Dear loved ones,
Our children’s home in Cuernavaca now has eight kids in house!
Roman (10) and his little sister Evelin (4) are new arrivals. Roman has never been to school, we’ll help him catch up! He’s doing great! We also have Evelin (our little recruiter), Aitana, David, Luz, Danny, and Leo. Pepe, pictured upper right with Betty, also stayed with us for a couple of weeks before he was moved out by government authorities, citing his special needs due to cerebral palsy. We are staying in contact with him and the situation. We are trying to get Pepe back. We love Pepe and he knows it. Would you like to meet him? Go to our FMLI vision page and see the video!
For those of you keeping up with the news, you’ll notice that Joshua (featured last letter) was not listed. Joshua was taken back by his mother. It is unlikely that he will return to us, but we never know. Not knowing has its pain too. After advancing so much in so many ways during his time with us, he is gone…we would prefer the door to just swing inward. Once kids come to the casa, they don’t want to leave. And after caring for Joshua in such wonderful ways for over a year, we feel the loss too. Pastor Chayo and Betty feel the pain as they care for each child in such volatile, unstable seas to navigate. And I feel the pain with them all the way as I write from our base in Los Canelos. Joshua will not be forgotten and we pray that he never forgets us or Who we serve ever again. We pray that these moments in time, however long, would reverberate in these kids’ lives from now into eternity. In JESUS’ NAME. Our only hope.
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil… see Hebrews 6:19
We have. No matter what.
That is what to cling to with confidence in this great storm, this great and awesome battle called life. Nati is one of our neighbor girls here in Los Canelos, one of Sophia’s little friends. “When is camp?’ she wondered to us the other day. “Still so far away,” she commented. This is a question Minnie and I receive quite often. Always a blessing to hear. But this time, the red marks from the 10-year-old’s neck had still not quite healed. It still stuns my mind to hear of a young person taking this drastic a step, wanting to die rather than face the terrible storms. I guess it’s just more sad than it is stunning when I consider it more. It’s hard for me to keep writing, let’s pray for Nati right now.
Oh Heavenly Father,
It’s hard down here for so many of us, no one feels it more than our children. Help us God, to shine your Light in the midst of all the violence and hopelessness that consume so many little ones in so many ways. The waves are so high, the waters so strong. You have given us a lighthouse in Christ and an irrefutable promise in Him. An anchor for our soul. A refuge where we can lay hold of hope. A living hope. Thank you, God. God protect Nati, and bring healing and hope to her heart through Jesus and through us too. Help her see the light in the midst of her storms. Let there be no loss of life. Use us, Lord, we pray, in Jesus name. Amen.
Prayer requests/ praise reports:
One of the many things that I am thankful for as we move toward Thanksgiving and Christmas is for you our supporters, our Board of Directors, and for help! God has sent us more help!
I’d like thank Caitlin Schwanke for making our new website and for agreeing to come aboard to help with the administrative responsibilities. This will be a blessing in so many ways.
We have also added Mike Deems to our Board! Mike has been our Missions Director for the last few years (without the title), bringing his family down to Los Canelos and leading 2 missions to Cuernavaca.
Welcome to FMLI to you and your families.
The record was broken (not the fishing one)! My visiting people record 🙂 It was a long trip in many ways as I ran around visiting and preaching for 2 months. But it was a blessed trip. The van capacity record might have been broken too! Thank you to so many of you for opening up your churches, your hearts, homes, lives, and yes, bank accounts, checkbooks and wallets too. And the fishing boat! We are so humbled to be supported through all the storms and blessings of life in such a beautiful way.
At our mission base in Los Canelos, the plans are being drawn up! The permit process is well underway for our expansion of the sanctuary etc…since I have been back, we have hosted a church retreat, teen retreat, kids camp, and a baptism celebration! We have many groups scheduled to host all the way into the 2nd week of January, along with keeping the permit process moving so we can get construction underway as soon as possible.
We also have mission groups from the U.S. scheduled for the end of February and March, so lots to balance, or juggle…I saw a young girl juggling 5 balls at the stoplight the other day, so I know it’s possible! It was impressive, she earned the 10 peso tip!
Well, all aboard, let’s sail on. We already know the navigation is sometimes very difficult, but that opposite shore is just up ahead. He’ll get us there and there will be some awesome triumphs along the Way.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all. God bless you.
love from,
Gary and Minnie and Sophia, along with all your family in Mexico
Download the PDF version of the November newsletter here