CASA DE ANCIANOS

This handsome woman with the happy smile never left her bed in the casa de ancianos.

On one of our trips to Ciudad Acuña, Mexico we visited a casa de ancianos, home for the elderly. We had taken Bibles to churches in the area and had warm gloves to give away. At the home there were about 20 men and women sitting in wheel chairs on a broad tile covered porch and there were some in beds inside. They had just finished lunch and some of the women were knitting or doing embroidery while most of the men were napping. They were happy to have company, so we talked to them as we handed them each a pair of warm gloves. Although the day was not cold, they were all dressed in jackets and sweaters.

Two men were especially interesting and we stopped to share more with them. One whose name was Cleo told us he had been a cowboy who worked many years in Texas. Another stately gentleman told us his name was Antonio and he had been an army lieutenant for 18 years. We later learned that the silent gentleman sitting next to him was Felix who had once been a General in the Mexican army!

It was overwhelming to think of the combined history surrounding these fine men and women in the casa de ancianos in Ciudad Acuña.

IN THE NUEVO LAREDO JAIL

Ildefonso and Lupita pastor a church in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.

The sun had set, but people were still milling around the office where we stood that day in December 2004. Some people had plates of food while others carried blankets. There was a look of sadness and trouble on many faces. We were in the jail in Nuevo Laredo!


Pastor Ildefonso and his wife Lupita had asked us to join them to pray for a young man from their congregation who had been arrested. His crime was that he was from Nicaragua and he had no Mexican papers. A judge was to hear his case soon, but meanwhile he was in jail and needed prayer.

Mexican jailers do not feed their prisoners and it is up to family and friends to provide them with whatever they need. Lupita carried a platter of tamales. I had four oranges in my hands and Lloyd carried some cans of cola. Ildefonso obtained the required permission and led us into a long narrow room that had several partitioned booths along one side. The young man, Joel, met us at the second partition and we all offered him encouragement and prayer. Lloyd urged him to take advantage of the time behind bars to tell the other inmates about Jesus.

Other families gathered at each window. On our left a young mother and child leaned as close as possible to the man behind the Plexiglas screen. When her time with him was up and she left, he leaned his head dejectedly against the screen. Lupita and I offered to pray for him. He pressed his hands against the Plexiglas to make contact with us. It was heartbreaking to see the young man respond to God's love. Please join us in prayer for the people who are held captive and need Jesus in Mexico.

"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost". Luke 19:10

At another time, this man said he would like to accept Jesus, but he would not come to a decision.  He represents many who are lost in Mexico

RECENT ACTIVITIES IN NUEVO PROGRESO

A crowd is gathered for food and prayer.

This summer the church in Nuevo Progreso has been active while Lloyd and I are spending a few weeks back home in Illinois. The ministry continues under the leadership of Pastor Gerardo Estrada and his wife Miriam. They recently sent an exciting update and great photos of some events that have taken place.


One project has been to distribute food to nearby colonias. The church in Nuevo Progreso has recently been blessed with an abundance of groceries for this purpose. One of our early priorities in our mission work was to feed the poor before talking to them about the things of God. We're happy to see this continue to be a priority even when we are away. Along with gifts of food, Gerardo and Miriam have ministered to the people in music, prayer and the word of God. There are many poor colonias near the church that have hundreds of families with many needs. More and more it seems that the ministry of the church must be out on the streets instead of inside the walls.

Sunday School continues to be the backbone of the church. Each Sunday morning children come from all around the church to take part in Bible stories, music, handicrafts and even a hot breakfast! The children take their own colored pages home where they repeat what they have learned to their parents. "...and a little child shall lead them." Isaiah 11:6

A Sunday School class of little boys and girls at the church.

Free music lessons are also offered at the church on various instruments such askeyboard, guitar and drums. Neighborhood teens really enjoy these lessons taught by Pastor Gerardo, and it gives him opportunity to mentor them while sharing his knowledge of music.

The pastor and his wife specialize in home visits where they spend time praying for the sick and reading the Bible to them. There are many who live too far away to attend the church regularly, but they are still considered part of the Body of Christ.

All of these activities remind us of what Jesus said, "Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled." Luke 14:2

A sweet little girl who came to Sunday School.

THE RED DANCING SHOES

The little red shoes set his feet to dancing!

One hot sunny day Lloyd and I drove across the large hustling city of Matamoros toward the poor colonias around the huge city dump. At each intersection we fought for the right of way, which seemed almost like bull fighting - bluffing, then hesitating, then shooting forward to be the first into the ring. Dented fenders on most cars attested to the fact that people dared each other many times to the point of collision. But we had learned how to shift here and there, turn up one street at the copper dishes for sale and down another at the fountain, to wind our way across town without incident. We were on a mission to distribute Illustrated Spanish New Testaments.


In one small neighborhood near the southern side of Matamoros there were small dwellings with little bare yards. Lots of children and dogs played in the streets. Every few houses there was a huge speed bump across the already rough lane, making the trip like an obstacle course. There was no danger in anyone speeding over these treacherous mounds of asphalt. Our Jeep complained loudly even at the slowest speeds.

Since we had prayed for direction to a neighborhood most in need of New Testaments, we both felt impressed that this was a good place to stop and visit. We had also brought a box of childrens shoes that had been sent to us. At one house where children played, a small boy ran around with nothing on but a bright yellow shirt. He was a quiet little boy, so shy he would barely look at us. "Looks like he needs a pair of shoes," Lloyd said. As the little boy's mother agreed, we proceeded to search in our box for just the right shoes for an almost naked three year old boy. "Maybe these little red ones," Lloyd suggested.

Setting him on the back of the Jeep, Lloyd slipped the tiny shoes on the dusty little feet and tied the white laces. Immediately we saw a bright gleam in his little black eyes. Hardly able to be still, he allowed us to help him down from the Jeep and then he took off in a hilarious and happy little dance around the yard! He jumped and he hopped up and down and he stamped his feet and he ran all the way around the little house. His mother couldn't catch him, he ran so fast, and his face was bright with one big happy grin. Every few steps he looked down at his new red shoes, and he giggled and danced with pure delight.

The simple little cloth tennis shoes were more than just shoes to this special little boy. They had become his "little red dancing shoes!"