The Wonderful Gift of God-given Friendships!

My family and I arrived safely in Southern California on Sunday, December 18th to the warmth of the home of Jerry and Cathy McLaughlin and the cold of watching an Anaheim Mighty Ducks live hockey game.  Jerry is my wife's brother and he and Cathy have a beautiful family with 5 children, a big British bulldog named Sergeant and a home full of love.  We are looking forward to spending our first Christmas in 17 years with Peggy's family and hangin' out with some of my family and friends in Southern California.

As I told you in the last post, leaving Mazatlan was bittersweet due to the many friendships we made during our time in paradise.  In the picture collage seen here you can get a little glimpse of many of the precious people that jumped into our hearts and made "Maz" one of the most memorable experiences of my life.

At the center of God's purpose and plan for all of our lives is the idea that we were made to be relational creatures.  Hard-wired into human nature is the need to connect, relate, fellowship and enjoy the company of other human beings.  When God said of Adam that it was "not good for man to dwell alone," He was not just talking about our need for a marriage partner.  We were created for friendship, brotherhood, family and community.  It is a wonderful truth that the community of the twice-born, otherwise known as the church, is called all of these things at one time or another.  We are not a corporation, social or service club, but the "Body of Christ!"

In Mazatlan, a number of the friends we made were not necessarily followers of Christ, but they were all beautiful people made in the image and likeness of God who were meant by their Creator to be redeemed from sin and brought into fellowship with Jesus Christ and His family.  All of these people enriched us and blessed us in a number of ways.  Our family experienced God's love poured through human instruments of His grace.  We deserved none of this, but rather were recipients of people doing what they were created to do, which is love their fellow man. 

To all of you in Mazatlan, I can only say a great big THANK YOU FROM THE RECESSES OF OUR HEARTS!  Similar to the way that the wonderful people of Grace Harvest Church have poured love into my family for years, you too have blessed us.  You have reminded me that in spite of all of the evil and hurtful things that people do to each other everyday on this planet, the gift of friendship flourishes where people will nurture it. 

Rogelio, Marianne, Haley and Mario, thank you for taking us into your lives and sharing your rich deposit of kindness and love.  You gave and gave and gave to us until it was almost embarrassing!  People like you will never truly lack because you have learned that in giving, you receive so much more!  We look forward to maintaining a friendship with you for many years to come.  PS -  Rogelio, kayaking, bon-fire building, Pancho's and basketball were all great fun for me.  Even Sam's Club was cool.  THANKS!

James, Robin and family, thanks for taking time with us and giving so much of yourselves to us.  We felt at ease with you as we partook of the same spirit of friendship which will make you flourish in your outreach to Mazatlan.  Keep doing what you are doing and they will come, grow, and multiply!  Thanksgiving, El Quelite, Para-sailing and El Olivo's was great because you took the time to invest into our lives.

Javier, thanks for running the best Internet Cafe in town and for your warmth, professionalism, servant's heart and spiritual hunger.  Our discussion on the last day was excellent as you shared your journey and I shared mine.  Keep seeking and remember Jesus' words, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father except through me."  Jesus Christ is the "Light of the world" and my prayer is that He would Illuminate a way for you to see.

Mary, keep making the best burgers and sandwiches in Mazatlan and keep up your spiritual quest.  You have a great heart that God wants to fill with His love and healing.  Peggy and I enjoyed getting to know you.  We will miss you much!

Carlos and Raul, thank you for blessing our family as we para-sailed, boogie-boarded and enjoyed great fellowship and the testimonies of God's amazing grace.  Though our time with you was short, it was impacting to me as I was reminded of the creativity of God as He pursues us and wears us down with His love.

Lorena and Caesar, thanks for the great dinner on our last night.  Your kindness was refreshing to us and we really enjoyed getting to know you a little bit.  May God bless your lives and lead you into His Everlasting Arms.  Stanley, thanks for the use of the phone, Internet and all of the great tips that helped us to survive.

Pastor Fred and Debbie, we absolutely loved attending La Vina, going on a tour to "The other side of Mazatlan", dinner discussions over "kingdom matters" and the pleasure of hanging out with some "MOVERS AND SHAKERS" like yourselves.  Your enthusiasm to touch people with the tangible, practical love of Jesus is an inspiration to our family.  Thank you for letting us use the car and get around Mazatlan a little.  We look forward to possibly seeing you up our way in "06", God willing.

To all of the Rico's staff I say thanks for making our time fun!  All of you are getting practice in doing what it takes to go far in life.  Thanks you for the laughs, great coffee, pictures, hand-shakes, goofing off and Spanish language help.  Our family will miss you all very much.  We hope to return in the future and see some of you still at Rico's.  I know many of you are going to go on and make great things of your lives. 

Enrique, Jenny and family, thanks for your open-hearted friendship and passion for God and righteousness.  Enrique, though we did not talk much, when we did I thoroughly enjoyed your sense of conviction and persuasiveness.  Jenny, my wife really appreciated your kindness to her and the way you made her feel welcome in your home.  God bless both of you.

To Oly, Marge, Ellen, Randy, Juan, Bruce and Anne-Marie, Frankie and all of the other people who made this trip so memorable I express my heart-felt thanks to My Father in heaven on your behalf.  Mazatlan is a beautiful place, but the people mentioned above are what made this time one of the most memorable of my life.  Thank you!

Lastly, I would like to say thanks to Larry and Shirley, Dave and Ginger, Keith and Donna and the congregation at GRACE HARVEST CHURCH.  You all made this time possible as you released my family and I to go and rest awhile.  You have been our family these last 17 years and have been an amazing instrument of God's love and grace to all of the Sherman family.  Without you none of this would have been possible!  THANK YOU!