Serving With Joy In Piedras Negras

Greetings in Jesus' name from Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico. There have been some changes in my life recently, including a move to the big city near the border.

I am living in a little house about 15 minutes from a border crossing, and it has opened my eyes to the urgent need for more of a witness in this border town.

'The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.' We need to pray for more workers for the harvest, as it is true all over the world. As believers, we are supposed to be light and salt, always ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within us.

I pray the Lord uses our lives in a way that brings Him glory.

Thank you for praying for the ministry, the people and especially for the Agua Viva Rehabilitation Center. Your prayers are greatly appreciated.

By His grace,

Toni

This is the local jail in Piedras where we share the gospel with the detainees.

Most are only held 24-72 hours. The first time we went, there were over 80 men and women. 

We served sandwiches and juice to each of them, as well as the Word.

Pastor Alejandro and the muchachos bringing the juice into the jail.

Every time I see this wagon, it gives me delight. In this fast-paced world,

seeing this rig makes me remember how things used to be,

the slower pace of the world. I desire to take time to listen

and really hear people's hearts, and be a light in the darkness here in the big city.

Students in the van on the way to school in Centinella.

I enjoy helping Sister Veronica when it's her turn to transport them.

Wall mural I painted in the Sanctuary of Agua Viva Church.

Celebrating the 11th Anniversary of Pastor Alejandro's ministry at Agua Viva Rehab Center
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Photos of Summer Fun in Mexico

We received a bunch of toys from friends in Houston,
and these girls were delighted to get them.

This little dog was one we rescued on the road and is thriving at the rehab.
Our friends call her Vainilla.

I found this little guy when I got out of the van at the house.

This hairy fellow was living in our bathroom, and I was happy to relocate him outside, where he belongs.

A baby goat from the ranch that Bill was feeding with a bottle.

The Martinez Family using their new hand-pump to bring water up from their well.

Our friend, Bob Strickland, bought and installed the pump.

Vacation Bible School in Tepeyac

Greetings from Tepeyac in the name of Jesus, the King of kings!

The group of 36 servants from all over West Texas has arrived in Coahuila to share the gospel with children and families in Tepeyac, San Carlos and Nava once again. The First Baptist Church of Haskell is the sponsor of the program, and has been for many years.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this year's program.
Here are some pictures of the Tepeyac VBS this week.
May God get the glory!

Children's Day Outreach in Tepeyac

Greetings from Tepeyac, Coahuila in the name of the King of kings!

 We had an excellent day, sharing the gospel and the love of Jesus Christ with the mothers and children in our little town on Sunday afternoon.

 Pastor Alejandro Alvarado and his family and church members cooked hot dogs for everyone.

 The kids had fun with the sack race, three-legged race, fishing for ducks and other games.

 They all enjoyed the bags of candy, some with chili flavoring!

 Lucero and Estrella Martinez were a great help with the gifts and games.

This was hard, walking with the ping pong ball on the wooden spoon, backwards to keep the wind from blowing it off!

Love their enthusiasm!

Fervent sack-racers!

The moms loaded up with fabric, yarn, cutlery, hygiene items, and much more.

It was a fun day for all and we are so grateful for all the donations from our partners in ministry. 

Praying For More...

So many difficult situations are happening around us lately, and I can only say, It is well with my soul.

Visiting hospitalized friends and neighbors, I am prayerful for the healing that they need so desperately, and even more prayerful for the salvation that comes from repentance.

Every day, I thank the Lord for giving me breath and another day to serve Him here on earth. The older I get, the more I consider each day a gift. It's only by His grace we can accomplish anything for the kingdom.

I love the verse Philippians 1:6,
".. being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ..."

The Lord is working in each of us, to do His will and to use our lives for His glory.

We just need to be willing to be used. If our hearts are for Him, He can and will use us in the lives of those in our sphere of influence.

I pray He will direct my steps and lead me to those who need to hear the truth. I pray He gives me boldness like never before to love the unlovely and share the gospel with the lost and hurting. And I pray the same for you, reading this now.

May God use each of us to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ for this broken and hurting generation. People are looking for answers, and Jesus IS the answer.

God bless you as you put Him first in your life today.

By His grace,

Toni

Visitors, Vagrants and Viajeros

Bob Strickland attempting to eat under watchful eyes of the pups

A meal in Piedras with Bob and Alejando and family last week

Our new friend, Ted Alexander, whom we picked up in Del Rio several times

Boys from Cristo Vive Rehab who needed a ride to Zaragoza

Mommy and boys we  picked up from Acuña recently

The Sheep And The Goats

"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you,

whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine,

you did for me." 

Matthew 25:40

How  many times most of us have heard that scripture quoted, and in our hearts we knew we needed to be more sensitive to the Lord's leading when we encounter people who need help?

I am guilty of allowing many opportunities to bless people pass me by without doing something, and I am trying to make a change in this area of  my life.

More often than not, we pick people up in Mexico that need rides, and usually we pick them up on the U.S. side of the border as well, when we have time to take them where they need to go.

We've had so many wonderful experiences giving rides over the years, and I can honestly say, only one bad experience that wasn't really that bad.

When we lived in Aspermont, Texas, we often met people passing through town that needed a place to stay, and we were able to give them a meal, a place to sleep and let them clean up and wash their clothes. Some of those people stayed for days or weeks. One man in particular, who stayed three weeks several times he visited is still in touch with us, and lives in North Dakota now. More than once, local people brought homeless to our door when they didn't feel comfortable offering hospitality in their own homes.

Bill and I have both had times in our lives when we didn't have a place to call home, and it has made us sensitive to others in the same predicament.

Two weeks ago, I was traveling to visit my kids and saw a man on the side of the road with a duffel bag. I pulled over and asked him where he was going, and he said Fort Worth. I told him I was going that way and could deliver him right to where he wanted to go.

For the next two and a half hours, we talked as I drove and in talking, got to know each other a little.

He introduced himself as Cecil and told me he grew up in Wichita Falls and Amarillo, and had been visiting his mother in Seymour and working in a town nearby for a few weeks, doing ranch work, when I picked him up there. He told me he had done a 10 year stint in prison for 6 DUI's and got out three years ago. Unfortunately, because he was now a felon, it was hard to get work, so he went back and forth between Fort Worth and Seymour, looking for work and staying in the homeless shelter downtown.

I shared my testimony with Cecil, and asked if he had a relationship with the Lord. He said no, but he was hoping things would start looking up for him now that he was not drinking and staying out of trouble. I encouraged him to look for a church home and start reading the bible, telling him that the enemy was out to steal, kill and destroy each one of us, but that God had a wonderful plan for his life. (Jeremiah 29:11) He was skeptical, but promised he'd try to start looking into a church home.

We took a picture outside the shelter when I dropped him off, and I asked him if I could pray for him before I left. He said sure, and I prayed for God to open his eyes, to protect him and provide for his every need, and to guide his steps. When I said goodbye, I gave him some money and he said thank you for the ride and the gift, and I gave him our phone number, telling him to check in when he could and let us know how he's doing.

It was a divine appointment, and I was so glad God put Cecil in my path that day.

Six days later, I was on my way to Sacramento to see my daughter and her family, and I parked in the Denny's parking lot in Barstow, California, walking in to have breakfast.

I saw a man walking through the parking lot and I said hello. He hesitantly said hello, and I asked if he'd like to have breakfast with me. He said, "I don't know you." 
I said, "I don't know you either, yet, but if you'd like, I'd like to buy your breakfast."

He was hesitant, but said okay, and asked if he could get it to go. He was buying a newspaper and needed to get back to his mother at the house.
I said sure, and we walked inside and sat down.

As we introduced ourselves, he told me his name was Danny Ramiro, and he lived with his mother in a house down the hill from the restaurant.

It broke my heart when he told me this was the second time someone had done something nice for him in his lifetime. That's such a sad statement, I thought.

He said he'd been married twice, never had children and had done a few months in jail for driving while drunk. He had worked at Walmart for ten years, and at the local truck stop for another ten years, but had recently been unemployed and was living with his elderly mother. He told me she would think he stole the food, as he had no money for such a meal.

When the waitress brought his food in the take-out boxes, he thanked me and I told him I would like to pray for him before he left, if that was okay. He said that would be fine, and I prayed for Danny and for his mother.
I shook hands with Danny and we said our good-byes. I was thankful for the 20 minutes we had to visit and the opportunity to be a blessing to this man who had not been blessed very much in his 58 years.

That was last Thursday, and today, I had another opportunity to help someone in need.

I was at a gas station in South Sacramento, and after I finished filling up, I started to drive away and saw a woman sitting on a mound of grass a the edge of the property where the gas station was, and pulled over.

Some time ago, I'd seen a suggestion someone shared about what to do with old purses. I filled one up with hygiene items such as shampoo and lotion samples, a travel pack of Kleenex, toothbrush and toothpaste, some candy, a comb, some antibacterial wipes, a roll of toilet paper, a flashlight and a few other miscellaneous items, including a Christian Gospel tract.

I parked the van and walked over to the woman with the purse full of goodies. Introducing myself, I told her I had a few things she might be able to use, and she said she'd appreciate it. She introduced herself as Diane, and said she was from Sacramento, but had recently become homeless. I asked her if she would mind if I prayed for her, and she said she'd like that very much. We held each other's shoulders, and I prayed for Diane, and she prayed with me, agreeing in my prayer for her protection, health, provision and for God to direct her steps. When we finished praying, we hugged and I told her I would keep her in my prayers. She was so sweet and so thankful, she encouraged me more than I encouraged her. 

Sunday morning, I attended a service at the church my daughter attends. The pastor shared that God wants us to grow in our understanding of His love for us. He can handle my mess and often make a message of His goodness out of us. He came to bring us a life of peace and deep-seated joy.

Even though I fall short of where I believe I should be, I know God can use me, even when I am so imperfect and not nearly the godly Christian I ought to be. 

But I cling to the scripture that tells me, "...being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ..."  Philippians 1:6

Be encouraged today. He isn't finished with us yet. He can use our perfections for His glory.

God bless you today as you share His love with the lost.

In His grip,
Toni and Bill