Mexico Missions with Bruce and Paula

WHAT IF??????

What if? How many times have we asked that question? What if I had done things differently ? What if we never went on a missions trip 21years ago. What if we never helped people in need. What if we just held on to the resources God has entrusted us with? What if the Holy Spirit stopped leading and guiding us? What if we just stopped procrastinating about the calling we know God has put in our heart to step out in faith and trust God. What if ? What if? What if?
I should have never started out posting this! What a rabbit hole that is. There are a bazillion what ifs in life. So what if we just simplify it all? What if we just Loved God and Loved people, period!
Loving God, kinda easy, sort of, providing that love doesn't disrupt "our" life too much . Loving people, let me know how that goes.
Father, help us to walk in your perfect love for people. Your kind of love is the standard, not the exception. Amen

SO MUCH ACCOMPLISHED IN A FEW DAYS

The last 4 days has had the Carpenter's Crew busy, busy, busy. Three projects kept everyone engaged in the colonia. Building a house for Yeraldy and her son Alejandro, putting a porch on her mother's house, Blanca, next door. We also built a huge outhouse for the two families to share, and also built an elevated water tank storage platform.
We started Monday, and battled very strong winds both Monday and Tuesday . Blanca porch was done on the first day, and everything else was ready by days end on Wednesday .
Yesterday we held our monthly food outreach at the Community Center , so the Crew could distribute the shoe box gifts they brought. We started with worship and prayer before the Doctors Without Borders arrived to hold a clinic and give info about their free clinic in Reynosa .
170 families were there on a chilly morning . Most of the kids were in school and the per school kids got all the gifts. Many came forward for prayer for various reasons , one of which was the whole colonia was grieving the loss of two sisters killed in a car accident, that leaves 5 kids without their mothers. So sad!!
After the despensa , Shawn and Carla Estes took the Crew to the garbage dump in Reynosa to bless those that live and work in the dump. Paula and I stayed behind to get everything loaded for the house dedication .
When the Crew came back, we headed to the dedication. The food the family prepared was ready, so we ate first and then dedicated the house. Roy Day shared scripture, Pastor Jaime and Pastor Antonio both shared a word with the family, and Blanca was reduced to tears and re committed her life to Christ and her son in law prayed to receive the gift of salvation . What a GREAT DAY!!! The whole family was so blessed by the entire team all week. Two ladies from Michigan joined us for the week as their scheduled mission trip was cancelled and they came anyhow. Sabina and Kari we're a huge blessing and a great help on the build. George Bladey joined us yesterday and know Sebinas father in law in Michigan. It's a small world afterall.
The week before last, Paula and I were blessed with an all expense paid trip to South Carolina to join the generous couple for a few days. A great time indeed.

A FACE LIFT FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER

The Net Menders Ministry came in Tuesday and painted the Community Center, inside and out. A team of 13 ladies came to mend our nets. That's what they do. They don't reinvent the wheel , they come every year to help established ministries. The community center has been blessed by them for years. They built the kitchen, tiled the floor, and now fresh paint. Gracias!!!
We're getting ready for the Carpenter's Crew coming next week. We have by the Grace of God avoided the flu so far, but the changes in weather makes it hard. Yesterday 74 at sunrise, 11 am 50 and rainy.
The generosity of people never ceases to amaze us. At years end, I always empty the ministry checking account, #1, to trust God to provide for the coming year , #2, to avoid paying tax on money we have at years end. So, God put a few ministries on my heart to bless, orphanages, a couple t.v. ministries , and the Salvation Army . Two weeks later we're sitting at Rudys Barbeque Restaurant with the Power Ministry guys . Three days later we get a check in the mail for exactly twice as much as we have at years end. The more said, " as I was sitting eating my supper, God told me to give this to you guys". Wow!. When we let go of what's in our hand, God opens his.

IT IS INDEED, AMAZING GRACE !!!!

Sunday morning, the Power Ministry guys, 65 in all, came to the Community Center for their last day in Mexico . We had coffee and sweet bread ready for their arrival . After 3 long weeks, with 3 different teams, spending themselves on behalf of the poor and oppressed in Mexico. Several building projects along the border stretched them all.
Joining them in their worship time, communion , and the Word is always a joy. It is an Amazing time with them . We appreciate the support they give to many ministries , supplying , food and financial support.

GARBAGE DUMP OUTREACH/ HOUSE DEDICATION

Saturday we joined Shawn and Carla Estes, the Carpenter's Crew and several others at the garbage dump in Reynosa and blessed 75 families with food, backpacks, tarps, jackets and blankets. Jaime came and shared the Good news of the Gospel, and 48 bibles were given out. Jaime and I left the people in worshipping in song.
Monday, the Power Ministry guys came back to finish Marianna s house. Guys started building the porch, wiring the house, painting, putting in the loft window and finally putting the roof on the porch. Unfortunately the wiring wasn't done by the time they had to leave. We had a few minutes of prayer with the family before they left at 12:30.
We finished the wiring and Paula, China, Yolanda and her daughter Alma decorated the house to make it all pretty. Jaime shared a message and Marianna two brothers, Jesus and Juan accepted Christ as Saviour. Tears filled our eyes as they surrendered their lives to Christ. Marianna and her kids entered into their new house, and the kids were overwhelmed with screams of joy.
What a great time building with Power Ministry and helping them get siding and roofing materials for the other projects they had in Reynosa.

CRAZY BUSY AS ALWAYS

After the record numbers on 3 Kings Day, we had to pour two foundation's to get Ready for the Power Ministry guys coming last Monday.
Sergio and I joined Power for their morning worship and devotion in Hidalgo Texas, at Border Missions. We got a late start building but got the main house built and roofed by days end. Next Monday they're sending another team to build the orch and dedicate the house.
The Senior Carpenter's Crew has been working all week in Progresso Mexico on 3 projects. Shawn and Carla Estes have been helping them while we've been with Power.
Today I take Paula to an Orthopedic surgeon to assess her MRI we got on her knee last week. It doesn't look good for avoiding surgery. Her right knee has tears in the meniscus. Pray for healing, and or a speedy recovery. Off to the doc, Adios!

A 3 KINGS DAY CELEBRATION

Today we held our monthly food outreach and also celebrated 3 Kings Day. It's a bigger celebration in Mexico than Christmas. Wise men still seek Jesus!
There were 250 adults and 250 children. Thanks to all that support the ministry, we were able to buy hundreds of gifts for everyone. The preparation began weeks ago, buying blankets, umbrellas, and toiletries for the adults, and hundreds of soccer balls, dolls, backpacks filled with toys, and candy. We also purchased 20 Rosca cakes and made coffee and hot chocolate for everyone. We rented 2 tents, and 200 chairs to make sure we had seats for everyone.
The Christian Mariachi band we had last spring came again and played for the adults, while David and his wife Luzma entertained the kids, along with St Nick. Many vollenteers made it all come off with out a hitch.
A small team staying at Big Heart Orphanage came Thursday and moved tons of dirt and gravel to clean the lot for the tents, also inflated the soccer balls. We poured the concrete floor on the lot just in time to set up the tents.
Thank you to all that support us and the ministry to make these outreaches possible.

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.