THE MEXICAN MILITARY

Soldiers with weapons stand guard at the entrance to Nuevo Progreso. Some are behind sandbagged enclosures, some stand watch on the balconies of nearby establishments and others stand near lanes of traffic keeping their eyes alert for problems. The Mexican Army is currently represented at the international bridge and the Mexican Marines have set up their headquarters in the police station they recently seized.

Lloyd wanted to ask permission to give them all New Testaments, but we didn't know who was in charge. Two soldiers walking down a side street appeared to be off duty, so we tried to follow but soon lost site of them. We walked around the block and found ourselves once again in front of the customs office. Without much hesitation, Lloyd took several Spanish booklets, walked out into the middle of the street and approached two armed and uniformed men. He explained what he wanted to do and asked if it would be okay. One of them said Lloyd could give them the books and they would see that they were distributed to the others. Lloyd then left several dozen booklets with the soldier in the bunker on the side of the busy street. Lloyd is pictured leaving booklets with a soldier.

Our next destination was the police station where we found a military truck blocking the road. Lloyd pulled the Jeep over to the side of the road and we walked to a small group of Marines standing in the shade of a tree. Friendly and courteous, they said good afternoon and waited for us to tell them what we wanted. The first young man we spoke to called an older man over and we repeated our question, "Would it be all right if we bring New Testaments to the men?"

When the man in charge saw the books of John and Romans we held out to him, he accepted them eagerly and thanked us. He said there are about 50 Marines now in Nuevo Progreso and they would be glad to receive New Testaments from us. Lloyd and I thanked him for being in Nuevo Progreso and for the work they're doing. He responded by saying, "Dios lo bendiga," God bless you.

Before leaving, I asked him his name. "Lazarus," he said. "The man Jesus raised from the dead."

BROKEN ROADS

Flooding from hurricanes last summer caused great damage to roads around Nuevo Progreso. The road we traveled many times to Rio Bravo no longer exists. Instead huge sections of pavement were gouged out with great force, leaving deep ditches about every 20 feet. The broken road stretches about 1/2 mile through fields that once contained corn and other crops. The forceful river of water transformed the area and left behind a huge lake that was full of large fish from the Rio Grande River.

Apolinar went with us to view the damage. He said he and many other people from town caught tilapia, carp and catfish for their families from the flooded fields. It's difficult to see from this picture how much damage was done to the road.

The government is now working on the truck road we often use that circumvents the city of Nuevo Progreso. The road has been widened and they have smoothed out the deep ruts and potholes. The best news is that a water pumping station is being built alongside the truck road. Standing flood water that's always a problem on the east side of the city will in the future be channeled along the road and south toward Rio Bravo. This is a great improvement and will be a blessing to many families and to our church.

CHURCHES UNDER THREATS

One by one churches in Nuevo Progreso are closing or are being abandoned by their pastors. Even though the Mexican military has the city in their control, church leaders are still being pressured for money by the mafia and they're leaving in fear. Gerardo, the pastor we've established in Nuevo Progreso, said he has not been threatened in any way, but he knows of at least four pastors who have left. Many churches have been joining together in homes to pray for God's protection on their congregations. The persecution by the mafia has brought about new unity among believers. As in any other time of testing, only the strongest and most courageous pastors will want to continue ministering in Nuevo Progreso.

Gerardo reported hearing two separate spurts of gunfire Tuesday, but no one seems to know or will say what happened. When we were there the next day, everything seemed eerily quiet like the calm before a storm. Many of the largest restaurants, bars and stores were closed and shuttered. This is like watching an exciting boom town die a slow and painful death.

While we watched, five or six large military trucks loaded with armed Marines drove out of town. Evidently there had been a change of guard. Some of the young men on the trucks smiled at us and waved; and one held up two fingers in the sign of victory.

This is a unique time and opportunity for evangelism because of the fear and economic troubles families are experiencing. Are we here for such a time as this? If so, we're under God's protection and He will guide and direct us.

The photo is of Lloyd and two children from Nuevo Progreso.

HURRICANES AND DRUG WARS

Hurricanes, drug wars and political upheaval. Mexico has been battered lately, but miraculously Nuevo Progreso remains a haven of peace. Sitting directly on the US/Mexican border only five miles from where we live, the tourist town would be a natural place for drug gangs. Instead, Mexican Marines stand guard at the entrances of the city as they have for the past couple of years. And the city is now completely under their protection instead of the local police. It seems like God's hand has been on Nuevo Progreso.

Disastrous flooding from hurricanes last summer closed down all highways surrounding Nuevo Progreso, cutting the town off from the rest of Mexico. Supplies could only be brought in from the United States across the international border. We learned that heavy machinery was brought in south of the city to dig canals that diverted water down river toward Matamoros. Although the flooding was severe, without the canals the water would have destroyed Nuevo Progreso. One more way that the city experienced protection.

But instead of the usual heavy tourist crowd, Nuevo Progreso's main street was almost deserted. Vendors lacked customers for their wares and stores were almost empty. This hurts the economy of this tourist based town. We walked past store after store that was closed. And the extreme heat and gusty winds made conditions even more uncomfortable. Will tourists regain their confidence and return to Nuevo Progreso? The livelihood of many families depends on their business

We made some initial plans with Pastor Gerardo for some new projects, praying together for guidance in this new atmosphere of change. One priority Lloyd suggested is to find ways to minister to the Mexican Marines who are stationed in Nuevo Progreso. These young men are Mexico's best and they are probably homesick and lonely. What a great opportunity we have to win them to the Lord.

So we ask you to continue praying with us for the people of Nuevo Progreso. Even though we hated to hear about the bad storms and all the trouble while we were gone, it seems like a battle has been won and now there is peace. And the door remains open wide for us to minister in this bright and interesting little town south of the border.

A FAMILY EVENT AT THE CHURCH

Bellem is raising her hands and worshiping the Lord. It's automatic for her even if she is only two years old. Celino who is a member of her family, watches her proudly.

Many people participated in a family event which included a wiener roast at the church in Nuevo Progreso on Saturday. After a time of praise and worship, specific prayer requests were taken and everyone committed to pray for each other. There are many needs among families in Nuevo Progreso because so many are without jobs.

We all need to be as trusting as Bellem when we bring our needs to the Lord.

"HE'S MY PRODIGAL BROTHER!"

"He's my prodigal brother," Marcelino said about his friend Apolinar. "He went away for a long time, but now he's here working with me. He was lost and now he is found!"

Apolinar was glad he could work on the church building again and Marcelino was saying how close they had become and how well they worked together.

Marcelino has changed dramatically since his conversion last fall. He talks about the Lord and about the church a lot while working and he keeps the radio on a Spanish Christian station. Apolinar admits he is interested in Marcelino's experience and because he has so many problems to face in his life, he is leaning more and more toward God. Marcelino is sensitive and caring. Just a word of encouragement here and there, understanding that Apolinar needs to come to a decision on his own. What he needs most right now is a friend.

Apolinar went away from his family and was in the United States for four years. He has never seen anything wrong with drinking and partying; and on his return to Mexico he left his wife and family and took another woman. So Marcelino's words had double meaning. Apolinar really has been the prodigal brother.

We're sure that with continued prayer and Marcelino's good influence, Apolinar in time will completely surrender to the Lord and be saved. Marcelino's words held so much feeling when he said, "He's no longer lost, my prodigal brother has been found."

How many people do we know that are lost and without God? One day we'll rejoice and say that our prodigal brother has been found!

The photo shows Marcelino on the left and Apolinar on the right with Lloyd between them.

SOLEDAD

Soledad was walking along the dusty gravel road outside Nuevo Progreso on a very hot day. She looked old and tired and she carried a small heavy bag in each hand. Lloyd suggested we stop and offer her a ride to wherever she was going. She was headed out of town and had to be going quite a long distance on foot.

The friendly little woman gratefully accepted our offer and with a little help climbed into the back seat of our Jeep. "Where are you going?" we asked. "To Rio Rico," she answered in Spanish as she proceeded to tell us that Rio Rico was a little settlement to the east of Nuevo Progreso.

Soledad told us that she started out early that morning and walked all the way to town to buy medicine for her son who is crippled. She thought it took two hours to walk the great distance from Rio Rico to Nuevo Progreso. Soledad is seventy-nine years old!

In Rio Rico we met Soledad's husband and her son who is about forty years old and cannot speak or walk. Then she was proud to tell us that there are three churches in the tiny village and two of them are near her house. She took time to show us around her yard which was bare dry ground with many pots of plants and flowers. She told us they had lived on that place for thirty-four years. We wondered how many times during those years Soledad had to walk the four miles one way to Nuevo Progreso.