The new sign

We are about to complete our second week in the NEW RenovArte Cafe space - God is great!!

One of our urgent needs after the initial fit out of the local was for a new sign. There was an existing sign for the restaurant that was in the local before us that advertised tortas, hamburgers and tacos, but we really needed to have RenovArte Cafe to let people know that we are there. Several times this week people have come in asking for tortas and the other day someone asked Sandy what flavours of hamburgers we had!

We were looking at various options and I called a Cheistian friend who has a design and signwriting business asking him for a quote. He asked me the size and then said "send me the design, it's been paid for!"

"What do you mean?" I exclaimed.

"The One who provides for you has paid for it!"

God always provides.

On Wednesday they installed our new sign and it's fantastic. We were able to make use of the structure and illumination of the existing sign and put a new covering on it.

Now people don't ask us for hamburgers and tortas, they go straight to RenovArte Cafe.

RenovArte Renovation Special

God is moving and so is RenovArte Cafe!

Phil, God has given us the opportunity to move RenovArte Cafe to a larger premises with better exposure to the student community.

Why the change?
The RenovArte Cafe ministry is growing and we are excited about making more connections with university students and developing the relationships and activities we have started. We have also started hosting a weekly outreach Bible study called Connexion Vertical each Thursday in conjunction with another developing student ministry - last week 13 students attended and three made a decision to accept Christ. The new bigger premises will give us the opportunity to continue growing these outreach events and better develop the ministry.

What is the plan?


Whilst we have been praying for some time, the opportunity to move came up very quickly and we needed to act fast. We have secured the new premises which was previously a small restaurant and we are currently cleaning, repairing, painting and fitting it out in true RenovArte style. This involves quite a lot of work (see photos below) as the restaurant was in very dirty condition and had not had adequate maintenance. We continue open to the public in the present premises whilst the renovations are underway. We hope to complete the renovations this week to be able to move this weekend (15-16 October) and open on Monday in the new space.

What is the need?
Most importantly, we need your prayers. Please pray for the following:

1. Strength and endurance for Phil, Sandy and Romi as a family and all those that are helping us


2. For the volunteers that are lending a hand


3. For wisdom in decision making around fit-out decisions and negotiations with the building owners


4. The new ministry opportunities that this move will provide


5. For financial provision for the additional expenses of renovation, moving and ongoing rental

We also need additional financial resources to meet the needs of the fit-out and rental. We pray that this new premises will be a huge blessing - the students that regularly come to the cafe are excited about the change and are even volunteering to help us. This is a sign of God's grace and what He is doing through this ministry.

God bless,
Phil and Sandy

Aussies in Mexico

I'm starting to get my Aussie slang back, bit by bit. I said that our pastor lives in "woop, woop" yesterday. It catches you by surprise, but it's moments like these that I remember that I'm still an Aussie.
We currently have Janice Collins and Adam and Naomi Jones visiting with us from Sydney Australia.
We are having a really fun time sharing with them what God is doing in the cafe and also showing them some of the sights of Queretaro. I think it's all worth it when Adam starts smiling and giggling like a kid about how good the latest Mexican meal was and how he didn't like Mexican food until he arrived here.

It's been a full on week with some unexpected occurences that have pulled us in all directions but God is faithful and He is sustaining us moment by moment.

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie... do I hear an...
Oi Oi Oi!??

A couple of days rest in the sun

Missionary life is busy. This year we have felt the weight of serving many hours in the cafe and trusting God to work through us. We love what God has called us to do and it's a joy to go to the cafe each day and see what He will do through us in the lives of young people.

Sometimes though, we do need to take a break and recharge our batteries. This week Romi went to a Christian kids camp. It's her first time at camp and we are praying that she will really enjoy it and learn lots. Sandy and I escaped to the beach for a couple of days to RELAX and rest.

It was great!

We can't tell you how much these few days away have refreshed us ready for the next semester of ministry. We slept a lot, ate a lot and had some quality time as a couple.

We are currently on the bus on our way back to Queretaro and the responsibilities that await us there, but we are ready to take good grasp of what lies ahead and serve diligently.

Thanks Lord for a great break and new strength for what lies ahead.

The RenovArte experience

A quick update on life at RenovArte.

The Market

A couple of times a week we go to the market for supplies for the cafe, our home and bits and pieces. This week we have been to three different markets for various supplies.

The Cruz on Monday for trays for the cafe and a yummy breakfast of tamales. The Tepe on Thursday for mangos for the cafe, some fruit for our family and a breakfast of freshly prepared fruit juice. We have also found cheap second hand clothes in the Tepe that costs about $2.50 per piece so Sandy was able to get some new jeans and a blouse.
The big banger was Friday in the abastos (supplies) market. This is the biggest Market in Queretaro and is the source of wholesale trade. We were able to buy 5kg of strawberries for just $6.50 and 5kg of blackberries for $11.50. These are our main ingredients for our natural fruit smoothies.

Here are a couple of photos from the Tepe.

The view from the back of the bus

I just thought you might be interested in the diversity of people here in Queretaro. I'm in the bus and just snapped a quick pic.

He's got the whole world in His hands.

Random.