Mid Abril update

"Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory though 

Jesus Christ out Lord!"

1 Corinthians 15:57

This past month and a half has really been full of events and special ministry opportunities. Pictured above is a group of pastors, church leaders and youth who spent a day in the  park together team building and planning for the upcoming camp this summer, Radical. It was a fun day to reconnect with lots of people I met last summer at camp and to be encouraged for this summer. This event took place in Guadalajara. 

Our youth have been busy getting ready for camp too. Every Sunday after church they sell yummy treats in the park to raise funds for camp. Some of the things we have sold are bean tacos, rice with milk and a spicy popsicle. They have raised enough for all those going from our church to save their spot and a few have raised all they need. If you would like to sponsor a camper please let me know by emailing me at the address below. It is about $85 for each camper, the price will go up in June. Our bus from Puerto Vallarta is already full!! Praise the Lord! 

Another encouraging time this past month was when two of the guys, Dean Ressler and Fransisco De Sosa, from our home office came to visit us. Fransisco shared the gospel with the kids at AWANA, Dean preached, we ate delicious sea food and spend time talking with them about our ministries and our goals for the future. What a blessing it is to have a team of Godly men who pray for, encourage and visit us. God is good!! 

Last week a group of 8 youth and 3 leaders came down from Washington during their Spring Break to love on the people in La Misión. During the morning they did several work projects; painting, building a fence and making swings for the kids in the park. Every time I pass the park these swings are full and there are more little ones waiting for their turn. One day a group of us handed out over 50 cups of free coffee and shirts to the bus drivers in the neighborhood. Their response was amazing. 

In the afternoon we prepared for a 3 day VBS. Once again God shocked us with the number of children we were able to reach. Our first night there were 90!! Over the 3 days we shared God's love with 138 kids! To say we were tired is an understatement. These youth worked so hard and ministered so well to the people here, they left a lasting example of Godly service for all of us. Thank you Southside youth and leaders! 

Thank you so much for your prayers and support. There are lots more exciting things coming the next few months; 138 children's families to visit, baptisms, the celebration of the resurrection of Christ, counselor training in Guadalajara and much more! 

Please continue to pray for my discipleship ladies and youth, a few of them will be baptized on the 28th! Pray for the visits and that these families will come to know Christ as their 
Savior. 
Update on Lucy: She is back to attending church activities, this week she went with me to visit and did an awesome job!! Praise the Lord for her healing. 
Update on Daniela: She is still living in another town with her mom. Sad to see her go, praying that she remembers the verses we taught her and that God loves her. 

Praise the Lord for He is good! 
Blessings,
Alicia 
awhitmore@fim.org

Fellowship International Mission
555 S 24th St 
Allentown, PA 18104

Faithful February

"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord for the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."

Matthew 9:37-38

The above verse really speaks to how I have felt this month as the number of people myself and other church members have started to disciple has grown. There are so many people who are hungry to study God's truth with us and there are so few of us. With that said please pray for us and for our disciples, as we teach them we encourage them to share what they have learned with others, may they be brave and reach out to those around them with the good news of the gospel. 

February started off with a trip back to Iowa for a good friend's wedding and to surprise another friend for her birthday! It was a quick trip and priceless memories were made. I had not seen a February in Iowa is over 4 years, the negative temperatures were no fun. 

 Once back in Mexico I hit the ground running with bible studies, kid's ministry and teaching Daniela how to read. Rebecca asked me if I was going to jump right back in, to which I said, "YES!" However by the end of the week I had a cold and was wishing for a little time to recover. 

Things with the children are going great. They love coming over on Tuesdays, eating, playing games, memorizing AWANA verses and reading God's word together. AWANA is also going great, the kids are learning and growing so much! We had two new families at church on Sunday, kids from AWANA that brought their parents! 

Two fun things from this past month: 

I taught the lesson on Sarah waiting for Isaac dressed as Sarah. The kids learned that sometimes it is hard to wait on the Lord but in these times our faith grows and we learn to trust in Him. 
A different Saturday the kids got extra points for their teams by wearing a mask to AWANA. Several came to my house during the week to make these. It was fun to see them be so creative and excited to show them off to their friends in the park. 

Our church was invited to a night of fellowship at two other churches the weekend of Valentines. There we played games, shared wonderful food, were encouraged by God's word and what it teaches about love, and enjoyed time with friends.  

Two special prayer requests for this month: 

• Daniela: my young friend who I was teaching to read has been taken back to live with her mom. I was so encouraged by how she was doing with reading and writing, had even started a bible study with her older sister. Please pray for God to work in this situation and for Daniela and her sister to continue to seek Christ. The sister still lives here so hopefully we can continue our bible study together. 
• Lucy: mom to two of our AWANA kids and a new believer in Christ. Always gets around on a motorcycle here in town, had an accident two weeks ago, is doing much better. Pray that she keeps doing well and that this situation will bring other family members to know Christ. Praise the Lord with us that she is doing so well and is recovering at home. (she is the lady in the long back dress to my left in the picture on the left above) 

Thank you so much for your prayers and support! God is good! 

Blessings,

Alicia 

awhitmore@fim.org

Fellowship International Mission

555 S 24th St 

Allentown, PA 18104 

Joyful January

"And he who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.'"

Revelation 21:5

At the beginning of January several church friends helped me celebrate my birthday! It was a fun day and I felt very blessed and loved. God has given me so many wonderful gifts and surprises so far in life, I am excited to see what He will do next. 

The day after my birthday my parents and a good friend of the family came to visit. We had a great week. A few of the highlights were showing them my ministry here in Mexico and going on a zipline adventure. 

Another new adventure that started this year is teaching Daniela (10) how to read. She is one of the kids here in the community who comes faithful to church and AWANA. She told us that she can't go to school because she doesn't know how to read. To help her she comes over 3 times a week and we learn together for an hour. Pray that she keeps learning and that she will put her faith in Jesus. 

It has been a busy month getting everything started again after the holidays. Thank you for all your prayers for the ministry here. Continue to pray for the 6 ladies I am doing individual bible studies with. One of them who never comes to church, came for the first time on Sunday!! Pray for the 6-8 kids who come on Tuesdays, pray for their salvation and desire to study God's word. Pray for those whom we are visiting, that they would be open to the good news of the gospel. 

Thank you so much for you support and prayers. So many good things are happening here, it fills my heart with joy and love for the Lord.

Blessings,
Alicia 
awhitmore@fim.org 

Fellowship International Mission
555 S 24th St 
Allentown, PA 18104

Divine December

"Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for ALL the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:10-11

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! 

December was a FULL month! It passed me by in the blink of an eye. Here are a few of the many things we did here in La Misión this past month. 

The kids have come to love being at my house. They come regularly or stay after church to play, ask me for things or just to be with me. We play jump rope and tag in the park, play uno until everyone has had a chance to win, watch youtube videos and even made a piñata for a school project. This new year I have set time aside for them twice a week in hopes to keep pouring into their lives. 

 Lucy, a new believer and mom to two of the kiddos at church asked me to come to school with her and the kids one morning so that each kid could have an adult with them at the school wide game day (dad was working). Little Jenny offered to lend me her shirt so I could be on her team, hahaha. This was a fun morning interacting with the kids from all over the community. After school we went back to their home and had a very yummy breakfast and Jenny read to me. 

Around mid November we started practicing for the Christmas play. These kids came each Tuesday afternoon to memorize lines, learn songs and actions. It was so encouraging to see them excited to learn and share the story of the birth of Christ. 

One of my favorite things about serving here are the youth group girls. They love spending time together. In December we took a trip to the boardwalk in Vallarta together and soaked up the sun. Then the Saturday before Christmas they came over and we made crapes to eat and slime to play with. There are always many laughs and memories made. 

One of my biggest blessings in Mexico has been working with Sarah. She was my right hand for 6 months. At the beginning of December she went back to her home in Washington. We all miss her and life is different here now. She was such a HUGE help to me and joy to be around. I will miss our adventures every Thursday and her love for Jesus and the kids. 

As a missionary Christmas can be one of the hardest times because you can't be with your family. This Christmas however I had the chance to spend it with America (a church friend) and her family on their farm. We ate and ate and ate. If we were not eating we were making food for the next meal. I tried all sorts of new foods and had so much fun with this family. 

For New Year's I spent the night with the Arellanes at their home. We had a fancy dinner, played games and did some small fireworks. The next day we took a day trip to a small mountain town and walked around the lake. It was a great start to the year. 

2018 was a great year of ministry and seeing God work and use me here in Mexico. 2019 is already off to a great start and I am looking forward to seeing all that will happen this year. I will be continuing with bible studies and working with the kids at church. One of my new projects will be to teach one of the little girls from church to read, if you think of me please pray for both of us. God is good and with Him all things are possible. 

Thank you so much for your continued support and love this past year. I could not do it without you! 

God bless you all in the new year. 

Alicia 

Fellowship International Mission 

555 S 24th St 

Allentown, PA 18104

October/November

"Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Ephesians 5:20

At the beginning of November we ended our parables kids' club. This is because we started AWANA in the middle of November. I really enjoyed this kids' club, we had so much fun and the kids were always so excited to learn with us. Now that AWANA has started we have about 40-50 kids each Saturday afternoon in the park. We play games, sings songs, memorize verses, learn bible stories, do crafts and enjoy time together. I am helping with singing and the littlest kids. 

In October we did many fun ministry things. One of those being a pizza party at my house with the youth girls. The other was breakfast at a coffee shop with the ladies from bible study. Wonderful times of fellowship. 

Not everything we do here is work. On Thursdays I have my day off. One beautiful day Frank, Rebecca, Sarah, Sarah's mom and I went on a hike to this gorgeous place just a few miles from Vallarta. The water was so clear and the sky so blue. Can't wait to go back!  

Happy Thanksgiving! On the actual day we celebrated at Frank and Rebecca's house. We ate delicious food, played games and shared what we are most thankful for. It was a great reminder of all that God has done for us. 

 November marked the 2nd anniversary of the church here in La Misión. Sunday after church we celebrated all that God has blessed this community with in these two years. The kids sang a song they learned at VBS and the youth presented the "Everything" skit in the park. We then shared a meal together. It was a fun and busy day!  

God is good and there are so many things to be thankful for. I am still doing individual bible study with two women and tomorrow will start meeting with one of the youth. The kids and youth are practicing the Christmas play to present on the 23rd. In the next few weeks we have Christmas parties and breakfasts planed. May God use this time to change hearts as we reflect of the true meaning of this season. 

Thank you as always for your prayers and words of encouragement. You are all blessings to me too! 

Blessings,

Alicia 

awhitmore@fim.org

Fellowship International Mission

555 S 24th St.

Allentown, PA 18104

Super September

"Then the disciples cam and said to him, 'why do you speak to them in parables?' And he answered them, 'To you it has been give to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given."

Matthew 13:10-11

This month we started up all the ministries at church again after summer break. Tuesdays we have a club for kids called "Agents of Christ". Every Tuesday afternoon the kids come to church for a time of games, crafts, songs, lessons and snacks. We are learning all about eight of the parables Jesus told and are applying them to our lives. God has blown all expectations out of the water in this ministry, we have tons of helpers and more than 20 kids each week. 

 Saturday evenings we started a youth group. There are about 8-10 youth each week. We play games, do ice breakers, sing praise songs, study God's word and have snacks. We are also practicing the "Everything" skit to present at the upcoming church anniversary. Please pray that this group would grow in number and the students would grow in their faith. 

Friday nights we started back up the Women's bible study. About 15-20 women from church and the community come each week for this time of encouragement and accountability. This is one of my favorite parts of the week. Many of the new women are moms of the kids we are reaching in the kids' club. 

Three days a week a few of us are visiting the families of the kids that came to Vacation Bible School this summer. Two new families are attending church weekly and doing bible studies with church leaders in their homes. God is at work here in La Mision!! 

September is patriotic month here in Mexico. The 15-16 they celebrate their freedom from Spain. We were invited to a celebration at a sister church in Puerto Vallarta. It was a fun night of celebration with food, music, games and a message to remind us that our freedom as believers comes from Christ. 

 At the end of September Rebecca and I took a trip to Central America. I needed to leave Mexico and reenter for visa reasons so we took advantage and visited Guatemala, Honduras and Belize. The highlight of my trip was seeing my good friend from many years ago, Crystal and her husband Gerson, in Guatemala. We shared many laughs and stories of ministry and life. It was encouraging to see them and hear about their plans for serving God in Guatemala. 

Thank you for your prayers! Please keep these ministries in your prayers. God is good and we see Him at work in so many lives here in Mexico. 

Blessings,
Alicia 
awhitmore@fim.org

Fellowship International Mission
555 S 24th St 
Allentown, PA 18104