Carlos came again to one of our house churches, and he didn't even say anything about the chainsaw. I must admit that I suspected he only came the first time to give a pitch for the chainsaw. But he brought his own Bible, and after the meeting, Jose and Chui said that he has really changed after spending six months in the Phoenix prison. Now I remember hearing about him, his wife Alma used to be a member of the church and asked us to pray for her husband in prison, which we did.

We only had six kids this week in Sundays school in Mascareñas. We had stiff competition from a "piñata" (birthday party).

We are planning our Christmas service in Buenos Aires for the 19th. Alfonso and I are trying to organise one in Mascareñas for the 26th.

Gracie's been home for a couple of days with a head cold/ear infection. Cesar is working hard trying to get his grades up. Melina is gaining weight.


Thank you all for your prayers, your fellow worker Darwin.

Quick update

It was very cold and windy this Sunday, therefore we only had six kids in Mascareñas. Continue to pray that all of the sick ones will get better soon. One of the parents of three of our Sunday school students visited one of our home churches on Sunday. He seemed to be very appreciative of what we're doing. He asked for prayer for a chainsaw as well to get firewood for heat. Pray that the Spirit of God will work on Carlos through His word and win the whole family.

Alfonso has had a bad ear ache this week. He has an appointment with the doctor, but it isn't until next week (so much for social medicine). We visited is oldest son, Alfonso Jr. who hasn't been to church in a long time. They are feeling the economic pinch pretty hard I guess. Says his oldest daughter needs shoes for school, and a laptop (she's in high school). We spent some time in prayer over these things, and especially for renewed spiritual life. Pray for this family.

Our little Melina is now eating now eating double what she was eating when we received her last week. As you can see Gracie has become a big help to her Mom and I. The only thing left for her to learn is to change the dirty diaper, she's not in any hurry to learn that part yet. :-)

   

Mascarenas Sunday school

Thanks to your prayers, we had a helper last Sunday for our Sunday school in Mascarenas. Also, one of the mothers came, who studied at our Bible school in Mazatlan while we lived there (Maria Santos). Her daughter has been coming for some time now. Funny how God works, the Bible story was about mary and martha, and how Mary chose the "better part," to sit at Jesus feet and hear His word. Maria's daughter said, "Mommy, you have two Bibles and don't read either of them to me." Pray for conviction, and that she might come back to a relationship with Jesus.

U.S. consular staff told to travel in armored cars in Nogales

Published Tuesday, November 9, 2010 9:26 AM CST

Citing “widespread violence” and “the threat of known drug trafficking activity throughout northern Sonora,” the U.S. Consulate in Hermosillo is requiring staff in Nogales, Sonora to travel exclusively by armored car in the Nogales Consular District.

The Nogales district stretches 600 miles from Agua Prieta in the east to San Luis Rio Colorado in the west, and about 60 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Sunday school Mascarenas

Not sure if we should ask for more prayer for the kids in Mascareñas because for the last two Sundays we've had eighteen kids. Almost too many for a couple of old guys to handle by ourselves. Alfonso, bless his heart, really try's to help, but at 78 he can only handle so much. So, we need prayer for helpers, preferable from Mascareñas.

The economic crunch continues to affect both sides of the boarder hard. I still take cases of beans and dry sups across to help those who ask for food, but it's getting harder to take enough.  

Mary Ann says they still have no turkeys at the mission for Thanksgiving, but they are hoping and praying some come in. I don't how many they need, but I do know that there are a couple of hundred people who come from across the line.

Pray for Nogales

Three brothers from Rio Rico were in fair condition at a Tucson hospital on Monday, a day after they and a Nogales, Ariz. man were shot during an early-morning attack in Nogales, Sonora that left an off-duty police officer dead. “According to preliminary investigations, they were chatting with two people – one of them an agent of the municipal police who ended up dead – when various unknown people apparently arrived and shot them.” Nogales, Sonora has seen unprecedented drug-related violence in 2010, with more than 180 murders tallied so far on the year. Last weekend, three people were killed and another 12 were injured.

See entire article

Sunday 9/26/10

A couple of prayer requests: On our visits we had the opportunity to talk to Vidal and Jasmin as they were washing the mud off their car. Vidal said that his uncle visits our church now and then. He said that he wasn't sure of where he'd go when he dies, Jasmin said she was sure she'd go to heaven. I asked her how she was sure, she said that she was a good person. I assured them that we had good news for them and asked permission to share in about five minutes what the Bible said about how to be sure one was going to heaven. They said OK, and we shared what the commandments said concerning sin. They both agreed that we are not good people, and do not deserve to go to heaven. Then we shared the Good News what Christ did for us and what He wants to give us. Pray that they both receive Christ. 


Also pray for Hector who came to church on Sunday. He hasn't come for more than five years. I used to disciple him when we were here in Nogales briefly before we left for Sinaloa. He said he hadn't been attending any church since then, but that he wanted to begin again. 


Thanks for praying.