Monday, October 17, 2011

Special Wishes To Two Special People

Happy birthday to Bro. Harris ( Oct. 19th) and Mrs. Harris (Oct.28th). Thank you, for your years of faithful service in the ministry. You've touched countless lives and you are a blessing to all who know you. May God continue to keep a hedge of protection around you. And, we pray God will continue to bless you, and those around you, as you faithfully serve Him. You are always in our prayers.

Happy Birthday Pictures

Monday, October 10, 2011

Special Days


October 8th and 9th were the dates of two special days for the work here in Magdalena de Kino, Sonora, Mexico.

Since the very first day here with the work we have emphasized and actively supported other missionary works. In August I led the work to make a decision of faith to commit to the support of one specific missionary on a monthly basis. Their decision was to support the Ortiz Family and their ministry in Miquel Aleman, Sonora, Mexico.
With this decision made I invited the Ortiz Family to come for the weekend for our families to get to know them personally better both to encourage our people to be faithful in their support of the Ortiz family financially and prayerfully. To this end we had two special days planned with the Ortiz Family.

This group of pictures is of our Saturday Fellowship here at our house. Some of our ladies came by earlier in the afternoon to help Peggy prepare the meal and then all those who were able to come came by that evening to enjoy the food and fellowship. Although some were missing we had a full house and a wonderful time.









Friday, September 30, 2011

"And Of Some Have Compassion, Making A Difference"

Thinking of compassion, there is another verse that comes to mind, "For God so loved the world .." I am so glad that God had compassion on me. How could I not or why would I not extend that compassion on to others.

This past Wednesday one of our ladies came to church with a very heavy heart. She has been really growing in the Lord and Satan had been doing his best to destroy her growth. "And of some have compassion, making a difference." What a blessing to have the fellowship of believer's to help encourage and help each other grow in the Lord. I thank God for the people He has given me to love and that they in turn love their "pastor" and his family.

We appreciate your continued prayer for us as God opens new doors each day to reach others with the love of Christ.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Growing Pains

God continues to bless the ministry through blessing the individuals in it. It is exciting to see these new Christians grow and there is evidence of their growth every service. With growth though come persecution - "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" 2 Timothy 3:12


Two of our families are really going through persecution from family for having professed Christ as Saviour and making their commitment to follow Him. I don't like to see it and my heart goes out for the adults and more so for their children but I also know that God will use this to grow strong Christians here in the work. We have been studying such topics as "How do we know that God really does exist?" and "How do we know that we are right?".


As you can see from the pictures in this update we also do all that we can to encourage each other in fellowships and in partaking in the work of the ministry. Our temperatures have yet to break here so it is our plan next week to take advantage of the heat and have a Banana Split Sunday! Come on down and join us.








Thursday, August 11, 2011

Go Out & Bring Them In-Part One

Monday a week ago I was out with Brother Juan and the lower ball joint on the old GMC gave way. With 227,000 miles and the last six spent in Mexico I cannot fault the GMC. We were able to chain the A-arm up and cripple her home. I wish I had had my camera with me - the poor girl just looked so forlorn with that front wheel hanging like a broken wing and of course it broke down in no man's land.

Anyway the Toyota got called up for service for the next Wednesday and Sunday as the van waited for parts and time to put it back together.

On that Thursday we took a trip over to Nueva Casa Grandes, Chihuahua to preach for a mission's conference. Being over there is very risky and travel through the mountains between here and there even a greater risk, but God blessed with safety while we were there and for the travel there and back. The Mexican pastor began that work twenty years ago and that was his last week. He is now a missionary to the U.S.A. and had his first service in Demning, New Mexico on Wednesday. He and his family have gone with very little support - maybe $400 a month! The church he left in Nueva Casa Grandes has a new pastor and this year their faith promise was $130,000 pesos (about U.S. $ 11,000) for the year! He has left his heart and dedication to reach the world with his people.



Our work here has also committed to take on our first missionary family. Alfredo Ortiz and his family work in a town west of Hermosillo. Our people have committed to support them for Mx. $1,000 each month. An impossible challenge if faith is not factored into the equation. With God we will.

The Broken GMC
The Tacoma Bus Route
Arriving at church

The Ortiz Family + One




Go Out & Bring Them In-Part Two



Preaching in Nueva Casa Grandes, Chihuahua

Church service at Inglesia Bautista "El Redentor"



The Chihuahua excursion
 

The Chihuahua excursion #2



Rare, Gringo Chihuahua Monkeys!
  
 
Anna on foot bridge with friends



Tuesday, July 26, 2011

YOUTH CAMP- Part One

Each year it is our joy to be able to participate in a youth camp for independent Baptist churches in our area of Mexico. In years past we have seen the attendance at one time or another of most of the churches we have dealings with in the state of Sonora as well as some others from neighboring states such as Sinaloa and Baja California. Our numbers were down again this year due to the increasing difficulty of travel safety and problems in our area. Some parents are a bit leery of sending their youth to our town.

We thank God that all went well again this year with no major issues. We saw souls saved, we saw lives dedicated to the Lord and decisions made every day. No one was hurt although Abigail almost got to make an emergency trip to the U.S. All travel was safely made to and from camp and even an unplanned all day trip to Tucson was made without incident for Pastor Perez and I. As Peggy said on Sunday, "We need youth camp each month."


My youth is spent but I will gladly spend what I have left on youth.




God at work!


Yours truly being caught on tape!
 
Pastor Perez about to be tossed.

Abigail- #3 Camper of the Week