FRANCISCO AND ANNA

Francisco and Anna and their children at the Christmas Party.

We met Francisco, Anna and their four children at our annual childrens' Christmas Celebration in Nuevo Progreso.  They enthusiastically invited us to join them for a combined Christmas and birthday celebration at their home on Christmas day.  Directions were given to their house and we promised to join them for their small fiesta.

Francisco and Anna at their house on Christmas day.

Christas day was cold and blustery, but the weather didn't stop the family plans for barbecued chicken.  When we arrived and greeted Francisco and Anna and several children who decided to join their family, we were given chairs up close to the house.  We were somewhat sheltered from the strong gusty wind that threatened to extinguish the all important fire being prepared to roast the chicken.  Francisco and Anna scurried around making their preparations while we visited a little with the children.  There were many trips made to the little corner store, not much more than a booth on the street, and we could see that the family had some concerns about the still uncooked chicken.  Their barbecue grill consisted of an old tire rim fitted with a circular wire top which looked suspiciously like the front of an old electric fan.  But it would have been perfect for their needs except that any heat from the fire was blown away.

The family in front of their little Christmas tree on the side of their house.

We left them with the promise to return in a couple of hours, giving them time to complete their preparations without the added stress of people watching them.  And when we returned, they proudly served us beautifully cooked and seasoned chicken along with perfectly cooked rice.  It was an extremely good meal.

Their youngest little boy proudly quoted a scripture for us.  They are proud of him.

The children love to go to school, but an education in Mexico is a challenge because of expenses.  The children are required to wear uniforms and are charged a fee for each semester.  Additionally, each child must pay for his or her drinking water.  For a family such as this one, it's a major challenge to keep all their children in school.  We were shown their oldest son's report card which had excellent grades on it.  Their youngest son proudly gave us a demonstration of his knowledge of the Bible - quoting one of his favorite scriptures.

Francisco and Anna made it clear that the main reason for inviting us to join them was to get to know us better and to share with us.  Francisco who works in the fields has no work until spring.  They live in a borrowed home since they lost their home in a fire.  They cannot receive help from the government because all their identification papers were lost in that fire.  But they asked nothing from us but to visit them often and be their friends.

We were humbled and blessed by this special family in Nuevo Progreso.  And when we go to visit them again, we'll take food, warm sweaters and blankets that we know they need.

Don't forget to mention Francisco and Anna in your prayers.  This is a happy little family who all seem to love the Lord.  Their main goal seems to be to raise their children with a good education and a knowledge of the Bible.

GIFTS TO HELP HILDA

Hilda had a big smile on her face while checking out the gifts sent to her for her business of selling food.

Hilda received some very thoughtful gifts from new friends in Minnesota to help her in her little business of selling food to the truck traffic.  Dennis and Cheryl Conlow were moved by the story about how she works so hard to support her little family.  The Conlow family sent her a large gift of coffee, a thermos, nice coffee cups with lids, a colorful apron and some bright kitchen towels.  Best of all, they sent her a little note of encouragement with the promise to pray for her.

Hilda hugged the encouraging note from the Conlow family.  It was written in Spanish and in English.

Hilda cooks half of the night and at 6:00 am rides her three wheeled bicycle cart loaded with food including hot coffee and fragrant creamed oatmeal out to where sometimes hundreds of huge trucks are lined up along the gravel road.  The trucks are suspended, waiting to be inspected before they can enter the states; and they have such a long wait that the imprisoned drivers make a good clientele for food deliveries.  There are many people who take advantage of these "captive customers."  Depending on the time of year, trucks filled with fresh produce from the fields can stretch out the entire length of the truck road that circles the east side of Nuevo Progreso.  And that means many impatient, hungry and thirsty drivers.  Hilda uses her skills as a good cook to take advantage of this ready made opportunity.

Hilda displays some of the nice things she received, including sturdy to-go cups with lids.

There still has been no word about her missing son.  Hilda is faithful to attend church services and stays encouraged among her friends.  And it really helped her to know that people from the far away state of Minnesota care and are praying for her.  Hilda sends her thanks to all of you for your prayers!

"Therefore comfort each other and edify one another." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NKJV

WORDS FOR THE NEW YEAR

Pastor Gerardo Estrada and his family,
From left to right - Gerson, Nahum, Esly, Dana and Miriam Estrada.

"Go inside and lock the doors my people.  Hide there for a little while until the Lord is no longer angry."  Isaiah 26:20

"The Lord has put us in a secure place, under His protection.  We must have courage to face the days ahead.  2015, experts say, will be a difficult year.  There's a new open door before us.

Do we want to enter 2015 with the same problems and sins we had in 2014?  Or do we want change?

What is significant about a door?  What about when a door is locked?  What do we need?  KEYS!  Many people will try to unlock the door to the new year with the wrong keys.  Many superstitions are involved, such as watching out for black cats.  These are wrong ideas and wrong keys.  Only the Word of God can provide the right key to open the door.  Jesus is the door.  He will bring us peace, harmony, joy and emotional healing.

How good is your character?  This is very important because God has His eye on us.  How do we act in a crisis?  Do we glorify God?  Every day we need to lift up God.  He is molding us through pain so we will produce the right fruit.  We must produce the fruit of the spirit and not of the flesh, false things that are mentioned in Galatians 5:19.  People who worship idols, do witchcraft, are jealous, angry, selfish, troublesome, drunken and those other things mentioned will not share in the blessings of God's kingdom.

We must seek after the fruit of the spirit mentioned in Galatians chapter 5.  We should be loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, gentle and self controlled.

This new door is significant and filled with opportunities.  Let's pray together that we will enter this new year and face these new opportunities with courage.'

Pastor Gerardo Estrada
From a sermon preached December 30, 2014
in Nuevo Progreso, Mexico
Translated from Spanish

IN MEMORY OF GABRIELE

In memory of Gabriele.

Beloved wife, mother and faithful member of Bethesda Church of God in Nuevo Progreso.

Gabriele loved to go to church.  This happy picture was taken in May 2014 at the church.

Gabriele is pictured with us, her husband and her son and his family.  They are from Rio Bravo.

"Charm can be deceiving, and beauty fades away.  But a woman who honors the Lord deserves to be praised."  Proverbs 31:30

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Dulce, Judith, Alana, Jael and Francisco send you Christmas greetings!

The children wish you a Merry Christmas!  And they send their thanks to you for all your prayers and your help in their lives.

Between 65 and 70 children gathered with us for a very happy Christmas party on December 20th.  They learned a new song they were not familiar with that they called Night of Peace.  We know it as Silent Night.  They sang it several times, first one side of the church and then the other side as they learned the words.  Pastor Gerardo told the story of the first Christmas, describing the greatest gift of all that was sent from Heaven.  Then when he invited the children to accept this great gift of salvation, about 15 children came forward for prayer.

Several children came forward acknowledging they wanted to accept the greatest gift of all time - Jesus.

After songs and games, steaming hot tamales were served along with flavorful spaghetti with meat sauce.  Big cups of orange fruit drink finished things off before everyone rushed outside to attack the large star shaped piñata that was stuffed with candy.  It didn't take long for the bigger kids to break the piñata and there was a rush to gather up all the candy from the ground.  Not a single piece of candy nor a scrap of paper was left behind as evidence of the traditional event.

Huge kettles of tamales provided plenty for everyone.

The pinata was larger than most of the children!

All the children lined up to receive a treat bag from one of the big bags.  Things were quiet for awhile as each one opened and explored the bags' contents.  Some contained tiny dolls and little girl trinkets and others had matchbox cars or action figures, but they all contained candy.  These treat bags are always a big hit because they hold a lot of little surprises to delight every child.  Thank you for making 100 treat bags possible this year.

This little girl hugged her treat bag while watching the activities.

As the party ended, some of the children volunteered to sing special choruses they had learned in Sunday School.  Francisco and his brother and sisters were not timid at all, but really enjoyed singing behind the microphone.  We were proud of them.

Stuffed animals, matchbox cars, pencils, games and candy.  Each bag was different.

These children bravely sang on the platform accompanied by Pastor Gerardo on the keyboard.

"Our God we thank you for being so near to us!  Everyone celebrates your wonderful deeds."  
Psalm 75:1 CEV

JOSÉ'S ANSWER TO PRAYER

José and his new portable oxygen machine.

José has problems breathing and is in constant need of oxygen.  Until recently he was anchored to his house with a four foot oxygen tank.  The tank which lasted him about one week, had to be taken on a bus to nearby Rio Bravo to be refilled.  But last week José received a big answer to prayer - he was given a portable oxygen machine to replace the enormous tank he'd used for years.  And now he can once again go to church.

Scott and DiAnna brought the answer to Jose's prayer!

Scott and DiAnna, founders of Life on the Border, flew from their home in Minneapolis to bring José this life giving machine.  They also brought José and Lupita their prescription medicines and a blood pressure monitor.  Scott, who is a physician, reviewed José's ex rays and advised him on the best way to treat the problem in his lungs.  He also checked his blood pressure and said it was good.

Jose's old oxygen tank was very heavy.

Doctor Scott checked Jose's blood pressure with their new monitor.

José and Lupita were overcome with emotion when they were presented with so much medical assistance.  Scott and DiAnna received warm hugs and words of gratitude from the happy couple.

Scott went outside and held Jose's ex rays up to the sky so he could properly diagnose his condition.

DiAnna instructed Jose on the use of the oxygen machine while Pastor Gerardo watched.

Many thanks go to everyone who made this gift of oxygen possible.  And special thanks to Doctor Scott and DiAnna who took time from their busy lives to minister to José and Lupita in Nuevo Progreso, Mexico.

HILDA

Hilda

Hilda is a new Christian, recently converted during a worship service at José and Lupita's house.  Hilda is a single mother who works extremely hard for her family.  Getting up at 3:00 am, she cooks oatmeal for atole, gorditas, tacos and makes coffee to sell to the many truckers who line up on the road to cross the international bridge into the United States.  At 6:00 am she loads up her 3 wheeled cart and begins traveling back and forth along the long truck route circling the east side of Nuevo Progreso.  Since truckers have such a lengthy wait of many hours to pass through customs, they welcome refreshments at all times during the day, beginning with breakfast.

Recently Hilda received a severe blow to her family when her 23 year old son was kidnapped by the cartel.  Her son disappeared from Nuevo Progreso 26 days ago and there has been no word of where he is or if he is still alive.  Pastor Gerardo and the church immediately began praying for the young man's safe return to his family and Hilda has received tremendous encouragement and hope from her new friends at the church.

We met Hilda one evening at José and Lupita's house and she shared the story of her grief with us.  She pulled her shirt up around her face to hide her tears and distress while all of us gathered around her and prayed again for her son.

Please join us in urgent prayer that the Lord will take her boy by the hand and lead him to a safe and sheltered area and then home to his mother.

"I tell you all of my worries and my troubles, and whenever I feel low, you are there to guide me."  Psalm 142:2&3 CEV