Petit Update

Feliz Navidad!  Blessings to you from us in Mexico.  We will be celebrating our Savior's birth here this year with our Mexican brothers and sisters in the Lord.  We rejoice and are grateful for the freedom we have to be able to worship our Lord Jesus unlike many other countries who do not have that same liberty.  Although great will be their reward in heaven for the suffering and persecution they are enduring.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:10, "God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs."  Maybe we need to be suffering a little more!

A three day crusade that was planned by the Pastor's Alliance of Guasave was held the last weekend of November in a community called "Tierra Libertad." Jeff was in charge of supplying the sound system and running it during the three nights as Christian music and preaching reached out into the surrounding neighborhoods. It seems that God's plans were somewhat different from man's plans, as the crusade turned out to be mostly attended by Christians.  The messages given by pastors visiting from out of the area were directed more towards the Christian community - expressing the need for us to be more firm in our walk of faith (be not conformed to this world, Romans 12:2), to be responsible to be godly examples to our children and families, and to be diligent about sharing the Word of God with those around us.  Each night many came forward to receive healing along with several whom received Jesus as their Lord and Savior for the first time.  (See attached photo.)

This past Sunday we anointed Trini as a new leader in our Guasave church. (2nd photo) She has been a faithful servant and loves Jesus with all her heart.  It is evident when you see the radiance on her face when she smiles.  She has taken on the task of teaching a weekly women's cell group and is continuing to grow through that experience.  She and her husband Ramon are a great encouragement to Pastors Ernesto and Brisa. Pray for Trini as she seeks to serve Jesus with all her might.

I want to share a story about our cat, Star, who has been with us since her birth over 10 years ago.  Several weeks ago she turned up missing one day, didn't come in meowing for her dinner as usual.  The first couple of days we figured she was just out on an adventure because she has done that before.  But after a couple of days we became concerned and began looking everywhere we could think of to look.  She was not to be found.  After a week we were beginning to give up hope that we would ever see her again (there are coyotes in the area).  On the 8th morning after her disappearance I went out to put clothes in the washing machine next door at the mission house (my machine had broken down), and I heard a faint "meow" coming from somewhere.  It was distinct, not like the other cats in the neighborhood.  I quickly went and got Jeff to help me find out where the "meow" was coming from.  As we both stood silently for several minutes, we slowing began to walk up the stairs to the second floor of the mission house where it became more evident that the sound was coming from up there.  We unlocked and opened the door to the first room and to our surprise there she was!  What?!?  No one had been in that room since we had come home from the states in October, or so we thought.  Later we found out that Rebecca had gone in for a few minutes the week before to check something and then left, locking the door behind her unaware that Star had followed her in.  Oh, how excited we were to find her alive and well - it was like discovering a treasure!  Later, as I reflected on what had occurred it reminded me of how necessary it is for us each day to take the time to stop and listen to "His voice," Jesus our Good Shepherd.  In scripture it says, "He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they recognize his voice.  They won't follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don't recognize his voice. (John 10:3-5) Jesus is the only one who can save us from the enemy, the one who daily comes to rob, kill, and destroy lives.  Psalm 95:7 says, "Oh, that you would listen to His voice today!"  So, the question for us is, Am I listening today? Am I hearing His voice? Am I following the only one who can give me salvation?  We consider our cat "Star" a miracle cat, and I'm glad we listened to that faint "meow"!

Last Friday and Saturday two different groups arrived here that will be staying until after Christmas.  They consist of 2 adults, 5 youth from Oregon and 6 adults, 3 youth from Tucson, AZ.  They will be helping construct the roof of a new youth/conference center here in Las Glorias behind the house of Doug and Rebecca Coult. Other activities will include a couple's dinner, ministering at the prison, the Christmas children's outreach at the migrant camp, a youth event, and sharing of testimonies and songs during several church services at the Vida Nueva churches.   Please pray for unity, health, protection, spiritual strength, and anointing as we all work together for God's Kingdom.

Have a wonderful Christmas!!

The Petits