Report from Sunday

     Another wonderful Sunday as the Lord blessed the time together around the Word. We often have a few hearing folks that come, but yesterday was all deaf and I enjoyed preaching "deaf." Armando was in Monterrey for a wedding over the week end and asked if I could preach for him. We had a smaller crowd but one that really got into the message. I preached on 2 Timothy 2 on the four examples given of a strong Christian. I used 27 pages of illustrations with the video projector and the deaf really liked the visual effects.

     Rains have finally started here and they bring a tremendous relief from the heat. There are years when we have very little hot weather, but this year was an exception. We had more than two months of 95-100 degree weather. Remember that we are at 5200 feet elevation which helps with the warmer weather. I cannot imagine what it must have been at the beach areas. A "normal" year means that we have rains the three summer months and then maybe a shower or two sometime, but basically no rain until summer again. The rains break that spell of hot, dry air and really bring a refreshing. to the country It also means that the electricity flickers and the phone doesn't work, but you learn to live with candles and peace and quiet.

     Slowly we are seeing the deaf fulfill what we have taught them for several decades: bring their friends to Christ. A young man was saved week before last because a close friend spent time and invited him to church. Probably the majority of salvation decisions come through deaf bringing deaf. It makes all the difference when a friend invites you to church. 

     Thirty-four years ago, our church in Illinois rented us a house on a pig farm and we lived there about seven  years. Those are GOOD memories, but I figured coming to the field and a big city would make them only memories. Now after more than 27 years of living in the big city, we have moved to an ex-pig farm and have two more as neighbors. Carlos Garcia was our neighbor two doors away for more than 20 years. The kids all grew up with his two daughters as their playmates. He retired from the bank business years ago (at a young age) and had as a second business an up-to-date pig business where the pigs never touched the ground. Three years ago, the pig market went sour and he sold off all of his stock and shut down the business. The pins are all still here, but are being dismantled. At that time he decided to build a home for each of his two daughters. This house we are renting was built three years ago for his daughter, but she has chosen not to live here. It sat empty for three years. So now, all you folk in Illinois, we are back on a pig farm and enjoying every minute of it. It is hard to imagine that this farm was so far out of town just a few years ago and that "town"  is now about four miles from here.

     Please pray with us for this country. There is now great fear that the drug situation will influence or control the elections coming up on July 4. Many towns are now "owned" by the drug families and there is fear that they will be able to control or cause such fear that they can mandate how the elections will turn out. Mexico does have free elections and are somewhat trustworthy.

      The other major request we have at this time is our border trip scheduled for next Monday or Tuesday. There is no approved way to get out of Mexico right now since all of the border states are in such turmoil. It is suggested that Americans stay away from those states. But in order to get to the border and check out, we must spend at least 4-5 hours in several of those states. We KNOW that God knows exactly what the future holds and is able to give us a carefree arrival. However, we also know that we are openly traveling through a no man's land with a bright red truck (my brother refers to it as my fire truck). We simply ask your prayers that we might have a safe trip out.

     Thank you for praying and supporting our efforts here. We do not know how this turmoil will change our ministry, but we are ready to obey Him. So many of the areas of Mexico we have loved to travel in and share in ministry are being called areas to avoid. Jonathan was told by the Federal Police the other day to take the license plates off his vehicle until he got farther south or risk being shot at (he was visiting the border area). Things are changing drastically here, but the Lord continues to use us greatly in ministry. Pray that we will be available whenever, however and where ever He calls.