We've had some birthdays since I last updated our blog. Sister Lupita turned 81 this month. Maria had a birthday and her son, Manuel, turned 5 this month. Everyone enjoyed the Italian Cream Cake, Carrot cake and Manuel especially liked his M&M cake. It has been a sweet month in Tepeyac, needless to say.
Saturday, Maria and Socorro came over and we made lots of empanadas to sell for the church. We sold all of them and everyone enjoyed the day together.
Bill and I went to the prison Sunday afternoon and again today for several hours, visiting with our American girl who has yet to be transferred to a Federal facility in the U.S. We’re glad we get to see her but know she’s anxious to get moved into a safer environment.
Our visit with her was sweet both days, and today we were able to bring her some hamburgers, as she told us last time she misses American food. She said she’ll probably miss Mexican food when she gets to the states.
We also visited with a man we met Sunday. We shared alot with him about God's plan for his life. He admitted he's made alot of mistakes in his life and said he’s trying to seek the Lord now, and we hope he really does. He has 6 children he hasn't seen since he's been locked up, and he said it makes him very sad to think of how much his mistakes have cost him.
We visited awhile with Pedro. He was selling candy and showed us where his hair was shaved on the top as a punishment from the other prisoners. The inside of the prison is run by the inmates, and the guards remain on the outside all the time. Pedro is another one who confesses the Lord but isn't sure he wants to surrender all yet. Please keep him in your prayers. He was very surprised when I called him by name and thought I would have forgotten him. I told him I've been praying for him since we first met him a month ago. He said he was grateful for our prayers. The courts gave him more time and he won't be released until April, he said.
Bill went out in the yard while I was talking to our girl, and met a man named Alfonso who spoke perfect English. When Bill asked him where he got in trouble, he told him Rochester, Texas! That's about 30 miles from Aspermont! Hard to imagine, but he said he was picked up by Greg Hearn, who is the police chief and city manager there. In 1998, Alfonso was working at the Rochester Peanut Company, the main employer there. Mr. Hearn told him he stopped him because "he wasn't from around there." I remember when people used to say that to me. Too funny!
Anyway, Alfonso had a warrant from Eagle Pass and went to jail in Rochester, then Haskell, and finally got deported to Mexico. Now he's serving 4 years in Mexico for another crime, and although he was born in Texas, he's serving time behind bars there near Piedra Negras.
We gave out lots of Agua Viva, the gospel of John in a nice booklet in Spanish that we recently received in the mail. They are great ministry tools.
We look forward to seeing Greg, Robin and Laura this weekend, and hope to take them to the prison while they're here.
Thank you for reading our blog, and thank you for your prayers for us and the ministry here in Mexico. We are blessed and encouraged by your loving support.
In His grip,
Toni and Bill
