IN MEMORY OF BABY EDDIE

Infant son of Rogelio and Perla
April 2014 - March 2015

Apolinar's entire family was stricken with a strong flu like infection.  Three days in a row Apolinar, Carla, Rogelio, Perla and Eddie, Julio, Esteban, Javier and Baby Cynthia made trips to the hospital in Rio Bravo for something that would stop their violent symptoms.  Little Eddie passed away on the third trip, only 15 minutes after their arrival at the emergency room.

Perla with Eddie 2 weeks after his birth.

Rogelio and Perla are still in their teens; and they live with Apolinar and Carla in Nuevo Progreso.  Eddie was loved and tended by the whole family and he will be greatly missed.  Eddie will meet a baby brother in Heaven who was stillborn in 2013.

"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."  Psalm 30:5

THE SOLDIERS

Lloyd stood at the gate waiting for the officer in charge.

The Mexican army is encamped in a large gated property at the south end of Nuevo Progreso   Their presence in town has brought peace and quiet to the troubled area.  We thank the Lord for them and pray for their safety.

Lloyd felt impressed to take gospel folders to the young men along with some games and jigsaw puzzles to help them pass the time when off duty.  He wanted to bless them in some way and also let them know we are praying for them.  There was a soldier on guard at the gate with a large weapon, so we drove up cautiously.  When the young man asked what we wanted, Lloyd asked for the officer in charge.

He stood stiffly and at attention, still asking us what our business was with them.  Lloyd opened one box and showed him New Testaments and literature and asked again if he could speak to the officer in charge.  The soldier left and returned quickly with another man who clearly had some authority.  He also asked what our business was with them.

Lloyd and I explained that we wanted to give them gifts.  He showed them some jigsaw puzzles and again opened the box of gospel literature.  The officer spoke no English.  He asked if we wanted money.  "NO!  These are gifts!"  we explained.  "We appreciate you and want to bless you."  Then a slow cautious smile brightened his face and the officer nodded his approval.

We'll be praying for these fine young men who come to the military from every corner of Mexico.  We're praying that they accept Jesus as their Savior and that they are covered with His protecting hand.

HE HEARD A VOICE....

Juan (name changed) was on the run.  He had briefly belonged to a gang in Mexico, but quickly discovered he disapproved of the unnecessary killings and extreme violence.  It's impossible to quit a gang and remain alive.  He had to hide.

Juan had connections to our church in Nuevo Progreso but he had never been a Christian.  His family and the church were praying for him to become saved and to make a new life for himself.  Now it looked impossible because he was out of their reach.

Recently something happened to Juan that will change him forever!  While on the run, someone on the street gave him marijuana to smoke.  Some time later he put the marijuana to his mouth when all of a sudden he heard a voice calling him!  He looked all around and saw that he was totally alone.  The voice warned him not to smoke the marijuana if he valued his soul.  It must have been a voice from God!

Suddenly he was overwhelmed with guilt and remorse and he began to sob and cry.  Cleansing waves of emotion came from deep inside of him. He cried all night.

The next morning Juan called his family and told them he had heard a voice warning him to change his ways.  Then he called the pastor.  They prayed together over the phone and Juan accepted Jesus as his Savior.

  "The Lord our God will we serve, and His voice will we obey."  Joshua 24:24

REYNOSA, HEART BROKEN CITY

Reynosa, Mexico

Reynosa is about 25 miles west of Nuevo Progreso on the Rio Grande River.  It is one of the largest cities in Mexico with a population of over one million people.  It's called the city where the cartels rule, a prison camp and a heart broken city.

Established in 1749, the name Reynosa translates as "Our Queen." It was named after a city in Spain.  It's a huge metropolitan area that stretches for miles along the river and it's influence is felt across the river into McAllen,Texas.  Many U.S. industries moved their operations to Reynosa, Mexico to take advantage of the lower costs of labor and relaxed regulations.  It's economy was originally based on raising cattle along with crops such as sugar cane and corn.  There are large petroleum plants in the city owned by PEMEX of Mexico.

Old Catholic Cathedral on the city plaza.

Reynosa has a beautiful market place high on a hill overlooking the Rio Grande Valley.  The focal point of the wide green plaza is an old Catholic Cathedral, probably one of the oldest buildings in the city.  We have visited that plaza and have walked through the beautiful church on our visits to the tourist shopping area in years past.  But that is no longer possible.  Now Reynosa is a place where the cartels rule, it's behind enemy lines and instead of being called a war zone, it's called a prison camp.

There are many other beautiful cities in Mexico and other great places full of history.  We cherish our memories and experiences there and are glad we had opportunity to see Mexico.  This is a country that desperately needs God!

This week we found it necessary to make a quick trip to Reynosa. Pastor Gerardo's wife Miriam became ill and was taken to the hospital in that city.  In the few hours we were in Reynosa we saw first hand evidence of violence.  Several heavily armed federal officers traveling in armored trucks brought two handcuffed young men into the emergency room where Miriam was being treated.  They walked within four feet of us through the crowd of families waiting to see a doctor.  

"The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart;and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit."  Psalm 34:18

SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD, In Mexico

These sheep were temporarily without a shepherd.

One morning while driving away from the church, Pastor Gerardo noticed a small flock of sheep standing huddled in the middle of the street in Nuevo Progreso.  There was no shepherd in sight and no one seemed to be paying any attention to them.  They stood silently, unmoving, except to draw closer together as his car approached.  Why were they behaving so strangely?  Why wouldn't they run or get out of the street?  What were they doing?  All he knew was that they were temporarily sheep without a shepherd.

Gerardo knew there was a reason for their unusual action, so he stopped to study them for a moment.  He was so interested that he snapped a picture of them with his cell phone.  And then he discovered the reason they were so tightly linked together on that street.  In the very center of the group stood a vulnerable little lamb with a badly injured leg!  And then he knew that they would not move or break rank until their shepherd came to lead them home.

"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another." Romans 12:10

VALIENT MEN AND WOMEN

Roman got emotional when he told how he was treated.

A valiant person is one of boldness or determination in facing great danger.  Courageous, brave and stout-hearted.  Two members of our church in Nuevo Progreso testified yesterday about their recent encounters with great danger.  And both said that they felt the Lord with them and they were saved from death.

Roman came forward at church to emotionally describe what happened to him and his wife Karen last week when they drove their pickup truck to nearby Rio Bravo.

Their childrens' toys were left in the truck and Karen began to gather them together.  She picked up a pair of plastic handcuffs and put them on her wrists in fun.  At the same time a police vehicle came alongside them and continued to watch them for a long distance.  Then they signaled for them to pull over and suddenly there were 12 police cars surrounding them and men with heavy weapons came rushing toward them.  It was evident immediately that the police were accusing Roman, a young man with a mustache and beard, of being a member of the cartel and it looked like he had taken Karen as prisoner!

It is rumored that in their efforts to control violence,  the Mexican government wants the police to shoot first and investigate later when the cartel is suspected.  In this encounter, they yanked Roman from the truck, struck him in the face, hit him in the back and side with their weapons and made him put his hands behind his head and lean over the truck so they could search him.  Roman kept trying to tell them the handcuffs were plastic toys, but no one would listen to him.  For five hours they searched all over their truck for drugs and continued to harass Roman and Karen!  Finally the police released them and without any explanation they drove away.

Roman said he was really scared during the whole time, but now realizes just how the Lord kept them safe.  When asked for his final thoughts on the whole affair, Roman said:  "Dios es grande! God is great!"

Later when they got home, Roman hurriedly shaved off his beard so he would no longer even faintly resemble a member of the cartel!

Jose Luis lives in Rio Bravo and attends our church in Nuevo Progreso.

Then we learned that Jose Luis had also been a victim of violence, but this time it was the cartel. He had been so calm and confident during the attack by a group of men that after they roughed him up and stole from him, they asked why he wasn't afraid.  He quietly told them that he was a Christian and God was with him.  He was not afraid!

Jose Luis works in the petroleum industry, driving in Rio Bravo, Matamoros and Reynosa inspecting equipment.  The attack took place during the day while he was working in Rio Bravo.  The men took all his money and the company computer while trying to intimidate him, but he remained peaceful.  When they saw his faith and humility in action, they left him and drove away quickly.

We asked Jose Luis if peace suddenly came on him when he was attacked.  He said no, that he always has peace surrounding him wherever he goes.  He told us with great and quiet assurance that the Lord is constantly with him.

Francisco loves the church and has found his place as caretaker.

There is another stout hearted man in our church, our new friend Francisco.  It warmed our hearts Sunday morning to see him at the task he loves  He came early before Sunday School to sweep and clean the church!  "For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." Psalm 84:10

There are other men of valor in the church who constantly demonstrate God's love and His protection.  We are inspired by their testimonies, their humility and their service to the people of Nuevo Progreso.

"Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord."  Psalm 27:14

ENGLISH LESSONS, Helping The People

View of some stores crowded with tourists on the east side of the main street.

Nuevo Progreso is a tourist town sitting directly on the border between the United States and Mexico.  The last estimated population of the spreading community was approximately 18,000 people.  There is no industry in Nuevo Progreso, but there is a very large tourism trade.  People come from all over the world to visit this quaint and colorful city, and most of them speak English.  Many days it's almost impossible to walk through the crowded sidewalks and many chose instead to walk down the street among the cars and trucks.

Most of the people we know have contact with tourists in one way or another.  Many work in stores while others sell on the street directly to the passing men and women.  It has become very important for these vendors to speak at least a little English.  This helps them earn their living to support their families.

One day when the street was full of tourists.

It would be impossible to name all the types of businesses in Nuevo Progreso.  There are dozens of pharmacies, doctors' offices, dental offices, beauty shops, barber shops, tortilla factories, souvenir stores, restaurants and cafes, leather stores, shoe stores, pet supply stores, jewelry stores and grocery stores.  In addition the sidewalks are lined with outside vendors selling baskets, table linens, CD's and DVD's, pottery, religious statues and more.  Men and women parade back and forth carrying their products to sell such as toys and balloons, carved wall decorations, strings of garlic, chopped cactus and hot peppers.  And everyone tries to get the tourist's attention by calling out their wares in English.  Some can be heard calling out: "Almost free! Almost free!"

Unlike villages deeper into Mexico, Nuevo Progreso has evolved into an unusual place where new words are always being invented.  A cross between Spanish and English, it's called Spanglish or Tex-Mex. Communication with tourists is very important.

On a cold day this sidewalk jewelry vendor shielded his wares with plastic canvas sheets.

That's why we started teaching English at the church in Nuevo Progreso.  It's a way we can help the people make a better living at what they do best.  It's always pleasing to North Americans when they can talk to the vendors about their colorful and clever products.  Not only about the price of an object, but where it was made or if they made it themselves.  And it's another way we can minister to the people south of the border.