GOD'S CHOSEN CREW

Marcelino, Walter LeGette, Apolinar, Rick Jewell and Carlos

We are blessed this week to have Walter LeGette and Rick Jewell (aka Ricardo) with us from Bethalto Church of God, Bethalto, Illinois.  They are here to work on several projects at the church in Nuevo Progreso.  Working along with them are Marcelino, Apolinar and Carlos.  It's amazing that these five men who barely know each other have quickly become a crew working together with harmony and accomplishing a lot.  They are God's chosen crew!

How would you pick men to do such varied jobs as building an outdoor toilet facility, making wooden tables and benches, hanging ceiling fans and installing doors?  Where would you go to find men also willing to do the most unattractive work, such as digging a ditch and cleaning out the septic system?  And those willing to run errands or burn trash?  Only God could bring together such a great crew!

Everyone seemed to be having fun working at the church cleaning, raking up gravel and clearing away brush.  We found plenty of time for laughs, especially watching Walter and Rick demonstrating the double hole toilet seat Lloyd made for the outhouse!

Walter and Rick found a new use for the new double hole toilet seat.

Thank you Walter and Rick for sharing your time this week with the people of Nuevo Progreso.  Your work is much appreciated and your contribution to the Kingdom will last forever.  And Thank you, Lord, for the great crew you chose for this important project.

JAVIER'S LEG IS IMPROVING

Although Javier's leg is improving, his mother Lidia is taking him back to the doctor for confirmation.  The swelling has gone down considerably, the redness is gone and the cut has healed.  The first ex rays show damage to the knee joint where Javier must have received a very severe blow.  He is still afraid to say what happened to him during the time he said he was abducted.

We are confident that Javier will continue to heal and there will be no permanent damage to his leg.  Updates will be posted.

IN DANGER OF LOSING HIS LEG

Javier is 15 years old, one member of a very large family we have known for over 16 years.  Now he may lose his leg because of an infected slash near his left knee cap. Javier is afraid to tell anyone exactly what happened to him, but his mother Lidia claims cartel members grabbed him.  Some time later he escaped and came home seriously injured.  Doctors said the situation looked grave and the leg may need to be amputated.  When Lidia heard this she came to the church looking for us because we had helped her before.

Lloyd, Pastor Gerardo and I went to visit Javier as soon as possible.  We laid hands on him and prayed for the Lord to heal his leg, to take away the swelling and the infection.  Also that Javier will not live in fear of the ones who abducted him.  Most importantly we emphasized how important it is for him to have Jesus in his heart, urging him to look to Jesus for the answers.

We love this special family very much.  Several years ago we were given permission by the Immigration Department to bring Lidia's five year old son Isaiah back to Texas for surgery due to brain cancer.  Lloyd carried Isaiah to the hospital comatose in his arms, but Isaiah walked back into his home in Nuevo Progreso a month later holding my hand.

Please pray with us for Javier.  The whole family has put their trust in the Lord for his healing.  Meanwhile we'll continue checking on Javier and this situation.

BEARING PRECIOUS SEED!

We poured seeds into their hands.

It was an unusually hot calm day as we walked along the dusty road looking for shade.  It was 90 degrees, but that didn't stop the people from clearing brush and weeds from their homestead lots in the new settlement of San Francisco.  Marcelino and Apolinar were with us on our mission to distribute much needed candles and matches in this area that has no electricity.  We also wanted to give out garden seeds. 

Indian corn, watermelon, cantaloupe, peppers and tomatoes.  Packets of lettuce and cucumber seeds.  It's garden planting time in Mexico.

We quickly ran out of bags to put seeds in, so Lloyd and Marcelino poured measured portions directly into outstretched hands, and not a seed was lost.

Lloyd had saved seeds from the best fruits and vegetables we had.  Others sent seeds with us to Mexico.  This is a great way to help families.  And as they say, "it's a gift that keeps on giving!"

"He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing bringing his sheaves with him."  Psalm 126:6

NEW KEYBOARD DONATED

A new keyboard was donated to the church complements of Jesse and Joan Hamilton of Bethalto, Illinois.  Pastor Gerardo tried it out immediately and was very pleased.

Music is a big part of the ministry at the church.  Last summer during an outdoor service, their old keyboard was destroyed in a sudden rainstorm.  Since that time a guitar has been their only musical instrument.

Thank you, Jesse and Joan, for your thoughtful gift.

BIG RED ROOSTER!

Nahum is happy learning how to care for animals.  His desire is to be a veterinarian some day in Mexico.  There are also some kittens and a dog living at the parsonage in Nuevo Progreso.  The cats earn their keep catching mice and keeping snakes away from the house.

Baby chicks hatched last week, little brown and yellow fuzzy things that are very vulnerable.  They are kept closed in with their mama in the shed except for several times a day when they are allowed to scratch around in the garden.  Because chickens like to eat new green plants, Nahum plans to purchase his own wire fencing to protect the garden and also to enclose the chickens in their own pen.  Now the family is awakened each morning by the crowing of a rooster!