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 

Faith Promise Mission's Conference:

 Obviously, EVERY Christian should be involved in the Great Commission.  I do not believe that a mission work needs to grow to a certain size and then be taught the principles of giving to the work of missions, going as missionaries and praying for the missionary but that these are principle that aught be taught and put into practice from the very start of any work.  Since day one we began to support a missionary family and have taught on giving, going and praying.

We just completed our Faith Promise Mission's Conference for the year here at the mission work in Magdalena.  The concept of Faith Promise giving is new each year for our new members and those who are familiar with this Biblical manner of giving always need to be encouraged to allow God to increase their faith.

We support one family - The Alfredo Ortiz Family - missionaries here in Sonora to indigenous tribes and their work is in a town outside of the capital city of Hermosillo.  We are currently supporting them for MX.$ 1,000.00 a month which I imagine is about 5% of their received support.

We look forward to the day when out faith is increased as a mission work and we will be able to increase that support as well as take on more missionary families.

Yes, most of our people have so little but they also have a promise:  "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.  For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."  Luke 6:38  Yes, I believe that and I sure would not want to be guilty of withholding God's blessing upon them!

 Our Sunday Night Crowd 

 Food Table #1

 Food Table #2

 Our Missionaries The Ortiz Family 

 

 The "After Fellowship" - Fellowship Group 

A CAMPING WE HAVE GONE:

The last time we went camping as a family was when Peggy was expecting Anna.  Anna just had her fifteenth birthday.  My how time flies - it was past time to go camping.  To go camping was also something that Anna wanted to do for her birthday.

By the time we could make the time to go camping another month had passed and it was mid October but we decided to give it a go anyway.  I had visions of camping in snow or at least cold wet weather as we were decided to camp near Flagstaff, Arizona.  Ah, the blessings of God in all aspects of our life!

We enjoyed a beautiful week for camping and had a wonderful time.  The weather was crisp at night and wonderful each day.  We enjoyed the serenity of the woods and relaxed through the day with walks and Anna and I even tried our hands at fishing.  No success there but we will try again some day.

Throughout the week we also had the blessing of friends.  We had invited several friends and family to come along but only a few were able to take us up on our invitation.  Maybe next year our group around the campfire will grow.

What a great experience - you should try it.

 A Camping We Will Go! 

  

 All Set Up

Even An Outhouse 

 Happy Campers 

 Teach a Girl to Fish ..

  Our Camping Site Grows 

 Picture Perfect

 Camping is for Friends 

Anna's Quinceanera

The fifteenth birthday is a big event in Mexico and owing to the success of Abril's quinceanera just a few months ago Anna decided she wanted to celebrate her fifteenth birthday as well.  It was not meant to be the normal over-the-top celebration that most are but mainly a church gathering with a few other invited friends.  

Anna was keen to handle all of the planning and decorations and did a terrific job with her natural flare for such things.  She even found a dress style that she liked and we had a local seamstress make the dress.  About $30.00 dollars all told for a dress that was fitted, fashionable and faithful to God's definition of modesty to boot!  

Anna's joyful spirit, sincere desire to love the Lord and quiet spirit gave me an open opportunity to share Biblical truth with our people on "The Making of a Virtuous Woman".

We thank God for Anna.  To have one of our children still at home is indeed a great blessing.  That Anna loves the Lord and cheerfully serves with us is a great joy to us.

God bless you Anna - we love you,

Mom and Dad

 Anna turns 15!

Two peas in a pod 

 Family friends 

 A rose among the ..

 We love Anna! 

Abril's Quinceanera:

Part of our summer's activities was a quinceanera for one of our young ladies, Abril.  Now for the discerning Spanish speaker the question would automatically be, "Why was Abril's quinceanera celebrated in Julio?'  Well, yes, Abril's birthday is in April as her name would suggest but we are talking about Mexico (the land of manana) and so the celebration didn't get planned till July.

Abril's parents had asked about planning her quinceanera about a year ago and I advised them that I was more than happy to take part but suggested that they may want to invite another Mexican preacher they knew for the day as I was not too familiar with quinceanera procedures.  It was an honor that they insisted that I take part.

A quinceanera is a big day for a Mexican young lady and a big event for a Christian young lady as well as a promise of fidelity in holiness of life and faithfulness to the Lord.  It is a testimony before peers and family that "I will live holy till my wedding day".

I arrived late (for me) with our van route in that I misunderstood where the venue was to take place.  In actuality I arrived about five minutes before the time appointed.  Some two hours later the family showed up and eventually things began to fall in place.  Thankfully preaching the charge was the first thing on the agenda and I was able to not only present a charge to Abril and her family but present the gospel to many family and friends that have never heard a gospel message.

The bad part is that now Anna has decided she wants a quinceanera as well.  Her birthday is in September and we are towards the end of August.  I guess Abril's quinceanera may not be the only one that gets planned a little late.

THE GREAT GOAT CONVIVIO:

Father's Day came and went without being able to get our (the men's) plans put in place due to other activities in our (same men) schedules but we eventually got our days together and made our plan for "the great goat convivio".  The idea was to buy a goat and roast it whole on an open spit.  Our men had never actually roasted a goat from start to finish so they were happy when I volunteered to do the work.  It's been a long time (read - since Africa) since I have butchered and roasted a goat but no time like the present to get back into the swing!

Well, for those of you worried about the goat - it lived.  The men were suppose to have the charcoal and the spit ready when I showed up but you guessed it, neither was anywhere to be found.  It was also a very hot desert day and by the time I was ready to butcher the goat I was out of steam.  So between my lack of steam and the lack of preparations - the goat was given a stay of execution.  All afternoon the goat reminded us of his thankfulness - "Maaah, maaah" but twenty some chooks did give their lives instead.

All in all it was a great day for our church people.  They always enjoy a get together (convivio) especially when there is food.  Never mind - there's always food!  After the food we had an outdoor service and one of our men brought the first message (exhortation) and then I concluded at his request with an evangelistic message.  I enjoy watching the growth of our people and it is a blessing for me to participate with them in their plans.