Dear loved ones,
They picked one of my favorite spots for their camp picture. They were the first camp to take a picture there, so I snuck over to try to get the pic. I know how much dirt we moved to make the area one with a view. But my sneaking did- n’t work. Waldo’s in the back. Sometimes it’s hard to get a good group photo, but this young lady knew what she was doing. So many times there’s a face or several covered. Or the ones taking photos are not in the picture. You, our supporters, are like covered faces or like the ones that are behind the scenes of the pic. Thank you. You help make the beauty of the Lord shine through these pictures, through these lives. You bless many.
I know we get photos every month, but for some reason these are extra powerful and motivating to me as we begin this year and these many upgrades to our facility. We ended ‘24 very well, and we entered ‘25 with victories. And now, we begin work to substantially improve our ministry base. One of the reasons these pictures are powerful and motivating is because all of these groups represented keep coming back every year, and they want to be back here this year and next year too.
Much has to happen to have the facility ready to receive them by this time a year from now.
Minnie and I did all we could to prepare for Christmas Eve service. We were kind of like a circus act that sells the popcorn and the tickets too! Oh, but what special guests arrived…We had a nice turnout from our little community, many just kept coming even after the service.
That’s when she arrived, the mom that lost her daughter and granddaughter in the wake of the cyclone that hit us a few months back. We had a chance to pray for and encourage her. “I didn’t want to come.” she said through the tears. But she did.
Minnie worked many hours on table centerpieces. They walked out the door being clutched like treasures in ladies’ hands. May they serve as a continuous reminder of our treasured King of kings.
We began the year with a Pastors Retreat. “This is the 7th year we’ve had this reunion here.” Pastor Andres told me. This is the 1st year I’ve been able to participate. What an indescribable time of fasting, prayer, and fellowship we had together. 103 men. Love would best describe this time together. Men gathered from as far northeast as Houston, TX and far as west as Chihuahua, Mexico and beyond. Now let me return to that descriptive word.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
What a command. Let’s have a great year, demonstrating the love that has been so graciously given us, doing what we can to encourage in Christ, through Christ, and to Christ.
P.S. I invited the pastors back for next year…let’s be ready for them!
Pastor Jonathan reintroduced himself to me over Christmas time. He and his family stayed in the cabins for a few days. He has a big family! They’ve been here many times for different events. He sent this picture along with a note:
“Thank you so much for this beautiful place that God put in your hearts to bless everyone that comes here. We have seen and testify how the presence of God has been demonstrated through the different reunions and events that we have had here at this place of beauty. May God continue to bless and prosper you. From the church Centro Cristiano Agua Viva“
Prayer requests/ praise reports:
Four tons of rebar are waiting to be founda- tion and columns! We just ordered $4,000 worth of plumbing. We just purchased the generator back-up and the jackhammer! We begin again in 2 days…
Victor is coming from Cuernavaca along with another, Josa is committed to help along with a long-awaited plumber named Emanuel! Others have committed to help as well. We have a good crew and we have monies to get well into the project over these next months. And we have the missions coming from the U.S. as well!
We’ll begin with the church bathrooms and kitchen renovations, water back-up system, electrical renovations and back-up system, and footings and foundation for the new sanctuary and out- side roof, then we will evaluate where we are at financially and otherwise. We have about 50k and the aforementioned material to get well underway!
There is a lot to this project and the or- chestration of it, at least to me there is. Please be in prayer for me and Minnie and all our various crew over this year. For wisdom and protection, favor and strength for the many tasks at hand. And may the Lord build up His body through all of these efforts, this year and beyond…
–We have visitors coming from the U.S. on mission scheduled February 14th-23rd.
-East Lincoln Alliance is sending a mission for the end of March.
Thank you to all of you for supporting our lives and ministry. God bless you in 2025 and always. Truly, the best is yet to come….
love from,
Gary and Minnie and Sophia, along with all your family
in Mexico.