PRESENTED TO THE LORD

Flor is six months old.

Three little girls were "presented to the Lord," in Nuevo Progreso Sunday December 16, 2013. Mary took her Baby Jesus to the temple when he was only eight days old. The Book of Luke says that Joseph and Mary "brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord."

Jaqueline is 3 months old.

Several members of the three families were there as witnesses and they proudly signed Certificates of Presentation for the occasion. Pastor Gerardo officiated at the ceremony which consisted of songs and prayers for each little girl. He spoke to the parents and extended families about the children being a gift from God, and he emphasized their responsibility in seeing that these children walk in the ways of the Lord. It was a solemn and special time and one that was taken very seriously by everyone. These little ones may not remember this occasion, but their families vowed together never to forget that Flor, Jaqueline and Gloria were given back to the Lord.

Gloria is 6 years old.

Luke 2:22 "And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord."

Pastor Gerardo prayed over each little girl and gave the family a Certificate of Dedication.

Miriam, Pastor Gerardo's wife, assisted at the presentation ceremony.

CHILDREN OF THE KINGDOM

Javier enjoys a cup of coffee heavily laced with milk and sugar.

Javier and Esteban are Apolinar's little boys. They have three brothers and two step-sisters. We enjoy visiting these special children. It's fun to see them run to meet us when we drive up in the Jeep.

Javier who is between two and three years old is very small in stature for his age. Always happy, he loves to play outside even when it's cold. On the day this picture was taken, Javier had on numerous layers of clothing including a hood to cover his neck and ears.

Esteban started to kindergarten this year and loves to play soccer. Apolinar explained to us that Mexico likes to use good sportsmen as examples and they encourage champions. Esteban was recently proclaimed soccer champion of the kindergarten and was privileged to receive a large trophy for winning against other schools in Nuevo Progreso. The picture shows Esteban proudly holding his reward. The trophy now stands in the school classroom where he attends.

Apolinar and Carla are proud of all their children, but these two little ones are special to Apolinar. After Apolinar's serious accident and near death over a year ago, he feels that God allowed him to return to his life in order to take care of them. Once again able to work and support his family, Apolinar said he comes home for lunch every day so he can spend time playing with Javier and Esteban.

"Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3  

Esteban holds a picture of himself with the big school trophy he won playing soccer.

OPEN DOORS CAN CHANGE LIVES!

We met Sadie walking alone on the road to El Rosario.

She was walking along the road in the middle of nowhere, carrying an old pink backpack. We first saw her on the edge of Nuevo Progreso when we drove east toward the new settlement of San Francisco. Later on our return we saw her again, this time she had lost one shoe wading through a patch of slimy, gripping mud. She was working the stubborn shoe loose from at least six inches of the brown stuff, grinning and babbling all the while. Had she walked all that distance from town? Did she have a need so great that she had to make such a long trip on foot? What was her story.

Lloyd stopped the Jeep and asked her where she lived. We could make out the words El Rosario, which is a small place past San Francisco. That was still quite a distance for her to travel on foot. It could have been another two miles to where she said she lived. "Should we take her home?" he asked.

In the past we've made many new friends by offering them rides home. In this way we can see where they live and what help they might need. It's another open door. And we've learned that open doors can change lives, and of course prayer is the key. I asked the happy little woman for her name and found she was hard of hearing. Finally she mumbled something unintelligible. Then I asked if she would write her name in my notebook. But the road was so rough that the name she wrote was not clear. It looked like Sadie, so that's who she'll be to us.

It was difficult to find where she lived, she enjoyed riding in the Jeep so much that she missed her turn into El Rosario. Backtracking, she finally saw something familiar and we pulled over and helped her out of the Jeep. We gave her some small blankets, some beans and something to drink and told her we'd bring her some good shoes for walking. Still mumbling and grinning, she made her way down the lane.

Friendly young men cutting firewood along the road told us that no matter what the weather, the old woman made that same long trek to Nuevo Progreso and back every day!

"Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it." Revelation 3:8

WIN ONE, LOSE ONE

Pepe, inside the parsonage.  He always wears his helmet in case he falls with a seizure.

Pepe lives near the church in Nuevo Progreso. He's a handsome young man who always has a smile on his face and a bicycle helmet on his head. Pepe has epilepsy.

Pepe carries his medicine in his pocket and when he senses the onset of a seizure, he quickly takes one of the little white pills. Donated by friends Scott and DiAnna, this medicine helps keep his condition under control.

In August 2013 Pepe's brother hung himself in the family home. He had been engaged to marry, but things had gone wrong. He must have seen no solution to the problems and found the only way he could see to escape. Pepe and his mother are suffering severe grief over this tragedy and really need prayer.

Pepe accepted Jesus into his heart in September and now he and his mother really enjoy attending church. Pepe likes the abundant love and attention he receives from the family of God.

DENGUE FEVER EPIDEMIC

Standing water causes mosquitos that can carry diseases such as dengue fever.  When the Nuevo Progreso drainage project is finished, the problem will be solved.

There's an epidemic of dengue fever along the northern border of Mexico with many cases reported in Nuevo Progreso. Pastor Gerardo's wife Miriam was tested positive for the disease in October and spent two weeks ill and on medication. She has recovered but is still weak. Their daughters Dana and Esly had light cases of dengue fever but have returned to school. Dengue fever is carried by mosquitos and the wet weather and standing water have increased the problem.

Victoria, the state capital city of Tamaulipis, has sent spray trucks to the border in an effort to kill the mosquitos. The critical situation has made it more necessary than ever for the government to complete the drainage project started years ago. There must be no more standing water! We are confident that God is able to resolve this problem, and we know that He is in control. Meanwhile, please pray with us for protection for the people of Nuevo Progreso.

"HE BEHELD THE CITY..."

This morning Pastor Gerardo stepped inside the door of the police department, opened his Bible with the police officers present and prayed for God's blessing, favor and protection on the police and on each person in the city. As part of a new program, each Monday morning a pastor goes to the Nuevo Progreso police station where he prays. This was outstanding news for us. We heard a lot of good reports from Pastor Gerardo and his new friend and helper Mario Belmares when we arrived at the church on November 20. There have been spiritual advances in city government! Also, each and every Monday evening there is an outdoor church service in the city plaza. There someone preaches a sermon and there is prayer for the sick. The pastors take turns conducting these meetings. There are approximately 20,000 people who live in and around Nuevo Progreso, making this another great opportunity for outreach. We are beginning to see spiritual progress from our many years of work establishing the church in Nuevo Progreso! There was a lot of activity on the church grounds. Several pickup trucks were parked nearby and a large piece of machinery was in action. That day was a work day, with some chopping away brush and others working on the road. Saturday has also been declared a work day, with plans for many hands to beautify the grounds in preparation for several activities and large crowds in the future. Lloyd's primary goal and prayer had been to see this specific work done; so it was greatly encouraging that things were already in motion. There is much work to be done at the church. But the most important thing for us to remember is that Jesus weeps with compassion when he looks over cities around the world. "And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it." Luke 19:41

The driver of this piece of heavy equipment donated an hour of work moving a large pile of earth to a place along the church lane.

"A GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES...."

Once again we made the long trip from Illinois to the south Texas border, arriving here on November 10, 2013. We've had several months to rest and regroup and now it's time to continue our work in Mexico.


Reports received from our church and mission established in Nuevo Progreso have been good since we left in June. Several events took place including a three day evangelistic campaign in the city plaza. That project involved our church and two others in Nuevo Progreso. We received reports of several healings in those meetings and other blessings.

From one year to the next we never know what to expect or what the Lord has planned for us to do. We've learned to remain flexible and try to go under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We do know there will be visits from volunteer doctors to our mission and that we have been given the use of the city's free clinic for examinations and treatments. Classes in nutrition have been planned along with the doctor visits. We look forward to our annual children's Christmas party at the church and hope to have gifts for every child who attends. If you would like to help with any of these projects, there is information on this blog about how to contact us or where to send your help.

Lloyd and I appreciate your prayers for the mission in Nuevo Progreso, Mexico. There will be frequent reports and updates on this blog and without a doubt there will be challenges requiring much prayer. You are part of that great group of witnesses to this work!

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2