Gospel, Gifts, Glasses and Clothes to Carmen Village

A True Path Ministry Inc. team took two vehicles filled with fifteen people to made an hour and a half trip to the tiny desert village of Carmen. The village is beside a spring-fed lake. We carried the gospel of Christ, gifts for the children, a blessing bag for the pastor, clothes and reading glasses.

We shared worship at a nice church building with the pastor and many from his congregation on Saturday, February 25th. It is the home to many members of Pastor Jose’s extended family. He is the Pastor in Dieciocho de Marzo. Also, the pastor in the village is a good friend of Pastor Reynaldo’s. He is Pastor in Galeana at the church Tonyia and Stephen regularly attend.

The True Path Ministry group stopped by the spring-fed lake at Carmen on our way home. It was a fun day serving the Lord.

Pastor Rey and son walked beside the lake.

Pastor Rey and son walked beside the lake.

The church fed us a great meal.

The church fed us a great meal.

The local pastor and Pastor Jose.

The local pastor and Pastor Jose.

It is a nice church building.

It is a nice church building.

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Pastor Jose preached a good sermon from Acts.

Pastor Jose preached a good sermon from Acts.

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The local Pastor welcomed us.

The local Pastor welcomed us.

Pastor Rey spoke too.

Pastor Rey spoke too.

We gave gifts to the kids.

We gave gifts to the kids.

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Jesus’ Light On the Road to Canyon De Vacas

A True Path Ministry team took the gospel on the road to Canon De Vacas Saturday February 18th. Our unannounced visit (there is no way to call ahead) and worship service was met with friendly, open hearts.

Besides the trip to Canon De Vacas, the Lord lead us to minister to several couples who were having difficulties. It was a very good day serving the lord!

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

We witnessed the light of life in Jesus as we worshiped with the good folks at Canon De Vacas. It is about a three hour drive and we went by faith. There was no way to call ahead as they do not get cell service in the deep mountain valley and there are no land lines. The lady who is responsible for the church opened the doors for us and said yes we could have a service. Martin and Ana walked to most of the houses in the tiny village and invited them to the service we would hold in an hour. We were not sure if anyone would come.

Worship Service

Prayer time was moving.

Prayer time was moving.

But people started arriving about five minutes before and up to thirty minutes after we started. We sang several songs acappella. We did not have musical instruments with us. Evangelist Ramiro gave a rousing sermon. He usually does not prepare a sermon in advance but goes by what the holy spirit tells him. When we were near the village we saw men digging a fresh grave at a small cemetery. His sermon was about death and how we should all be prepared as we do not know when our time has come.

Clothing for All

There were twenty five or so people who came and many came forward for a special time of prayer. It was a very uplifting time to see one older lady run down the aisle after the Lord sent her relief from pain. After the service we laid out three large bags of clothes. They were so happy to find nice things for various members of their family.

Gifts for the Kids

The kids enjoyed the gifts.

The kids enjoyed the gifts.

We also brought gifts for the children. Each gift included a Spanish Christian tract telling about the love of Jesus. Wow- what fun it was to see the joy on the kid’s faces as they peaked in the bags. They treated  the paddle-balls, hot wheels cars and other small toys as if they were gold. The gifts were unexpected and they thanked us over and over. When we got back in the suburban to return home we found we had two left over boy gifts.

Blessings on the Road

We have to climb up and down several mountains on rough roads to get back to the main paved highway, Canon De Vacas is very remote. When we were in one valley we saw two boys beside a creek. The Lord impressed on us to give them the two gifts. They do not see many gringos and the boys were super surprised to be handed gifts by us. It was fun to watch their faces.

When we were about half way home Tonyia needed a bathroom break.  We stopped at a small store in a tiny village where we had gone about a year earlier. It is operated by an elderly Christians couple. They have a little church beside the store. The owner has been fighting cancer and spent some months in a hospital.

We prayed with this Christian couple in small store in a tiny village.

We prayed with this Christian couple in their small store.

We asked if they needed prayer and they eagerly accepted. We joined together to lift them up in a fervent, spirit-filled time of prayer. Afterwards we noticed the man was especially renewed.

We were worn out when we finally got home Saturday night. But oh, what a great day serving the Lord!

Ramero preached a great sermon about being prepared for death all the time.

Ramiro preached a great sermon about being prepared for death and knowing where you will go.

Many needed prayers.

Many needed prayers.

Martin lead the song service.

Martin lead the song service.

The church building was built in 1975 by a group from Florida.

The church building was built in 1975 by a group from Florida.

Girls with light rings.

Girls with light rings.

Paddle balls were a hit.

Paddle balls were a hit.

Best friends

Best friends

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Tonyia helps a girl with one of her gifts.

Tonyia helps a girl with one of her gifts.

Ana hands some gifts to teen aged girls. Each gift included a Christian tract.

Ana hands some gifts to teen aged girls.

Steve gave out the boy gifts.

Steve gave out the boy gifts.

A blow up ball.

A blow up ball.

He got a new hat plus some toys.

He got a new hat plus some toys.

We gave a gift to this boy and his friend. We saw them beside a creek on our way out.

We gave a gift to this boy and his friend. We saw them beside a creek on our way out.

They liked having lots of clothes.

They liked having lots of clothes.

We laid out three big bags of clothes on a tarp.

We laid out three big bags of clothes on a tarp.

Donated clothes of all sizes.

Donated clothes of all sizes.

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We had the ministry Suburban loaded with people and stuff to give away.

We had the ministry Suburban loaded with people and stuff to give away.

Martin visited with the local folks.

Martin visited with the local folks.

Donkeys are a popular means of travel here.

Donkeys are a popular means of travel here.

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Ramero showed the folks how to pack a sweater.

Ramiro showed how to pack a sweater full of clothes.

 

 

 

 

Nurturing Spiritual and Moral Health of Children

The Marcos 10:14 kid’s club is nurturing the spiritual and moral health of about 40 children in the Galeana, NL, Mexico area. It brings us great joy to see how the kids have learned several Christian songs, Bible verses and the meaning of living faith in love.

It was the day after Valentine’s Day and teacher Yessi played a game were the children hugged each other. She also tossed a heart shaped pillow to the kids one-by-one. When they got the pillow they had to say why they were special. She then continued her teaching from last week about the ten commandments.

Pastor Jose was on hand to lead them in several songs that include movements. They enjoy singing them and now know them by heart. It was a cold night so we gave them hot coco and sweet bread. It was a good night at Kid’s Club- its all for Jesus.

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Craft time

Craft time

Her Mom fix a heart in her hair.

Her Mom fix a heart in her hair.

The boys played "bang the bottles"

The boys played “bang the bottles”

Roll the bottles was another fun game.

Roll the bottles was another fun game.

The kid's and adults have a Marcos 10:14 shirt.

The kid’s and adults have a Marcos 10:14 shirt.

Mimbres Unity in Worship Outdoors

A group of Galeana area Christians joined a True Path Ministry team to take the gospel, clothes, toys and lots of prayers to Mimbres on Saturday, January 21st. It is a small, mountain-village about an hour northwest of Galeana. People from two churches in the small community joined together to sing praises, pray and hear a powerful message in an impromptu outdoor worship service.

The True Path Ministry suburban was loaded with people and stuff for the Mimbres adventure.

The True Path Ministry suburban was loaded with people and stuff for the Mimbres adventure (click on a photo to see it larger).

Martin, wife Ana and daughter Genisis loaded all eleven people in the True Path Ministry suburban along with eight bags of clothes, toys and a “blessing bag” for the host of the event (it is a collection of staples such as sugar, coffee, flour, rice, beans, cooking oil and cookies). Pastor Jose (and his family), Evangelist Ramiro, Musician Juan and wife Sandra and a member of Jose’s church were along to bring the love of Jesus to the village.

During the worship service they joined local musicians and worshipers to lift praises to the Lord. They also met Jose Rodriquez and wife who are missionaries from the USA who happened to be in the area. “It was a wonderful day of worship and fellowship,” said Martin, with True Path Ministry.

Stephen and Tonyia Williams were in the USA on business. “I would have loved being part of the Mimbres event. But, it is good to know our Mexico ministry continues even when we are away,” said Stephen.

The local folks joined in with songs and testimonies.

The local folks joined in with songs and testimonies.

Ramiro delivered a powerful sermon to the folks in Mimbres.

Ramiro delivered a powerful sermon to the folks in Mimbres.

Juan plays the accordion beautifully.

Juan plays the accordion beautifully.

Martin gave a word during the service.

Martin gave a word during the service.

Pastor Jose delivers a spirit-filled prayer.

Pastor Jose delivers a spirit-filled prayer.

It was a moving service.

It was a moving service.

It was a cool day for an outdoor service.

It was a cool day for an outdoor service.

The Mimbres folks enjoyed picking out clothing for their families from the donated clothes the team brought.

The Mimbres folks enjoyed picking out clothing for their families from the donated clothes the team brought.

After the service the group enjoyed a meal together.

After the service the group enjoyed a meal together.

Are You Good or Bad?

A well used Bible is a beautiful sight. This is actually Larry Bookman's Bible.

A well used Bible is a beautiful sight. This is actually Larry Bookman’s Bible.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death,” Proverbs 16:25. Humans have this uncanny way of justifying their own actions as “good.” But, this is a self-righteousness attitude.

Have you given any thought as to where your definition of good or bad comes from? If not, you are likely standing on the shifting sand of contemporary culture as your guide in life. You may even be taking the place of God in your own beliefs – regardless of what you say is your faith position.

One of the fundamental changes in my life after surrendering to Jesus was to render myself totally open to how God defines “right” and “wrong.” I understood that to God sin was wrong. However, I needed an unbiased way to determine what “sin” was. It came to me in two forms. First the Bible is the written word, a guide I must read and absorb for myself. Secondly, Jesus is the living word that I must use to guide my internal compass.

I read the words in the Bible often, but it is the Holy Spirit who gives me the insight to translate those words into how I can live closer to Jesus. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things…,” John 14:26.

To put it another way, I constantly compare my opinions, actions and beliefs against the perfect standard, Jesus. I fail often, but I know Christ gave his life on earth so that I have grace (undeserved favor) before a perfect God.

Christianity is who I am, not something I do every now and then. It is not religious ceremonies or certain words I have to say. But, if I am doing it correctly it is loving everyone and living a certain way regardless of the culture that is around me. It permeates every decision I make and gives me hope in all situations. “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good,” Romans 12:9.

Ultimately, God defines what is “good” and to think I can somehow alter his standard is wrong. Who is defining what is right for your life? “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly,” said Jesus (John 10:10). Come to Jesus.

Stephen Williams
True Path Ministry Inc.