News from Lumppio's in Mexico

Note: Tom and Lidia Lumppio are AFLC members working in Mexico with World Missions Prayer League (WMPL). They have recently applied to be AFLC Missionaries on loan to WMPL. Their application has been accepted by the AFLC World Missions Committee and we are now in the process of working out the details with WMPL.

"...No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." 2 Cor. 2:9b

"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." John 3:8

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3

We want to update you in our latest adventure. It has been since last January that Tom and I started seriously considering moving into Ceuta, the small town adjacent to Camp Ceuta. We got our field conference's OK in February and in March we started house hunting. Since then two possibilities both came up and closed before our eyes.

During this time of searching Tom also made efforts to reach out into the male community in the town. It became obvious that although men there were polite for the most part, they did not have the patience to help Tom with his Spanish. Through the ladies I teach we heard that they wanted him to visit but could not understand him very well. Now, you need to know that Tom has continued to work hard and made steady progress in his Spanish. People in the cities were we have visited understand him with hardly any problem. People in La Cruz have complimented him repeatedly on his progress. He is ABLE to converse, take care of things and do life in here. However, no matter how good his progress has been, it is not enough for the people we longed to serve. He started praying for the possibility of going to a language school for a season to give him a "push."

We looked into several options in Mexico, including the one he went to in Mazatlan. All of them turned out to be either too expensive or not offering what we were looking for. RGBI (Rio Grande Bible Institute) seemed like the best option in both quality and price. The only con we could see was that it is in the US side of the boarder, a few miles north from McAllen, in Edinburg, TX. After hearing that the community in there is 87% Hispanic our doubts started dissipating. We know people who have attended there and recommended it as an excellent choice. We had some "extra money" in our account and have been asking God what to do with it. (This money would have paid for three weeks of classes at the school in Mazatlan and it is almost exactly enough for tuition and books for one semester at RGBI!) We needed to go to the boarder anyway to renew the papers that allow me to continue being a US resident and work overseas. It seemed like it all fit. We started praying more regularly and intentionally about it and finally brought the situation to our leadership. We were given green light to pursue it. After that, doors opened regarding all the paper work, housing situation there, arrangements for short term lease of an apartment in Mazatlan when we return (while we find house in Ceuta or La Cruz), even free storage of all of our things! We will depart on August 5th and return at the end of December, Lord willing.

The last three weeks we have been busy packing, finishing Bible studies, tying up loose ends, you name it. Our landlords would love to have us back if only for a few months. Our neighbors and ladies in the camps have teared up about our parting. Our new friends made a special meal for us last Saturday, and will help us move and store all of our things in a room on their property. On our last Sunday at church we were surprised by another "see you later" meal. Some men asked Tom more about his motive on going. Those closer to us are honored he wants to get better training to be able to teach them about God. We haven't gone yet and already can't wait to be back!!!!

Thank God with us for:

1. His guidance and provision

2. His goodness to us through the people that love us here

3. The restoration of Lidia's health (we couldn't do this trip without it)

4. His help in getting all the packing and arranging done in just a few weeks!

5. The opportunity to be serving Him!

We appreciate your prayers on our behalf:

1. Continued good health

2. God's continued provision

3. Journey mercies

4. A smooth boarder-crossing experience

5. Specifically ask God there would be no problem having Tom's Mexican visa "stamped"

6. A smooth adjustment and settling in at RGBI

7. A very fruitful time there in all ways.

8. More specifically for Tom to be able to get "enough" working Spanish to minister in Ceuta.

So, that's our story. Catch your breath with us. It has been a challenge. We were starting to finally feel settled and now have to pick up and go again. We repeat to ourselves, "it is only a short season." And we believe it is God's will for our lives. Who knows what people God will put in our paths to share the vision of the camps with? (RGBI is a Bible School as well as a Language School for missionaries going to Latinamerica) Who knows what other divine appointments we will find in our way? We (I, most of all) have let go of our agenda and our preconceived plans. God has given Tom this opportunity to further His plan for our lives and we have gladly taken it. We have just one more thing to say: "YEE-HAW!"

In His hand,--

Tom and Lidia Lumppio

blog: wmpl.org/blogs/tllumppio