Working Together

As we begin the New Year, we started by doing some tearing down so that we could do so rebuilding. Here Gracie and Cesar and I are getting ready to head out to the dump after we cleaned up a shed and carport we tore down. We thank God for providing some work for in us this way, as well as work remodeling a small home, and eventually this carport again. Pray the Lord's leading as to our support for ministry, either by "tent-making" type work, or full time work, or full time ministry through the support of His people.

Baptismal Celebration in Buenos Aires

Last Saturday we celebrated the Baptism of Little Joel, Pastor Antonio's Grandson.

He just turned one year old on Monday so after he was baptized we had a fiesta, including a piñata.

Here's a picture of Gracie taking a wack at the piñata. I even got to take a wack at it, although adults are blindfolded when they try.

It was a happy day in Buenos Aires.

Vacation Bible School Buenos Aires and Mascareñas 2011

We had twenty seven children this weekend in Mascareñas for VBS. It was really fun having so many helpers with us. 

                                
Elisabet and Pati did most of the teaching.

I finally got Gracie's Sentri card so the she can cross the border easier, so she came with me to Mascareñas. Can you tell spot her in this shot?

(her shirt says "girl" on it)

Everyone even enjoyed the bologna sandwiches and chicharines with chamoy souce on them and good old fashioned cool aid.

All of us in Buenos Aires and Mascareñas thank you so much for your prayers.

A Jordanian in Nogales

On Sunday as Alfonso and were visiting the neighborhood of Buenos Aires. We found Baja, a man from Jordan who has been in Nogales Sonora for about three months. He doesn't speak Spanish yet, but does speak English. He said he doesn't like Mexico because of the violence, but needs to work. As we talked about the differences between Islam and Christianity, he told me Islam was a loving religion that respects and accepts all religions (yea right). I asked him what he believed the Coran teaches about forgiveness with God. He told me it was difficult to achieve, you first have to believe God (Alla) is one, and has no son. Then keep all the rules. After listening to him, I then shared with him what the Bible says about forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Pray we can visit with him again on Sunday.

Marcos came again this Sunday. Pray some of the youth in the congregation will befriend him, and that he find peace and fellowship with Jesus. 

Our brother Jose is still in pretty bad shape. He either has a broken or dislocated shoulder from falling. I it seems he has a really bad open scab on the same shoulder which the doctors who were there when we arrived say it's from herpes. Supposedly they can't treat the bones in his shoulder because of the scab. His wife Chui says the whole village can hear him at night as he wails in pain. Carlos, the father of a couple of our Sunday School kids came again to their home for the service. Pray that God work in Jose, Carlos and this home group.

Here are some of the delegates of the AALM (Mexican Lutheran Apostolic Alliance). We enjoyed four days of fellowship, worship, studies, testimonies and planning for the future.

Gracie was able to come for a couple of days of the conference. Here she is with Floriberto and his daughter Andrea who we lived with when Gracie was born in Huahuaxtla Puebla. Andrea is seeking to go to the Bible school after finishing high school in July. Play the Lord lead them as the seek His will.

It was pretty awesome to see and hear how our brethren have grown in their walk and ministries over the years. To think that we've had a hand in helping these brothers in their ministries is pretty rewarding. All of you who have given and prayed should also be encouraged at their progress.

Here is Edgar in between Antonio and I playing the guitar at the conference. He has been playing for the church for over a year now at the church in Buenos Aires.

Cesar's adotion final

Cesar's adoption has been finalized. We were quite the troop going into the courtroom. The judge said that we made her day, she said she doesn't get to judge good cases, normally always for something bad having happened.

She even wanted to be in the picture holding Malina. (I had to block out Rachel and Gabe's faces for legal purposes. Afterward we rented a hotel room in Tucson with a pool so the kids could spend the day swimming, then we went out for dinner.

We have been working together with Triumph Free Lutheran Church here in Nogales to try to earn moneys to take the kids up to Colorado this summer to the A.F.L.C youth convention (http://www.aflc.org/youth/fly). We have been doing garage sales and are going to do some car washes as well. I will be taking Gracie, Cesar, Rachel and Gabe and we'll be traveling along with youth from Triumph and the Churches from Tucson and Phoenix.

Close call for Alfonso and I

On Friday at 2:00 pm I was walking down this street getting Gracie's Mexican passport renewed, at 5:00 our brother Alfonso who I work with was walking down this same spot when the men two men jumped out of a white car, Alfonso said they practically pushed him over as they jumped up onto the sidewalk and opened fire on the barbershop. Pray for us down here, this war isn't over yet. 

Here's a portion of the police blotter I translated:

Nogales, Sonora .- A young resident of Buenos Aires was shot dead and five others injured, by on Friday afternoon in a barbershop in the heart of downtown and within walking distance of City Hall.
Merchants, pedestrians and motorists took refuge upon hearing the blasts of the assault rifles used by the gunmen. The young man killed, a barber, was identified as Rey David Peña Vázquez, 26. The wounded were assisted by Red Cross disaster workers to the General Hospital. The incident took place at the Barber shop “Alexander” which is located on Avenida Obregon and Gonzalez Street, around 5:00 pm. Witnesses said at that time came two gunmen approached the barbershop, and without saying a word, openned fire with their assault rifles known as “cuernos de chivo (goat horn),” without warning.The mortally wounded Rey David Peña, received at least ten bullets in different parts of your body.After the shooting law enforcement began searching the streets of the city for the attackers, with negative results.

see original post