From Cuernavaca I went back to New Zealand for my first break (known as “furlow”). During this time Anna Lee’s husband passed away (director of Bread for Children) and I was asked if I would consider returning to the head office in Florida to help out there for a time (rather than returning to Mexico).

There I had the opportunity to gain more experience working closely with the printshop, and doing the layout of the English magazine (Bread for Children).

Part of my job description was help with the proof reading but there is such a conflict between the written British English and American English, that I gave that one up and told them to just give me the copy once it was “correct”.

In my spare moments I began “playing” with some ideas for sketches and came up with a series illustrating my favorite parable – The Sower (Mark 4:1-20).

This set of cartoons has been used many times over the years in different settings. I later did the parable of the Good Smaritan which is also easily broken into just four sketches.

The fifth edition of Living Temples includes this set of cartoons where & it was when I was preparing this booklet that I added four “interpretation” cartoons.

Here are the sketches of the Parable of the Sower:

Some seed fell on the hard ground.		Some seed fell on the stony ground
Some seed fell on the thorny ground		Some seed fell on the good stony ground

Look out for the next chapter which will contain the cartooned interpretations of the parable of the sower.

What a diverse team, a Colombian, a Kiwi and an American!

Anna Lee and her secretary had visited Mexico City previously and had been connected with a magazine distributor in Cuernavaca Mexico (Trine V.). Trine had introduced Anna Lee to a printer and she was in the process of transferring to another area, leaving her apartment vacant in Cuernavaca.

Everything Was Prepared For Us.

So we had an apartment to go to and a printer waiting for us. All we needed to do was to take the original copy of the magazine down and some equipment to continue working with future volumes.

There was even a car provided. Wow!

The trip down was not too eventful until we reached Mexico City and I tell the story of that little adventure right here..

We finally arrived about 1.30-2am rather tired and worse still we had kept our landlady up waiting for us. Trini was also still up waiting and she was due to leave the next morning, well actually later that day

Despite the lateness of the hour, in true Mexico fashion we were greeted warmly by Mrs Gonzalez (landlady) and offered some hot chocolate.

The next day we unpacked all of the originals of the magazine ready to take to the printers. The front page story was about a little boy in Mexico who had fallen into a water tank and was miraculously rescued.

I had made a sketch of the scene from the story and of course the main character was the little boy who’s name was Miguel. I thought that was a fictitious name.

The Surprise Is Revealed

Mrs Gonzalez came down to see if we needed anything and her youngest son was with her. He was about 5 years old. She introduced us to Miguel. I could not believe my eyes when I saw Miguel. He looked just like the sketch I had made, and yes he WAS the little boy who had fallen into the water tank.

It was a true story (which we knew) but even the name had not been changed. I showed them the sketch and they agreed the resemblance was incredible!

Wow, not only did my sketches turn out accepted for the magazine (remember this was the first time I had tried drawing with no “reference” that I could copy and adapt), but I had managed to capture the resemblance of a young boy I had never even met!

I could see that this was another indication that God was leading all the way!

When God calls He equips, there is no doubt about that. It just takes faith to step out and do things!

Introductions To Cuernavaca and The Culture of South Mexico.

Mrs Gonzalez turned out to be very supportive in attending to our every need. Her eldest son showed us around Cuernavaca and took us downtown to a treat of some great coffee and an experience with the Mariachis!

Cuernavaca quickly became my favorite city. It did not take long for me to decide that, and I never really left, just when I needed to return to the border to renew papers and travel to conferences etc.

The City of the Eternal Spring, it is called. Who could not enjoy a city that is never TOO hot yet never TOO cold and that has markets that offer any fruit or vegetable you can think of fresh every day!

Preparing For Greater Things

Our daily schedule in Cuernavaca was divided between editorial work, visiting the print shop and going out to the market and the streets to distribute the newly printed magazines. They were eagerly received where ever we went.

We also visited the different churches of the city and surrounding areas and were often invited to speak in the meetings. Of course we always took bundles of magazines with us.

Little did I realize at the time that all that we were doing was training for what was ahead of me.

Check back in a couple of days to see the next chapter in the unfolding of this adventure, and meanwhile I trust this is encouraging you to follow all that God puts in your heart.

Be prepared! As you start to follow His Vision for your life you will discover that it will always get bigger.