Mexico Missions with Bruce and Paula

FOOD OUTREACHES AND FUN

Since we got back from San Antonio, we have been busy gathering food and distributing food. A few rounds of golf with the people in our park, and a St Paddy's Day parade in the park.

Today we find ourselves in the Baja of California visiting our daughter Kelly. Paula and her share a birthday so we thought we'd go and see where she calls home now in Cerritos, Mexico 🇲🇽.

We have had some great times getting to see the area Kelly lives in, had some great food, enjoyed a church service Sunday, some beach time, and watched Kelly surf, play sand volleyball and we even sand a few karaoke songs last night. It's a wonderful way of living here. NO WORRIES.

Today we golf, tomorrow a sunset whale watch cruise, more golf and then head home. A great birthday celebration for the family. We miss having Kristin, Larry and Lea here, they would love it!!

KRISTIN AND LEA CAME TO VISIT

Paula and I drove up to San Antonio last weekend to spend a few days with Kristin and Lea. The only direct flight arrived Sunday afternoon. Paula and I went to Cornerstone Church with our friends Juvenal and Benita before the airport.

We picked the kids up after church and left our luggage at the hotel and made our way to the Rainforest Cafe on the Riverwalk. Free dinner at the hotel, swim time in the indoor pool, and then bed.

Monday was free breakfast then Legoland, Build a Bear, and Aqualand. Lots of walking but fun! Check out of hotel and head to Juvenal and Benitas house for dinner and two nights.

Tuesday we went to the Zoo and walked miles again. I went to get the car about a mile away and found a young lady struggling to change a tire near my car. It took a few minutes to change it and she was so thankful for the help. Back to the house for some delicious Brisket 😋, and then off to the movie Muffasa. The whole theater was ours.

We left for the Tower of America Wed morning and went to the top when it opened. The cold front arrived and it was very cold 🥶. 21 degrees. We took the kids to the airport and made the 4 hour drive home. It's cold, rainy and windy here for a few days. 80s next Wednesday.

DO NOT TRAVEL???

February has been a little crazy on the border since Donald Trump has been closing off access to our country. Our State Department has issued a "DO NOT TRAVEL" order to the State of Tamalipas, which includes Reynosa, Rio Bravo, Matamoros and other cities along the border.

I have not gone to Reynosa since January 20th because I knew the cartels would go crazy as the border gets closed. Paula continues to go and several people have been helping to keep things going. I'm not afraid to go to Reynosa, I'm just honoring my families wishes. We still go to Melodys Orphanage in Progresso and we're so glad they are there and out of Reynosa.

Our daughter Kristin and Lea are coming to San Antonio this weekend and we'll get to celebrate Leas 9th birthday which was on the 11th. We'll spend a few days there with them and enjoy the time if only for a few days.

JANUARY, A BUSY MONTH

Although January started out with a road trip to Phoenix, it ends with a short trip to Melodys Orphanage today. Rick and Diane Balmer are here from Illinois and will bless the kids with pizza today for lunch.

We experienced a severe cold 🥶 front last week. Below freezing Temps killed most of our plants and everyone else's as well. We took blankets to Mexico to give to anybody that needed one.

Paula went to Mexico to hold our monthly food outreach and was without electricity while her and China stayed overnight. No power in the morning, so Sergio and I stayed home and met the girls in Nuevo Progresso at Melodys Orphanage for lunch.

We have reconsidered our plans to drive 15 hours into Mexico to visit Paula's family. The new Trump administration has declared the cartels terrorist organizations and we think it best to keep a low profile for the near future.

A huge thanks to all that have supported us and the ministry. We got all the giving statements mailed out and we're always amazed at God's Favor by providing for us.

A FATHER DAUGHTER ROAD TRIP

After bringing in the New Year, Kelly and I headed to Arizona first thing on New Years day in her van. 17 hours later, we pulled into a remote camping spot in the mountains above Tuscon. A beautiful but chilly view when day broke. 32 degrees with a 930 tee time 30 minutes away. A beautiful course with cactus 🌵 all around.

We drove to Phoenix and met my cousin John and his wife Betty for dinner. Kelly dropped me off at long time friend Rodney's in North Phoenix. Friday we met Kelly for breakfast before she headed to California and then on to Cabo.

Saturday I met with another long time friend Fels that we went to school with. I headed back to Rodney's and we went and saw the movie Bonhaffer. Sunday we went to Calvary Church and had tacos for lunch.

Sunday night I met Lulu and her daughter Gina for supper. We were in a Bible study in Illinois for years together. Now they live in AZ. Rodney and I met Steve for breakfast Monday morning at cracker barrel before I headed to the airport. I met Steve on a missions trip last April when we took Melodys Orphanage to Creel to minister to the indigenous people there.

Now I'm home and it's chilly here. Highs in the 40s for a few days. I didnt get to visit everyone i know in Phoenix, but only a few days there made it a sprint not a marathon.

JESUS WAS GLORIFIED

It's always a joy when Ricky Caroll and his team from Alabama come between Christmas and New Years. Several weeks ago, he sent a truck load of shoe box gifts and backpacks to be handed out at 4 scheduled events. Hundreds of kids and adults came Saturday to the Community Center to sings praises to God, hear Jaimes message and then receive gifts, food, and other things. A trip down the road to a church in Progresso Mexico the same afternoon saw another 150 kids and adults, followed by a meal at Melodys Orphanage.

Sunday we attended pastor Juan's church for another outreach and meal. A full house with many standing outside because there was no more room inside. Another great outreach followed by tamales prepared by the women of the church.

Year end running around and paperwork is always fun. Ricky and Theresa took Paula. Me and Kelly out for breakfast this morning before heading home to Alabama.

Thanks to all that pray for us and support us and the orphanage.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

This Christmas, we are in South Texas where temperatures are expected to be in the mid 80s. No chance of a white Christmas here.

Last night Paula and I went to Melodys Orphanage for a Christmas Eve Celebration. We brought presents for everyone from us and a Sunday School Class at Calvary Baptist Church. A joyful event as Jaime shared the word from the Book of Isaiah and then we read 4 chapters from The book of Revelation.

A great feast of ribs, spaghetti and mashed potatoes, followed by a birthday cake for Jesus. Paula handed out all the gifts after we played a few games, that mirrored the games we played Saturday at our Sunday School Class party that Jaime and Rosalba were our guests. They took our classes gifts back to the Orphanage.

Today our park has a Christmas party as our daughter Kelly drives here from Colorado. We hoped she'd be here for last night's party, but she's still en route.

The next few days will be busy, as we spread more Christmas cheer with our monthly food outreach and gifts for everyone at several places. Handful of Purpose will arrive on Friday and all the shoe boxes they sent will be handed out.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF PRAYER AND FINANCIAL SUPPORTERS.

HIS STORY IN OUR LIVES

We moved to the TX/MX border in the Fall of '07 from Chicago, IL. We had been coming to Reynosa on short-term missions trips for over 10 years. Each time we left a little bit more of our hearts behind. Thru the circumstances of life Paula and I both agreed that now is the time to do that which gave us meaning and purpose in life. So we sold our home and came to the Rio Grand Valley at the southern most point of Texas. We have since joined with Mexico Missions Inc. to assist them with their childrens backpack programs in Mexico. Our mission is to reach the poorest of the poor in Mexico. We build homes, offer food and clothing to those in need, but most importantly we share the love and hope that is found in our Lord Jesus Christ. Living radical lives has expanded our vision and ministry from feeding hundreds of families to thousands.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP US REACH OUT TO THOSE IN NEED

Our ministry is totally supported by people like you.Since we did not raise our needed support before entering the mission field we continue to walk by faith that God will speak to the hearts of those of you reading our blog and joining us on short term trips to Mexico to help us help our brothers and sisters in Reynosa. If you would like to contribute to us personally, sponsor a child to attend school, give to the building of a home for a needy family, or even have us facilitate a food outreach, contact us via E-mail or send checks made out to MEXICO MISSIONS INC. and mail to our new address, P.O. Box 68 San Juan, Tx. 78589. If you would like to support us personally, put B&P in the memo column. If you would like to sponsor a specific outreach, list that as well in the memo column. All gifts are tax deductable. Child school sponsorship $400.00 per year per child, a newly designed home can be built with some help from the people in Mx. for a gift of $3800.00 or any portion thereof until enough money is raised to build one. Many houses could just use new roofing and some other fixes to make them more habitable. God Bless You as you give.