A Great Help

About a half a year ago I received an e-mail from a man I had never met, Salvador Santos. He is a member of a church in Montana we had been in while on deputation about six years ago. His request was to come down to Magdalena de Kino to visit with us and to help in any area where we felt we could use him. To that end Salvador and Naomi Santos were part of our lives this past week. What a tremendous blessing and help they were to us. We made much of their abilities and kept them very busy everyday soul-winning and witnessing.

Every other aspect of life took a back seat as we sought to make full use of this servant of God. We were in numerous homes presenting the gospel, we followed up on many contacts previously made and made many new contacts. Brother Santos delivered sound Bible messages for our mid-week service and both our Sunday services. We were also able to have most of our folks here in our house to fellowship with this dear couple. A great deal was accomplished and we thank God for this privilege.

Our Third Graduate

The highlight of the end of May and June was Ezra's graduation back at Cozaddale Baptist Academy in Goshen, Ohio. Peggy, Abigail, Anna and I traveled back by car (well actually our F-350) to attend Ezra's graduation. We left Mexico on May 20th. Ezra graduated on May 27th and I returned by plane to Mexico on June 2nd leaving Peggy and the girls to spend time with Sarah and Izabell, Simon and Ezra there in Ohio. On June 14th I returned to Ohio by plane to pick up the family and make our way back to Mexico. We arrived home on June 25th.

We were able to be in one supporting church and three churches new to us. It was a special blessing to be in a church on Father's Day that has supported my parents for 58 years! God blessed in our travels and in our meetings in Kansas, Ohio, Michigan and Iowa.

In my absence it was a blessing to have Pastor Ismael Zamarron fill in for me. He and his wife, Lourdes, stayed here at our house and faithfully took care of the work. God blessed his time here with 7 professions of faith, 1 new attendee in services, as well as a spiritual growth in our folks. I would leave again if that is what it takes!

Some Won, Some Still Lost, and So Many More

Ezra graduated from High School back in Ohio on May 27th. Peggy, the girls and I made our way back to be there for Ezra and to preach his commencement service. A Mexican national that lives (legally) in Ohio had us bring his mother for a visit and it was time (7 days) well spent in introducing her to the truth of the gospel of Christ. Please pray for Ana Maria's salvation.

At the graduation service one excepted Christ as her Saviour! That one was our daughter Abigail. Wow that makes the whole trip worthwhile! (And why you always include salvation in and then give an invitation for any message.) Abigail has wrestled with this for quite awhile but has finally seen God give her the victory.

In our absence Pastor Ismael Zamarron and his wife Lourdes came up from Navajoa to take over the work. They arrived the day before to give me time to give them some directions and then we were off. In our absence they were able to follow up on quite a few people that we have been working with and were able to see seven saved! I am so thankful that God allowed me to brake up some fallow ground and to sow some seed. I am also so thankful that God would allow itineraries to be made in such a way that Pastor Ismael was here to gather the harvest!

Well, Peggy and the girls are still in Ohio visiting with Sarah and Izabell, Simon and Ezra. I have flown back to be here in Magdalena but will return to Ohio to pick them up this month and then return to Magdalena together.

Just keep PRAYING!

Double Quinceanera

Double Quinceanera:

A Mexican quinceanera (fifteenth) is quite the event. We had the priviledge to participate in a special one recently. It was given for two young ladies, Rebeca and Karla, two friends in Pastor John Perez' church in Hermosillo. Rebeca is the daughter of our friend, Mexican missionary Alfredo Ortiz, and both girls are friends of our Abigail.

A quinceanera is a celebration of the fifteenth birthday, and what a celebration it is! For the dedicated christian it is in reality a wedding dedication and is just as elaborate. The ceremony involves the beautiful dresses, the flowers, the "bridesmaids", the invitations, the full reception following the ceremony and much much more. The focus is the young persons vow of purity till marriage and includes a Bible given to commemorate that vow of purity and a ring to identify that the vow that has been made.

This was a beautiful ceremony not just because it was so elaborate but because it was sincere. It is a beautiful thing to watch young people be raised up to be dedicated to the Lord and to see that dedication confirmed personally in the lives of those young ones. God bless you Rebeca and Karla. Stay faithful to God for life.

A Day of First

The First Fellowship - We had our first fellowship after church last night. The menu was nachos and fellowship. God has given us a new family but they had never been to the same services as our other family until yesterday morning. I solicited a commitment from both parties to be there for the evening service and then announced our planned fellowship. I preached on the importance of fellowship both with the Person of God and the People of God.

The First Hurdle Passed - We were finally able to jump the old hurdle of 13, we had 14! That is actually bigger news than it seems in that I have succeeded in running off one dyed-in-the-wool charismatic and Ezra is now living in Ohio. The fellowship was the big plan, surpassing 13 was icing on the cake!

The First Visitors Invited by Our People - We have had visitors all along but last night we had a family come from the efforts of our new family. That is exciting, it speaks of growth not just in numbers but in spiritual life. I know that our other families have invited others that have not come but with success will come excitement and more success.

The First Shouting Message - After the service Peggy informed me that I had "yelled" in my message. Actually I even pounded my fist on my makeshift pulpit. I do not attempt to change who I am other than bringing all things under Christ but it is much more difficult to preach with the same freedom I can enjoy in English while stumbling in Spanish. The ability to get excited in the message shows a growth in my Spanish ability. One of our men commented last night after the service that he enjoyed preaching that "had unction of the Holy Spirit".

Visitors From Near and Far

This past week we were honored to have the Washburn family visit us from Lubbock, Texas. We had never met this family before but through our mutual friendship with the Nelson Dorr family they were able to arrange a visit with us for a week here in Magdalena. Please pray with us for Brother and Sister Washburn as they seek the Lord's will in their life about the possibility of coming to Mexico as missionaries!

We were also blessed in the work to have several new visitors these past two weeks. Ventura Garcia is in one of these pictures with myself, Brother Washburn and our faithful man Juan Orosco. Another young couple have also been attending with zeal and interest these past few weeks, Leonicio and Martha Pino. Please pray for an invitation I also have to meet with a man named Pablo at his house. We are excited about the men that God is allowing us to meet and influence.

Happy Birthday, Abigail (and Sarah)

Abigail turned 16 on April 7th! (Sarah turned 24 on the 9th!) Sarah had her own party with family and friends there in Ohio and here in Magdalena we celebrated for Abigail. Thank you to all those who faithfully remember our children's birthdays. It is always special to them to be remembered by those they have met through the years. Now if our oldest is 24 and one of the last two at home is now 16 - How old am I? That is just a rhetorical question, you do not need to answer. Just remember to pray for us.