Mexico Missions with Bruce and Paula

NO FEAR WHEN SERVING THE LORD!

Hulls Grove Baptist Church that arrived Saturday to a busy day. We held our monthly food outreach and garage sale in the afternoon upon arriving at the Community Center. A smaller than usual group came, but we had prepared hot dogs and chips for everyone.
Sunday we attended church at Melodys Orphanage in Reynosa and also celebrated Rosalbas birthday party. We returned to the colonia for Zotchills Quincinera held also at the Community Center. A beautiful evening. Hulls Grove Church built their house 5 years ago and have wanted to pay for the Quincinera.
Today we had a 2 hour devotion before heading to Melodys Orphanage to paint and do some other projects. It rained off and on all day revealing some roof leaks in the kitchen. We got several walls and one bedroom painted. We'll head back tomorrow morning for more fun.
We're going to Senda De Vida home for the wandering migrants on Wednesday to bring food and health supplies, and pay the electric bill there. Thursday, we're off to Big Heart Orphanage in the mountains near Saltillo and return the same day.

GOD STILL MOVES IN THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE

I know my last post was a slight rant, but it was a somewhat of a call to obey for some. We recieved a certified letter the morning we left for California. It was enough to almost cover the entire electric bill at Senda De Vida home for the wandering migrants trying to get asylum status. Another call has a donor sending money for food for them as well. Oh me of little faith. But at the same time, people need to be made aware of the needs, so thank you to those that responded.
We spend the last several days with Scott and Kristy Anderson in Riverside, California for the annual golf outing fundraising event for Power Ministry. We connected with a lot of the Power guys and all asked about my health. We also played some golf, visited the beach, and watched God provide for Power Ministry and the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed to fund their ministry. The golf and dinner was awesome, and we were blessed to be there.
Our week ended with golf, filled by dinner, followed by Scott and Kristys home bible study and prayer time. We were prayed for and also able to share about our ministry with the group.
We're so thankful for the divine appointments with so many new people. A few men from Power plan to bring their wives down to visit us and the ministry's Power supports, that will be fun.
Thanks for praying for us and allowing God to use you to further His Kingdom and bless si many.

WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE, WE NEED MORE HELP!!!

I just got a call from the refugee camp in Reynosa, Senda De Vida. As people wait for their appointed time before an immigration judge, they wait in their little tents with only one fan to keep them cool. The director just called me asking for help paying the electric bill there which has doubled each month they take in more refugees.
My last post shows the crowded facility and some of the people there. Our donations can't cover all the needs they have so we're asking God to pour out His Blessings through his people. Many people have come to South Texas lately with concerns about the people in camps in Mexico. Thousands of dollars are spent to "come and see", but so far 0 in aid. It's just sad to think of all we have and all the good that could be done if we just opened our hands and Let it go.
I put out a plea for backpacks and school supplies for the kids in the orphanage a couple weeks ago, guess how many we collected? 0!!! Jaime told me that a store in Reynosa gave him some for the kids. God can use anyone, but He wants us to be involved in what He wants to accomplish. That's where the blessing is.
Enough ranting, I'm heading to the bank to get some electricity money.
We had a beautiful wedding at the Community Center Sunday evening. Madi and Miguel had their official church style service. It was a lot if work, but it was a joy to serve them and their friends and family.

SO MANY NEEDS

It's a whole different scene on the other side of the border for the refugees. We took a few people from Lufkin Texas to Mexico on Saturday to visit Senda De Vida home for the wandering migrants. Hundreds of people are living in tents, on the floor, under a tarp, in the soccer field. It's the reality of the situation.
We toured the facility and talked to many of the migrants. They are from every part of the world. Not just central America. We met two women from West Africa, trying to get to the US. We prayed with several people before we left. We also gave several hundred dollars to buy some much needed hygiene products, cereal for the kids, milk, potatoes, eggs, and whatever else they needed. We crossed a bunch of donated candy, and juice boxes last week and brought it there. We got charged 400 dollars to cross it all. OUCH! The line was to long to go back, so I had to pay it.
We also stopped at Melodys Orphanage to allow the group to visit there, before heading to the colonia and show them the work we do there. We got word that a friend, Domocillio had died. He had struggled with diabetes for years. We had paid for a much needed amputation of his leg a few years ago. He and his wife Aquillina we're in the first group we provided weddings for, 4 years ago. He's got a great Godly family, so it was a celebration at his funeral Sunday.
I've only got 3 more cardiac rehab sessions left, and then I'm on my own to continue regular exercise. We're looking to buy a used treadmill to go along with the bike, stairclimber, and gazelle we don't use, LOL!

CELEBRATING THOSE THAT SERVE

Last Friday I was asked if we could take a delegation of pastors and leaders from different churches in mainly Florida and a few other states, to Mexico to see first hand how refugees are taken care of there. We agreed to take them to Senda De Vida. They house, feed and minister to those seeking asylum, or have been deported. They are way over capacity and struggle to meet the needs of so many.
Unfortunately with the long lines at the bridge coming back, they decided not to go across. We instead had a great informational meeting, followed by the event for which they came. To bless and provide for the needs of our Border patrol agents and their families. What an honor to serve them and shake their hands and say thank You! A trunk load of food, loaded backpacks for the kids, a blow up water park, food, drinks and a generous gift card to every family was given. A great time, meeting them and the people that put on the event. We're trusting God to raise up some new support from the connections to provide some aid to those on the other side of the border. That is what they expressed a desire to do.

JUST DO WHAT'S PUT BEFORE YOU

With the record heat down here, and my total lack of desire to do much outside, Rosa who lives in Progresso, Mexico has been waiting patiently for her roof to be replaced. Well, yesterday was the day, inspire of the heat. Me and 5 guys tackled the project in only 3 hours. WHEW! It was so hot, even at 8 in the morning. It wasn't the prettiest of jobs, but the house had 3 add ons, all crooked!. We had lunch and we're home by 1.
When the guys returned to the colonia, they found the fire department putting out a house fire that destroyed Salvadors house. He's blind and was burning garbage that caught his house on fire. I guess there's another project put before us!

LIVING EXPECTANTLY

My last post, I wrote, " I can't wait to see what God is going to do next". Well once again God showed up as we ministered to the needs of the people in places that missionaries don't go. Up in the mountains near Puebla Mexico and 5 hours north of there.
People from Oklahoma, Texas, Our daughter from Colorado, Chiapas, Puebla, Masaguah, in Mexico, a Pastor from Guatemala

came to serve. Doctors, dentists, pharmaceutical workers, barbers, shoe shiners, hot dog cookers, evangelists, prayer warriors, clowns, face painters, gallon blowers, lovers of God and people. As as a result hundreds of men women and children got saved.
What a great trip!!! Thanks for all the prayers and support, we can't do without it.

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.