Inspection and Saturday Outreach

Yesterday the University had its third inspection by an official from the Education Department. It was a very detailed inspection (inspecting such details as the number of hours each class was offered, if the teachers signed the attendance book, etc.). In both her report and her comments to the University staff, the official was very complimentary about the level of organization and the atmosphere here at the college. She left with a wonderful impression about what is happening here.

Her main objections centered around the Bible classes and chapels. While she stated that it was not a problem to have those, we should not include them in the official class schedule we present to the Education Department, and we should not even include them on the official attendance sheets. This highlights the fact that there is still significant resistance to mixing Christianity with education in Mexico. Ironically, the Education Department has just launched a "Spiritual Values" program in the public elementary schools. Since we are in the midst of an academic review, we are going to add our Bible classes to the official curriculum under the name "Christian Values." We hope that it will be approved. It could be a ground-breaking, pioneering moment, not just for us, but for other Christian educational institutions in the future.

Changing veins, Saturday we are having a special Christmas activity at the mission. We will have pinatas, chili dogs, Bible stories, etc. We hope to reach many new children and their parents as well. Please pray that the weather will be favorable. If it is cold and rainy, Mexicans will simply not come. They are calling for clouds and about 60, which is fairly cold by Monterrey standards. As long as it doesn't rain, we should be fine. Pray that we will effectively reach new families through this outreach.