We continue to hear of spirits being seen near the church in Nuevo Progreso. You are probably saying, "How much of this can we believe?" But because of past difficulties, we tend to believe the reports. The enemy has fought against a church at this location since the beginning. But this is where God told us to build!
Last year when flood waters surrounded the church, three children were playing near the water. A ten year old named Ilsy said they saw a figure all in white dressed like a woman. The figure was walking on the top of the water!
They ran home as fast as they could and later they told their story to Pastor Gerardo. He said there are several others who claim to have seen and heard strange things in the area.
Cartel members in Mexico seem to be terrorized by Santa Muerte, the saint of death represented by a skeleton in a robe. There are altars to Santa Muerte found on the roads and lately altars with candles around the image have been found near international bridges. Human sacrifice to Santa Muerte was reported last week in northwestern Mexico.
Could God be showing us that the fear of the supernatural is protecting the church? We have long prayed that the fear of God will strike those on the dark side and bring confusion on them.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
EXTREME STORMS IN TEXAS
Thursday, March 29th dangerous storms moved through deep south Texas dumping up to six inches of rain in places and a lot of hail. McAllen which is 25 miles west of our home received the worst of the storm. There were tornadoes sighted in McAllen and south into Reynosa, Mexico.
Lloyd watched that night as a river of water flowed down the street in our trailer park. Anything not fastened down floated away. News showed pictures of one inch hail covering the ground in McAllen and drifts of hail blocking roadways. Car dealerships lost their entire inventory, roofs were blown off and neighborhoods were covered in water. And it was coming our way. We prayed especially for the church in Nuevo Progreso which is only eight miles south of where we live. The storm lingered most of the evening, causing major damage north and west of us.
Two days later on our way to the church we noticed that roads were dry and there was no mud. It had not stormed in Nuevo Progreso! The night of the storm a group of ladies met at the church to pray and some of them were from Reynosa. While praying they heard the news that tornadoes had been seen in Reynosa, but it was quiet and peaceful at the church in Nuevo Progreso. Later the ladies remarked that it was a blessing to have a peaceful haven of prayer, quiet and dry, while the storm was all around them. Many prayers were answered that night on both sides of the border.
Lloyd watched that night as a river of water flowed down the street in our trailer park. Anything not fastened down floated away. News showed pictures of one inch hail covering the ground in McAllen and drifts of hail blocking roadways. Car dealerships lost their entire inventory, roofs were blown off and neighborhoods were covered in water. And it was coming our way. We prayed especially for the church in Nuevo Progreso which is only eight miles south of where we live. The storm lingered most of the evening, causing major damage north and west of us.
Two days later on our way to the church we noticed that roads were dry and there was no mud. It had not stormed in Nuevo Progreso! The night of the storm a group of ladies met at the church to pray and some of them were from Reynosa. While praying they heard the news that tornadoes had been seen in Reynosa, but it was quiet and peaceful at the church in Nuevo Progreso. Later the ladies remarked that it was a blessing to have a peaceful haven of prayer, quiet and dry, while the storm was all around them. Many prayers were answered that night on both sides of the border.
ALTAR IN THE CHURCH
Pastor Gerardo and Miriam will use one of their new eight foot wooden benches for an altar where people can kneel in prayer in the church auditorium. They have read a lot of scripture lately emphasizing the need for an altar. Many times when the Israelites didn't have a temple they built themselves an altar, even while traveling.
It's exciting because it reminds us of time we spent at such an altar, or mourners' bench as it was sometimes called. Now the church needs small squares or samples of carpet for kneeling pads. The church in Nuevo Progreso continues to be a blessing.
It's exciting because it reminds us of time we spent at such an altar, or mourners' bench as it was sometimes called. Now the church needs small squares or samples of carpet for kneeling pads. The church in Nuevo Progreso continues to be a blessing.
GUITAR
Pastor Gerardo now has a very good guitar he can use either during church services or in his music classes. Brother and Sister Gene Easley from McAllen Church of God donated the guitar to him. Brother and Sister Easley used their guitar in their ministry, but since they no longer travel into Mexico they wanted our church to have it. The guitar is specially made to produce a high quality sound. Pastor Gerardo demonstrated it's quality by playing and singing us a beautiful song. Thank you Brother and Sister Easley for your generous gift!
The picture shows Pastor Gerardo playing the guitar. Now he and Miriam are praying for a drum set for the church.
YOUNG MAN DROWNS IN THE RIO GRANDE
A family lost their 21 year old son, Guillermo, Easter Sunday in the Rio Grande River about a half mile north of our church. Guillermo was the father of two small children.
Many families take picnic lunches to the banks of the river on holidays where they spend the heat of the day in the water and on the tiny beaches. Guillermo Sr. and Leticia who live near the church had seven children, all boys. Another of their sons was killed nine months ago in an accident with a horse. He was only 14 years old.
Pastor Gerardo said the sad news makes them want even more to have lots of youth events at the church. Young people in Nuevo Progreso need activities to keep them busy and safe.
Many families take picnic lunches to the banks of the river on holidays where they spend the heat of the day in the water and on the tiny beaches. Guillermo Sr. and Leticia who live near the church had seven children, all boys. Another of their sons was killed nine months ago in an accident with a horse. He was only 14 years old.
Pastor Gerardo said the sad news makes them want even more to have lots of youth events at the church. Young people in Nuevo Progreso need activities to keep them busy and safe.
THE GOOD SAMARITAN
"As a man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, robbers attacked him and grabbed everything he had. They beat him up and ran off, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road. But when he saw the man he walked by on the other side. Later a temple helper came to the same place. But when he saw the man who had been beaten up, he also went by on the other side.
A man from Samaria then came traveling along that road. When he saw the man he felt sorry for him and went over to him. He treated his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put him on his own donkey and took him to an inn where he took care of him. The next morning he gave the innkeeper two silver coins and said, 'Please take care of the man. If you spend more than this on him, I will pay you when I return.'" Luke 10:30-35 (Contemporary English Version)
Our mission is like that of the Good Samaritan. So many times we see hurting and hungry people on our travels in Mexico; and we feel sorry for them. Like the Samaritan, we are ordinary people who feel compassion and want to lend a hand. People reach out to us and we ask ourselves, "What can we do to help?"
This pattern of the gospel has to be at the core of all we do. When we help the hurting and comfort them, we earn the right to tell them about Jesus.
A man from Samaria then came traveling along that road. When he saw the man he felt sorry for him and went over to him. He treated his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put him on his own donkey and took him to an inn where he took care of him. The next morning he gave the innkeeper two silver coins and said, 'Please take care of the man. If you spend more than this on him, I will pay you when I return.'" Luke 10:30-35 (Contemporary English Version)
Our mission is like that of the Good Samaritan. So many times we see hurting and hungry people on our travels in Mexico; and we feel sorry for them. Like the Samaritan, we are ordinary people who feel compassion and want to lend a hand. People reach out to us and we ask ourselves, "What can we do to help?"
This pattern of the gospel has to be at the core of all we do. When we help the hurting and comfort them, we earn the right to tell them about Jesus.
TEN PEOPLE
Pastor Gerardo has set a goal to intercede in prayer for ten people. These ten people are unknown to him, they may be neighbors or they may live on the other side of Nuevo Progreso. They may be connected to the cartel, but he feels an urgency to pray for their conversion and deliverance from sin. His desire is for the ten newly converted people to become disciples until they are strong church leaders. We are joining Pastor Gerardo in his goal; this is the only way to break the back of evil in Mexico.
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