The Flying Horse of San Carlos

The Cabalgata Outreach was wonderful. I painted three banners for the floats and the group handed out 1,000 flyers to the people riding horses and floats from Acuna to San Carlos on Saturday. It was an all-day event, with over 8,000 horses and riders reported to have participated in the parade. It was amazing to see that many horses in one parade. In the evening, we went to the plaza in San Carlos where the groups played Christian music and the pastors from Brownwood and Uvalde shared messages. So many people gathered in San Carlos after the event that it was a great opportunity to share testimonies there in the midst of the crowds.

Not long after the music started, a man named Victoriano came up to me and I started to talk to him about the Lord. He was obviously intoxicated and I began to share with him about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We spoke for a few minutes when we heard a horse come galloping down the sidewalk with a rider, ran up the steps towards the gazebo in the plaza. A man on foot fell between me and the horse, carrying a metal baseball bat and apparently trying to hit the man on the horse. The man on the ground was being chased by the horse and rider, or so it appeared to me.

Several officers came running up to the horse and rider, yelling, “Policia! Policia!” One had a machine gun and two others had pistols drawn. Within seconds, the horse lost its footing and slipped, throwing the rider off.

I got up off the bench where the man and I were talking and we walked about 4 steps before the horse came flying over the bench and landed on its back with its hooves in the air. The poor horse just laid there, in shock, breathing, but not moving an inch. I started praying, as did the other Christians there, and the man at the microphone started praying for all the people in the crowd. Within a few minutes, the man who was on the ground earlier, mounted another horse, and was trying to explain to the crowd that is wasn’t his fault. He was bleeding badly from a machete wound across his stomach and arm, and the blood was falling on his horse and saddle. He was obviously very drunk.

Not a good picture because I was trying to get out of the way for the police men...but you can sort of see the horse with hooves in the air...

The other man tried to lift his horse up but was unable to get it to budge. Pedro, our friend from Tepeyac, helped him get the horse to its feet and amazingly, it seemed uninjured. Both men and horses left the scene without police escort or intervention. I was surprised but more in awe at God’s protection for me and the man I was speaking with. The horse had passed where I had been sitting, and landed right where my feet were, and I was only a few feet away and less than a minute earlier had been in the horse’s path. Amazing God. After the excitement died down, several people and the pastor came over to me to see if I was alright. I just kept telling them God had protected me and they all agreed. Unfortunately, Bill missed the excitement, as he had decided to stay home that evening due to his cold.

We had 12 children come for an impromptu art class Monday afternoon, and they spent two hours drawing and enjoying some cake and lemonade for a snack. We had fun and the kids are looking forward to the Christmas Program on Saturday morning.

We pray God's blessings on you and your family this holiday season. We know how easy it is to forget the reason for the season. Celebrating the birth of our Savior is a wonderful part of our Christian faith, and we are so grateful for His sacrifice for us.

Blessings to all of you from Tepeyac, Coahuila. We thank the Lord for you and for your encouragement as we share the gospel here in Mexico.

In His grip,
Bill and Toni

Birthday Cakes and Testimonies

It was a nice week, and the weather has been beautiful. Bill and I attended a school program at the Primaria across the street on Friday, the 18th of November. (Elementary School.) The children were dressed in traditional clothing, looking like the men and women of the Mexican Revolution, 200 years ago. The mothers made the meal and served it to the visitors. I took lots of pictures and even got one of Bill on a mule with the teacher’s sombrero. I could hardly quit laughing, he looked so funny. It was a great event for the community.

We had 21 children for the art and English class on Saturday, and it was fun to see all of them. They listened to Blas while he shared a Bible story from the illustrated Bible, and they memorized their verse, reciting it for a prize from our collection of goodies. Even little Emmanuel, our three-year-old prodigy, recited his verse.
After the class, we took Blas and Paula with us to take the children home, and stayed to visit Blas’ brother, Rito, and his family. We sat out under their enormous trees and they served us coffee while the dogs chased their chickens and goats. It was such a beautiful day and the family homestead where Blas and his 9 siblings grew up is really an amazing piece of land. They have no electricity, but have a water well and the house that Blas’ grandparents built is still there, although the thatch roof is gone and the rocks are falling because of the weather. The wooden structure they lived in after the rock house is still standing, and is over 80 years old, Blas said. It was originally built in Ejido Emiliano Zapata, and they moved it to Palmira, then to this homestead where it sits next to the cinder-block house they currently reside in.

After we got home, Bill and started to settle in and get ready for bed, but about 7:30 our neighbor, Sandra, came by and asked if we would like to go to a church service in San Carlos. We went with her and her daughter-in-law, Laura, and her two children and it took awhile to find where the service was being held. About 9 pm, we found the group holding their service in a back yard, complete with two guitars, microphone, keyboard and amps. The brother from Brownwood shared a message, along with several attending that shared testimonies of God’s work in their lives. Our friends, Hilda and Pedro also shared part of their testimonies at the microphone. We sang praise and worship songs with them and the neighbors came close to hear the music, testimonies and teaching. What a glorious time with the believers! We got home after 11 pm, but were recharged and blessed by what we heard in San Carlos.

Sunday’s service was full of children to celebrate Paula’s birthday. The children learned their Bible verse and shared with the whole church after Sunday school. We all enjoyed cake, cookies, Coca Cola and mixed nuts. It was fun and everyone had their fill of cake.

Gratitude: Thursday Afternoon News from Coahuila

It’s Thursday morning a little after 7 a.m. and I am sitting at a table in the church, typing this while Bill sleeps and the coffee pot spreads its aroma throughout our little cinder-block room next to the church. Greg and Matt haven’t come out of the trailer yet, but the roosters have been working hard to wake them up early here in our little pueblo of Tepeyac, Coahuila.
How can I describe the gratitude I have today, for all that God is doing, has done and is going to do? The last few days have been full of blessings, and I am still in awe of God and His love show toward us through the generosity of the saints and God’s mercy and grace.
Greg and Matt left Anson on Tuesday morning, with a 30 foot 1987 Sahara travel trailer in tow, and when they came across the Acuna border crossing, the aduana (customs office) wanted them to pay $1,200. U.S. for the import fees to bring it across. Although Greg explained the situation, they kept his title to the trailer and allowed him to bring it on down to us.



By faith, they set it up behind the church for us, rewired our electric box, and added another breaker box to the electric pole, and stabilized the trailer, hoping they would not have to bring it back across the border and return home with it.

By faith, we prayed, believing this was a gift from God and we wouldn’t have to pay the fees, or return it to the states. We went to Jimenez right after noon Wednesday, to speak to one of the officials there in hopes they could help us figure out a way to get it across without problems or fees. The judge wasn’t in the office and the other man we knew there wasn’t working, either. The judge’s secretary gave us the name of the judge in San Carlos, about 22 miles away, and we headed for San Carlos, stopping at the house to pick up some sandwich fixin’s for our lunch on the road.

When we arrived in San Carlos at the Officina del Presidencia, we explained the whole thing to the judge there, Raul Reveles Beltran, and his secretary typed the letter, introducing us, explaining our work here in hopes that there was some way we could have the trailer without the cost of importation.
We drove to Acuna and went to the office that handled the title, and after giving them the letter and answering more questions, the gentlemen handed Greg the title and said we don’t have to pay the importation because we are living near the border and the importation fees apply when you go deeper into Mexico. We didn’t need any other permission other than the title that goes with the trailer.
We rejoiced all the way back to Tepeyac, knowing that God had turned the King’s heart like a watercourse, as it says in Proverbs 21:1, one of my favorite verses. What a blessing the trailer will be when we have visitors, and for me, the oven is going to be a wonderful tool as I can bake cakes and pies for when we go visit people here. God is so good.

We arrived in time to get cleaned up for the service in Palmira, and went out to pick up Maria and her children so they could join us. Matt, Bill and Greg sat in the back of the pickup and we went by to get Sandra, our neighbor, and then Maria and her family out in the country. While we were at her house, Greg got the guitar out that he had brought for Felipa and played a song for them, and I translated it. Maria’s husband is Blas’ brother, Rito, and he enjoyed the song as much as we all did. We loaded up and headed for the study and when we got there, had a sweet time of fellowship before it started as we were early.
The room filled up fast at Raquel’s house, and we were glad we brought chairs from home. We sang songs and Felipa played the guitar Greg gave her, while we all praised the Lord with them. Felipa led the study and several people shared testimonies about what God had done in their lives, including Pedro, Greg and Eulogio. It was a wonderful time of sharing, encouragement and reading in the Gospel of John, Chapter 17.
Felipa shared about when she was young and her family was Catholic, and she always felt that God was far away. When she began to read the scriptures and the Lord became real to her, she realized He was always with her, never far off. She told about when her family began really seeking the Lord and serving Him, how it changed all of their lives. Then her mother, Hilda, shared about when her son told her she needed to receive the Lord as her personal savior, and she got mad at him and told him to not come back if he kept telling her she was a sinner. After 3 days, she called him and asked him to come back because after reflecting on what he had said, she realized she indeed needed a change in her life. The next time the group was together, her son did an altar call and she raised her hand and came forward. All of the people in the crowd said, I thought she was a Christian, and she told them that she wasn’t before, but now she was going to be. She received Christ that night and her life has never been the same. She was so touched telling her testimony as she cried and praised God for saving her and her family. Her whole family is such an encouragement to all of us here. We consider it a privilege to know them.

We took Maria and her family home and then went to Hilda’s house as they invited us to come eat. It was wonderful and Greg and Felipa played several songs on the guitar, and we enjoyed hot, homemade tortillas and chili and potatoes, along with sweet fellowship with the whole family there. It was great and we didn’t get home until nearly11:00. We prayed together at the church before we went to bed, again thanking the Lord for what He had done with the trailer and all that had happened this week. What an awesome God we serve, and what a blessing to have sweet fellowship with the saints!

Thursday afternoon Greg and Matt left about 30 minutes ago and we enjoyed every minute with them. It was hard to let them leave, but as always, you have to go home sometime so we said our goodbyes and they drove off.

This morning we went to see Lupita and her husband and visited at her kitchen table for about an hour, talking about all the things God was doing and had done, and she told us about the church and some of the history. It was an encouragement and we prayed together before we left. Greg and Matt got all packed up and headed North, and I decided I’d better finish this so I can sent it out and let everyone know what’s been going on since we last updated y’all.

We want to thank everyone that had anything to do with the trailer and all the supplies sent down with it. What a blessing it is to us, and all the food and goodies were such a surprise. Thank you for loving us so much!
The children will love all the art and craft supplies and I look forward to sharing the Agape with them, as well.

We are so blessed and encouraged and we thank the Lord for His loving kindness to us. We hope that somehow our little blog is an encouragement to you as well. May the Lord open our eyes and make us sensitive to the leading of His Spirit. We love you and we thank God for you.

By His Grace,
Toni and Bill

Monday~Mighty Men and Prophets

As we are coming to the end of our first month living back in Mexico, I am sitting in our little 12’ x 14’ cinder-block room, listening to the chickens clucking outside and scratching in the dirt. The fan is running and as I look out the only window, I can see my neighbor burning her trash in her front yard.

Today is Monday and it’s overcast. No wind, thank the Lord, so I washed all my dishes and clothes early. Always a challenge to get things done before the water goes off.
Since we ran out of propane yesterday morning, we boiled water in the microwave and Bill had Ramen noodles for breakfast, and I steamed some rice and opened a can of baked beans. Complete carbohydrate, right? I think (except for the sugar and additives in the can) beans and rice are the staple of most of the world’s population. I squeezed a lemon and made a glass of lemonade. The kids here love homemade lemonade. Great beverage, I think, with natural vitamin C.
We had cream of mushroom soup cooked in the crock pot, and I added egg noodles and green peas for our lunch. (Don’t they call them English Peas in Texas?) In California, we just called them peas.

The propane men came about noon today, and I filled up two tanks, one small and one medium. Hopefully they’ll last about two weeks if it doesn’t get too cold. It cost 180 pesos, so about $15. U.S. dollars.

I had a great time in the Word this morning. I got up before the roosters crowed and read in 2 Samuel, chapters 21-24 and 2 Kings, Chapters 1-6. Lots of great information in those chapters. I was reading about Elijah and Elisha. What amazing men of God they were, totally anointed. What unyielding dedication was shown by David’s mighty men. Thinking about having to pry their hands off their swords, because they were so intent on the battle makes me want to be just as dedicated to the task God has given me.

Yesterday, I was reading in Dutch Sheets’ book, “Intercessory Prayer.” He talked about the mighty men and how their dedication to the task is what made them mighty. The importance of perseverance and endurance, says Dutch Sheets, are near the top of his list of most important spiritual traits. We live in such a “microwave” culture and we want everything right now. Usually, it’s through the persevering that we are also transformed.

Lord, help me to persevere and endure, no matter what task You have placed ahead of me. Help me to be that prayer warrior you’ve called me to be, and help me to see that while bringing my friends, family and our needs to You in prayer, I can know You more, and have the intimacy with You that I long for. Amen.

As we think about this month and Thanksgiving coming soon, I want to thank you for your prayers for us. We are so blessed to be living and serving God here in Mexico among these people, sharing the hope that we have in Christ. We live in peace here, and we know that God is our provider, never failing to supply our needs. We are so thankful to God for His loving kindness and His faithfulness. We thank God for sweet friends, our family and the partners who come alongside and encourage us.


"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil
is that good men do nothing."
Edmond Burke

Living Life With A Purpose

Wednesday evening about 4:30, we picked up Maria and three of her children and took them to Hermana Lupita’s for the Bible Study at 5:00. When we arrived at Maria’s house, the road was blocked with a big tractor that had broken down after cutting their field. Our neighbor, Javier the mechanic, was working on it and had been there since early in the morning. We prayed over the tractor and Javier, and then went on our way. We were surprised that Blas and Paula weren’t at the study when we arrived and prayed that they were okay. Lupita was so glad to see Maria and her children, and Lupita’s daughter, Nena and her daughters were already there when we arrived. Lupita and her husband had it nice and toasty in her little house, even though it was chilly outside. She has a tire rim made to hold firewood that she puts in the middle of the floor. It really helps warm her little house, along with her fireplace.

Lupita requested we read 2nd Thessalonians, Chapter 2. We each took turns, each reading a verse around the room. After visiting awhile, we prayed and then left Lupita’s house, heading to the Bible study in Palmira at Raquel’s home.

We brought several chairs but there were not as many people as the week before. It was still a great time of sharing, reading the Word and singing. Felipa shared from Matthew about the parable of the sower. When Felipa asked for testimonies, Bill shared a little about his life and what God had done to get his attention and change his life. Others shared a little and then everyone prayed. We said our goodbyes and took Maria and her children home. The tractor was still in the road when we returned to Maria’s gate, and in the morning when we got up, it was parked back at Javier’s house across the street from us. It’s a John Deere with a phone number painted across the top, so it’s easily recognizable, and pretty handy around here.

Thursday morning, Hermano Blas, Eraquio and Paula came by to work on the roof but Bill had already done the work, coating it with the cold top before they arrived. They said they weren’t feeling well Wednesday but were feeling much better on Thursday morning. They all shared some of the menudo our neighbor, Alma brought over, and we visited for a few hours. It was nice to spend some time with them.

That evening, Pedro came by about 5:30 and invited us over to his house to see where he lives. He’s right across the road here in Tepeyac. We visited about 2 hours with him and his wife, Santa, and we talked about all the wonderful things God had done in all of our lives. His sons and grandchildren live in homes on his property, also. They showed us their home, complete with tiled kitchen and bathroom, shower and flushing toilet. He invited us over for a hot shower that he heats with wood under the hot water heater! He’s quite the carpenter, plumber, etc. Very talented man and it was really a great time of fellowship with him and his wife.

Friday morning Bill went to get some salsa from the store and not long after he left, he came back to have me translate for him. When I went with him to the store, I saw some friends from the Palmira church. Eulogio and his wife, Lydia, run a Conasupo, which is a government grocery store. Their granddaughter, Lupita was there. She’s five. It was so great to talk to them. After we came home, we had breakfast and then at 10:00 a.m. we had the art class. Only 6 children came but it was nice, and Paula came with the children. She said all of them are her nieces and nephews.

Bill and I built a fire in the stove at the back of the church, and when Blas came in, he noticed a cardboard box near the stove was smoking. He quickly took it outside and it caught fire, burning the box and the artificial flowers stored in it. We were so blessed that it didn’t catch the church ceiling on fire. God is so good. Anyway, we moved all the items away from the stove so that nothing like that would happen again.

Blas and Eraquio cleared a way out back and opened up the back fence to allow us to drive through the property. It made a big difference and they did a great job. While they were working, a man with an ice cream cart came by and he asked for a Bible. His name was Manuel and he’s a Christian who lives in Acuña. Blas gave him a Bible and we told him to come back again. I took their picture and printed it to give him when he returns in about two weeks.

Later that afternoon we stopped to see Hilda and her family to inquire about the concert on the 26th. While we were there, a brother who works at the President’s office in Jiminez came by to confirm permission from San Carlos to have the concert in the Plaza. We were very excited as that is the best place to have the most people for an audience.

While we were there, Francisco asked if we wanted to see the new baby, Javier. Of course we said yes, and he took us into a bedroom with his wife, Ana, and their new son was sleeping. Ana allowed me to take pictures so I am sharing them with you. I printed them for Ana and the family and gave them copies this morning. She said they still hadn’t taken any pictures of him. She’s still sore from her surgery but is feeling better, she said.

Today, we had a visitor the first thing in the morning. Hermana Lidia, whom we had met yesterday, came by with some tamales for us for breakfast. She sat and visited a long time and we talked about Tepeyac, about the church and what God was doing. She said that her husband ran an errand to buy dog food in Piedras Negras, and was coming back in a Taxi.

After she left, Nena came by for a paint brush because she’s painting her living room. She had tea with us and then she left.

Then we got ready for the art class. Bill went to Nueva Jarita to pick up Wendy and Luci, and their cousin.

I took pictures of all the kids that came to the class. Felipa brought her two sisters, Juanita and Deborah and several nieces and nephews. All the children said their verse, Genesis 1:1 and received a toy. Most of the kids picked bubble blow.

We had 11 children in the class all together. They painted and drew and Bill sang and played the guitar for the kids, before they threw him out. (He told me to tell you that. He tried to sing, “Ain’t Nothin’ But a Hound Dog” and it made the kids laugh.)

We gave them next week’s text and told them to come to church tomorrow. Several said they would. Some of the children had been here before but there several that were here for the first time. The verse for next week is:
Exaltado seas sobre los cielos, oh Dios; Sobre toda la tierra sea tu gloria. Salmos 57:5
(Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth. Psalm 57:5)

When we took Wendy and Luci home, we stopped on the way back to visit Sheila and Samuel, the couple who live across the road from Hilda. Sheila is German and they have been married 9 years. They raise dogs, mostly poodles and Chihuahuas but we saw they have lots of different breeds there, in cages. We saw at least a hundred dogs, all barking at the same time. Bill said it sounded like a dog choir, and he didn’t know how they could stand it. Very noisy but fun to interact with all those dogs. I only got bit once.

When we got back to the casa, Hilda’s sons came by to pick up our trailer to make a float for the Cabalgata Parade. Bill and the brothers visited awhile before they left.

We had rice and homemade salsa for dinner and Maria came by on her way home from picking pecans in Jiminez. She brought us each a piece of fried chicken and some French fries. She said the pecan season is over so her children can come to our art class next Saturday. Very sweet for her to think of us and bring us some chicken.
Now I’m typing this so I can take it to the internet place in Jiminez tomorrow to upload to our blog. I am listening to Marcos Witt on my computer, “Yo Quiero Ser Como Tu.” Lord, I want to be like you! Awesome song. The electricity just went off for a few minutes and then came on brighter than before... Kind of interesting! Not sure how that happened but it’s a blessing.

While we were in Jiminez the other day, eating a meal at the little taco stand there, I couldn’t help but notice the “sugar bowl” they put in front of us. It was an old brown ceramic teapot, missing its handle, with a chipped spout. It had long ago served another purpose, and now, in a more humbled condition, it continues to serve but with a new purpose, as a sugar bowl.

It makes me think about my life. Seventeen years ago, I brought my three children to Mexico and we served the Lord there for seven years. I believe after all this time and all that the Lord has done in our lives, that maybe now we are similar to the sugar bowl, serving the Lord in a different capacity than we did before, but still useful for His kingdom.

I pray that our precious Lord is using your life for His glory in whatever capacity you are serving Him. Every person’s life touches so many other lives, and whether you know it or not, you are a living testimony in the way you live your life. You have a sphere of influence and can make a real difference in the lives of those around you. We were created for Him and we sometimes think we are here on earth for our own pleasure.

This is what I found in the Word concerning our purpose on this earth:

Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Revelation 4:11 Thou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.


When I think about the privilege of serving the Lord in Mexico, among these wonderful people, I am in awe of God’s loving kindness to me, to us. It seems like I struggled forever to get here, and now that I’m here, I know it’s where we’re supposed to be, doing what God has called us to do. What an amazing God we serve.
Every day when I wake up, I thank the Lord that He has given me another day, and that I am here in Tepeyac. It’s still hard for me to believe.

Thank you for reading our little blog, and thank you for praying for us. It means more than you know and we are always grateful for your encouraging comments. Walk with the King and be a blessing!

Under the shadow of His wings,
Toni and Bill

Psalm 91

Wants and Needs

Some people have asked us about our needs here and when I think about it, some of these things probably come under the heading of wants. So I will just list some things here that come to mind. We appreciate your prayers for these needs.
Our mailing address is:
Bill & Toni Bookman, P.O. Box 420216, Del Rio, Texas 78842

Needs Specifically for the ART CLASSES
Cardstock, copy paper, watercolor paper,
poster board, roll of butcher paper, stickers,
Markers, water and permanent, any and all colors
watercolor paints and stickers

CD Player for personal and church use

Folding tables
Folding chairs

Photo paper,
HP Ink Cartridges for Inkjet 3510 printer
Specifically HP 61

Here's a picture of our youngest student, Emmanuel. He's three and talks the whole time he's in our class. Bill gets a kick out of him because Bill says, "He still hasn't figured out yet that I don't speak Spanish!"

Wednesday Update

Today is Wednesday, and we are in Jiminez at a little tienda that has free wireless internet access! What a blessing!

I am trying to catch up on emails and business stuff but also wanted to update you a little on our lives here in Mexico.

Last night we had a surprise visit from Hilda and two of her 9 children. We visited about the upcoming Rodeo (Cabalgata) and outreach afterwards in San Carlos. I showed them some flyers I drew up and they were pleased with them. We’ll put them in the tiendas around the area to advertise the Gran Concierto that will be after the Cabalgata on the 26th of November.

While they were at our house, they told us that they helped build the room we’re living in, and that they also worked on the church and the fence around it. Hilda’s husband was the pastor of our church for a long time before he died, and they worked hard to keep the church alive and full of members. They still have a heart for our church, but are working in Palmira and have been successful there, bringing people to the Lord and discipling them. They told us that Pedro, the man I keep running into everywhere who has the amazing testimony, is going to share his testimony at the concert. He was well known in worldly circles and is even more outspoken now that he’s a Christian. Every time I see him, he’s sharing the Lord with people. What an encouragement for us to see a man so on fire for Jesus here in our little corner of Mexico!

Hilda’s oldest son, Francisco and his wife have a new baby and we look forward to seeing little Javier. He was born last weekend in Acuna and his mother had to have him c-section so she is recuperating in her mother’s home in San Carlos. Hilda has 10 grandchildren now. All of Hilda’s children, except one, are serving the Lord. Bill and I were especially impressed with Felipas’ evangelistic anointing. We have heard her sing and preach and she’s an amazing young woman. I still have to translate for Bill but even without translation, Bill can tell she’s anointed.

Bill is feeling better after being sick and blames the baloney we bought in the states. He says, “No more American baloney!”

Yesterday some children came and told me there was no school today, so at 10 am we had an art class and 10 children came and painted and drew for two hours. It was fun and we served saltines with peanut butter and horchata (rice milk with cinnamon) for a snack.
We always enjoy having the children come to visit. Bill built a fire in the fireplace and used our briquettes, and it was nice and toasty in the sanctuary where we had the class.

Tonight we have a Bible study at Luipita’s casa at 5pm and then we will go to Raquel’s casa in Palmira to join Hilda and Felipa and all the saints for another study there. It’s so exciting to see what God in doing it the believers here. They share testimonies every meeting about what God has been doing in their lives and in their family’s lives. Pedro shared about his brother-in-law and his sister. They told him that he had “passed the test” and could stop reading his Bible now and talking about God to everyone. He told them, this wasn’t a test like that. It was a lifestyle change and he would be doing these things from now on. They got mad and left him alone. He said he has a wonderful time with his welding business, praising God and praying while he’s working. God is using him mightily in our area because of his boldness.

Every time Bill sees Pedro, he asks him if he has his sword and if he’s going to cut off someone’s ear like Peter in the Bible. Pedro just laughs and says his sword is in his pickup (his Bible).

We will close for now and we will try to keep you updated later this week. May God bless you abundantly as you seek His face.
We love you and thank the Lord for your prayers for us as we serve here in Mexico.

In His grip,
Toni and Bill

Monday Morning in Mexico

Monday is overcast here in Northern Coahuila and the chickens were scratching around for scraps as I washed dishes on the table outside our room. I rinsed a load of wash and hung them on the line, starting another load since the water was still on. It’s sort of like choreography, making the laundry sync with the water supply…I like it and it keeps me on my toes.
Hanging clothes on a day that might bring rain is another thing. Do you hang them anyway, hoping it won’t rain? Or do you hope they’ll get a second rinse if the rain DOES come? I guess I am rattling on, but those are things I consider. Certainly rain in itself isn’t dirty, but the wind brings the dirt and the worst case scenario is I have to wash them over again.
Once, when we first moved to Mexico in 1994, I washed all my clothes by hand, and hung them on my little clothesline I had instaled, only to watch them fall in the dirt when the line fell under the weight of those wet clothes. I sat on a bucket and cried…it was a hard lesson. It had taken me all day to wash them, and since we had to wait for the “pipa,” ~the man with the water tank that drove through town to bring water to the people for a price, it was especially discouraging. But it was a good lesson. Never hang heavy, wet clothes on a weak clothesline.
I am enjoying a cup of coffee while Bill rests from a rough night, still sick. He seems to feel better this morning but is still a little weak.

Our electrical system is somewhat challenged here. When the coffee pot begins its re-warming process, the fan slows down. Can’t have too much going with this little electric source. But it sure makes you appreciate you have electricity at all.

Our first year in Mexico, we didn’t have electricity in the little house we rented, although I brought my appliances along with us when we moved there. We used the fridge for food storage, as well as the microwave. It was such a blessing to have flashlights and candles, and I read to my children at night by flashlight. We would all snuggle up in the bed, listening to the old time radio shows out of Southern California, when the radio would catch the signal. The kids loved it and so did I. I think it was a great experience for all of us. They learned Spanish faster than I did, I think. My children were 12, 9 and 4 then. It was the beginning of our 7-year-long ‘Great Adventure!’

When we finally did have the house wired for electricity, we only lived there a few months before we moved to another house in a town nearby. That little house had electricity and water in a faucet outside. It even had a shower and a flushing toilet, that flushed when you poured a bucket of water in to the bowl. Kinda neat, huh?

After living there two years, we moved into a bigger house made of adobe, and it had running water in the sink and the bathroom shower, and a hole in the bathroom floor, but no toilet. We had an outhouse that had a bicycle tire tube for the door hinge and when you went to use it, it made our turkeys announce your arrival and departure, because the bike tube squeaked. What a kick, huh? I thought it was funny, but not all of my friends did. After a while, we installed an indoor toilet and it was great. But to me, since the water source there was unreliable also, the outhouse was always the trustworthy place to go. No need for water. And you got used to the sound of the turkeys after a while….

So much for old memories.
We are grateful for your prayers for us, and it’s also encouraging that you read our blog. God is doing wonderful things here and we feel that dividing walls are coming down, as we keep praying for that here in the area. May God be glorified!

What a blessing to catch up on a little extra sleeep with the time change! We woke up and got a lot done Sunday morning before church. We picked up Maria, her mother-in-law Soccora and four of her children; Lucero, Maria, Manuel and Ariceo. It was a great day for Children’s Church because we had 10 children. It’s the first time we’ve had any new kids at church since we arrived, and several were from the art classes: Daniel, Idalis, Kenia, Noe, and Roque. Alexis is Blas and Paula’s niece and she also came along.
Bill and I took the kids outside, behind the church under the trees and after we prayed, I shared the parable of the Lost Sheep. The kids paid attention and we drew pictures of the lost sheep and after the class, the kids came in to church and shared what they had learned with the adults. We had some refreshments for them afterwards. Hopefully, these and even more will come next Sunday.

Bill was got very sick Sunday afternoon and wanted some Sprite so I walked to Yessica’s store across the road and went in. The brother from the Bible Study in Palmira was there and he said, “God bless you, Sister!” It was so good to see him. Pedro has such an amazing testimony. After I went outside, we talked some more. He was witnessing to Yessica’s Uncle about the Lord and what Jesus had done in his life. We spent several minutes sharing with the older man about the wonderful things that come with the Christian life. We invited him to church and I said my goodbyes. When I left walking home, Pedro was still talking to the man about Jesus. What a blessing it was to spend time with that brother who is on fire for the Lord!
Please pray for Bill’s complete healing, and that nobody else catch what he has. Nena has been sick to her stomach, also, so we hope it’s just a flu bug.

We thank the Lord for all of you reading this, and for your prayers for us. We know God is already using us here in Mexico and we are so excited about what the future holds.
May He use your life mightily for His glory, and may He do a new thing in you today, something unexpected!
Loving the King,
Toni and Bill

Fantastic Friday

 Friday morning we went to visit Hilda and her family and while we were visiting, found out she was out of propane. We took her big tank in the back of the pickup to San Carlos to get it filled and brought it back to them a few hours later. While we were in San Carlos, we went to visit some ladies who have a little café and we had a few tacos there for lunch. While we were waiting for our food, we spoke to a young couple from Monterey. He’s a truck driver and his wife and young son go with him. They were on their way back home with a load and we talked to them awhile, and got to pray with them before we left the café. We had prayed with the ladies that own the café before and knew they were Christians, so it was a pleasure to share the Lord with this young Christian couple there, also. They were encouraged and said they had about a 10 hour drive back to where they live. We had a wonderful visit with Hilda and her son and daughter and talked about the outreach coming up later this month. Felipa is trying to get permission for them to have a church service in the town square in San Carlos after the rodeo and is waiting for the okay. I am going to print up her flyers with my computer and printer so we will go over to their house tomorrow to work on those. Saturday we had an art class at 10 am and another one at 2 pm for the children that couldn’t come earlier. Then at 3 we had a Spanish class. Most of the children stayed and did art until 5 pm, which was great. I taught them Genesis 1:1 and told them the creation story from the illustrated Bible Blas loaned me. Nena (Irene, Lupita’s daughter) and her two daughters came with a friend named Abigail for the English Class. Blas also came and they learned how to say the days of the week, the months of the year and how to say the abc’s in English. It was a good class and I think they enjoyed it. Afterwards, they all stayed an hour longer and painted pictures with the children. Recently, Bill and I noticed our wheelbarrow was missing. We brought it with us but it wasn’t on the property so we figured someone had stolen it. (Bill said it was the wheelbarrow bandit!) Then while I was talking to our new friend, Sandra, she asked if we had given it to a man named Eraqueo. He does odd jobs around town and has been a big help to Blas. I told her no, that we had noticed it was missing. She said he had it and he told her we had given it to him. Needless to say, the misunderstanding was that Bill had given it to him, when in fact, Bill told him he could use it if he needed to. Saturday morning, Sandra and Eraqueo came to the house, with Eraqueo pushing the wheelbarrow, looking rather sheepish. We invited him in for a cup of coffee and thanked him for bringing back the wheelbarrow. He was smiling as he drank his coffee and ate a cookie. We told him if he needed it, he could borrow it any time. Thank the Lord for covering us in our miscommunications….. Friday night, when we went to visit Paula and Blas, Paula asked if I could drive her and her niece to the store, and I did. We went to the store that Yessica has, which is also a bakery. Paula’s niece, Alexis, is going to be 4 and she’s very cute. She wanted a cupcake and a donut and Paula bought them for her. When we got to their house, Paula and Blas invited us to eat with them, and we did, and Alexis ate part of her cupcake and donut for supper. Saturday morning before the art class, Paula told me that Alexis wanted another cupcake in the middle of the night, and Paula told her it was too late, she couldn’t go out this late to the store. Alexis said to her aunt, “But that’s when I’m hungry, Tia, when will you ever learn?” I think Art Linkletter coinëd the phrase, Kids say the darndest things!

Entertaining Angels

On our way home from Del Rio Thursday evening, we saw a man sitting on the side of the highway, with a bike and I thought he was broke down so we stopped to give him a ride. He had just fixed his flat tire and was on his way to the southern part of Coahuila. We loaded him up in the pickup and while we drove we talked. He is from Honduras, Central America, near the border, and has been travelling for two years, all over Mexico. He’s even been to the US, but just across the border in El Paso. One of 7 children, his parents are still living in Honduras. He said he has no wife or children but loves travelling everywhere. His big feed sacks full of aluminum cans he had collected were light work as we loaded them into the bed of the pickup, and I noticed he had an extra pair of tennis shoes with him. All of his worldly belongings were on his bike, which he had purchased in San Luis Potosi. We talked about the Lord and I asked him if he knew Jesus as his Lord and Savior. He said he did, and had been raised in a Christian home. He also said he had studied with Jehova’s Witnesses and Mormons. We encouraged him to read the Word and to keep his eyes on Jesus, as we know He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and nobody comes to the Father except through Him. We prayed with him before we left him on the side of the road in San Carlos, at our turnoff, and gave him some money to get a meal or two. Then we said goodbye. Please pray for Rogelio, the young man from Honduras.

Misunderstandings

The first picture is of the Borrego Famoso.The second is of Blas and little Alexis. The last picture is of all the sheep that Blas has in his yard now.



I guess everyone has them. Those times when you realized you’ve completely misunderstood what someone said. It happens, and I guess I’ve had my fair share of them.

My latest was about Blas’ sheep. He has told me that we were going to pick up his “Borrego” and something about babies, so I guess I “assumed” he meant the sheep was pregnant. When we went to pick up the sheep the other day, I mentioned its delicate condition and he laughed, saying it was a male sheep, not a pregnant female. The misunderstanding was that this sheep (male) was to help his sheep (female) have babies. Soooooooo….. a slight misunderstanding. Hardly a problem. But to me, it’s important because I don’t want to have misunderstandings as we minister here in Mexico.
The funny ending to that story is that the sheep was loaned out to another man who needed his skills to impregnate his ewe also. So Blas’ ewe has to wait.
We’ve had much more challenging misunderstandings, even earlier this year when the group came for the VBS.
A little girl, Paula takes care of her, came with her beautiful rainbow piñata to the class, and the group naturally thought she had brought it to be broken. So they had the kids break it, and the little girl went home heartbroken. Then some of the group decided we need to buy her another piñata to replace the one she broke, because obviously she just brought it to show us and not to break.
I felt there was a misunderstanding there, and asked Paula, only to find out that yes, in fact, the mother of the girl had sent the piñata to be broken by the group. The little girl never likes piñatas to be broken so she was heartbroken. Her mother said she will keep her piñata every year and never break it. We all had a laugh on that one.

Once, when I first moved to Zapata, BCN Mexico I was invited to a party. I told the woman yes, I’d come and when I arrived a week or so later at the event, the mother of the child asked if I had brought the cake. I said what cake? She said I had agreed to bring the cake for the party. At that time, I frequently said, “Si” when I didn’t understand something. That was the last time, however, and gratefully, some Mexican parties last for many hours and I was able to go home, bake a cake, decorate it and bring it to the party in time for the presentation of the cake to the guests….what a lesson I learned from that misunderstanding. Never say “Si” unless you know what you’re agreeing to.

Another Milestone…

Today has been two weeks since we arrived in Tepeyac. Sorry for that little tidbit but as we were winding things down in the states, I kept finding myself saying, “this is my last time to do this,” or “this is my last time to do that.” I guess I’m still counting, but now it’s up, not down. Two weeks in paradise…well, our little corner of paradise, anyway.

This week has gone by so quickly, and we enjoyed a wonderful time at Lupita’s Wednesday evening for Bible Study. Lupita is feeling better but still sore from her fall.

After that study, we joined a new neighbor we met named Sandra. She told us about a study in Palmira that Felipa and Hilda attend. As it turns out, about 25 people crowded into the home of a sister named Raquel, and we had a wonderful time of study, testimonies and worship. It was sweet and Bill and I both enjoyed it very much. I translated for Bill and he really enjoyed the testimony of one man in particular named Pedro. He was an alcoholic for many years, and three years ago the Lord came into his life and he hasn’t had a drink or gone to a dance since that day. He loves his wife and his children and grandchildren, and is a different man now. He reads the Word and prays daily. What a powerful testimony. I translated to Bill quietly with tears streaming down my cheeks as I listened to this man who said he thought he was a Man’s man, but now he knows what a real man is, a Godly man seeking Christ daily. Powerful stuff!

Felipa invited us to an Outreach at the upcoming Cabalgata on November 26th. It’s a rodeo that’s happening near Acuna, and the little church of Palmira and a network of other saints will be witnessing and handing out 1,000 tracts, inviting them to a church service in San Carlos. It’s completely evangelistic and their group will have floats, horses, marching musicians, etc. going from the rodeo grounds to San Carlos. They have asked us to help and we are looking forward to it. May God be glorified in this outreach with many new souls for Christ!

Thursday we went up to Del Rio to send out the mail and pick some up, and to get the cold top for the roof as we’re supposed to have rain this weekend here. We also bought a hoe for the weeds and another toilet seat for the other outhouse. Bill was in dire need of a haircut and we went to a little shop on the main drag in Del Rio. He looks like a brand new hombre!

I have lots to get ready for art class and the first Spanish class on Saturday here at the church. Hopefully, we’ll have a good turnout and can teach the students some English Bible verses for memorization. Blas and Lupita loaned me an illustrated Bible in Spanish that will be helpful for the children and the adults.

This morning as Bill and I were having our oatmeal for breakfast with a cup of hot tea, I remembered a story I read once about a sweet little woman who saved all of her used tea bags to send to the missionaries. I think of that often when I squeeze the last bit of tea out of the bag…Thank you, Lord, I am drinking my not tea, using new tea bags here on the mission field in Tepeyac!

We have so much to be thankful for here in Mexico. God has given us grace and favor with the residents here and we are looking forward to what God is going to do in the future. Thank you for your prayers for us. We need them and are so grateful for your love for us.

Since I can’t get on email very often, if you want to write us a snail-mail letter, we’d love to hear from you. I will try to answer every letter, but just give us time because we aren’t able to go to the post office like when we lived in Texas… but I will answer your letters! Our mailing address is P.O. Box 420216, Del Rio, Texas 78842
Blessings in the precious name of Jesus Christ, our only hope of glory!
Toni, Bill and the bad dogs

A Beautiful Tuesday Morning

We woke up a little late this Tuesday morning and while I was filling the washer with the hose for a load of wash, several of the boys from the school came to the fence to talk. I asked them how they were doing and some spoke up and said they were fine. Then I asked if they’d like to come have an art class today and they said they could come after computation class, which ends at 4. So I’m going to get ready for lots of kids today and hopefully they’ll let me take their picture. Lord willing, it will be some seeds planted for the Kingdom.

Being here in Tepeyac has been a learning process for us, as far as the cultural aspects of this area of Mexico are concerned. I was already familiar with the culture of the area of Baja, Mexico we lived in for 7 years, and it had a strong Indigenous influence as many of the people we ministered to there were Trique and Mixteco natives from Oaxaca, Guerrero and other southern states.

But here in Coahuila, the culture is different, and I’m sure, influenced by the U.S. that is not far away. We haven’t seen many homes with televisions but see that some have satellite dishes on top of their homes. There are only a few school-aged children that don’t attend classes, and we’ve tried to encourage them to go to school, but their parents haven’t registered them so they can’t attend. We are praying God will work out those problems as they have little chance of leading very productive lives wandering the streets at 10 and 12 years old. In the meantime, we spend time with them, and they like to hang out with us when they’re not riding horses and hanging out with their friends.

Here in town, 35 children attend the local elementary school up through 6th grade, and laterthen they are bussed to Palmira for the upper grades. It was a nice surprise to learn that a teacher comes to Tepeyac from Acuna to teach computer classes on Tuesday and Wednesday. The children told me they really enjoy that class.

Right now, many of the families are picking pecans for money. In Jiminez, there’s a business that allows you to pick their pecans and pays for you to sell them back to them, after you’ve shelled them. Most of the people we see here have the tell-tale black thumbs and fingers that come from shelling pecans (nogales). They tell me that for about two or three more weeks they can do this type of work. There are lots of trees in the orchards, they say, and we’ve seen little grandmothers, and even youngsters with the evidence of this hard work. One lady next door told us she and her daughter picked and shelled 190 kilos one day. A kilo is a little over two pounds, so you know they worked hard. I can’t imagine it. I think they told me they made 25 pesos a kilo of the shelled pecans, which is about two American dollars for a little over two pounds. Right now, it is the most profitable work to be had in this area. When you think of how much we pay for pecans, it gives you a whole new perspective of what goes into that product. Most jobs here make about $60. U.S. per week.

When we get a chance, we will try to pry the door on the pickup so that it will open again. I sure hope the mare that hit us last night is okay. Bill’s going to go look for her later today.

Blas asked us if we could help him haul a sheep that he’s purchased that’s pregnant. He needs to move her to his house, and he and Bill will get into the back of the pickup and ride with her. Who would think we’d be hauling sheep in the back of our pickup in Mexico? I’ll try to get some pictures….sounds like another adventure to me!

We will try to keep you updated whenever we can and appreciate your prayers for us and reading our blog. God bless you today as you keep Jesus first in your life!

In His service,
Toni and Bill


By the way, on our way over here to San Carlos, we saw the mare that walked into our pickup last night and she looks fine. Thank the Lord!

Monday Night

Wow! What a Monday!
We got up early and got ready for a trip to Del Rio, when Blas and Paula showed up to patch the holes in the wall near the roof. He mixed cement and threw it into the holes while I covered the table in the house to prevent the cement that was coming into the room from falling on my letters. Excitement from the beginning of the day!
We left about 10:00 and went to San Carlos to upload our blog post and then headed on across the border. We picked up mail and sent out lots of letters and changes of address, and then went to lunch at IHOP. While we were there, we met a couple, Bob and Bonnie from Michigan who now live in Timberon, New Mexico. They were passing through Del Rio on their way to Zapata, Texas, where they are selling their property there and we got to pray with them and had a wonderful visit. They sing gospel music at churches and at nursing homes, and it was so interesting to talk to them.
Then we went to the Toyota dealer to find out about our tail light for the pickup. We’ll have to pay for it before we order it, and it’s almost $200. So that will have to wait awhile.
After that, we went to Walmart to pick up some Kibbles and Bits and bread, and then we filled up with gas and headed back across the border. When we got to Acuna, we stopped to get an estimate for Bill’s teeth, and spent about an hour with a very nice lady dentist right on Bravo as you enter Acuna. She told us Bill will have to have surgery to scrape down the bone on his jaw (he’s had this done on the bottom but not on the top) in order for the dentures to fit. She priced the surgery (with another dentist) and the denture (upper) and lower bridge at a total of $1,600. U.S. So, we will be praying for provision for that need for Bill and were grateful for her free consultation and estimate for Bill’s dental work.
We drove on to San Carlos and there were so many children dressed up for Halloween in the streets of Acuna and San Carlos. I think we got behind a sort of parade in San Carlos, because it took a long time to drive the mile at about 5 miles an hour through the pueblo.
The most amazing thing happened on our way home, between Palmira and Tepeyac. I mentioned that we didn’t see our usual group of horses, about 8 of them, that we see walking down the middle of the road. Just after I said that, Bill said, “There they are!” and they were walking straight toward us. I had my high beams on and slowed down and stopped while they walked by, but must have blinded them, Bill said, because the biggest brown horse walked alongside and right into the passenger side of the pickup, moving the rear-view mirror and denting the door so badly we can’t open it. I hope we didn’t hurt the horse, but we weren’t moving when it hit us, so I think it must be okay. They all walked off and into the darkness behind us. What a weird experience. Jimi Coplen told me that deer walked into her car more than once, and I could hardly imagine an animal doing that, but now I know it can happen.
No sooner did we get home and discover the door wouldn’t open so Bill had to climb over the driver’s seat, than we had another odd thing happen. A boy was on his horse, galloping down our road chasing a running white bull with big horns through the town, trying to rope it. The bull ran through our neighbor’s yard, with the cowboy chasing after it in the darkness. What a night of odd animal activity! You’d think it was a full moon, but I checked and it wasn’t…Just a funny night in this part of the world, I guess.
Bill is lying on the bed with the dogs, resting, waiting for me to come to bed. It’s almost 9:30 and way past our bedtime so I’ll close for now, before anything else happens!
I almost forgot. We bought some candy in case we had trick or treaters, and three boys came by saying Happy Halloween so I gave them some candy and took their picture! They were having a great time, running around with painted faces and asking for candy. I thought I’d share it with you. Good night, sleep tight…