AIMING FOR CHRIST

June 2009

“For we know
in part and Updates on John McCoy in the
prophecy in
part, but Adventures in Missions program
when
perfection
comes the
imperfect
disappears”
I have been
learning so
much in the
past month I
have been
here. About
God, myself,
my team, and
ministry. I
have come to
realize that
love is the
answer to all
things. Here’s
what’s been
going on in
Léon during
June.

One Month So Far
I cannot believe that we
have actually been here in Mexico
for a solid month. So much has
gone on here; the time has just
flown by. We have been quite
busy in the month of June. Ben
and Jazmine Bakers’ wedding
kicked the month off, and it was
good getting to see them as well
as some old friends. We were able
to visit the city of Guanajuato this
month, and it was great to see a
different type of city. Guanajuato is
the capital of the state León is in
(all of the state capitals in Mexico
are named after their state). It is a
much more ‘traditional’ city as
compared with León; tight streets,
historical monuments, and lots of
tourist attractions. We had a very to the hard work of our girls Trasa
fun time, but I think I prefer León, and Ivanka.
which has more of a natural feel. Small Group
Toby Decker, a long time friend of
Our coordinator Omar
mine and current AIMer in Tlalpan,
recently assigned us all to different
Mexico City, was able to spend
small groups that meet in various
some time with us here and go to
homes during the week. I am
Guanajuato with us. It was a huge
going to be attending with a family
encouragement getting to see him
named the Galvans. They have
for the little amount I did. June has
two older daughters, Evelyn and
also been a month of birthdays,
Nadia, and two younger sons,
with Ramiro’s on the 24th, Trasa’s
Josh and Leo. There is only one
on the 27th, and Jedda’s on the
other family from the church right
29th. We threw a big party for
now, but there is some neighbors
Ramiro which was 80’s themed
that have been coming. This will
and invited some of the youth from
be a great place to bring in new
the church to come and celebrate
friends without intimidating them in
with us. It was a surprising
a traditional church setting. Evelyn
turnout and a unique way to
is a very nice girl in the youth group
interact with the youth; all thanks
here who will be heading to

1
AIMING FOR CHRIST June, 2009
Pozole, a type of soup
made with hominy,
vegetables, and pork or
chicken; in English it is
also known as
‘deliciousness’.

Lubbock in August for the new AIM class. It will be between sixth or seventh grade to seniors in high
sad to see her leave, but I know she will be doing school. Here in León, the youth group ranges from
great things in this next year’s class. age 11 to marriage. So that was who we were
Spanish Classes interacting with. I think it went great, though. We
were really able to get to know the youth and spend
A good chunk of Jedda, Renato, Trasa, and
some quality time with them. We had some great
my time has been taken up by Spanish classes.
lessons from Shawn Gary, the missionary that is
Tana, Omar’s wife, has her degree in Spanish, and
mainly in charge of the youth activities here. I am so
has been teaching us. She is a great teacher, but she
excited to see how they are growing in Christ, and
is really pushing us to learn the language, teaching us
that we can be a part of it.
what most college students learn in two years in six
months time. It’s quite an intense way of learning, but
we are constantly surrounded by Spanish, so we are Contact Information
actually learning rather quickly. One of the challenges
of our work right now is understanding that learning Email:
Spanish is in fact our ministry and first priority john.mark.mccoy@gmail.com
currently. If we do not learn Spanish now, we will be
hindered when we actually start getting into peoples Website:
lives more we will really be hindered by the language
johnmarkmccoy.blogspot.com
barrier. So now we must trudge through the hours of
class and homework with the hope of being bilingual
and more effective ministers in the end. Phone:
918.266.1766 (US number)
Youth Retreat
The weekend of the 26th through the 28th
was a time when the team was able to spend some
Mailing Address: !
time with the youth group here. It was their first ever Iglesia de Cristo
retreat, and it was held up at the building. One thing C/O John McCoy
that must be understood is that the term ‘youth Apdo. Postal 453
group’ has a different connotation here than in the León,Gto C. P. 37001
States. In the US, ‘youth group’ is anywhere Mexico