e-Update Duggins Family / February 2023

We were greatly blessed that we were able to spend much of December and all of January in Mexico and participate with the IMPACTOLatino ministry.  We participated in three Evaluation and Planning retreats and these year end reports and plans for 2023 promise to make this year the fastest growing year so far for our church plants in and out of Queretaro.

LA VIÑA CHRISTIAN CHURCH (QUERETARO)
​La Viña by the end of 2022 returned to earlier attendance numbers for Sunday celebrations as was being reached before the pandemic. What a breath of fresh air. This is quite an accomplishment considering they also sent off two families to plant the third church plant for IMPACTO here in Queretaro.

CELEBRATION AT LA VIÑA CHURCH

EL ANCLA CHRISTIAN CHURCH (QUERETARO)
​The Ancla church actually has grown to 90+ and they began only two years ago during the Pandemic. They also sent a resident family to begin the 4th IMPACTO church in Merida, Yucatan,  last fall.

ADMINISTRATIVE COUNSEL FOR EL ANCLA CHURCH - PLANNING RETREAT

EXPANSION MID (EXPANSION MERIDA CHRISTIAN CHURCH)
We met with the Merida Planting team January 17-20, along with Andy and Bitia Garcia (Lead Pastors of the Ancla Church) and Phil Banta (Former missionary to Mexico and Hispanic work in the US) to help administer plans for their church launch in April. Tony and Jacky Moreno are the lead pastor and their team, Monse and Deberá have already begun their small groups and are beginning to search out posible locations for their Sunday celebrations.

ADMINISTRATIVE COUNSEL FOR EXPANSION MERIDA CHURCH

IMPACTOnetwork IN QUERETARO
We are amazed at advances IMPACTO has made even through setbacks.  This last summer saw multiple crisis' as one of the team member families had to return the United States to deal with personal issues.   Also, the IMPACTO offices were broken into during which we lost cameras and other equipment.  Fortunately, the computer that held most of the files done for on-line classes and other teachings was untouched.  We were thankful for that, they represented hours of recordings. 

The projects have continued since key parts of the recording studio was able to be replaced. New printed leadership training studies for the churches are available with online video teachings to be mixed with class time and homework. A new Bible Knowledge Course is being offered by local pastors through the on-line platform and a new Children’s Series, Rocket Kids, has been developed for churches to purchase with informational online videos, instructions, games and and creative ideas to reach non-church communities. It’s hard to keep up with all that’s happening.

​IMPACTO is also beginning discussions with the next potential Residents that will come to Queretaro and prepare for IMPACTO's next Church Planting project.   The year IMPACTO will hold AVANZA (our Church Planter's Assessment Program) after a two year delay through the pandemic issues. 

ALVARADO & DUGGINS FAMILIES ON CHRISTMAS MORNING

RETURN TO FORT MYERS
We return to Ft. Myers on February 2.  We will spend some time to unpack and settle into our new home in North Fort Myers.  The house papers were signed by a good friend with a Power of Attorney and another family received our furniture and boxes from the moving company. 

A QUICK MEDICAL UP-DATE ON ERIC
We indicated by an up-date that Eric's last CT Scan continued to show that the tumor seems to be shrinking and is "killed".  He has his next scan at the end of February.  During February, we will have our first appointment with a local Fort Myers medical group and we are hopeful that we will be able to arrange his next scan in the Fort Myers area.  If not, we will make a trip back to INDY to do that next scan at IU Medical. 

UP-COMING EVENTS & PROJECTS
We do a zoom call with each of the 13 affiliate families (singles or couples) in the America Region about every 4 to six weeks.   It looks like we will be adding two countries to our responsibilities with 5 additional family units in the next months. 
22 FEB / La Viña Church Administrative Meeting (Zoom-AM)
22 FEB / Expansion MID Church  Administrative Meeting (Zoom-PM)
24 FEB / El Ancla Church Administrative Meeting (Zoom-PM)
27 FEB / Projected CT Scan - Eric
11-19 MAR / Reporting to two supporting congregations in Texas (Houston and Dallas)
22 MAR / La Viña Church Administrative Meeting (Zoom-AM)
22 MAR / Expansion MID (Merida, Yucatan) Church Administrative Meeting (Zoom-PM)
24 MAR / El Ancla Church Administrative Meeting (Zoom-PM)
27-29 MAR / Affiliate Visit in Phoenix (Ministry of Leadership Development)
16-21 APR / Affiliate visit in Council Bluff  (Ministry in Romania)
15-21 APR / Annual gathering of Regional Directors of New International in Ft. Myers.

PRAYER REQUESTS:
Thanks so much for your continued prayers and support that makes all this possible.
We will catch you up on our New International responsibilities as Regional Directors in in our next newsletter, as this is already long. And of course, here is our payer list.
1. Pray for continued good news from the CT Scans for Eric.
2. We would ask for prayers for Pat Bonner, long-time friend and partner in the Mexico Ministry, Pat is having treatments for cancer. 
3. Smooooth transition into our new home in North Fort Myers.   Lots of paperwork to get done upon return!
​4. After several months of distraction, we will be returning to our walking and diet program.  Thanks for praying for that process.
5. Please join us in prayer for financial resources as IMPACTO continues to expand church planting projects.