...and on a brief visit to the US.
Catch up with us at this site: http//herrinmission.blogspot.com
And, continue to e-mail us here: herrinmission@gmail.com
Thank you for your prayers and encouragement!!
The Herrins
...and on a brief visit to the US.
Catch up with us at this site: http//herrinmission.blogspot.com
And, continue to e-mail us here: herrinmission@gmail.com
Thank you for your prayers and encouragement!!
The Herrins
So, we can't seem to make up our minds! Ha, ha....
Not really. We left our original blogspot because we couldn't do some things with that blog that we could do with this one. But, now Google has made it all very easy, so we're going home! From now on you can find us at:
Visit us there! All the photos are there...and it is very easy to leave comments!
Hope your summer is going well. God bless!
Jon, Jeanne and the J.A.M....
Here is a wonderful video that was produced by one of the churches we work with. You'll be able to see and enjoy a bit of the Youth Camp that we did in May. You'll catch glimpses of the J.A.M. here and there through the video...and there is even an interview with Megan towards the end. Enjoy!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1llETx3fS8s
Jon, Jeanne, and the J.A.M...
While Andrew attends el Instituto Laurens, he goes to "the other" campus, the Misiones campus. Let me tell you a little about what that means for our 13-year-old son.
In order to get to school at the Misiones campus on time, Andrew has to get up early. Each morning, Andrew gets himself up at 5:45 a.m....jumps into his uniform and gets his own breakfast. One of us gets us shortly after to make his lunch and make sure all is well before he walks out the door at 6:10 a.m. From the house, Andrew walks some four or five blocks up to the main road behind our community to catch the city bus. He takes the city bus to the main Laurens campus (where Jeanne teaches and Jesse attends classes.) Once there, a school van leaves that campus at 7:00 a.m. sharp...in order to have those student and teacher-riders to the Misiones campus on-time for 8:00 a.m. classes. Can you imagine?? Andrew has been doing this for a year-and-a-half!! And, of course, getting home takes all this time as well...but he usually has Jeanne or Jesse to ride home with from the main campus as they finish up classes about 20 minutes before his van get back over....
So, he's a determined young fellow...and a very good student. In photos below, you get to see how Andrew is doing with his schooling...in spite of the somewhat difficult time he has getting to and from school!
Our handsome son...on honors day....
Yep, that's our son, Andrew Sean Herrin Adkins (always TWO last names here!), 3rd in his class!!
And, for their annual science fair, Andrew and his team showed how to charge an iPod with an onion and Gatorade. Here, Andrew explains the science of electrolytes and all that stuff I don't understand!
The grand display...complete with onion soaking in Gatorade...and the usb cable for iPod!
Andrew here with some of his classmates....
As much as we are here to share the love and knowledge of God with others, it is a double joy to see our children growing and flourishing for their experiences in this culture and world. Please continue to pray for them as they face challenges and changes.
Do you remember the fun of language fairs in high school?? All the foods...the pictures...and the joyous atmosphere?? Well, things were no different at El Instituto Laurens on the 28th of May when they held their annual language fair.
Instituto Laurens in a Methodist-related institution here in Monterrey, complete with pre-school, primary school, secondary school, high school...and even a bachelor's degree program for those wanting to be bilingual teachers. All of the Herrin children have been students there...and Jeanne has taught in both the primary school and in the high school. This year, Jeanne has been teaching English and reading at the high school level, and in just two short weeks, Jesse will be graduating (2nd in her class!!!) from the high school.
Below, enjoy the sights of the language fair...and use your imagination to savor the sounds and flavors. Oh, and so you know, Jeanne worked with students who represented English-speaking countries (England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales). Jesse was in the French world, representing one of the sections of Paris...
Here, Jesse gives the welcome speech in French as the fair kicks off....
Jeanne (Maestra Lía) with some of her high-school students.
Jon gets to sample the "hacis parmentier"...made from scratch by Jesse and Edgar (L).
Jesse and Edgar...manning their booth.
Megan came to the fair to be with friends as well...and to take pix!
Jeanne with some of her "camera-shy" students (NOT!)....
Thank you for all you do...for your prayers and gifts--both of which keep the ministry alive and effective here in Mexico!
This week, we were able to help Gainesville First UMC deliver a gift that will keep on giving. Each year Gainesville First UMC has a "Great Day of Service," and this year they put together a gift of BIBLES for the students here at el Seminario Metodista Juan Wesley.
While books are relatively inexpensive in the US, and easy to come by, here in Mexico and in most of Latin America, books are very costly...almost twice the cost of books in the US! Because of that, most Latinos don't have four or five translations of the Bible lying around the house! When they have ONE Bible, it is a precious thing to them...and they care for it. So, when GFUMC determined to send us Bibles--in a modern translation--for the students of the seminary, they may or may not have realized what a gift they were sending!!
We've had the joy of putting those Bibles in the hands of our students...and we know that this gift well help the future pastors and teachers, missionaries and church-workers, to better prepare their sermons, develop Bible studies and even share the faith.
Thank you, Gainesville First UMC!!! Your gift--in the hands of 62 seminary students--will go on to affect and touch lives for years to come!
The Story of the Bible--a course for seminary students and laity....
Methodist Theology class....
All of the students at the seminary are receiving these Bibles (in fact, bi-lingual NT/Ps/Pr)...which will help them in their required English courses...and the alternative Spanish translation (NVI) will help them in their Biblical studies courses.
Again, we thank you, Gainesville First! May the Lord bless you...as you have blessed so many here!
Cross-Cultural Living and Learning!
Well, the semester of teaching at the high school comes to a close. It was a hard semester in many ways...mainly because I over-extended myself. I guess those human tendencies of ours don't disappear when we move to another country, another culture. However, in spite of difficulties, I must say..."WOW...what a semester!"
I had 80 students...all high-school juniors. And, they were incredible for the most part. These kids are in the "bi-cultural" program, so that means that they are all functioning in English in my class...and none of them are native speakers!
So, I taught them English--mainly working on their writing and spoken communication skills. But, there was a whole lot more than English going on! As I shared with them, talked with them and listened to them, several of them opened up their lives to me. Several of the young ladies are voracious readers--something VERY uncommon in this culture. In fact, so uncommon that their parents ridicule them for reading too much. One of the girls has to hide her books so that her parents won't take them from her. Can you imagine such a thing?? This group of readers--who informed me one day that they are now my "adopted daughters"--have become good friends with my Jesse and Megan...and have gone out with them, and aven to the church youth group. Wow!
Then there is young man whose parents are very successful...but never home, never around. He came to "hang" with me between all his classes...a lonely fellow in need of a friend. This young man is a kind and gentle fellow...not fitting in with all the "macho" guys who are sports nuts. So, we are now friends. I listen to him and hear the cry in his voice for affirmation, for acceptance, for friendship. I'm happy to be that friend and to encourage him day by day....
By the end of the semester, I was ready for the end...but I couldn't have guess how it would end! I gave three final exams for the three classes, and at the end of each exam, almost all of the students came to me...turned in their exam...and hugged me and thanked me for being a wonderful teacher!! Can you imagine??? These 17- and 18-year old young men and young women...hugging their teacher?? WOW!! I have to say it again!! WOW!! And, a couple of the guys...the GUYS..were teary-eyed to say good-bye.
I guess we never know what happens behind the doors of homes, or away from where the world sees. It seems to be that there is a huge need for people to be loved and accepted for who they are. Too often people want to "fix" everyone around (a tendency we all have, I think...), but what I've learned again this semester is that often people simply need to be accepted, befriended and loved. I have to say "Thank you" to my high school students for sharing their lives and making this aspect of life here in Mexico another extension of ministry. Until next semester!!
Jon's Second Hour group...
Jon's Third Hour group....
Jon's Fifth Hour group...
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