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
