FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES!

We have friends in high places!  After much prayer, Lloyd and I took Gerardo and Miriam to the government offices in Rio Bravo with a letter of petition for a final solution to the flooding at the church in Nuevo Progreso.  The flooding is the result of someone illegally opening a valve at a lagoon and allowing blackwater to flow out onto neighboring fields.  Within minutes of presenting our petition, our letter was officially stamped with approval by the President.  We were instructed to present the letter to the delegada back in Nuevo Progreso.  We left that office with a feeling of victory.

Lloyd suggested a quick visit with an old friend while in Rio Bravo.  This friend (whose name is withheld for security reasons) owns a very successful and prosperous business.  We saw her often when we first started the work in Nuevo Progreso.  We were welcomed with open arms and were ushered into plush offices where we caught up on each other's news.  Our friend continues to help the poor, and has rooms full of medicines, blankets and equipment for distribution and for a future hospital.

She asked what brought us to Rio Bravo, so Gerardo explained our purpose and showed her the letter validated by the President.  Immediately this powerful and influential lady came to attention, picked up her phone and started making calls.  She summoned her own company engineer, giving him instructions to visit our church that day to see the problem.  Then while making notes for herself and giving us advice, she promised us two truckloads of caliche (Mexican gravel) at no charge to build up and strengthen the roads leading to the church!

Before leaving, we all joined hands and prayed together.  This devout Catholic friend emphasized that she is only concerned with working for the Lord and doesn't care about peoples' differences like the color of one's skin, their nationality or their religious affiliation.  Gerardo read us the following:  "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this.  To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."  James 1:27


Our drive back to Nuevo Progreso was full of encouragement, hope and victory!  When we have the Lord on our side, He will give us friends in high places!

When our business was finished, we stopped at a nursery outside Rio Bravo where we bought flowers to plant around the church.

IMPROVING EVERY DAY!

Lloyd and Apolinar outside the pharmacy in Nuevo Progreso.  His son Esteban went along for the ride in the Jeep.

Within one week Apolinar showed improvement, especially in his attitude and spirit.  Friday on our visit he said he was out of pain medication and skin lotion.  When we suggested going to the pharmacy for them, Apolinar jumped at the chance to ride along to get out for awhile.  At the store he had opportunity to let his friends see his condition.  It was on a nearby corner that the accident occurred.

It was good to have some donated funds to buy the medicines for him.  After one therapy session in Rio Bravo, he and Carla decided they could continue the therapy at home and save money.  The fifteen minute session was simple and easy to duplicate.  We are looking for a doctor in the United States willing to do more surgeries without charge.

When we mentioned future construction at the church, Apolinar became excited and encouraged.  Lloyd had suggested Carlos and Rogelio, Carla's teen sons, might want to work on the church under someone's guidance.  Apolinar saw this as opportunity to pass along his construction skills to the boys; and at the same time help support his family.  He took note of what we want to do next and said he would be contacting friends who work in construction.  Also, he said he would work on estimates of how much material would be needed.

Apolinar said he'd have some figures by next week and would have an idea how many of his friends would be available for work.  It was good to see him laughing and excited about the future and about getting back to his favorite activity - building!

25 CHILDREN ACCEPT CHRIST!

At an event at the church in Nuevo Progreso, 20 boys and girls stepped forward to ask Jesus to come into their hearts!  All the children seem very receptive to God's word and are eager to learn more.  5 more children were saved when Pastor Gerardo and Miriam visited them in their homes.  Six year old Oliver told them on one visit that he was so afraid that he couldn't sleep at night.  He saw monsters and lots of loud machines that scared him.  While Gerardo talked with his parents, Oliver asked prayer for his fears and then he opened his heart to Jesus and became a Christian!  Later Oliver said he has no more fear and no more bad dreams.

Gerardo and Miriam ministered to another new family recently.  While visiting homes, they met an elderly man who had a severely inflamed and swollen hand.  Gerardo told the man that the salvation of his soul was of primary importance, but the man said he wanted to wait to make his decision.  Miriam prayed for his hand and quickly the swelling disappeared.  When they visited the next day, the man eagerly invited them in and showed them his much improved hand.  The whole family was enthusiastic about their visit and they were invited to come again and hold services at that house.

The ministry in Nuevo Progreso continues to grow as Pastor Gerardo and Miriam keep visiting new homes and meeting new people.

CHALLENGES, BATTLES AND ENCOURAGEMENT

The words challenge, fight and encourage were appropriate on our first visit to Nuevo Progreso.  Our friend Apolinar was burned severely last July when he was almost electrocuted while painting a building.  Now back in his home, he's improving but is extremely incapacitated.  There is no strength in his hands, the muscles in his neck are damaged and he can't raise or move his head.  He needs therapy and more surgery on his neck.



Apolinar Hernandez

 Apolinar was emotional when he told us what had happened.  He sobbed openly when Lloyd anointed him with oil and prayed for his recovery.  While Carla brought us refreshments, he hurriedly relayed to us what he could remember.

The instant he felt the shock, he called out to the Lord for help.  Immediately he felt someone shove him back which broke his contact with the high voltage wire, and he fell to the floor.   Three weeks later he opened his eyes in a hospital in Monterrey.  He had been in a coma and God had been speaking to him through dreams and visions.  Some places he saw were beautiful and some were terrible and full of frightening animals.  He saw two large lakes with a separation between them.  In one lake were beautiful people and good fish to eat.  In the other lake there were serpents and dragons and many people who tried to kill him.  He saw us many times in our Jeep and he asked when we would be coming to his house.  A woman who kept following him in the dream gave him a written prayer and then he was asked to make a decision whether he should stay or return to his family.  He told them he wanted to return, and soon after that he opened his eyes.

Apolinar questions why this happened to him.  Meanwhile friends and neighbors have brought food and some have helped purchase pain medicine.  After much pressure from attorneys, the owner of the building where he was injured paid his hospital bill, but he isn't willing to help further.  Doctors are suggesting therapy sessions for him in Rio Bravo.

CHALLENGES FOR THE CHURCH

Pastor Gerardo and his family are experiencing challenges.  This was an election year in Mexico and the government is changing.  Until new politicians take office, everything is at a standstill including the important new drainage project.  Once again the manager of the blackwater lagoon opened valves and flooded neighborhoods near the church.  When confronted, he became angry and threatening.  Gerardo went to the delegado (mayor) of Nuevo Progreso, but the main authority seems to be in Rio Bravo.  Gerardo was told to write a letter to the authorities and have it signed by all the families around the church that are affected by the pollution.

The reality is that the manager of the lagoon is the drug cartel boss over Nuevo Progreso; and everyone is afraid of him.  And he doesn't want the church to remain in the area.  But the Bible tells us that "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world."  1 John 4:4

We ask that you join us in prayer about this dangerous situation.  Only the Spirit of God is able to defeat evil influence.  There is much fruit being produced through the ministry in Nuevo Progreso and it is not time to quit, but to encourage each other that the battle belongs to the Lord.

So much counterfeit money has been distributed locally that the bank closed it's branch office in Nuevo Progreso.  Many other businesses have closed due to lack of tourism.  There are many challenges and reasons to continue fighting these spiritual battles on the mission field. 

"God most High, have pity on me!  Have mercy.  I run to you for safety.  In the shadow of your wings I seek protection until danger dies down.  I pray to you, my protector.  You will send help from heaven and save me."  Psalm 57:1-3  CEV

Gerson, Pastor Gerardo's oldest son, is over six feet tall now!  He is 14 years old.  We are all very proud of him, his school grades are high and he excels in sports. 

Thirteen year old Dana is a bright, happy girl.  She ranked #1 in her class last year and likes learning English.

Esly, the baby of the family, is growing up quickly.  She's 8 years old and is a quiet little girl.

Nahum was away playing when these pictures were taken.  The family loves living in the parsonage and they enjoy working together as a team.