NO CATCHY TITLE, JUST JESUS IN ACTION
Today; Hundreds of people lined up for beans and rice this morning and we prayed that we would experience a miracle and have enough bags of food that Carmelo, Ruth, Beto and Lucy prepared before we arrived. Well, God did a loaves and fishes miracle and everyone that came got a bag of food, and we prayed for some who were sick and some that had needs beyond the physical. Within a few hours, the crowd was gone and God gets the glory. We asked that they would pray that next month, provision would be made to do this again. It's not much, but it lets them know that God cares for thier needs. The other photos are from yesterday when we gave out some packpacks given to us by Phil and Marilyn Chain from Mexico Missions.Org in Cancun. The kids were at the Baptist Church where the Rodriguez family attends and we came after dedicating thier house. The Rodriguez family was overwhelmed when they opened the door to thier new house all decorated by Paulas' special touch. They wondered what we were doing for the two hours it took to fix everything just right while they waited . Tears filled thier eyes as they entered the house. Lizet is 16 years old and now has her own bed and her own personal space. Abagail was equally joyful with her own bed and some Barbies and other toys and stuffed animals. Brawlio was brought to tears as well, and trust me, Mexican men don't cry very often. Pastor Eduardo gave a message and probably 20 people were there for the dedication. Ruthies birthday was Tues. as well as her and Carmelos anniversary, so Paula brought burgers over and we had two tres' leches cakes to celebrate. A GREAT WEEK IN THE LIVES OF ALL THAT GOD TOUCHED BY HIS MERCY.
WHAT DO SERVANTS DO ? SERVE!!!
We serve a God that meets our needs. I dont' know what we would do without Carmel and Beto. With no teams coming to help build these houses, we are so blessed to have thier help. They could build these houses themselves after helping us build everyone we have built. My knees are really hurting lately, so thier help is such a blessing. We also had plenty of help from the family when it came time to stand up a wall in the wind. It was 105 degrees today and we still managed to get four walls up with just the four of us. Tommorrow is Carmelo and Ruths' anniversary and also Ruths' birthday so we'll work a few hours on Tuesday and then take them out to dinner or grill at thier house. We will finish the house Wed and dedicate it on Thursday before the service at the Baptist Church under the bridge where the Rodriguez Family attends church. We will bring backpacks filled with gifts for the kids on Thursday. We are asking for and collecting shoes for the kids in the colonia for school. Black only shoes in kids sizes please, and mail them to us. We also need sponsors for kids to go to school. $100.00 for the whole year. Education is the only way out of the colonia and into a decent job. GRACIAS EXCEL , you really blessed the Rodriguez family with a much needed house.
THE HEAT IS ON BABY !!!!!
Twenty days in a row over 100 degrees and there's no end in sight to the heat. Isaiah 58 vs 11 says" God will satisfy our needs in a sun scorched land and will always guide us" and I have to say, I read Is. 58 almost every day and have seen this scripture fullfilled in Paulas and My life here. Our needs have been met, thanks to all who support us and yesterday God guided us to visit Reynas' house that we built last week and her son had come from Mexico City to visit and he accepted Christ as his Savior as Paula and our friend Benita from San Antonio shared the love that God has for him and with tear filled eyes he bowed his head and prayed with us. So God used this little house that we built as a springboard for the Gospel to be proclaimed. So how much is a soul worth anyhow? Al, Lynnea,Roger,Mickey and Nicky drove all the way from Chgo to build a house that someone else paid for so that God could use that to further His Kingdom in the heart of Jorge'. So for approx. four thousand dollars a soul is eternally secure in Christ. We have still another house to build because of the generosity of Excel Electric in Frankfort Il. The foundation is ready and the family of four is excited about getting off the ground and into a home with a floor and walls and a real roof. To make room for the foundation , they dissasembled thier house made of pallets and built a makeshift house with the scrape wood using tarps as walls. A few days of rest and we'll build on Monday, Lord willing! The umbrellas collected at Moraine Valley Church in Palos Heights Il. our home church for 15 years have been a huge blessing to the women in the colonia. They also provided enough money to buy 5000lbs of rice and beans that we distribute twice a month to all who come. Paulas' mom continues to improve from her broken hip, but at 94 years young her healing is coming slowly. It was hard to be in chgo without her but, it was so good to see ya'll and to spend time with our oldest daughter Kristin. Many people blessed me with meals and free golf while I was there and still others laid up some treasure in heaven with financial gifts to build houses, buy food and much needed mosquito nets for our brothers and sisters in Christ here in Mexico. Thanks to all, we love you and thank God for you. ADIOS
FAITH EXPRESSED IN LOVE BY GIVING
When God provides the money to build a home we all rejoice, but when God provides the money to build three houses, all heaven rejoices along with us because we extend our faith and build foundations for houses and then we pray with the family and ask God to provide the money to finish the houses. Thus was the case with the 3 families trusing God to provide and He did. We built two of the houses this week with Alan and Lynnea Wells, Roger Ault, Mickee and Nicky Smit from our church back in Illinois who drove down, along with Scott Kincaid and of course our friends in the colonia Carmelo and Beto. It was over a hundred degrees every day this week but after four days of hard work, Laura and her husband Lupe' along with thier daughter Elizabeth, Son Julian and his wife and child had one house and a lovely lady named Reyna recieved the other house with gladness because now her handicapped adult daughter can come and live with her. As you can see in the photos, Paula and Lynnea did a beautiful job decorating each house. The miracle is in the words of the families expressing thier faith in God thru Jesus Christ and how they trusted God to provide a house one day, and then to watch God speak to people to donate money to build them. We don't build these houses, God does!!! Thanks to all of our good and faithfull friends in Chicago for being an answer to the prayers of our brothers and sisters in Mx. for giving to the needs and also for coming here. We love and Bless you in Jesus name.
Lynnea's hot days in Mexico
After our December trip my husband Alan suggested we come down in July and build a house. I laughed but here we are. After a 23 hour drive from Chicago with 4 men sharing the drive it was great to arrive. Bruce and Paula fed us breakfast and within 2 hours we were at the colonia painting and building in heat of 100 + degrees, which we have had everyday. Not being acclimated to the heat and not having much sleep we were all wiped out by noon. Having 3 walls accomphlished we made an early day of it. We decided to come earlier the next day and leave by 1pm. Day 2 we had more energy and stayed the entire day completing the house. We were thankful for a breeze and the shade of the many mesquite trees. We were able to build and furnish 2 homes within 4 days.
There is a food outreach the 15th and 30th of each month. Within an hour and a half the food which consists of rice, beans, oil, and salt was running so low Bruce and Alan went to get more, but it was not availabe. The $600.00 worth of food fed about 150 families, about half of the colonia.
On Tuesday after taking Mike and Nick to the airport the 3 amigos, Bruce, Alan and Roger went golfing in 103 degree heat. Paula and I stayed home and made curtains for 3 homes and then went shopping to furnish the homes with the basics. As Nicky said on the previous blog these Mexican people are so moved by the Americano people that God uses to share so much with them.
Back home in Chicago many people have told us what an honarable task we do. I usually would feel uncomfortable and say thank you. The honor goes to God. I am thankful that he has chosen us to minister and thankful for all the many people who support this ministry so houses can be built, souls given to Christ, people fed, skills taught, friends made......!
Rise and shine and give God the glory.
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