Mexico Missions with Bruce and Paula

YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES UPON YOU

Power to serve, Power to love, Power to trust, Power to overcome. These are just a few of the Powers you receive from The Holy Spirit. Many of these attributes were present when Power Ministry comes to town. Saturday they came back with group 2 to work on the house. We had put the loft in, rafters and purlins on before they came back to put the roof on and the windows and door.
Sunday Power came back with all 80 men for their worship and devotion time. It was an anointed time again. Paula sold out her quilts and took orders for another 10 that the girls are busy making.
Today Steve came with us to wire the house for electric. Our electricity went out, so Sergio bypassed the system and we ran a generator to keep the sewing machines running. Hopefully the roof metal I ordered comes in tomorrow so we can install the last two pieces we were short on the roof.
I managed to get all of the year end tax statements done and in the mail. What a blessing it was to see just how many people gave of their resources to support the ministry. I think there were about 90 different donors, how blessed are we! THANK you a thousand times over for your generous support.

We joined the Carpenter's Crew Friday as they dedicated Glories house in Progresso .

ANOTHER GREAT WEEK

Last week, we cut and painted the wood for the house next to the Community Center. The foundation has been there over a year. Power Ministry is coming to build it.
Sunday morning, 85 men from Power came to worship at our place . The men arrived to A table of Empanadas that Paula and China made, and coffee. They grabbed some of the snacks and sat down to worship. It's really a joyful noise. It reminded me of the Promise Keepers events I attended. I once again was able to strap on my guitar and join the worship team. The word was shared on sowing and reaping. One of my favorite subjects.
They bought all of Paula's quilts, many t shirts, one guy stuck a hundred dollars in my hand during a handshake. They left and headed to Alliansa Mega Church in Reynosa for their service. Sergio, Andres and I went as well.
Monday their team came to build. Scott Anderson was the team leader. We stayed at his house in California last Sept. When we attended Powers Golf Outing in Riverside. We got a lot done in only 5 working hours. Yesterday Power Ministry provided us with a load of beans and rice, and over 1000 bibles. They left town yesterday to head back to San Antonio to drop this group off and pick up group 2.

A SATURDAY TO REMEMBER

Last Saturday we held our monthly food outreach in the colonia. We had beans, rice, oil, flour and Christmas gifts for the kids. A mix up in communication brought the new colonia that's outside of Nopalera at the same time. We had over 400 people in attendance. The worship time led by David Garcia was awesome.
I told the people to pray for God to multiply the food, knowing we didn't have enough. I instructed those that came first to only take what they needed. If they had beans, don't take beans, and so on. We were able to give every family something. Praise the Lord! Power Ministry provided us with 200 soccer balls last month and Fortify Ministries gave us bags of stuffed animals. They were all given out to kids with a big smile on their face.
The Power Ministry comes next week to build a house next to the Community Center. The house will be used as a transition house for families in need, or for our faithful worker Andres and his family. Pastor Antonio and Johnny have been helping paint everything.
The Carpenter's Crew Senior group is in town and building a couple smaller houses in Progresso , Mexico. We're trying to balance the two teams, and Shawn and Carla Estes are helping the Crew with their building projects. There is very little gas available in Mexico all week, so I've been sifoning gas from my van to help them get to work and school.

BETTER IS ONE DAY, THAN THOUSANDS ELSEWHERE!!

We arrived home Friday afternoon from our 10 day missions trip to Chiapas for Christmas. 5 great outreaches in 5 different cities. We spent Saturday running errands , doing laundry, opening a pile of mail, and then repacking for another trip to Big Heart Orphanage in the mountains near Saltillo. Mark Peterson brought a group from several different states to build Gator an office. So we spent Christmas in Chiapas ,and now wish you a Happy New Year to you from the Mexican State of Coahuila.
Thanks for the year end gifts to the ministry, we really appreciate it. We loved all the beautiful Christmas cards we got. We trust 2019 will be a great one as we draw closer to the coming of our Lord. Ministry looks different from past years, group cancellations amidst the ongoing violence along the border. We heard of several incidents that happened today in Reynosa. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and Reynosa. See y'all next year, Lord willing.

A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER

Our Christmas morning was an early wake up to drive even farther into the mountains in Chiapas. 3 hrs later we arrived in a town i can neither pronounce or spell. The team from JOB was already doing their drama and evangelism program to 300 kids. We had to get cooking on the hot dogs.
The doctors, dentist, and hair cutters were already busy. The team started handing out hot dogs and juice and then the backpacks. You should have seen their faces as they opened their gifts. Probably the only gift they got.
As we prepared the food bags for the women, I realized we didn't have enough. Phil and I made the hike straight up a steep road to a store and bought what we needed. We took a three wheel taxi back down the hill and the kids at the store followed us to get some toys.
We drive back to San Cristobol De Las Casa for the night and headed down the mountain to Tuxtla Guitierez. We stopped at a famous canyon boat ride into the canyon. Well worth the 2 hr wait. Today the girls and Matthew went downtown while Phil and I went to the only golf club in town. A member had to guest us and the only connection we had was the guy we bought all the candy from Last week. #divineconnections.
We fly out early tomorrow morning and should be home by 2pm. Thanks for all the prayers and support for this trip. Buying toys for 2000 kids, and all the food, hotels, air fare, and all the expenses involved,ain't cheep, but God provides.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL FROM CHIAPAS MEXICO

The last 5 days in Chiapas have been a blessing to us and the many people we have been serving. Today was by far the most challenging, only because of rain and muddy roads. The men, women and children still came to what turned out to be great event, in spite of the weather.
Everything was a little slower because of the rain, but the doctors and dentists still saw everyone. The children all got toys for Christmas, over 300 hot dogs were made, we got the vehicles out of the mud, the Gospel was preached, lives were changed. We even managed to have Christmas tonight with the 18 people we've been traveling with all week. We each drew a name and got a little something for each. We sang a few songs, prayed over Paula's health and now are trying to get to sleep amidst all the fireworks going off.
We're so blessed to have a family back in the U.S. that understands our calling to serve the poorest of the poor in Mexico.
We've fallen in love with the people we serve and serve along side off.

DAY 4 IN CHAIPAS

Every morning we drive 2 to 3 hours into remote villages that speak the Tzotzil language. What a precious culture.

Prayers for continued success on our mission.

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.