Blessing Bag for a Special Lady

Maria laughs with Martin during a recent visit.

Maria laughs with Martin during a recent visit.

Maria De Jesus is 86 years old and lives alone in a tiny house on the side of a steep, rocky hill on the edge of Galeana, NL, Mexico. Her mind is still sharp as a tack, but she has trouble walking even with the homemade cane. A True Path Ministry team that included Tonyia, Stephen and Martin recently went to visit and pray with her. We also took a “Blessing Bag” with some essentials such as cooking oil, beans, rice, sugar, tortillas, tolet paper, cookies and eggs.

When we arrived she said in Spanish to Martin “I just prayed to God you would come back to see me and you are here.” She was overjoyed to have us visit and our hearts were filled with the love of Jesus too. Martin and Stephen met Maria when we picked her up to go to the ribbon cutting for Nuevo Corazon Galeana (New Heart) ministry (see story Feeding the Elderly in Galeana, July 12). She is a special lady who loves people, but she seldom has visitors. She is very materially poor, but her spirit is strong.

We’ll continue to check on her regularly, its one of our callings here. Loving and caring for everyone is what we Christians are called to do. All glory to God!

If you would like to donate money for a Blessing Bag (each bag cost about $20 US dollars) to give to Maria and others like her – see our “Support” page. Also, please say a prayer that the Lord will bless Maria.

The path to Maria's home is steep and rocky.

The path to Maria’s home is steep and rocky.

This elderly lady burst into tears as she was so overjoyed to go to the event and get a hug. She lives alone and has no family.

Maria burst into tears as she was so overjoyed to go to the ribbon cutting event a couple of weeks ago.

Nuevo Corazon Galeana Delivers Hot Meals to Elderly

mealsdelivered3Tuesday (July 19th) about 25 home-bound elderly or disabled Mexicans got a hot and healthy meal delivered free of charge to their homes. Nuevo Corazon Galeana in conjunction with True Path Ministry, Inc. followed up on their promise to feed those who have very limited means. The meals were cooked at Casa Cristana El Alfarero (the ministry house) with the help of Christian volunteers. The food was packaged and delivered to the doors of individuals verified at last week’s ribbon cutting (see Feeding the Elderly in Galeana posted on July 12th).

The participants were thrilled to have the meals. The delivery team at one home discovered the lady was ill and they even went to a local pharmacy to buy her necessary medication.

Juan, Sandra, Patrica, the founders of Nuevo Corazon Galeana, and others have worked hard to get the program started. However, it is not fully funded.

They estimate food will cost about $1,000 Pesos per week (about $60 US dollars) there will also be vehicle fuel and propane cost. If you would like to help support this important weekly meal program please go to the True Path Ministry, Inc.Support” page and click on the donate button. All money earmarked for a specific ministry goes to that ministry. A small amount is retained by PayPal for processing, but we do not take any dollars for administration fees.

Also, please pray that this faith-based ministry will not only feed people physically but also show them the love of Jesus in a way that will draw them close to God. Our savior, Lord and provider – Jesus!

Christian volunteers cooked and packaged the meals.

Christian volunteers cooked and packaged the meals.

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mealsdelivered2

Remote Pastors Visit Ministry House

 

We gave the pastor a supply of teaching materials, Bibles and Gospel of John booklets.

We gave the pastor a supply of teaching materials, Bibles and Gospel of John booklets.

One of the uses of Casa Cristana El Alfarero (the ministry house) is to host visiting pastors who are in Galeana from remote areas. We were recently honored to welcome Pastor Santiago, Edalia (his wife), Pastor Seledonio and a friend of theirs. Some of you may recall  we wrote on  July 10th about visiting Pastor Santiago and Edalia in Refugio, a very remote mountain village two and a half hours away from Galeana. It was a joy to see them again. They left the village about 5 AM as Edalia had to see a medical doctor.

Pastor Seledonio used his truck to drive Santiago and Edalia to Galeana. He is a new friend of our ministry and during the visit we learned he lives close to Refurgio and is a pastor for three mountain villages. We showed them all around the ministry house and told them how we were using it.

Pastor Seledonio mentioned he had many children in his churches. We gave him a supply of the children’s teaching materials that had been donated to us. We also gave him some Bibles and Gospel of John booklets. He was very grateful.

We told them they are welcome to stay the night at Casa Cristana El Alfarero if they are in Galeana for a couple of days. “We have had to stay in Galeana overnight before and did not have a place to stay. Thank you for inviting us,” said Santiago. About our ministry they all said “Gloria a Dios (glory to God)” as they got in the truck to return home.

Edalia enjoyed a cup of coffee at the ministry house.

Edalia enjoyed a cup of coffee at the ministry house.

 

River Baptism in Mexico

Notice the rays of light as Martin prays for Ana just before she entered the water.

Notice the rays of light as Martin prays for Ana just before she entered the water. (click on the photo to see it bigger)

Ana was baptized today (Sunday, July 17th) in a clear water stream outside Monterrey Mexico. She is Martin’s wife, Genesis’ mother and a valuable part of the True Path Ministry team. She had been baptized as a baby, but decided it was important to be immersed as an adult believer. Look closely at the pictures of Ana and you may see rays of light hitting her. The Holy Spirit was shining His light in approval.

There were about eleven others in her same group who also went under the water and back up reflecting what is said in the bible. “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)

Pastor Jose, Ana’s pastor, joined with Pastor Alfredo from Monterrey to perform the baptisms. The special river-side service is an annual event for many churches in the area. Many of those baptized were smiling broadly as they came out of the water.

An especially touching moment was when a disabled man, in a wheelchair, wanted his turn. He is a quadriplegic. What a tremendous act of faith for him to be baptized in the river. It was a moving day in the Lord. Glory to God!

This was one of the happy believers who made a public profession of faith through baptism.

This was one of the happy believers who made a public profession of faith through baptism.

This man was in a wheelchair.

This man was in a wheelchair.

Though wheelchair bound he wanted to be baptized.

Though wheelchair bound he wanted to be baptized.

The Pastor preached a short sermon from the banks of the river.

The Pastor preached a short sermon from the banks of the river.

There were many Christians who witnessed the baptisms.

There were many Christians who witnessed the baptisms.

 

Ana prepares to be immersed.

Ana prepares to be immersed as Pastor Jose (right) says a few words.

There were several churches who came to the river for services.

There were several churches who came to the river for services.

Tonyia was all smiles as we witnessed our first baptism in Mexico.

Tonyia was all smiles as we witnessed our first baptism in Mexico.

We shared the river bank with this butterfly.

We shared the river bank with this butterfly, a symbol of the new life we have in Christ.

Continued Success at Weekly Mark 10:14 Club

The Marcos 10:14 (Mark 10:14) kids club in Galeana attracted over 50 children when it met July 13th. They were all smiles as they left with their weekly Bible verse written down; the memory of the Bible story they heard; the fun games they played; and the prayers they shared. Yessi lead the meeting with the help of Martin, Anna, Tonyia, Stephen and several other adult helpers.

Stephen and Tonyia noticed the kids they drove home after the meeting were excited and all smiles about being part of the club. True Path Ministry is proud to have this as one of our core ministries here – all glory to Jesus. Jesus is why this ministry is successful!

A weekly verse to write down and remember is part of the activities.

A weekly verse to write down and remember is part of the activities.

There were over 50 kids at the weekly meeting.

There were over 50 kids at the weekly meeting. They write down a memory verse, hear a short Bible-based sermon, play group games, pray and have a light snack each week at the meeting.

There were several adult helpers who pitched in to help.

There were several adult helpers who pitched in to help with the craft.

It has to be just right.

Working diligently on his craft.

 

 

The kids enjoyed the crate races.

The kids enjoyed the crate races.

 

 

 

They colored a lamb during art time. It related to the Bible story of the week.

The art project related to the Bible story of the week.

Coloring their own paper lamb.

Coloring and making their own paper lamb unique.

The lamb puppets turned out good.

The lamb puppets turned out awesome.

Lamb puppets made them smile.

Smiles all around. Thank you Jesus!

Stephen and Tonyia brought seven happy kids in their back seat.

Stephen and Tonyia brought seven happy kids in their back seat.