Dear loved ones,
We were coming to the end of our first 11 weeks of our remodel upgrade/makeover. Ivan, Daniel, and Victor (pictured above) were headed back to Cuernavaca to see their families. I had known Victor was planning to come up from Cuernavaca along with Ivan, only God knew Victor’s brother Daniel would be joining us a few weeks into the projects…God knows the help we need in every way.
It was time to pay the guys and thank them for their great work these first 11 weeks. It was our last evening with the mission team from East Lincoln as well. We were wrapping up a great first 3 months of the year. And so I slipped away while the burgers were grilling and went down to the cabin where the boys were staying with us.
Victor is a new Christian, Ivan had been very interested and attending church and events with us, Danny was coming along too. The Lord pressed me to invite Danny into the fold right then and there. I told the boys what Christ had done for us and that He invites us to follow Him right to Heaven…Danny responded to the invitation to repent and receive the Lord! Oh, but just a second…something else unexpected happened right before we prayed. Ivan, in his soft-spoken manner, interrupted me…
“I need to pray too.” Ivan said.
And there we were for the next 10 or so holy minutes, down in that cabin worshipping and weeping for joy together. God knew Danny was coming, He knew that Ivan had yet to respond in full. His orchestration was on display…and there was joy. There was joy in that cabin, joy as we all shared in the Great News together at supper, and joy in heaven. (Luke 15:10)
“Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
(And there were two!) -Jesus
In these pictures, the first footings of our new sanctuary are now poured! The excavating, shoveling, jackhammering, rebar tying, forms, and pour of that first side is done. There is so much to go as we look ahead to these next few months and continuing with this good work. We will work together to build on our faith as well, resting in and knowing that the greatest work of all is already done. It is finished. And He will complete the rest as well.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. –Philippians 1:6
Victor, Ivan, and Danny will be back for another 6-week stretch with us about the time you receive this newsletter. We will be continuing to build the foundation of the new sanctuary, and building upon what Christ has done and is doing in each of our lives!
So, how you doing? Do you need to pray like Ivan? Or Danny? To receive that forgiveness? Salvation? Or maybe you related a lot to the last letter I wrote, and the stress that comes from navigating in a fallen world. Need refreshing? Even though we can feel like that raw rebar sticking out of the ground, an unfinished work, we can have joy in the work that Christ has already done at Calvary and the promise of a completed work in us! And there has already been forging, molding, delivering, cutting, bending, tying, placing and positioning…for His purpose and our joy. And isn’t it marvelous to behold.
The East Lincoln mission trip week was waning and the rain kept coming. The team battled the rain and mud to get the walls framed up. We needed a dry day to help get the roof on the 4 new bathrooms connecting the cabins area. Getting the roof on was pretty crucial and the group knew it. The dry day came at the last and the guys were sheeting at 6am. Roof on! Framed walls and rooms dry! Since last letter, the plumbing went in, floor got poured, and the tile went down all in preparation for the team from the Northland! What a success!
At one point during the East Lincoln mission we had welding, some tree clearing, sheet rocking, rebar bending, taping, painting, framing, electrical, tile, and cement work going on at the mission all simultaneously (and I know I’m forgetting something!). There is so much to report! The interior work at the church is coming along nicely. The demo is all done and the new interior walls including the expanded kitchen are framed, rocked and taped. And lots of paint has gone on the walls too! The newly remodeled bathrooms up in the church are all painted, dividers are now done in one, and ordered for the 2 baths on the main level. The new dining hall (old sanctuary) is really coming together as well. A fresh coat of paint really brightened it up. Thank you to our diligent painters Kent and Karalee, Annalea, Ella, Sara, and Rachel. Pastors Kent and Eric tediously traced out letters too, but Pastor Eric spent most of the mission taping our new kitchen amongst some other taping. Sweet!
As mentioned, the boys from Cuernavaca are on their way back. We have a friend, Pastor Maleno, coming to help keep the paint moving along as well, and there is a group of local pastors coming to help with some footings work for a couple days too. There are also 2 missions teams in the works coming from the U.S. in June!
June 1st-7th Led by Pastor Al Gaines and Kids at the Casa ministry.
June 22nd-29th Led by Rod Elboar Christian Carpentry Ministries, along with Root River Church in Rushford, MN. These are developing missions, if you have interest in possibly joining up with them, please feel free to contact me: [email protected]
Prayer requests/ praise reports:
We were also able to bring the team for an outreach effort near our church plant in near Hector Colony (not pictured) as well as visit a Children’s Home about an hour and a half from us (pictures above). For many of the group, the visit was the most powerful time on the mission. (Sorry Josh, you had to pound nails at the mission!) This is a new ministry of sorts for us, the home in Salinas Victoria is a new connection. However, we have known most of the children for years, especially Minnie. These kids have endured more trauma than I can go into on this letter and were moved out of their former home by government authorities. They now live near the Hormiguero. We can help.
Rattlesnake anyone? The kids had quite a story to tell me when we arrived, about the massive rattlesnake they killed in the entrance of the facility! I told them about my cowardice around snakes and we all laughed together as they brought out the skin for me to take a brave, heroic looking picture with! The kids killed it and fried that bugger right up. I couldn’t help but think of that serpent of old, and how our Lord will crush his head! Way to go kids!
That brings me to Cuernavaca!
We are now caring for 10 children at Miracle of Life!
Also in Cuernavaca, Pastor Chayo and Casa de Dios baptized 10 new brothers and sisters last Wednesday and sent me pics of a pastors’ meeting at Miracle of Life. Betty said the pastors didn’t want to leave! I want to mention again the need for prayer for this great work and specifically for Pastor Chayo and Betty. Pastor Chayo has been hospitalized twice since our last update. He’s undergone 2 procedures for a serious prostate condition to go along with his other health concerns. I plan to see them the end of the May.
Please be in prayer for Minnie and me and all our various crew over this next push in May-July. For wisdom and protection, favor and strength for the many tasks at hand. And may the Lord continue to build His Kingdom through these efforts this year and beyond…
Thank you to the East Lincoln Alliance team and all that supported and joined the mission. You all did a great job. And thank you to all of you for supporting our lives and ministry. We are financially ready for May (I think :), but your giving is critical for us to continue into June and July as we are preparing to receive our first camp in August as well as booking events for late this year!
Also, FORE!! We will be having our (almost) annual golf tournament and dinner/ fundraiser on Friday, August 29th in Amery, WI Please save the date if you’re in the area!
Peace to you and God bless you always. Truly, the best is coming, and know that the most vital work is already done.
love from,
Gary and Minnie and Sophia, along with all your family in Mexico.