Christmas Gifts Needed for Mexico’s Kids

It is time once again to begin accumulating items to go into gift bags that True Path Ministry Inc. will give to children in tiny, hidden, rural villages in Mexico. Please let us know if you are planning to give items. We intend to give out about 210 gifts this year and are trying to keep them small to reduce the complexity of transport, sorting and packaging. Moving gift items from Texas, and to get them across the border is a big challenge.

Ideally we would have 210 of each item listed below:

  • red med size gift bags
  • slinkies
  • large combs
  • small toothpaste
  • toothbrush
  • chapstick
  • hand sanitizer
  • hair brush
  • ponytail holder
  • small bubbles
  • large balloons
  • small balls
  • spin tops

Of course we welcome tax deductible financial donations for our Christmas Gift Project or for our ongoing ministry (see “support“). We also want to thank those who faithfully support us through your prayers and in other ways. God continues to open doors for us to ministry in Mexico and to strengthen His Kingdom.

 

This little girl enjoyed the bubbles last Christmas.

Marco 10:14 Kids Club: God Loves Me Unconditionally

The games, crafts and lesson for the 55 kids who came to the Marcos 10:14 Club meeting on September 21 all

God loves each of us unconditionally. (click on a photo to see it larger)

pointed in the same direction. God is our creator, He loves us unconditionally and He calls us to draw near to Him. And we can only relate to God through Christ. “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you,” said the LORD in Jeremiah 31:3 (NKJV)

Durning craft time the children were each given a piece of paper and asked to draw themselves  and write their names by the drawing. They were told how the love of God is so big that he loves us equally. They were also given pipe cleaners and asked to make something that represents God’s creation.

It was a fun-filled, active and Christ centered club. Dios bendiga (God bless). The Bible references that were part of the study were: Psalm 139:13-16, Jeremiah 31:3, and Isaiah 43:1.

The games get all the kids involved.

Rolando made a man with his pipe cleaners.

Flowers were a popular thing for the kids to make.

The drawings the children made of themselves were interesting.

Pastor Rey was one of the adults who got into making things.

We are blessed to have a good number of adults to help with club.

It was nacho week for the snack.

Helpers pick up many of the kids using the ministry Suburban.

 

 

 

The Roman Road

The Bible lays out for us a picture of the natural condition of mankind and how we humans can take a first step toward changing our condition by trusting God with our lives now and our eternity. Romans, the New Testament Bible book, gives us a road map to trusting Christ and following Him in obedience. Here is a seven verse series from the Holy Bible that is often called “The Roman Road.”

Below is that series and a link to BibleGateway for each verse:

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. [Romans 1:20-21 (ESV)]

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [3:23 (ESV)]

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. [5:8 (ESV)]

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. [6:23 (ESV)]

 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. [10:9-10 (ESV)]

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” [10:13 (ESV)]

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. [11:36 (ESV)]

The Roman Road (click on image to see it larger)

 

“Every Work of God Begins with Nothing”

Getsemani has limited financial resources and when I (Stephen) asked Pastor Rey about the challenges ahead in constructing a new building he said, “every work of God begins with nothing.” The Church is proceeding by faith. On September 18th we began the first day of work on a new building site in Galeana, NL, Mexico. Getsemani has a growing congregation and its future looks bright. It is where Pastor Reynaldo and Lulu serve as leaders. The church is an active, spirit-filled and Bible-based Christian community.

The new building site is near the base of Galeana mountain. (click on a photo to see it larger)

Getsemani and True Path Ministry work together to feed the elderly on Tuesdays, nurturer Christian growth through the Marcos 10:14 kids club on Thursdays and act as the hands and feet of Christ to remote and isolated villages on Saturdays. The church also ministers to people in the hospital, in their homes, and is especially concerned with strengthening families.

The Lord is leading True Path Ministry to continue its work with Getsemani, including with the new construction. Pastor Rey reminded me Monday that this is not his project, “Christ is the one we Christians serve.”

Dios Bendiga

Work started with a road to get to the site.

Our Ford Edge was the first vehicle up the new road.

 

Stephen and Pastor Rey had to clear Cat Claw and White Thorn bushes to clear the property line.

Nine year old Abdiel also helped clear brush.

Lulu made sure Pastor Rey, Abdiel, and myself did not go hungry as we worked Monday.

Gospel, Glasses, Clothes and Bibles to San Jose Del Rio

Eleven Christians from Galeana, NL, Mexico loaded in the True Path Ministry 1995 Suburban with the mission of being the hands and feet of Christ to San Jose Del Rio. It is a small and remote mountain village. Our worship with these hungry hearts was sincere and deeply spiritual. We also gave out four big boxes of clothes, many reading glasses and seven Bibles. The village has a beautiful Christian church building, but the pastor died a few years ago.

Several members of the Church read from the Bible or shared a testimony. (click on a photo to see it larger)

The widow of the deceased pastor to San Jose Del Rio is a member of Rey and Lulu’s Getsemani Church in Galeana. She and members of her family were very grateful for the opportunity to come along on the adventure.

“The Worship service and the much needed items we gave to the people of the tiny village by the river was a huge encouragement,” said Stephen. “It is a special kind of joy to know we used the resources of True Path Ministry in the way the Lord intended.”

You may recall that the community recently lost a prominent Christian man to death (see A Day Honoring the Passing of a Brother In Christ). This service provided some healing to the local folks.

We lingered in the area after the worship service and gift giving was over. Pastor Rey, his kids and I (Stephen) headed down to see the river that runs beside the village.

On our way down a steep hill we encountered an elderly lady also traveling the same trail. She had been at the service and was carrying a couple of bags. I went beside her to help her down the hill.

I am not sure who was helping who, she had a strong grip in her hands and stout legs on the ground. But, she seemed to enjoy having the company as we made our way down.

The river was clear, flowing water – it was beautiful. In places on the banks there where pecan and avocado trees. Except for the avocado trees, the river reminded me of the Medina River in Texas where I grew up.  I pulled off my boots rolled up my pant legs and waded in the water. Rey’s kids got a big laugh out of me, but soon followed my example. We had fun at the river as several of the ladies prepared lunch for us.

After the meal we loaded back in the Suburban to travel the hour and a half drive down the sometimes challenging mountain road. The Suburban’s four wheel drive was nice. We returned tired but very satisfied that we had been good witnesses for Christ whom we serve.

If you would like to make a donation directly to the work of True Path Ministry see our “Support” page on this website. We are grateful for your support, both financial and prayers!

Most everyone played a part in the service.

Pastor Rey delivered a powerful sermon.

Lulu provided the music and her kid’s sang a hymn.

The pastor’s widow participated in the service in several ways.

We spread out four big boxes of clothes after the service.

We also gave each child a small gift. Each bag includes a Christian tract and some simple toys.

This elderly lady was about to go down the steep hill alone.

I (Stephen) walked with here, hand in hand, down the steep grade. I am not sure who was helping who.

San Jose Del Rio is a beautiful mountain river.

After getting to the river we had to get our feet in the cool, clear water.

Avocado trees grow wild here and are in season now.

 

 

The suburban was loaded top to bottom.

With eleven people in the vehicle we even had kids in the very back.

It is a beautiful little cut rock church building.

Donkeys are a common sight along the road.

We saw these kids beside the road on our way home and we gave them one of the left over gifts. It turns out there were six of them. We had just enough gifts for each one.