NEWs

Just a little update on some new things happening here in the work. God has recently blessed us with several new visitors. Of course that is always a blessing and tremendous encouragement. We also have new prospects. There is a possibility of a new couple coming to work with us. The compassions of God are new every morning! La. 3:23


- We have a new family of four visiting our services, pray for their salvation.


- The neighbor in front of church was our newest visitor, pray for her salvation.


- The new neighbors on our block have committed to come, pray for their salvation.


- We see new interest in the Word of God everyday as we visit! Pray for souls to be saved.


- Bernardino and Fernanda Escalante are considering this as a new ministry. Pray for their decision.

Irvingh

New Family

Sister-still For Sale

Always Active

Bernardino y Fernanda

Never Drive An Empty Truck-Part One Of Four. See Below

I attribute to my Dad the saying, "Never drive an empty truck". In Africa our truck was always (over) loaded. Literally, on top of all of the supplies that were needed to be hauled for any trip were the African pastors and students that always accompanied our travels, a few extra passengers and my brothers and sisters. (Some day I will have to post a few of those pictures)

For the trip we took this past week we used the Tacoma to travel. As you can see it doubled as a route bus. There were only six in the cab and although you can only see nine in the back there were a few more extra small that cannot be seen. The other route was run by a 95 Mercury Villager and had 22!

The greatest payload of all is counted in eternal souls!



Overflow Crowd-Part Two of Four

Saturday and Sunday we were in Miquel Aleman (aka La Costa de Hermosillo / La Doce) for a mission's conference with Iglesia Bautista Maranatha, a mission work of Pastor John Perez and the Templo Bautista Sahuaro. The work is being started by Missionary Alfredo Ortiz and his family. They are in their fifth year working in this town mainly inhabited by various indigenous groups from farther south working the farm fields of the area.

Saturday seats were set up outside to accommodate the group that gathered to hear the preaching of the gospel. The children had their own class as well. Thankfully the weather was very pleasant. I had the privilege to share with these folks the Great Commission and how they can and need to be a part of their church's Faith Promise Missions Giving. The average salary for working ten to twelve hours in the fields is $6.00 U.S. dollars a day! I visited with one man who after 12 years now makes the equivalent of U.S. $.75 cents an hour for his 24 hour shift every other day. What a tremendous blessing to be able to meet such great people.

On a side note: The mission is hoping to build in the near future (I will be designing a 30' X 30' building for them). They also need an older full sized van (a newer one would be vandalized) for the ministry if anyone would wish to help.

The Family In Ministry Part Three of Four

Our family is a huge part of our ministry and each one contributes to the overall package. Personally I am this big, lumber-some lug but I have been blessed to have these beautiful flowers (Peggy, Abigail and Anna) adorn my life and so people can forgive or forget about me. Each of the family has a love for God, a love for others and a love for life. It is just such a blessing to be able to serve God!

Ministry Marathon. Part Four of Four

This past Thursday through Sunday it was our privilege to be in Hermosillo and Miquel Aleman for several services. Mexican missionary Alfredo Ortiz had invited me to preach a Faith Promise Mission's Conference for his mission work and his pastor, John Perez wanted to take advantage of my time and have me both teach in the Bible Institute and preach both free evenings (Thursday and Friday) as well as preach on Sunday evening.

I was able to teach six classes, preach once on Thursday evening, and once on Friday evening in Hermosillo. In Miquel Aleman I was able to preach once on Saturday night and then again on Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon. We then return to Hermosillo that evening in time to preach the evening service with an emphasis on missions. It was a full but blessed time.

What an opportunity! What a privilege! What a great time! What a joy! Thank you for allowing us to do this.

Random Ramblings

Peggy and the girls are currently in Ohio visiting with our older three, with the grandparents and other relatives and friends. We had had Izabell, our granddaughter, visiting with us and the girls took her home. Izabell was a joy and a blessing to have in the house and ministry.

When the ladies arrived home it seems they all found themselves a little ill. Evidently we had found someplace that served us Hepatitis A. Izabell was hardest hit and ended up in the hospital where they put her through a plethora of test. Come to find out it appears that she was born with possible serious kidney problems. She is to undergo more test this week as a first step of examination. We wait on the Lord to see what the prognosis is and appreciate your prayer on her and our behalf.

Contrary to all opinions otherwise I have been able to live on my own here in Mexico without my family! (Not that it is the best life ..) God has blessed in the work and it is exciting to see how God is working in His work here. We have several lost that have been faithful in attendance for the past few weeks and continue to pray for their salvation. Yesterday in San Ignacio we had 4 first time visitors. One visitor, a lady feared in the town as being demon possessed, heard a plain presentation of the gospel of Christ. I will be visiting her in her house this week: "this kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting" Mark 9:29 Please pray with me for this specific need.

After our evening service here in Magdalena and making the route to take those in the van home, I located a man I had met earlier and stopped by to visit him. He and his wife, their six children under four years of age, another lady and a teenager all live in a cardboard house about 14 by 16 feet. Their area has no running water and no electricity. Another opportunity for the gospel of Christ!

I thank you for allowing us to be here in the service of the King.

All Things Continue.

Sometimes saying that "all things continue as they were" (2 Peter 3:4) may sound like a bad report but such is not the case. It is a good thing. God is at work and although His seeming lack of hurry may at times amaze us, in due time we will realize that He was at work the whole time and "all things continue". We continue to witness door to door, in the city center, on the streets, to each new encounter, to each "old" encounter and in general wherever God gives us the opportunity from day to day. They listen, they take the gospel literature, some even ask a few questions but God gives the increase. Pray with us for that increase!

A continual joy is to see how those who have been saved continue to grow in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. What have you learned recently from God's Word? It is exciting to see our folks hunger after the Word of God! Last Sunday night we had another fellowship and it was such a sweet time. The weather was cold so the ladies huddled around the wood stove and the men around a space heater. No one was anxious to go home.

Thank you for having a part in the work of the ministry here in Magdalena, Sonora, Mexico.