WALTER LEGETTE

Walter LeGette from Bethalto, Illinois spent a week with us fulfilling some of the items on our "wish" list. He accomplished a lot but also experienced the frustrations we encounter such as getting materials across the border. It took several trips to get the lumber to the church without having difficulties with customs. Walter said he also felt frustration with the language barrier and at times he used sign language and even whistling to give directions. Rene, a young man who spends a lot of time with Pastor Gerardo, loved using Walter's tools. At every opportunity Walter let him drill in screws and measure boards. Even with limited communications, there seemed to be an understanding between them. Jorge Lopez, another pastor from Nuevo Progreso, spent one day helping. Together they made quick work constructing two dividers or partitions to give Gerson and Nahum their own room. Dana and Esly now have their own private space too. In the picture Rene is helping Walter put up a partition.

SHOOTING IN NUEVO PROGRESO!

Shots rang out again in Nuevo Progreso last week and when it was over two men were pronounced dead. Both were drug cartel members at war with each other. The Mexican news stations mentioned the event briefly but it was heard no where else. The only evidence of violence was the renewed presence of the Mexican military on the street that day. Tourists were unaware of the activity and even the border patrol agent on duty at the bridge was surprised to hear the news when we came back across the border.
On March 6 a woman police officer was shot and killed in Piedras Negras, a border town across from Eagle Pass, Texas. There is still a battle being fought on the streets in Mexico!

SPIRITUAL BATTLES

We've had lots of rain, but not a flooding event. Even so, when we got to the church in Nuevo Progreso we could see foamy liquid by the building and small ponds forming. Someone had once again opened the valve on the lagoon to our north and allowed blackwater to flow into our neighborhood. People living nearby are extremely angry and ready to fight. Managers of the lagoon were forbidden to ever again open the valve and flood the space between the fields. A neighborhood leader closed the valve and then he went to the local officials with a warning. "One more time the unhealthy blackwater is purposely poured out around people's homes and we will go directly to Ciudad Victoria, the state capital!"
This warning was severe and officials were upset at COMAPA, the environmental protection agency, investigating the problem. The people surrounding our church vowed to keep a watch on the water valve to make sure it stays closed. This battle has been going on for many years and it's time for it to end. The people are tired of being ignored and taken advantage of. This battle has always been a spiritual one against the building of the church.

CHURCH NEWS

The women of the church in Nuevo Progreso meet each Saturday to teach the children to crochet and weave. The kids all love this activity; and thanks to people who have donated balls of yarn, they can all participate.

A fund raising program is beginning and members have been asked to each bring a concrete block to build an outdoor grill. With everyone sharing expenses, they plan to grill chicken and pork and deliver plates of food to various places in town. They'll serve meat, potatoes, rice and tortillas and the money will be used for needs of the church. Three of the church leaders along with Pastor Gerardo plan to go to the bank and open an account specifically for the church. This will give the people more confidence in the affairs of the church.

Every day some of the women spend time at the church planting seeds and small fruit trees. The women in the picture brought their buckets to water seedlings. They want to beautify the place and provide a harvest for everyone. Lloyd promised to bring a variety of seeds and some fruit trees we started in buckets.

Pastor Gerardo says, "When the people work for the church, they feel more like it belongs to them."

QUINCEANERA

Nancy is now fifteen years old! She celebrated her Quinceanera last Saturday, her fifteenth birthday or her debut. A quinceanera is very important to Spanish girls. Sometimes the girls wear lavish gowns and have dances and live music. Nancy wanted just a few friends to her house for dinner with no extra frills. Nancy was four years old when we first met her and her parents near the church in Nuevo Progreso. Nancy's sister Nayeli created a beautiful hairdo for her with crisp glossy curls that reached almost to her waist.

RECENT HEALINGS!

Here is a picture of Pastor Gerardo and his wife Miriam in Nuevo Progreso. Pastor Gerardo reports two people healed after being prayed for in the last month. Alberto who isn't a Christian but has family in the church had a severe infection in his leg. The doctor said amputation was necessary which of course upset Alberto and his family very much. Pastor Gerardo went to the hospital in Reynosa to pray for Alberto, and as a result he was healed of the infection. The doctor says the leg will not need to be amputated. Alberto is extremely happy and is saying he has received a miracle from God.

While at the hospital Pastor Gerardo prayed for the person in the bed near Alberto who had AIDS and wasn't given long to live. Immediately the person got up and said he was healed! Later doctors confirmed that the AIDS was gone, but said it must have been due to some change in his medicine. The man is praising God because he knows AIDS has no cure!

The waters are troubled at the church in Nuevo Progreso.

SECURITY GATE

Valentine's Day we installed a new metal security gate at the entrance to what will be the auditorium of the church. Even though windows and the main door are yet to be purchased and installed, we felt the additional security would be a good thing. The gate will not only keep people from wandering into the construction area, but it will also keep out animals. The security gate was one of the items on our current prayer list for the church, so we are thanking the Lord for meeting this need.

Other items on the prayer list are: childrens' tables and chairs or benches for Sunday School, a bathroom door, dusk to dawn lights, a set of drums, baptismal tank, ceiling fans and screen doors. One by one by prayer and faith hese needed items will be provided.