THE QUINCEAÑERA

Dana Ajeleth Estrada Razo.

Dana, Pastor Gerardo and Miriam's daughter, celebrated her fifteenth birthday March 19.  She was honored with a huge fiesta called a Quinceanera.  The family's many friends and family members sponsored the Quinceanera so that Dana would have an event she will always remember.

Dana's parents laid hands on her in a prayer of dedication to the Lord.

Brother Fernando Colorado, District Supervisor of the Church of God in Mexico spoke to all of us about the importance of serving God.  Dana's theme for the Quinceanera was grapes on the vine, so Brother Colorado used the theme to emphasize our need as branches to remain connected to the vine in order to produce real fruit.  He spoke of Dana's transition from childhood into adulthood and her new responsibilities.  As part of the ceremony, Dana was presented with gifts representing her new role in life.  Lloyd and I gave her a new Bible with her name engraved on the cover.

Dana was presented to us as a senorita, a young woman.

The Quinceanera is very popular in Mexico and many other countries.  Today's celebrations embrace religious customs, and the virtues of family and social responsibility. The Quinceanera tradition celebrates the Quinceanera, the young girl, and recognizes her journey from childhood to maturity. The customs highlight God, family, friends, music and food.

The Quinceanera celebration traditionally begins with a religious ceremony. A Reception is held in the home or a banquet hall. The festivities include food and music, and in most, a choreographed program performed by the Quinceanera and her Court.

Dana has many friends.  She chose ten to stand with her, including her brother Nahum and her sister Esly.

It is traditional for the Quinceanera to choose special friends to participate in what is called the Court of Honor. Usually, these young people are her closest friends, her brothers, sisters, cousins - the special people in her life with whom she wants to share the spotlight.   Dana had ten in her court, five boys and five girls.  They all wore purple to match her theme.

There are many traditions throughout the Quinceanera celebration. One of the most popular is the Changing of the Shoes. Pastor Gerardo formally changed Dana's flat shoes to high heels. This is a beautiful symbol of the Quinceañera's transformation from a little girl to a young lady.

Pastor Gerardo and his family are proud of Dana.

Dana wore a small tiara for the ceremony, but later she donned a dramatic purple sombrero.  This Spanish accent further emphasized the many years of traditions behind the Quinceanera and it's meanings to everyone.  Dana is now a señorita, a young woman.  She will begin classes at a prep school in Rio Bravo next fall and eventually hopes to become a doctor.  Dana needs our prayers as she begins this new phase of her life.

PASTOR COLORADO

Pastor Fernando Colorado with his daughter Isabella.

Fernando Colorado is not only the pastor of a church in Reynosa, Mexico, he is the District Supervisor of the Northeast Mexico District of the Church of God.  And that is a very big responsibility as there are six churches under his supervision in Reynosa, Rio Bravo and Nuevo Progreso.

Brother Fernando is married and has three small children including the shy little one in the photo.  He is also very interested in missions, promoting the recent emphasis on helping pastors in Cuba by taking them bicycles, office supplies and teaching materials for a Bible school.

In a recent visit with Brother Fernando, he expressed a strong desire to go to Cuba when the next trip is made in July.  He very much wants to help build a church there and see first hand the many needs.

Brother Fernando needs sponsors to help him make this important trip to Cuba.  He doesn't have the money to make the trip and for the expenses involved.  He said he knew the Lord will make a way for him to go, but we told him we would ask our many friends if they would like to help.

Most importantly, please continue to pray for Cuba and Christians there.  Continue to pray for the faithful pastors who minister without having access to helpful materials and supplies.  And pray for souls to be saved in Cuba.

CUBA

Mexico and Cuba are not far apart.  It's a short distance from the Yucatan Peninsula to the capital city of Havana.

The Church of God in Mexico has heard the call to help pastors who work in Cuba.  Supervisors and church leaders in the Northeast section of the country have extended this call to their congregations and anyone else willing to help.  Evangelism is against the law in Cuba, so the focus is on assisting Cuban pastors by providing them with supplies for their Bible Schools and for Sunday Schools.

Pastor Fernando Colorado, Supervisor of the Reynosa district of the Church of God, visited the church in Nuevo Progreso this week with a brightly decorated box for mission offerings.  Brother Fernando brought two members of his congregation with him, one of whom will be traveling to Cuba in July to help distribute the much needed materials.  The men told us that school supplies are the main focus at this time, paper, pencils, crayons and other office supplies.

A team of men from the Church of God will travel to Cuba, taking with them several bicycles that they will leave for the pastors in Cuba.  Bicycles are the main source of transportation there.

Mexico has a unique opportunity at this time since there is an open door for travel between Mexico and Cuba.  There will be many trips made to Cuba in the future with the hope of encouraging those pastors who have few resources and do not have the freedom of religion we enjoy.  Now is the time to pray earnestly for Cuba. "I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it." Revelation 3:8

We are taking many things to the church in Nuevo Progreso to help fill the missionary box for Cuba.  It doesn't seem like much, but we will all work together to spread the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ.

"I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work."  John 9:4

ROGELIO

Rogelio's mother Carla with his little brothers and sister. We don't have a picture of Rogelio.

Rogelio is a young man typical of most his age in Nuevo Progreso.  He has a wife and a baby girl and even though they were living with their parents, he was working to support them.  Rogelio was paying on a small piece of property where he had started building a tiny house in the new colonia of San Francisco.  But Rogelio is now in prison in Reynosa with very little hope of being released anytime soon.

Even his parents don't understand exactly why Rogelio was arrested and imprisoned, except that he was accused of having a vehicle without ownership papers.  Rogelio claims that he bought the car, but that the papers he was given were invalid.  It will take an attorney to sort out all the facts in the case to the satisfaction of the officials.

Rogelio's little brothers, Julio and Javier.

Meanwhile, Rogelio has been away from his family for six months as of this date.  Apolinar and Carla cannot afford to pay an attorney to look into the situation.  Rogelio's wife Perla continues to make the trip to Reynosa every week to visit him.

Without a doubt Rogelio had done business in the past with people who were of questionable character.  Maybe they took advantage of him, or maybe he knew what he was doing.  Either way, Rogelio faces years of incarceration unless he receives a miracle from the Lord.  First Rogelio would need to submit himself to the Lord and change his way of living.  Could it be according to Romans 8:28 that all things work together for good?  Let's pray for God's will to be accomplished in Rogelio's life.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28