Work Opportunity in Salamanca

The last two weeks of September will be spent in continuing renovation of the building that will be temporarily used for our Bible Institute here in Salamanca. If you are interested in helping with manual labor: tiling floors, installing restrooms, installing and finishing drywall, painting, etc. please contact us by email or phone.

~ msankey@bmmissions.org or ~ melodiesankey@yahoo.com

956.566.3923

We know this is short notice, but God has just opened the financial door and we are walking through it with the hope of using the building for various functions, including the Central Mexico IHC, as early as mid-October of this year.

You will need to care for your travel expense to and from Mexico, but your food and lodging will be provided while you are here to work.

If you are interested in coming, please let me know as soon as possible - we are already putting the work personnel schedule together.

Thank you,
Marc Sankey

My 4th Trip to Oaxaca

Still growing! Still evangelizing! Still making disciples! These words describe our churches in the region of Oaxaca. Each time I make the trip, I return amazed at the sacrifice, dedication and success of these earnest-hearted people.

I was privileged to take part in a pastoral installation at the Oaxaca city church. One of our more recent graduates from the Institute, Benito Martinez and his wife Ana have heard the call of God to the pastorate. It was wonderful to see this family initiated into Kingdom work.

The Lord guided us safely to the mountain village of Jayacatlan for the evening service, where current student, Alejandro is pastoring until the Bible Institute re-opens. He was wonderfully saved a few years ago at a Bible Methodist youth congress and God has placed the call to the ministry on his life.

Monday, President Dolores Hernandez and I made the 6 hour trip across rather dangerous mountain roads to the region of San Gabriel. The next few days were filled with special things. Among them were two new church dedications. The congregations at 201 and La Cañada, with generous giving from their U.S brothers and sisters, have completed desperately needed structures to accommodate the souls of the community. What exhilaration to see these congregations march triumphantly out of their dilapidated and decaying places of worship, singing “Firmes y Adelante” “Onward Christian Soldiers,” on their way to dedicate brand new churches to God’s service.

Bro. Dolores and I shared in that joy as we preached, sang and prayed with seekers around the altar in various services. I want to thank God for His providence and protection from the effects of Hurricane Dean. We did experience a lot of rain, which made traveling on some of those already notorious roads a bit tricky but God guided us safely through.

One of the most heart-warming ministries I have found in Oaxaca is that of Pastor Desiderio’s granddaughter, Hilda, and her children’s ministry. She showed with great pride all of the children’s material that she and others have hand-made out of cardboard boxes to minister to hundreds of children in various missions and churches. As I listened God spoke to me and I knew that the children’s materials I had brought with me had found their home. She was elated to receive beautiful Spanish children’s choruses made and sent from the Tri-State WMS. If you have a burden for Mexico, I urge you to invest in and pray for Hilda’s ministry to children.

Please notice the photo of Pastor Desiderio proudly holding the brand new “Behold the Harvest” (Bible Methodist connectional theme for this quadrennial) poster in Spanish. Nearly all our pastors have received these posters and have them displayed in their churches.

Thank you for your sacrificial giving and praying that allows you to partner with this church planting movement in Oaxaca!

Marc Sankey

He's Home!

Marc arrived home safely about 10:15 last night - tired, but doing great. More details and pics of the trip to come....

Thursday Update

Well, we seem to have "survived" Hurricane Dean with little or no problems. Marc reported last night that it rained steadily and heavily at times in San Gabriel yesterday, making driving conditions pretty scary at times - especially the drive back down the mountain from our church in Las Palmas last night. But they made it down safely, and Marc is now on his way home! yay!

Oh, guess what? For all you who know how Marc "loves" seafood - he HATES it - he ate shrimp yesterday morning in San Gabriel! Shrimp and beans were on the breakfast menu and he decided to go for it. He said, "Melodie, it didn't taste half bad."

We got rain most of yesterday here in Salamanca, but today is sunny and 75 degrees!

Again, thank you to all of you who prayed for our safety. God certainly answered prayer and we thank Him. I'll be sure to let you know when Marc arrives home safely!

Our Bible Methodist Missions Secretary John Parker is arriving tomorrow to visit with us over the weekend - we're really looking forward to him being here! By the way, today is his birthday. Happy Birthday, Uncle John!

Wednesday Update

Just a quick update today - Dean has hit Mexico again, just south of the town of Tecolutla in the coastal state of Veracruz.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070822/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/tropical_weather

It hit as a Category 2 and is quickly diminishing as it moves toward and over the Sierra Madre Oriental Mountains.

Central Mexico (where we are) will be getting rain throughout today, but that's nothing unusual for us as this is the rainy season. We'll wait and see what happens - there have been a few showers this afternoon.

I talked to Marc last night - all was quiet in San Gabriel, where he's staying, about 30-45 minutes from the Pacific Coast. He will be heading home tomorrow and hopefully Dean will have played himself almost completely out by that time, at least in the areas Marc will be traveling.

No Mexican lives have been lost, although many homes and businesses were destroyed in the Yucatan and lots of flooding is taking place in coastal central Mexico.

I am thanking the Lord for His protection so far and just waiting for my wonderful husband to arrive home safe and sound tomorrow night! Thank you for praying for us!

Update from Marc in Oaxaca

I won't recap the news, since I'm sure most of you are already following Hurricane Dean. Here's a link to view the latest if you haven't seen it:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070821/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/tropical_weather

However, Dean has now made landfall on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula as the first Category 5 hurricane to hit in 15 years and is now weakening some.

I talked with Marc last night from San Gabriel, a town about an hour north of the Pacific Coast in the state of Oaxaca. He said no effects had been felt there yet, although the entire state is on an alert and Oaxaca City (pictured below), where he ministered last weekend, was in full preparation mode. Heavy rain and wind are expected there as Dean passes through. Please pray for our 2 churches, pastors and people there in the City.

Today through Thursday Marc and our National President, Dolores Hernandez, Pastor Desiderio Lopez and possibly others will be traveling on mountain roads to visit rural churches in the area where torrential rain and heavy wind are possible. Marc was confident that God's protection would be with them and wanted to thank SOO many of you who have emailed, commented, or called to say you are praying for his safety. I know God is in control of it all - we're in His hands.

I imagine that we here in Salamanca will feel Dean's effects as early as tomorrow morning. It appears that wind and rain will be the extent of it, but I'll keep you posted.

Again, thanks for your prayers and concern!

Melodie and boys

First Day of School

Well, Sankey Home School is off and running for this year! Here's a few photos from our day.

Everything's ready

Ready to roll

My 7th grader, Jordan

My 5th grader, Cameron

My 3rd grader, Logan

Hurricane Dean

I'm sure most of you are tracking Hurricane Dean as I am. (Use this link: http://www.weather.com/maps/news/atlstorm4/atl4projectedpath_large.html ) You may not be (hope not) in its projected path as we are here in Mexico.

If Dean continues his westward and slightly southward tilt, it should hit the Yucatan Peninsula in about 24 hours and its effects will be felt all over southern Mexico, which happens to be exactly where my husband is at the moment and will be most of this week. He is traveling to visit our churches over mountain roads and in very rural areas where Dean's fury could have the worst effects.

I am concerned as you can imagine. Please help me pray for his safety and those with whom he is traveling.

Thanks,
Melodie

Sunday Night Fellowship

There's nothing like Sunday night fellowship....we had great services today and we finished off the day at the Burches, fellowshipping with them and a family from the church. The popcorn and hot chocolate were delicious - thanks, Philip and Collette!

Philip's contribution to the evening...well, I guess there were only 3 ladies and a bunch of kids to socialize with!

Rosalva - what a sweet lady! The 3 dark-haired kids in the pic are hers; of course, the blondes are all mine!

Collette, always the gracious hostess

And he's off.....

Marc left this morning on the 9:45 bus for his 4th trip to Oaxaca, a state in southern Mexico bordering the Pacific Ocean. We have several Bible Methodist Churches in this state: in Oaxaca City, scattered through the mountains, and 2 missions that are right on the Pacific Ocean. He will be participating in a pastor installation service in Oaxaca City, dedicating 2 new church buildings in the mountains, will probably be asked to dedicate babies and baptize new believers as he normally does, is scheduled to preach in several of the churches, and will try to catch a few winks of sleep in between. He was excited to go - he always loves going to Oaxaca.

Leaving Salamanca Bus Station

I tried to ready a few things to send with him for the people there. They love any kind of baked goods so I sent some Super Duper Chocolate Cookies (Pam Davis' recipe in the FMC recipe book), some candy for the children, 10 illustrated Spanish children's Sunday School songs (thanks TriState WMS ladies), some handmade Spanish greeting cards addressed to the pastor's wives (thanks, Myranda: http://www.scrapsolutions.blogspot.com/), and some printed off flyers announcing the Mexico IHC in October here in Salamanca.

Of course, Marc took a supply of our prayer cards with our Mexico contact info written on the back, and the rest of the Behold the Harvest posters translated into Spanish (thanks, Bro. Sams and others). He was also able to take a generous money gift along with him to begin the construction of a new church building in Santa Maria - more on this later)

Here's Oaxaca City

One of the Bible Methodist Missions on the Pacific Ocean - the ocean's just right down that little road

Pastor Desiderio Lopez looking out at the Pacific Ocean

The boys and I are planning to start homeschool on Monday - I think they're excited although they don't want to admit it.



I would appreciate your prayers for Marc and for the boys and me. I'll need to be Mom and Dad for awhile and he'll need God's grace and strength to help him minister and be an encouragement to the churches and pastors there in Oaxaca.


Thanks for your prayers!

Cookies and Crayons

Ok - I've gotten inspired by all my blogger friends who are posting recipes and photos of baked goods: bread, pies, etc...I decided to make peanut butter cookies this afternoon. Boy, are they good! (if I do say so myself)

I have had a 4th delightful little boy in my home this afternoon. He's one of our neighbor boys and his name is Jose. The boys and he have colored pictures, listened to Spanish Sunday School songs, played games (inside and outside), and ate cookies (he happily ran off to deliver a few to his family).

Outside of waving to her and just saying hello on the street, I have not actually talked to Jose's mom. But I really want to. I know their family does not go to church - Jose asks me where we go on Sundays. I would love for this to be an open door to befriend and witness to his family. Help me pray that God opens the door and gives me an opportunity and the words to say!

"These roses are for you..."

Aren't those great words? Here's some photos of simply gorgeous roses that my mother-in-law, Janet Sankey, has planted along the walkway in front of her home. I don't have a green thumb - not at all - but she does! Seems that everything she touches grows and blooms beautifully. Just so happens that she has that gift with more than just flowers. The lives she has touched are the proof.

Love you, Mom!

My Sunday School Class

I'm so excited - I have my own Sunday School class! Yes, I'm a little ashamed to say that my first class responsibility is taking place on the mission field (and in another language, no less!) but due to the wonderful and capable team of Sunday School teachers we had in Franklin, it was never necessary for me to teach a weekly class.

Collette Burch (HIM missionary, my friend and mentor) has decided to divide up her large S.S. class/Children's Church to be able to better focus on the needs of each group and teach to their separate levels. I have been given the privilege of working with the smaller children, teaching with activities and stories more on their level. Collette is now free to work with the older ones in more advanced lessons, question and answer sessions, etc.

(We attend and assist in the HIM church here in Salamanca when we are not visiting and ministering in our Bible Methodist Churches.)

Tomorrow will be my third Sunday "on the job" and I'm already loving it. It is giving me a wonderful opportunity to practice and improve my Spanish, and the little ones don't seem to mind my mistakes and blunders.

Thanks to Collette, I have a wonderful online resource center to draw materials and ideas from. However, I am open to any and all suggestions. If you know of Spanish preschool/kindergarten level Sunday School resource sites or books, I'd be happy for you to pass along the information.

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A prayer request: My husband is gone this weekend, visiting our churches in the Saltillo area: several missions and churches. His schedule is herculean since he's trying to get to as many as he possibly can. Please pray for strength and protection for him as he travels and that God would encourage our Bible Methodist churches and pastors through him.

Cameron's New Blog

Our son, Cameron, has just created his own blog. Check it out at www.missionarykidinmexico-cameron.blogspot.com

Sightseeing

Here we are at Cristo Rey, the gigantic statue of Jesus with his arms outstretched symbolically to the entire country of Mexico. Situated high on a mountain, this statue marks the geographic center of the country.

We also visited a fortress/convent in a town south of Salamanca called Yuriria. It was awesome to tour and is probably the oldest edifice I have had the privilege to see, dating back to 1550.

Enjoying the volcano....

Buying souvenirs in the plaza in San Miguel de Allende.

Thank you, Anthony and Marci and kids, for taking time out of your summer to come and visit us. We love you!

Elotes - not!

Contrary to what this picture may indicate, Marci did NOT like elotes and Anthony didn't even try them. While I enjoyed my entire cup, Marci was looking for a place to throw hers away...smiles...

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However we did get to enjoy delicious frappucinos together at the little coffee shop down the street. Thanks, Collette!

Anthony did enjoy the tacos al pastor, though!

Fun Family Time

Anthony and Marci and kids recently spent about a week here with us in Salamanca. We had a great time sightseeing, attending Spanish church services (at the HIM church and one of our Bible Methodist Churches), singing together in Spanish, eating and playing games together, and much more!

More pics and news later when Blogger will cooperate.

Embracing What God Does

A week later...I'm back. So much has happened in the past few days: great visit with Anthony and Marci and all that goes along with having company. I want to share about it and a couple other exciting things but first......

I have to share my devotions from yesterday morning...so powerful and just for me. Listen to Romans 12:1 from The Message:

"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going to work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him."

Followed by an excerpt from Voices of the Faithful by Beth Moore:
A missionary in Africa writes: "This response of 'embracing what God does' must come from a surrender of our lives to Him. It's taking our everyday, ordinary life - sleeping, eating, working and walking-around life - and placing it before God as an offering. We must relinquish our rights and expectations to what we do and where we go. I will embrace what God has for me, knowing that in the act of warmly receiving and clinging to those things, it will be the best thing that I can do for Him."

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Imagine that - better than all the Christian service I can possibly perform, better than any sacrifice I might encounter, better than filling my life from morning till night with good works; embracing what God does in my life is better than all of it.

Lord, Your ways are not my ways, and I praise You that You know best. I accept and embrace what You have for me today, knowing it's the best thing I can do for You.

Logan is 8 1/2

Just recently, my wonderful mother in law reminded me that I had never posted a birthday post and pictures for Logan - his birthday was February 8. He turned 8 while we were ministering at Hobe Sound Camp and well, we celebrated his birthday, but there was no time for much else and when we returned home to Mexico, it completely slipped my mind. What kind of mom am I - I know. Thanks, Mom, for bringing it to my attention.

Where did my baby go? It seems only yesterday this tiny bundle was placed in my arms - this little bundle we called Logan Miller Sankey. You were so perfect and just the special person to make our family complete. You have blessed our home with so much fun, with your cute ways and adorable antics. You love to cuddle with Mom and Dad - and we love it, too! God has blessed you with a calm and obedient spirit, with a desire to be diligent and work hard, and a willingness to obey. You are already getting to fulfill the call that you believe God has placed on your life - that of being a missionary. And a good one you are! We know God has so many exciting plans for your life, Logan. We can't wait to watch what He does.

Love always,

Mom and Dad