Good-Bye Tlalpan
29 Jun 2009 1 Comment
in Church - Theologizing, Cross-Cultural Ministry, Mexico, Tlalpan Church Plant Tags: Christian Churches, Church of Christ, church planting, Disciples of Christ, Mexico City, Missionaries, Missions, Tlalpan
What started out for Yuli and I as a grueling search for a church home that began in 2007 ended in warm communion. It’s been an immense pleasure to work with the Brednich family, the Henderson family, the Ortega family, the Calderón family, as well as the rest of the bunch this past year. This post is a celebration post. As a chapter comes to a close for us and the time draws nearer to when we part, I want to recognize this great group out of Tlalpan, Mexico City and the work that is in progress there. This past year the group has welcomed new faces, two marriages and is currently expecting two babies! It was truly an honor to marry my good friends Cesár and Nancy. I implore God to continue blessing them and the whole group and that the church plant might continue to be salt and light in the Tlalpan area, freeing those captive in their midst and being life for those that only see death.
El Conocer tiene un efecto muy grande en el hacer. . .
~mlw
Tlalpan Update
06 May 2009 Leave a Comment
in Church - Theologizing, Cross-Cultural Ministry, Mexico, Tlalpan Church Plant Tags: Mexico City, Missions, Tlalpan
Greetings from Mexico City,
This is a follow up letter to my Feb. 9th blog post on the happenings in Mexico City and the church plant in Tlalpan, Mexico especially for the congregation La Casita in Searcy, AR and the congregation in Swift Current, Canada that so generously helped my wife and I with monetary contributions last year. It serves as an update to what has been transpiring here in the naval of the ancient Aztec Empire.
We had the retreat in Michoacan, Mexico in March as was planned. It was a stupendous success with a little over 30 people in total. It was a great time of fellowship (tamales, hotdogs, smores- the works!) and a wonderful way to deepen the intimacy of the group as a whole. We had a dynamic lesson on the concept of holiness (focusing on inner integrity- the pure heart; as well as actions- clean hands). Benjy and Jorge also led us in a highly interactive group discussion on finding our individual dreams, passions, and gifts. This was very insightful for the whole group and served as a springboard for finding our corporal gift and passion as a church in order to serve in the context of the community. Right now we are in the process of discerning a social ministry. The group wants to begin using their gifts, as a church to touch and transform some sector of the community. The extent of the exact nature of the ministry and specialized population has yet to be determined. Though the dialogue is extremely rich and I forsee a lot of service to the Kingdom and Creation being produced from the type of conversation that has been taking place among the group recently. Needless to say it is very exciting.
Since the last post I have concluded my course on The Exodus, Oppression, and the Problem of Holiness and we have begun a series on the Gospel of Luke- a joint teaching venture by all that are willing to participate. As well, we are addressing the issue of the formation of the canon one Sunday per month. This especially addresses the new members that aren’t so acquainted with the Bible and its tradition as the others that have been with the plant for a longer time. I am continuing my study of the prophets for didactic and pastoral purposes with Jorge- though recently it has been more sporadic since Holy week (Easter) as vacation, more work for him, and then finally the swine flu scare has made meeting more difficult.
Yes, the swine flu. Lately, we’ve been under attack from the (A)H1N1 influenza virus (aka swine flu). The city has been shutdown since April 30th and was masked with fright (no pun intended). It just began to open some of its government offices and venues today, though work for me will not begin again until Monday the 11th. This has put a damper on us as a group, since we have been banned from meeting for the past 2 weeks. Thankfully we can report that no family members or members of the church have been affected by this health threat. It appears that the Mexican government reacted with adequate response and precision.
As far as the members: We have a couple Nancy & Cesar that will be getting married June 12th. Hayley & Ivan’s pregnancy (baby boy!) is coming along just fine. And we found out that Carolyn Brednich is now an expecting mother! This has been a truly exciting time for us as a church. And to top it all off, in the midst of an earthquake (5.7, 40 sec. duration- no damage) and the flu scare, we now have back in our midst James and his family. Which we are all extremely happy to welcome them back home.
This brings me to the announcement of change of plans concerning my wife and I. As was stated in the previous post, due to the economic crisis, work was next to non-existent from December to Feburary- for me as a teacher and my wife as a therapist. My wife and I are so very grateful to the contributions made by both of your congregations. It was truly a life-saver: it kept me from leaving my wife and working in California and allowed me to work with the church in a fuller capacity. Yet again, we have received a hard blow economically. Most of my students took a 2 week vacation for Easter to get away from it all and I have lost another 2 weeks of work due to the most recent health crisis here in the city. So, that’s the loss of another month’s income. My wife will be completing here Master’s program in June and her thesis shortly thereafter and with her completion of the program we will see the end of her scholarship and grant. All of these factors coupled with the peso’s devaluation of nearly 50% next to the dollar have lead us to the decision of me starting my Master’s of Divinity program in Boston a semester earlier than planned, in January of 2010. However, in order to have to live on and make the big move in January, I will be taking a job in California in September 2009, after 2 years of working in Mexico City.
This past year of congregating and working with the church plant in Tlalpan has been an uncomparable experience with much reward for both my wife and I. We cannot express enough our gratitude for helping us in our time of need, and allowing us to stay here at our home and work and commune with those that we have grown to love.
Again we thank you and we ask God to abundantly bless you wherever you are.
-Marvin Lance Wiser
P.S. Congratulations Josie and Aaron Allen on the birth of their beautiful baby boy Noah and their upcoming move to New York City! All are celebrating in Mexico!
–
“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him.” - 2 Corinthians 2:14 (NRSV)
~mlw
Church Happenings in Tlalpan, Mexico City
09 Feb 2009 1 Comment
in Biblical Ethics, Church - Theologizing, Cross-Cultural Ministry, Devotional Thoughts & Bible Studies, Mexico, Tlalpan Church Plant Tags: Church, Missions, Tlalpan
Thus far into 2009 we can’t complain too much. Though work is still slow, we’re as busy as ever. My wife, Yuli, is now in her last semester of her master’s and will become increasingly preoccupied as she continues writing her thesis. And as soon as I finish this post I am going to start refreshing myself on APA style, as I have been dubbed the style man. I hope it’s not going to be too straining going from Chicago-Turabian back to APA. Since English classes have been scarce (since December!), I have been able to put a lot of energy into preparing church material in Spanish. As well, we were blessed this past week to have met with some friends from college that we haven’t seen in some time. I’m also looking forward to going to places in Mexico this year that I have never been to, and cannot wait to share those experiences with Yuli. As far as being back in the States, we have a trip tentatively planned for August. We hope we can make it- it will be 13 months this time without returning.
As far as church work is going, we had one of the biggest turn outs (since my wife and I have been working there) yesterday. Two house churches converged, ours and one from the State of Mexico to the north, for a time of visiting, sharing of ideas, stirring of each other on to good works, and mutual edification (and the food was unfathomable- so I’m not going to bother describing it, one word should suffice: Carnitas). We also had a visitor from Guadalajara that is now entering his 5th year of working with the church there that shared some remarkable news. Some of the house churches there are banding together to initiate Mexico’s first fund for children with diabetes. They are approaching the UN as a source of funding sometime in the near future. It’s very encouraging to see the interest and activity here. Our visitors of December-January seem to have officially joined the bandwagon in full communion. We’re so blessed to have met Benjy and Carolyn, they’re great and have done so much work here along with James and his family, of which we’re all exited about their return in April. As well, I have begun to meet one member, Jorge on an individual basis once a week in attempt to enhance our knowledge of the text and how to extrapolate and transmute that which the text is trying to convey. And we have a couple in their mid-twenties that has announced that they will be getting married in June, and another married couple has announced that they are now expecting. So all of that, coupled with the superbowl, soccer games, an impending retreat in March, the return of James and his family in April, and let’s not forget the formidable economy, there is an incredible amount of excitement brewing in Tlalpan, Mexico.
Right now I’m teaching on Sundays. I’ve designed an 8 week study in Spanish entitled: El Éxodo, La Opresión, y El Problema de La Santidad: Influenciando Nuestra Identidad y Misión. That is in English: The Exodus, Oppression, and the Problem of Holiness: Influencing Our Identity and Mission. I spent the majority of 2008 in a profound personal study of the book of Exodus, and am thrilled to be able to embark in a teaching engagement such as this. I’m drawing a lot from the works of Terence E. Fretheim, Walter Brueggemann, Jacob Milgrom, David L. Peterson, Abraham J. Heschel, John Howard Yoder, Stanley Hauerwas, Gustavo Gutiérrez, Bruce C. Birch, and John G. Gammie. Right now we are in week 3 and are 2 weeks away from launching into the social ethics and broader mission of the prophets, where the true excitement will commence. It’s been great for me, though naturally I’ve encountered some bumps along the way. Sometimes synthesizing and contextualizing some of the material presents a challenge- especially in a second language. But my wife has been eager in assisting me. You know, it’s truly amazing to see when something that comes out of your mouth resonates with an individual. The first week was, let’s be honest: so-so, but last week and this week were great. The types of questions that are being illicited and those that are being developed are the kind that lead to not only faith formation, but to full self-formation. I think it’s going in a good direction. This Sunday there was a lot of interaction and I have planned for the 6th class a time of real dynamic group involvement. We have, we are, or we will be touching on motifs such as the forces of life and death, the oppressed/marginals of society, Empire, creation-salvation, our response to salvation, community, ecology, social justice, holy nation/nation of priests, and the idea of holiness. It is my goal to say something during these 8 weeks that might fester and allow the beginnings of overcoming dichotomies that are so prevalent in our societies and communities. For example, the strict dichotomy of individual and communal salvation. And make ‘what we do with our hands’ sound just as loudly as ‘what is in our heart;’ to create a platform that will allow discipleship to enter another level.
Sadly, some church traditions derive their idea of holiness by focusing almost entirely in the social ethics of the prophets (Amos 5) and Jesus and leave little attention to the integrity and purity of the heart. While other traditions formulate their idea of holiness by focusing on wisdom passages that stress a pure and contrite heart (Ps. 51), the correct modes of worship as stressed by the Priests (Lev. 10), and emphasis that Jesus put upon the inward person (thoughts and not actions), and neglect the passionate ethics of the prophets. I believe that a healthy concept of holiness should consist of what each of these traditions have to offer, yet all the while not maintaing one above the other. So another goal that I feel that I should aspire to is to instill in the group, as it is evident that they are of the later tradition, a sense of practicing justice which is such an integral part to discipleship. This I feel is part of my mission where I am at now.
-MLW
but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am Yahweh who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares Yahweh.” -Jeremiah 9:24
Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
learn to do good;
seek justice,
correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widow’s cause. -Isaiah 1:16-17
Embracing 2009
05 Jan 2009 Leave a Comment
in Church - Theologizing, Life, Tlalpan Church Plant Tags: 2009, Church - Theologizing, Gaza, Life, Mexico, story of stuff
I’m back to the world of blogging after a brief hiatus.
Many have said that 2008 had 366 days; others: 3,066. Though a challenging year to say the least, it was the year I was married and will forever remain sacred. That being said I gladly meet the new year with arms spread wide.
The new year. It has always been marked with meaning, festivals, firsts, new starts, creation, re-creation, the building of temples, the defeating of monsters, the seperation of water and earth, covenants being cut, propositions, and resolutions. This post is meant to embrace all of the above as the Wiser-León family looks to the start of a new chapter in the contuation of their story. This post also serves to let those that care to, catch up with our lives and the many happenings here in Mexico City.
- Work is slowing here as the ramifications of the economic downturn have become more realized. Unfortunately, adult language acquisition more often than not is seen as an extra-curricular activity when viewed by those that handle budgets during recessions. People aren’t just worried anymore- they’re scared.
- We hosted one of the house churches during the vacation- as most were outside of the city enjoying a breath of fresh air (and were dearly missed). We looked at the prayers of Mary and Hannah and also examined the book of Jonah. This was a wonderful blessing for us and we are very thankful for community. It makes me anxious to begin the M.Div. program.
- I have made considerable progress in formulating teaching materials in Spanish concerning The Exodus, Oppression, and Holiness. This makes me anxious to begin more formal study of the Hebrew Bible and social ethics.
- And my wife is now entering her last semester of the master’s program!!!! Thereupon all that will be lacked is the publication of her thesis. Congratulations Yuli! You know that Gregory House and I are with you all the way!
- As well, a great video was brought to my attention by a blog reader over the break that I would like to pass on. It pertains to the extraction, production, distribution, consumption, and disposal of stuff. It is extremely informative and has much potential to serve both the secular and religious communities- or more simply and more correctly put: ALL. I encourage all to view it. It may be accessed here. May it plague our consumer consciouses.
Best wishes to all as we begin together in tour de force this year, 2009. May we strive to create new relationships and better those that we neglect or take for granted. May we be good stewards of what Yahweh has graciously given us and remember upon whom we are or should be dependent.
-MLW
Gen. 8:13
P.S. Something that I could not allow to go neglected is the current war in Gaza. To follow it check out the below pages:
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