Susan Key - La Paz, Mexico
November 30, 2015
I knew I would be facing many challenges working in ministry in a foreign country, but being in ministry in Mexico as a widow was not in my plan, but evidently it was God's. I am learning daily what that means.
For the last nine years I have been involved in some kind of ministry in La Paz, the last two with TEAM (The Evangelical Alliance Mission). My ministry partners are the same people I started working with nine years ago. The organization TEAM is a wonderful support for me in many ways, especially now, also my friends and neighbors in La Paz who are not with TEAM are still by my side. I am so grateful to God for them and love them very much.
Developing the Brick by Brick Project (the students call it the LEGO Project) in partnership with El Faro Church in La Paz, Mexico, has been a major focus for me. During that time the church has gone from just having one wall, no electricity and a portapottie to having bathrooms, two class rooms, electricity, water, and growing to bursting, even though there is still only one wall on the main part of the church. Their roof has been burned off, they have been stolen from to the point that lightbulbs must be removed after every meeting, vandalized with graffiti and all their wiring stolen, and still the people of the church refuse to give in or move. They have worked hard and are raising the funds to put a cement roof on, which will allow them to have a secure place to meet. I loved Pastor Jerry's sermon on generosity last week. El Faro reminds me of the Macedonian church - giving beyond what they have to build for future generations.
For the Brick by Brick project, I borrowed the idea from a TEAM church in Czech Republic. The young leaders of El Faro, who are almost all architects or engineers, loved the idea and together we made it something Mexican students would love to come to.
The CBC team two years ago (2014) brought around 1/2 million brick pieces and a wonderful team to implement the first Brick by Brick community outreach in partnership with El Faro's church leadership. Since then the building pieces have been used weekly by home groups with an outreach to children in their neighborhoods. We had our second annual Brick by Brick project last June (2015). El Faro leaders were assisted by a church from Nashville, Tennessee. This June (2016)the Third Annual Brick by Brick will be assisted by several families from Scottsdale Bible Church, from the Phoenix area. We are working to expand it from a 3 day Bible based workshop to a week long camp using our new La Paz sports ministry program, and adding English conversation practice - a big draw for parents.
I am working on projects for TEAM Mexico and for TEAM International. I have taken over as Annual Conference Chair in place of Brian - 40 of us will reunite in Guadalajara, Mexico. We are a 14 hour ferry ride apart so this is our yearly chance to really be a team.
In February the TEAM 125th Anniversary Mexico Celebration tour will come to La Paz, Los Cabos, and Guadalajara. I have been working on this for more than a year so it is rewarding to see it come to fruition. There are still a few more spaces if you would like to come - here is the link to the brochure: is truly a unique opportunity to see ministry in a whole country from the inside with the people who are actually doing it.
Recently my quiet time has been spent studying 2 Corinthians 4. Thank you all for your loving support. If you see me, please don't ask me "why are you here" but tell me "we are so glad to see you" - that would make me feel very cared for.