VISITING PASTORS

Sister Saturnina Navarro Flores is with her husband Primitivo.

Last night we were honored to have visiting pastors from Rio Bravo and Reynosa, Mexico.  Claudia Leticia Lugo Briones is the pastor of the Church of God in Rio Bravo. Saturnina (Nina) Navarro Flores and her husband Primitivo pastor the church in Reynosa. Saturnina Navarro Flores is the Superintendent of the Northeast District of the Church of God in Mexico.  Brother Oliver Altamirano from Rio Bravo was also with us.

Brother Primitivo led us in some choruses, along with Azucena.

Brother Primitivo brought his guitar and led us in some choruses and then Sister Saturnina gave a message from 1 Corinthians 15:58 - “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”  It was very encouraging. She emphasized our need to be firm and constant, keeping our hope only in the Lord Jesus Christ.

We spent some time at the altar, praying for special needs and praying for those who were absent. 

Later we had a time of fellowship and time to get acquainted with each other. These pastors were very encouraging to all of us. They promised to be in prayer for the church in Nuevo Progreso, and promised to be there to help us until our new pastor arrives.

We gathered at the altar to pray for special needs.

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV

PRESENTED TO THE LORD

Roman and Karen and their baby Oliver.

February 18, 2018 Roman and Karen Robles presented their baby to the Lord at Bethesda Church of God in Nuevo Progreso, Mexico. Pastor Oliver Altamirano spoke briefly about the meanings behind the presentation, explaining that the baby Jesus was taken to the temple in Jerusalem by Mary and Joseph when he was only a few days old. Since the very beginning of time, this has been practiced in one way or another, giving the child back to the Lord who created him and as parents promising to raise him in the faith.

Reymundo and Brenda took part in the presentation.

Reymundo and Brenda were the official witnesses at the presentation. They promised to help Roman and Karen raise their baby in God’s ways. Sometimes these witnesses are called “godparents.”  Reymundo and Karen were very proud to be in this capacity.

Baby Oliver slept through the service.

In most cultures a baby presentation, sometimes called a dedication, is a time for great celebration and a big fiesta. And it’s the same in Mexico.  After church Roman and Karen invited us all to their home a few blocks away for a delicious meal of barbecued chicken and all the trimmings. There was also a Mexican favorite, a Tres Leche cake, three milk cake. Balloons, Mickey Mouse figures with red and yellow streamers decorated tables and formed an arch over Roman’s small patio. About 40 people helped to celebrate this precious new addition to Roman and Karen’s family.

Over 40 people attended the fiesta in Roman's patio.

Roman and Karen are with Brenda and Reymundo. Brenda is holding baby Oliver. 

Among the people who attended the evening service and the fiesta was the family of Jose Angel. Recently arriving from Oklahoma where he worked in landscaping. Jose and his wife Patty and their three children temporarily live with Jose’s sister Aurelia near our church.  They are currently looking for a house in our area. We had special prayer for Jose and his family for their future. Their family seemed to fit in very well with others in the church.

A new family at the church, Jose Angel is almost hidden behind his wife Patty and his daughter. 

Joseph and Mary brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. Luke 2:22

PROGRESO INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE

Bridge over the Rio Grande River,  on the Mexican border.

Traffic, huge lines of loaded trucks, pedestrians and long waits. That’s what we think of when planning to cross the Progreso International Bridge back into the United States. Some times we’ve waited over an hour on this short stretch of concrete between the Mexican exit point and U.S. Border Customs.

Nuevo Progreso is a huge town that sits conveniently right on the border. It developed over the years as a safe, user friendly tourist place where people could walk across the border to shop or they could use their motorized wheel chairs to access the many stores, pharmacies and dentist offices that are available. February 3, 2018 over 7,000 tourists were counted in one day coming through the checkpoint in Nuevo Progreso.  This is no longer a sleepy little Mexican village.

Huge trucks crossing the bridge into Mexico.

Tandem trucks line the bridge on some days, entering Mexico filled with grain from nearby elevators. Trucks entering the United States are filled with fruits, vegetables, grain headed for the elevators, gravel and other items.    The bridge was built to carry extremely heavy loads such as these.  It’s a good thing that there is a separate extension of the bridge for the volume and the size of the trucks entering the U.S.

The first 2 lane bridge was built on this location in 1952, but it was replaced by a much sturdier structure and increased to six lanes in 2003.  This is the most heavily traveled bridge for tourism in the Rio Grande Valley and Nuevo Progreso is the most popular destination.

Mexican Marines stand guard on the Mexican side of the bridge.

We spend a lot of time on this bridge waiting in long lines of traffic to reach customs, show our passports and answer questions about what we purchased in Mexico. Once in a while we are asked to pull over into an inspection lane where officers check our Jeep for drugs or other items that we are not allowed to bring into the States. It takes a lot of patience, especially after a long day when we’re more than ready to go home. 

The owners of the Progreso bridge have a heart for missions. For many years they have graciously allowed us to cross the bridge into Mexico without charge, saving us a lot of money over time.

We have had the experience of seeing with our own eyes the situation on the border between the United States and Mexico. We know how much attention is given to vehicles and whether or not permission is given for entry. Also, parts of the WALL are visible from the bridge. It’s a different scenario from what is portrayed on the national news. 

We never cross the bridge into Mexico without first praying for protection and for God's guidance. It’s a serious thing to leave our country and enter a foreign land.

In reality, Nuevo Progreso has become a lot more than a tourist spot. It is home to thousands of Mexican people who have come from their homes in the south to be closer to the U.S. border. There are people here from almost every southern state and even Central America. Some of these people have arts and crafts to sell while others are searching for employment in order to care for their families. Whatever the reasons, they feel there are more opportunities for them in Nuevo Progreso.

"And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things."  Mark 6:34

ANOTHER SUPER SUNDAY

Lots of visiting children enjoyed pizza after church.

It was great to hear the sound of so many children laughing and playing at church last night. Since there were a lot of young ones, we set up small tables and chairs for them in another room where they could have their own activities.  Azucena's daughter Monica was appointed their teacher for the evening.

Monica watched over the children during church.

After church we surprised everyone with pizza! Everyone loves pizza! There was plenty for everyone, along with cold drinks and coffee for the adults.

Some of the children waiting for time to start.

It was a super evening and we felt the presence of the Lord.  Since we are currently without a full time pastor, we appreciate knowing that the church is still alive and well and that it's being a blessing to so many people.

This is our prayer:   “Let the kindness of the Lord our God be over us. Make the work of our hands last.” Psalm 90:17