JESUS WAS HERE

It is really hard to describe a day when a team of 45 people, along with several of our Mexican friends from the colonia, gather around the houses they just built. They brought gifts and furnishings for the houses and decorated them both beautifully as the families waited patiently in the shack that used to be called home. The smell of chicken and mole' filled the air as we all gathered around Isaia and Rubies house first. We brought the other family, Eliazar, Julianna and their six kids to witness a dedication that would soon grip their hearts. Isaia's neighbor Diego was around and He showed me some needs for their house and Raul had shared the gospel with him, as well as Carmelo and me last week. I had one extra full sized bed and asked Diego if He could use it, and his eyes lit up as he took us into his house where a rolled up foam pad was all him and his wife slept on, on top off an old frame. He recieved the gift with joy and thanksgiving. Diego told me he had never been to church since moving to the colonia some years back. I invited him to the dedication and as we dedicated the house and members of the team shared about how God had sent them there to build this house for Isaia and his family, the Spirit of God started moving in Diegos'  heart. We prayed over the family and the new house that God had given them and I took a bible over to Diego along with Carmelo and we shared the plan of salvation with him and he surrendered his life to Christ and asked for forgiveness and cleansing of his heart. WOW! It was a a divine appointment at just the right time. It was hard to get everyone moving a few blocks down the road as we all toured the new house and took some pictures, but Ruby loaded up the chicken and mole into my truck, even though she wanted us to stay and eat. We knew that Jullianna had prepared food as well and we brought 600 hot dogs, juice boxes and chips to share with the whole colonia. The next dedication had us all in tears as Eliazar and Jullianna also excepted Christ as their Personal Savior as Paula gave them the invitation, and Kim shared about Gods love for them not willing that should perish. As Eliazar scooped his wife into his arms and carried her into their new house, they both wept as they looked around at their new house and all the beautiful furnishings. Before long, all six kids were huddled around their parents in a family group hug, crying and rejoicing at the same time. I can't hardly continue as I relive it all as I type. Jullianna and Ruby set all the food that they had prepared for the team, fried chicken and chicken and mole'. rice, tortillas, coca-cola, salad and a whole lota love! By now scores of people were gathering around in the street in anticipation of hot dogs, juice boxes, shoe box gifts for the kids, and the monthly food give away that we usually do on the last Saturday of the month, which would be today, but we did it while the Carpenters Crew was here, so they could experience the joy of meeting the needs of these precious people with the rice they raised the money to buy. As if the day had not been emotional enough, we had to say goodbye to all the new friends they now had in the colonia and just as is my own personal custom, to change all the plans mid steam, I told them that we were going to Casa Mami Orphanage instead of heading back across the border. Most of the team wanted to do that, but we eliminated it from the plans because of time and safety concerns. But since God was moving so powerfully, I figured LETS GO. A tired and weary group came to life as we pulled up to the orphanage, just as the kids got out of school. Nothing short of an AWESOME day as the younger ones started playing with the kids and the rest of the Crew took the tour of the orphanage. The kids all lined up and sang a couple of songs as we got ready to leave. On a scale of one to ten, today was 150 million.!!! Jesus showed up big time, in the form of a bunch of crazy Americanos' laying down their lives as a living sacrifice, holy, perfect and acceptable in the eyes of God. After all isn't that what this life is all about? A million thanks to the Carpenters Crew or should I say Crews' because two groups came and lived out the Gospel right before my very eyes. The "more mature' group last month and the "younger group" this week. We love the whole lot of em, even Roy. So that long story was just one day in the life of me and Paula, and it never gets old. Yesterday Brad, Mark, Bob and Me got to play a round of golf while the rest of the team went Padre Island and Progresso for the day. Thanks guys I needed that! Tomorrow Paula and I drive 15 hours to her families house in central Mexico as they celebrate Paulas' Moms' life being gone for a year now. We are hoping to connect with the Hemphill family working in the mountains of Gerrero Mexico, they are creating a written language and translating the bible into it once they figure it all out, good luck with that! They about 8 hours from where we will be. Pray for us as we travel and minister to our family there. ADIOS