Mexico Missions with Bruce and Paula

THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES

Paula and I drove back from her sister's house 750 miles away into Mexico. The A/C quit when it was 107 degrees out. 3 hours later we stopped for gas, I opened the hood and just prayed 🙏. I started the car, and the prayer was answered.

Our monthly food outreach was a few days later and Andres bought the food, Pastor Juan brought vegetables and Jaime brought the message. Our last week in Texas and we head to Illinois after a few doctors appointments.

I left for Illinois with a stop in Oklahoma to visit Phil and Marianne Chain for a few days, while Paula stayed back to take care of a few things. I made it to Indiana for Father's day where Kristin, Larry, Lea, Gabby and GG were spending the day on the Lake. A great day indeed. I did have to change a flat tire on my trailer though.

We're glad to be here, and are seeking God's guidance for our future in ministry and our family time. Splitting our time seems to be the direction we're going. Buying a townhouse seems best, so we can leave before the snow flies. After 18 years in Texas, We don't do snow!!

Last weekend we attended a family surprise birthday party for my cousin 70th birthday. Sunday we went to church. Ate lunch and then drove to Indiana for a wedding. Please be praying for us and those that are keeping the ministry going while we're gone. God holds our future in His hands and knows our needs.

Melodys Orphanage is in the process of building an addition on the orphanage to allow them to have a bigger kitchen. The older kids have worked along with a volunteer that knows construction. A lot of mixing and pouring cement.

MELODYS CONSTRUCTION HAS BEGUN

After arriving home from a week visiting Paula's family, we held our monthly food outreach on June 1st. While we were away, Jaime and Rosalba signed the final papers making the orphanage theirs.

Some generous donations came in which enabled the orphanage to start construction of the bigger kitchen. The older boys are doing most of the build, which is keeping the labor costs at a minimum.

Paula and I have been loading our little trailer up with stuff to bring up to Illinois this week. Our plans are to find a place to purchase in the area of our family. 18 years in the mission field in Mexico and we feel its time for a little break. It's so hot here and we can use some cooler weather.

We look forward to seeing everyone and a few weddings and anniversary parties to attend are a great excuse to head north. I guess we'll be considered snowbirds, heading back to Texas for the winter.

Ministry will continue while we're gone, God has already put in place people that have served with us for years. We took several pallets of beans today to border mission that they will give out. Semco Mfg continues to be a huge blessing to us for storing and loading beans for us.

THE HEAT IS ON BABY

Paula's family in Central Mexico was throwing a surprise birthday party for her sister Verna on the 25th, so we thought it good to make the drive 15 hours to celebrate with the family. We stopped at Rancho Viejo for a night and I was able to walk 36 holes of golf in two days. No carts, only a caddie, I wouldn't be able to carry my clubs 18 holes at that altitude. 9000 feet above sea level.

We drove another hour to Tejulpilco where the family lives. Soooo hot here! 100 degrees and nobody has A/C here. We're staying at Paula's neices house on the outskirts of town. A little cooler, but not much. They do have a pool though.

The birthday party was yesterday and was very nice to see all of Paula's family together at one time. It's hard to see everyone when your only here for a few days. Great food and a great surprise party. We returned back to where we are staying to witness two big party's on both sides of the house. Loud music is necessary for these events 😆 🤣.

Things back in Texas are even hotter than here with heat indexes of 118 degrees. Jaime and Rosalba signed the final papers on the new orphanage and they are soo happy it's theirs. Well be heading North tomorrow some time and hope to be home Tuesday.

We've met some new people here and they own a couple of nice event places and we might hold an outreach here sometime. We met the President of the town and a few others that are encouraging us to come. This town is full of hard working, good people that need Jesus as the Center of their life.

A WHIRLWIND MONTH

Since arriving back from our missions trip to Chihuahua, the paperwork for the orphanage is in the process. We paid for the building, and gave the lawyer half of his fee to do the paperwork. Jaime, Rosalba and the kids started moving everything as soon as they signed the papers.

The monthly food outreach was another great day. We gave each child gifts for The Day of the Child, the women got a gift bag for Mother's Day, and the men also got an early gift for Father's Day. Jaime brought Birthday 🎂 to celebrate my birthday on May 10th, which is also Mothers Day in Mexico 🇲🇽.

The birthday celebrations continued all week with another on Wednesday, Friday, and another on Sunday at the orphanage. During the week, a load of beans arrived, and the guys at Semco had most of it unloaded by the time I got there. Several ministries continue to come for beans and rice.

Paula and I had to fly to Illinois for her neices funeral. Only 4 days there, we had to return for a scheduled surgery on our cat Shadow. He's fine! This week we drive into Mexico 14 hours to visit Paula's family. Her sister turns 90 and there's a party planned, so we'll be there for that.

Please be praying for her niece's family, her family in Mexico and us, as we consider our future as we look to spend more time with family.

IT'S OFFICIAL, THE MELODYS FAMILY HAS A FOREVER HOME!!! YAY

A few weeks ago we took the entire orphanage on a missions trip to Chihuahua, knowing that God was working to get them a forever home in Nuevo Progresso Mexico.

Although the 5 bedroom 3 bath home is a little small for the 18 people, it's theirs!! We gave the previous owners a check for $70,000.00 last week, and Jaime and Rosalba started the tedious process of moving everything and everyone 30 miles. The question has been asked about where the money came from? 🤔 We have been saving some generous donations for such a time as this. Although we continued to support Melodys monthly, we managed to keep those donations separate until a permanent residence was found.

Thank you all that have been a part of this process and we continue to pray 🙏 for continued provision for them. The building has sufficient space to build a second floor for more rooms and a rooftop playground for the kids 😀. I have a few pictures here, but if you'll send me your email i can forward a post, or you can check out Mexico Missions. Org. If you would like to donate towards the care and education of the kids send donations to P.O.BOX 68 SAN JUAN TX 78589, If youd like to donate directly to Jaime for the kids give me a call for info 708 528 4622. Thanks again for your help

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.