Simply One Day at a Time: Trip to Nogales, Mexico

Monday, May 13, 2013

Trip to Nogales, Mexico

This is the finished Kid's Cafe (soup kitchen) we built on this trip.

Some of the children who come to the Kid's Cafe to eat, sing, and learn about God.

This is the area next to the neighbor's house who was talking about how she loved gardens and wanted to plant one. God allowed us to help her bring it about. We helped her take out all the lumber and trash, and then Michael, Ramon, Jedrek, Slade and Jonny (sp?) went to get dirt. We bought fig trees, plum tree, roses, and bushes. It was fun working together to bring about this garden. When we left, the neighbor was out watering her garden. We prayed a prayer of blessing over the garden, her life, and the lives of her family members. I look forward to seeing what God will do.

This is the chapel at the Cuirim House.

These are the children being served at the church. During the summer, these children will be served at the Kid's Cafe #2 that we built.

Our children had fun playing soccer, working, drawing pictures, playing store, playing the guitar and singing, and trying to speak Spanish with their new Mexican friends.

Elena's 8th birthday party.

This is the Kid's Cafe #1, where we got to serve the children food, listened to the Bible stories, and even got to sing for the children. The leaders are faithful to continue to speak truth to the children, planting seeds and praying for God to work in their lives. They need our support and prayer.

Highlights and Points to Remember:
1. Continue to build God's Kingdom. Pursue opportunities that matter for eternal purposes. The Christian leaders in Nogales are a good example of faithful servants, planting seeds in hardship for God's Kingdom.

2. Feed our children Spiritual food. The children in Nogales who walk to the Kid's Cafes are fed on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Not only do they receive a healthy meal, tutoring, guitar lessons, and have a safe place to be, but they also receive the truth of Scripture in song, a lesson and prayer. Ramon also speaks truth in the church on Wednesday nights and Sundays, as well as other times. God is at work in the hearts of the children. What about the hearts of the children in the USA? The majority of children here are not fed Spiritually. They need to hear the truth of Scripture on a regular basis.

3. A highlight of our trip was when we had Christian, Jackie, and their children to the Cuirim House for a meal. They are living in the house Mike was in charge of building when we took three students from River Valley Ranch. They live right next to the Kid's Cafe #2 that we finished on this trip. Jackie looked at it and said, "Estoy muy contento (I am very content)." They are in charge of ministering to the kids everyday and feeding them and teaching them on Saturdays. Christian said he is encouraged by us to serve the Lord more, as he sees us returning to Mexico year after year. The consistency in our presence there was meaningful to them. God let us see fruit from the past trips. We are thankful to be partners in the gospel with these dear people.

4. God is at work in our children's lives, through this trip.
     a. Hearing the stories of the Christians and of God at work is powerful.
     b.  We practiced going to God when we are afraid. We had many opportunities: flying, going to a place where there is a significant amount of gang violence, leaving Blane, and scorpions. Slade was praying to see scorpions. God answered his prayer, and we saw four! Then, Slade prayed fervently that he would not be stung and God gave him peace, so that he could sleep.
     c. People of other cultures love Jesus, too. Seeing another culture and language is important. They now have Mexican friends. Who knows how God will use that? We will wait and see.