PUPPY COMES TO SUNDAY SCHOOL!

The doors are always open in Mexico! And that means cats and dogs stroll right in and join us in whatever we're doing. No one seems to mind, the dogs are smart enough to stay out of sight under a table or in a corner as long as possible. The scruffy little dog in this picture was discovered by a cute little girl and he became her Sunday School buddy.

The animals in Mexico are sad since they aren't treated as well as our pets in the United States. They run loose to forage for their food, which means little animal control. They aren't treated for fleas because it's too expensive.

It's hard for us to watch the animals suffer, so there are times when we take a bag of dog food with us to share with our animal friends. The Lord loves all creatures and the Bible says He knows when even a tiny sparrow falls to the earth. So it doesn't bother us a bit to share a little space in Sunday School with one of His little ones!

WATER BAPTISM

This is a woman who recently accepted Christ as Savior at the church in Nuevo Progreso. Now she wants to be baptized in water.

Our next project will be constructing a water baptismal tank inside the church sanctuary. Lately several other people have accepted Christ but they have to wait until summer to be water baptized in the nearby city of Reynosa. We can hardly wait to see this priority project finished! It has taken a long time for us to see results, but knowing people are getting saved and want to be baptized means the work is bearing fruit.

This year we are praying for specific things the church needs and some things have been received as quickly as we wrote them down before anyone knew about them. No one but the Lord! Several other things such as children's tables and chairs are practically on their way. Please continue to pray with us for the water baptismal tank and other necessities.

"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." Hebrews 12:2

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN...

The picture is old, many years have passed since we last saw Esteban, Nohemi, Junior and Mario. But they remain very special to us and we love them and think about them often.

About fifteen years ago we were distributing Spanish Bibles in Ciudad Acuna when we saw a young couple walking along a dusty road with two baby boys in their arms. We offered them a ride across town. Our Spanish was limited so we couldn't communicate with them much at that time. The next day we saw the same couple and again stopped to pick them up. After several times of crossing their paths, we all thought it was not coincidence and that we were meant to get to know each other. After that we spent a lot of time in their home and with their extended family. Their family became ours.

Many years later we went back to Ciudad Acuna when Junior was sixteen years old. They had moved and the boys had grown into handsome young men. It was fun to spend time with them and get caught up on everything. But that was four years ago.

There are other families throughout Mexico that we love and miss very much. The current conditions discourage us from extensive travel in Mexico, separating us from many people that we love. We continue to remember Esteban, Nohemi, Junior and Mario and we pray for the Lord to keep His hand of protection on them. One day we'll visit them again in Ciudad Acuna.

"The Lord watch between me and thee when we are absent one from another." Genesis 31:49

A GLIMPSE OF HIS WONDER

God is never on the surface very long. His face cannot be seen, but let's be thankful for those precious fleeting glimpses of His wonder! We had a glimpse of that wonder on Christmas Eve when over 150 showed up at our fiesta at the church in Nuevo Progreso. It was a well organized party with music, games, candy, a traditional pinata and tamales. It was cold and windy with a mist that threatened to dampen the fun. People were huddled under layers of sweaters and shawls and some gathered around a small bonfire to keep warm.

As each child went through the line to receive a gift, his name card was punched insuring that no one was left out. Sunday School volunteers served food and bags of candy while Miriam gave out shoe box gifts.

The pinata as beaten by the youngest children and then the oldest to the sounds of chants and songs. This old Christmas tradition is at the heart of every fiesta and makes it complete. Miriam read words from the Bible about the true meaning of Christmas and many of the children came forward and repeated a prayer with Pastor Gerardo.

The even was a token of the future and the events that will take place at the church in Nuevo Progreso. And it was our glimpse of God!

"FEED MY LAMBS!"

The church is becoming known as a church for the children and what could be better! At every event it's the children who respond and come running to hear the gospel. Christmas Eve over one hundred children listened to Pastor Gerardo's story of the birth of Jesus, and many of them went forward to accept Him as Savior. In John 21:15 Jesus passionately told Peter to "feed my lambs!" and it is a command that continues today.

TAMALES, TABLES AND CHAIRS

The children had their hands full and there was no place to go but on the floor against the wall. Pastor Gerardo and Miriam have been making tables for Sunday School by using sheets of plywood over old metal bed frames. Children's tables and chairs are high on our list of things needed at the church right away; and we believe the Lord will bring them in.

SHOE BOX GIFTS

The boys and girls were speechless when they were each handed a box stuffed with little gifts and treats. They carefully opened the boxes and pulled out small toys, party favors, games, candy and other things. Mothers were happy when their children's boxes were plastic because they can be reused.

The shoe box gift project took time and the help of many who sent their boxes to us, and it began early last year. If you would like to send a shoe box gift for next Christmas, it's not too early to begin planning.