Celebrating an Anniversary

The weekend of March 19th we had the opportunity to travel down to Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico - about eight hours south of where we live.  Those of you who have followed us through the years will know that Navojoa is where we began ministry in Mexico.

It was our privilege and benefit to get to know Pastor Ismael Zamarron on our very first trip into Mexico and he has been a great help and good friend through the years.  He pastors two works and has several outreaches as well.  In the pictures below the small village work of Iglesia Bautista "El Salvador" is actually the original mother work and the Iglesia Bautista Bet-El is the daughter.  The anniversary service was for the daughter work which was celebrating eighteen years.  Pastor Ismael kindly invited us down to preach for the Saturday anniversary service.  We also stayed over on Sunday to preach in both works on Sunday.

On our way down we also made a stop in Hermosillo to visit with one of our former families that now lives there.  Their daughter is one of Anna's friend and she traveled with us for the weekend.  One of our prayers is for good and Godly friendship for Anna and we thank the Lord for allowing Leslie to travel with Anna for the weekend.

Thank you for your prayers for us even when you might not be exactly sure what we are up to.  Safety in "pilgrimage" is always an answer to prayer. "Success" in preaching is another.

Anniversary Song Service 

  An overflow crowd 

 Anniversary Preaching Service 

 Pastor Ismael & Lourdes Zamarron 

  Preaching in village - Iglesia Bautista , El Salvador 

Reaching the Untouchables:

God put it on the heart of one of our men to fill this ministry and it was our blessing to enable him to do so.  Marcos is our man that God saved out of a life (more than forty years) of drugs.  He has never wavered in his decision to turn his back on his past and seek the Lord.  

Several weeks ago Marcos came to me and asked if I would help him reach the untouchables.  I was not sure exactly who he was speaking of but told him I would be more than happy to do so.  Turns out the untouchables are some very poor families that live at the town's dump sifting through the trash recycling anything of meager value.  Namely cardboard and tin cans.  As you can see the group includes men, women and children.

Marcos and I ran around town and he purchased the ingredients for his meal and then Peggy, Anna and I met Marcos the next day at the appointed time at the church and prepared the meal.  We then loaded some tables into the van and drove out to the town dump.  We set up our tables, dished out the meal and invited all to come.  While they were eating Marcos shared his testimony and then I was able to share a clear presentation of salvation.  The untouchables were very thankful and we were well received.

Unbelievably we still had some food leftover and on our way back to town passed two groups of road workers so we stopped and shared a meal with them as well.  Both groups gladly received the meal as well as Marcos' testimony and our literature.  

It was a unique way to reach out to needy people and we look forward to another opportunity to do the same!

 Marcos and Anna preparing the meal  

 The gathering at the city dump 

 Marcos sharing his testimony 

 The little ones at the city dump 

 Finding a few more hungry souls