Notes from Dan and DeAnn

One of the resources that Crusade uses is called a Transferable Concept.  You can check them out here:  TC’s  These are discipleship materials that teach basic truths of the Christian faith in a way that is “transferable” or in a way that you can then easily communicate the truth to others. 

Well, there have been many editions with different covers designed for different times and different people.  In Mexico we recently found the 70’s versions…well, they are interesting to say the least.  One of my friends down here liked them so much that he decided that he would created a custom TC…specifically for me!  Here is “How to Love by Faith” the Dan Mexico 70’s version!  Thanks Robin!!!

One other fun fact is that in the 70’s, due to the prevalence of communism in Mexico, anything from the states was looked down upon.  So American names were not used.  Here you see that this booklet was written by “Dr. Guillermo Briseño”…well that is a literal translation.  Briseño sort of means “bright” and Guillermo is the name for “William.”  So here we really see Dr. William (Bill) Bright!  Just sort of a fun fact from a while ago!

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Both of them! Leo and Phin on the 25th of this month! Check it out here:

Winston Pals!

So, here’s the slightly humorous ending to my previous entry…

I finally found the right office and stood in a long line for about half an hour (very typical if not even a short wait for government offices….but then think of the local DMV!) I got in and was sent to speak with a supervisor. So I told her my story of needing plates for a homemake trailer and asked her what I needed to do to get them. She proceeded to tell me, in a very official sounding voice, that since 1997 all trailers needed to have a sixteen digit code on them for them to receive plates. She then said that since this was a homemade trailer that it was impossible for her to give me plates because the trailer wouldn’t have that sixteen digit code. So I said, “Good…but just to clarify…then there are no regulations for homemade trailers for driving on the road.” And with a straight face after just telling me that there is no way she can give me plates, said, “Yes, you need to have plates.”

Anyway, I just couldn’t believe it. So we’ll see where I go from here but I know there has to be a way!

Sometimes when trying to get things done in Mexico there are just days when you just have to laugh. The short of it is that I needed to get some paperwork done that involved going to a government office. So I hopped in the van and started driving. I left at around 1 in the afternoon. Now keep in mind that Puebla is a city of 3.5 million people because about five minutes into my drive on one of the main streets, I saw a guy walking along the side of road with his donkey carrying about five sacks of something. Then I go to the address that I was given and there is absolutely nothing government related at that address. Due to how the streets are numbered in Puebla I decided to try and switch the numbers (i.e. instead of going to 3 north and 12 west I went to 3 west and 12 north) and sure enough…there was the building. Now this is after over an hour of driving. So I drive by looking for parking and there is none and because of the time I spent going to the wrong direction I now needed to go eat lunch with DeAnn. Since I already knew where the building was I figured I would just drop by after lunch. So I came back only to find out that the office for the paperwork I needed to do was no longer in that building but had been moved to a building I had driven by twice earlier. Like I said…sometimes you just have to laugh.

Last night I had a conversation that was both incredibly uplifting and very troubling at the same time.  We have had a group of students and staff from the Upper Midwest down here in Puebla for the past 10 days and last night was the final outreach event.  When I got there Russ was in the middle of sharing the gospel with a guy named, ironically enough, Jesus.  As there was a bit of a language barrier between Russ and Jesus, Russ asked me to come over and clarify things a bit.  To make a long story shorter, Jesus was at the point of decision, of whether to pray to ask Jesus Christ into his life or not.  And it seemed like he would have prayed right at that point just to be nice…but obviously that is not what we are going for!!!  So I just stopped him and explained the magnitude of his decision and that this would involve major life change.  I also just shared with him why it was such and important decision and why, for me personally, inviting Jesus into your life is such a great thing.  I shared that God had given me purpose in life and friendships in Christ that were incredibly deep.  Basically, I know where I am going and I know who is going with me.  So the conversation with Jesus was very uplifting because Jesus was deeply considering his life and what it would mean to make a decision for Jesus. 

However, the troubling part was that Jesus had a friend with him who was a believer already.  So when I was sharing I asked his friend, “Why would you want your friend Jesus to come to know Jesus?”  And he proceeded to give some great Biblical answers about eternal life and forgiveness of sin etc.  But I clarified my question a bit to him and said, “Well, what I’m really asking is ‘what is so good about Jesus?  What in your life and your experience is so great that you want your friend Jesus to experience it too?’”  And here’s the troubling part…he responded by saying, “Well, I really don’t know what to say.  I really can’t answer that question.”

How rough is that?!?!  That you would not know why, aside from Bible reasons (which are good…I’m not saying they are not good,) someone should give their life to Jesus.  The next time you are talking with someone about Christ, please share what He has done in your life that is so amazing.  Many people have heard the Biblical reasons but they want to hear what it means to you, what difference does it make in your life, and why they should want to make the decision to. 

So what would you say to the question “What is so good about knowing Jesus?”