Mexico, Day Dos

God continues to bless us here on our second day in Mexico. Today I am reminded of God's Fatherly love through twenty or so children we were able to speak with, something that's never been done before just for the kids. Ed, Lance, and Dennis spoke of God's love through our interpreters, Frank and Obett. Kelly and I blew up balloons to make hats for them (Kelly creates great ballon hats). I now know why the ballon guy at Pappasito's uses an air pump! The smiles on each face will always be etched in my mind. No matter where I have been, children are still the same--they want attention and love. It reminds me of God's unconditional love for all of us. I am floored every time I think of how much I love my family, and yet God's love for all of us is so much more. It is beyond my compehension. I also witnessed the longing and search for hope in a young man named Heriberto. He does nothing but walk around, clearly bored and looking for a place to belong. Every where you turn he's there just hanging out. Lance and Frank shared the gospel with him. We gave him a spanish Bible and encouraged him to read it, particularly the book of Mark. We expect him to attend services on Sunday, please pray that God will speak to him so that he may know there is hope through salvation in Christ. More to come. By the way, Ed wanted everyone to know that he cashed in "eleventy thousand" dollars in our poker game tonight. He's a closet card shark.

Team Mexico crosses safely!

When we went to Home Depot and our helper said, "Be careful in Mexico because there's a lot of drug dealers," we were a bit dismayed. However it was but a moment before we remembered that God had called us to Mexico no matter what faced us. Jerit and I awoke before the sun rose this morning to find the place we are staying, Cone Oasis, and it was absolutely beautiful. It was God's way to let me know He was in control. A good reminder as we would make a total of 14 trips across the border with gobs of stuff from Home Depot. Every time we passed over there is no doubt we should have been searched. However God's faithfulness could not be matched by the border patrol or the mexican army which is guarding the border.

There is little doubt about the future ministry possibilities here with the clinic, churches on both sides of the border...God's the limit! Pastor Freddy was excited to see all the activity at the church for the first time all summer. Because of the rumors of violence all of the other churches that have partnered with his ministry have strayed from the border. Being here it is clear that rumors are from the enemy and that God has brought us here to provide hope for more to be done, for more people to be reached and more communities to be reached. Doing the work today already brought the community out to see what was happening at the local protestant church.

All in all today was exhausting but very fun and fulfilling. If I could describe today in one word it would be "faithful". Crossing the border as many times as we did and never being stopped was enough for all of us to continue thanking God continually. Until tomorrow...Lance

It's Tuesday Morning, and believe it or not I'm sitting in a Burger King
parking lot using they're free Internet b/c the Starbucks in town doesn't have wifi.

It's been a great trip so far. we rolled into town about 8pm on Sunday night after a smooth trip from Richmond to Weslaco. We were up early yesterday preparing for the day and what laid ahead. We spent all of yesterday working Ms. Aurora's house which included: Tearing down the two side walls of her house that were falling down because of rotten beams, organizing her house for construction, painting the new walls deep purple (Ms. Aurora's favorite color) and putting up the new walls.

Our people did an amazing job of loving on Ms. Aurora's family, playing chase with the kids, pulling them around in the wagon and reading them books.

Today promises more construction and canvasing the neighborhood to publicize tomorrows VBS. Please be praying for the residents of the colonial and our folks continued safety.

Tomorrow I'll post lots of pictures!

Wade