afternoon. Joy Jimenez is assisting where needed and Jorcy Flores teaches a Spanish class to the children after their English time with Kay. Steve is teaching the middle and high schoolers as well as a few adults. In the AM Steve had four students and in the afternoon around 35. We’ll try to pry the camera from Kay’s hands next week and get a photo of her as well.

Jorcy teaching Spanish grammer

Steve’s English class

Joy leading a math skills session

Just a couple of photos you might find interesting. These are photos of Mexico City under construction. The main loop around MC is being expanded by building a second level, and in one of the photos you can see that they are building a lower level, possibly part of the subway system.

Building up and under!

Second floor under construction.

Last weeks plans were changed for Luis & Tanya’s baptisms. We are now looking toward the 21 & 22 of September. Plans are still to drive to Ixmiquilpan and to spend the night at the Hotel Campestre. If you would like to take a sneek peek of the hotel go to (http://www.hotelcampestreixmi.com.mx/).

As is turned out the weekend was quite eventful. After all, Steve did celebrate his 55th birthday! Hurrah! The first celebration was Friday with Carlos and Yeri who purchased a cake! with an Angry Bird candle. We ate pizza and played dominoes. We didn’t get to the cake that night. Saturday we ate lunch with Vic and Pam DeLeon (co-workers) who also served cake!! Later on Saturday Carlos and Yeri visited and we decided to take their cake to the taco stand and share it with the workers and anyone eating there. I believe we served around 20 people in all. Sunday lunch was with Hector and Rosy after the morning service at the North Side Christian Church. Steve preach at ICN in the morning and at the Eagles Church in the afternoon. So of course, Rosy served a delicious cheese cake!!! And after the Eagles’ service, not only cake !!!! but tacos as well. Although nothing was planned together it sure came together and Steve celebrated his 55th in stylle.

Steve, “I would like to thank everyone for their prayers, mom and dad for the birthday and my wife, Natasha and Benjamin for making it special. And a very special thank you to Jesus for giving me not only one birthday, but for two!”

Oh, a short explanation. The word “mordida” means bite. They shout it at birthdays and anniversaries to get the people to take a bite of the cake. Then, while taking the bite their head is quite unceremonially pushed into the cake. Steve is quite good at avoiding this. However, on this occasion he decided to give everyone what they wanted. Oh yeah, notice the extra “e” in Steve’s name!

The ANGRY BIRD!

The FACE!

The BITE!

Last week we mentioned the dedication held for Santiago’s first birthday. He was such a good humoured child. In fact, so was everyone! In the end we discovered it was also his mother’s birthday so Santi’s dad and grandfather had ordered a cake and mariachi’s. The following photos tell the story.

Tanya with Santi and Luis with Emiliano.

Luis and Tanya have requested that we travel to Ixmiquilpan to celebrate their baptisms. Ixmiquilpan is a two hour drive north of Tultepec and about 45 minutes from Pachuca. There are many waterparks in the area and a hotel we are familiar with where we can do the baptisms. Keep us and our plans in your prayers.

Also, we appreciate your prayers as we have been on the road this past weekend. We travelled up to Pachuca for our Mexico Field Team meeting. We also attended the New Life Christian Church which Greg and Vicki Syverson helped start and currently serve as small group leaders and as members of the leadership team.

May the Lord bless you and yours.

In Christ,

Steve and Kay

We’re excited in Tultepec and thankful for your prayers. Keep them up! Way up!

Steve and Kay

Many of us have taken in a bit of the Olympics. Perhaps it was a volleyball or basketball game, someone lifting more than twice their weight or a diver trying to complete their routine with as little splash as possible. Usually we are amazed and sometimes dumbfounded by the ability of the human body to rise to the occassion. In the end every effort, win or lose, represents a great deal of discipline, patience, effort and persitence. The giving of their best makes them a winner.

Lately we have felt like we have been running in our own olympics. First it was getting ready for moving to a new house. We knew that the new house was considerably smaller, like – try eight feet nine inches wide by 33 feet long! So we started down sizing. We packed what was not absolutely necessary and we moved into storage or sold what was not wanted or would not fit. It almost felt like lossing weight! Well, sort of.

Then a wonderful ministry team from the Outlook Christian Church in Indianapolis arrived to help with the Eagles Church VBS. Packing ceased while crafts, recreation, singing, eating, Bible stories, sleeping (too little) and projects took over.  The team was super and the children loved having them. Overall it was a great week, but it did take it’s toll on our energy. Sunday morning the team was at the airport and ready to depart and by shortly after noon we were in full packing mode again. Early on the 30th a team of youth and two men from the Eagles Church arrived at the house to help with the move. And then the Kings Movers arrived with two trucks. One truck took items to storage while the other was packed for Tultepec. The first truck returned and was also packed for Tultepec. Hmmmm, two trucks for a house that is only nine feet wide!

Well, as it turned out we had maked each box for the room it needed to go to. This distributed the caos effectively enough that no one space was overwhelmed. When the trucks pulled out we clearly had a “tiradero” on our hands. That would mean, BIG MESS!

Every day since has been filled with ministry activity and organizing the house little by little. The night of the move at least our bed was set up and ready to be slept in. With boxes everywhere it became a matter of priorities. First the bathroom, Kay’s office, closet and guest bedroom (temporary storage area). Next our bedroom, the living room and patio (tool room) and living room. And finally the kitchen area. OK, we’re not quite finished yet, but making progress.

Ministry and other activities vary widely. While in the first days of our BIG MESS we received a call from a lady we did not know asking if Steve could talk at her birthday. WHAT! We don’t have talks at birthdays. It turns out that her name is Norma and she is Tonya’s aunt. Tonya is one of the young mothers that we are doing a Bible study with. Norma is a Christian and wanted to use her birthday party as a means of sharing the Gospel with her family and friends that are not Christians. Enter Steve. So, we traveled to Toluca, the capitol of the State of Mexico (not the country) and Steve shared about the importance of birthdays and especially of having a second birthday that is eternal. It was a really interesting time. The only down side was that the cooler air and wind furthered Kay’s throat infection.

Monday was more working in the house. I would be glad to tell more about that but it is a blur. Tuesday was Steve renewing his drivers liscence, renewing the car permit, taking another load of house items to storage and making a trip to the bank, WalMart and Home Depot. Kay went to the doctor and worked in her office. Wednesday started earlier when we got a call from the plumber saying he was twenty minutes away. WHAT! That would mean he was arriving an hour early. Thats not suppose to happen in Mexico. Nobody arrives early! Oh well. Steve scrambled and Kay hid in her office. Together the plumber and Steve removed the small hot water heater and installed a new one that heats the water as it passes through the tank meaning an unlimited flow of hot water. After that Steve did some more sealing of the roof over the patio, drilled holes in the bathroom walls for the shower curtain and organizing some. In the evening we had a huge break through with one of our studies. Tonya and Luis have two boys. Although not married they share the same home. By using the word “share” you can guess that at this time they are not really a couple. Well, Steve was asked to do a child dedication for their youngest who will be turning one later this month. We talked to them on Wednesday night about this and shared with them what they as parents will need to be prepared to commit themselves to. This opened the door for a conversation about their own convictions. Tonya has made a profession of faith and is growing through our study. Luis struggles in this area. He really does want his kids to receive the best training and to know Jesus, but has his doubts about himself. By the end of the evening Luis had agreed to enter into a time of study with Steve.  Please be in prayer for Luis and for our study. By this time Kay was not the only sick one in the house. Steve will not go into detail but was not feeling real chipper. Non-the-less, the next morning he was out playing futbol (soccer) and meeting a few new guys. When the game ended he showered and went to bed, again. In the afternoon we had an invitation to a bistesis, or a cookout. It was in another part of the neighborhoodat the home of Carlos and Yeri. The rain tried to interfere but in the end it was a success. Steve offered our grill to help with the cooking and they took him up on his offer. It was good that Steve had played soccer in the morning since the main cook was Juan Hernandez whom Steve met playing soccer that morning. We also met Juan’s wife and little boy Diego and Pedro’s wife and little girl Jasmin. Pedro is one the guys that works at the taco restaurant. Both of these families are within walking distance. It is certainly our prayer that these new contacts will lead to new opportunities to lead people to a new or deeper relationship with Jesus in the future.

This morning (Friday, August 10th) has started with telephone calls, internet activity and more plans to organize the house. We wish you a great day and may the Lord bless you and yours.

Steve and Kay

There is actually so much going on it is difficult to lable this post. In any case, THANK YOU for your prayers, your interest in what the Lord is doing and specifically what is happening this week.

We are in the middle of the 2012 VBS at the Eagles Church. Offering incredible assistance is the ministry team from the Outlook Christian Church in Indianapolis, IN. This team is made up of five young adults and ten young people. They are involved with each of the four groups of children at the VBS, doing crafts, recreation, singing, giving hugs and high fives. Before the week is out they will have also participated in skits, afternoon projects (such as cutting grass, painting rails and walls, and other projects). They have visited the famous Teotihuacan Pyramids, an open air market, the Carpenter’s new neighborhood, and much more. We appreciate the Outlook Church and their awesome ministry team. We also appreciate their raising funds for the gate/iron fence that will be built at the entrance to the soccer field.

Also, Ethan Hutchcraft has been and is an incredible Reach Intern. He has been so involved with the Eagles Church youth. He has also helped Cornelio, the maintenance guy (and so much more) with painting, repairing, etc and etc. Ethan helped hold down the fort while the Carpenter’s were away at the Carpenter/Loosley family reunion in southern Oregon. He has played his share of basketball with his host family, eaten very good – but very strange food and visited cultural sites and just plain o’l Mexico City with his host family. Ethan is assisting with VBS and is an indispensable member of our team. Visits to the Basilica (home of the cathedral of the Virgin of Guadalupe) and to Teotihuacan have helped round out his time with us. He is heading home on August first so keep Ethan in your prayers, for his travels and as he returns to school.

Steve and Kay have been continuing to prepare for their move to a new neighborhood and house by packing up and moving what is possible before the big day. The BIG DAY is July 30th. The day after the Outlook team flies out the Carpenters move out. Two trucks will show up in front of the home we are renting and load it all up. Some to storage, some to others as we down size and the rest to Tultepec and our new residence.

This move also indicates a change in ministry. We will focus on making disciples, creating churches in their homes and organizing those groups into a congregation. It is all very exciting for us. We appreciate your prayers and thoughts.

We love you all in Christ and pray for his work in your lives.

VBS 2012 Playground Equipment

VBS Crafts

VBS Friends

VBS crafts preparation.

Outlook Ministry Team

Ethan at Teotihuacan and the Road of the Dead