Mexico Missions with Bruce and Paula

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.

WE'RE BACK AND READY FOR CHRISTMAS

We arrived back in Texas on Wednesday night and were amazed to find out that the entire truck load of toys had been unloaded and everything was already in Mexico. Wow!!! We came home thinking we would have to spend several days getting over 3000 shoe box gifts and backpacks across. Once again, God provided the perfect people, trailers and vans to get it all across.

Our outreaches are scheduled for December 28th, 29th and 30th. Ricky Carroll will bring his team from Alabama on the 27th. Handful of Purpose collected all the gift boxes and backpacks.

Normally this season, Phil, Marianne and us would head to Puebla Mexico to give out backpacks, toys, and many other things. This year however, we donated the funds to buy the 2000 gifts and put the outreach into the hands of some faithful servants, and we can all stay home for Christmas.

Tomorrow we'll have our Christmas party in the Community Center in Reynosa. All the people that help with the ministry will be there, as well as Paula's sewing class. The 21st is our Sunday School Class party and once again, the class is buying gifts for the children at Melodys Orphanage.

BURRR ITS COLD HERE

Paula and I have been braving the cold for the last week. Highs 25, Lows 15 degrees. These Texans cant handle it anymore.Thanksgiving was great, our family and Paula's family joined us at our townhouse in Dyer Indiana. Kelly was here from Colorado, glad to have missed a 2 foot snowfall.

We head home tomorrow and a truckload of toys arrives today in Texas. The Lord has provided a group of people to get it unloaded. We're so thankful for those that help us. 4000 shoe box gifts, 600 backpacks, and whatever else they have loaded on the truck, will make for a Merry Christmas for the kids in Mexico.

It's been a good time here and sad at the same time. Our good friend and supporter of the ministry for many years is in the hospital. Prayers for a complete healing!!

We are still in need of many people to join us in support of Melodys Orphanage. So people often say they'll pray about helping, but why??? Just help the orphans, the poor, and the widows.

ITS THE HOLIDAY SEASON???

Did this year go fast or what?? The election is over, America dogged a huge spiritual bullet. 🙏 Does the prayers of the Saints make a difference?? I'd like to think so!!! 🤔. No, I know so!

We head to Chicago today, for a few weeks, to spend Thanksgiving with family.

The appeal we have made to some people to join us in support of Melodys Orphanage has a few new supporters. We still need many more to get them funded. Our goal was 100 people to give $50.00 a month. We've gotten 5 so far!! Would you prayfully consider joining us in support of Melodys Orphanage?? There are several ways to donate, both through a 501C3 and directly to the Orphanage without the deduction. Call me for information on how you can help. 708 528 4622 or email me brucehepburn@yahoo.com.

ITS BEEN A WHILE

Sorry about the delay in posting something. We drove back to Texas and held our monthly food outreach in the colonia as soon as we got home. It was raining pretty hard so I didn't attend, but Paula was there and a lot of people came.

We visited the orphanage several times, Power Ministry scout out trip was here a couple weeks ago. I spent a day with them visiting different missionaries they support. They stopped by Melodys Orphanage to see the place. They're not building anything down here next year, just focusing on evangelism this trip. We did stop by Kaleo International Ministry in Reynosa and El Fugon for tacos.

The kids at Melodys Orphanage are doing great, we're not sure how many people will be supporting them as we try to get it funded. One supporter that has been very generous thru the past will no longer be able to support Melodys and that leaves a huge need every month, but God is and always has provided for them.

I spent the last few days power washing our trailer and concrete, it sure looks nice!! Paula and I will be coming back north for Thanksgiving through early December. We need to get back to Texas to unload thousands of children's shoe box gifts from Handfull of Purpose and get them across the border for Handfuls Christmas programs December 27th 28th and 29th.

I'm hoping to get a newsletter out soon, so stay tuned!! Thanks for the prayers and support 🙏 🙌 ❤️

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.