Purisma: Cold Body But Spirit-Filled Heart

The kid's liked the gifts.

The kid’s liked the gifts. (click on a photo to see it larger)

True Path Ministry Inc. went to Purisma, a tiny village deep in the mountains. There were twelve who made the two hour trip with us from Galeana. The last hour was on gravel road that was extremely steep and rough. Plus, the temperature was below freezing, ice covered the treetops. Worship was in a pavilion covered on top but with no sides. Our bodies were cold but our spirit-filled hearts were warm.

Pastor Leobarreo built a small fire beside the meeting place and it helped warm our bodies. The two hour worship service was filled with music, songs, testimonies and a stirring sermon by Pastor Jose. He and his family came along to help. Our good friends Juan and Sandra were with us too. She sang and he played the accordion.

Martin and Ana were also with us to help keep things moving. After the service we gave each child a Christmas gift bag filled with small toys, soap and candy. The adults got to select items from a pile of donated clothing. We also gave out several pairs of reading glasses and Bibles. Sandra operates the Nuevo Corazon feeding ministry and she brought bags of food for every family.

Even though it was very cold, the weather did not detract from the fellowship and love of Jesus we shared. It was a joyful day serving the Lord!

boygift1girlgift2

Ana and Martin helped give out the gift bags.

Ana and Martin helped give out the gift bags.

The fire helped us warm up.

The fire helped us warm up.

meetingplace

Pastor Jose delivered a good sermon.

Pastor Jose delivered a good sermon.

Juan and Sandra sang with the local band.

Juan and Sandra sang with the local band.

singer

Some of the local ladies sang to the Lord.

Some of the local ladies sang to the Lord.

Local pastor Leobarreo shared a few words.

Local pastor Leobarreo shared a few words.

There was a wonderful time of prayer.

Tonyia participated in a wonderful time of prayer.

Before the service we gathered in the Pastor's home beside a tub of coals.

Before the service we gathered in the Pastor’s home for coffee and to warm ourselves beside a tub of coals.

clothes1clothes2

The reading glasses were popular.

The reading glasses were popular.

Martin helped determine which glasses worked.

Martin helped determine which glasses worked.

Pastor Leobarreo and his family love the Lord.

Pastor Leobarreo and his family love the Lord.

It was a rough but interesting drive.

It was a rough but interesting drive.

Sandra brought food bags for each family. She operates the Nuevo Corazon food ministry.

Sandra brought food bags for each family. She operates the Nuevo Corazon food ministry.

 

 

Canoas: Fun, Gifts and Jesus

On December 31st the True Path Ministry gift giving group was in Canoas, a small village in a valley at the top of steep mountains. Going south from Galeana three vehicles and eighteen people made the two hour trip. The last hour of driving was on roads that were so steep and rough that our two wheel drive vehicles barely made it. But for the privilege of sharing the gospel of Jesus the Christ – the drive was worth it!

In Canoas the small, old wooden Christian church building is kept alive by faithful families, but few outsiders come here. We picked up a couple from Aguablanca on the way to the village. They wanted to join in worship.

The kid's enjoyed the art project.

The kid’s enjoyed the Christian art project. (Click on photo to see it bigger)

There is only a few solar cells to provide electricity in the tiny village. Juan had to set up a portable generator to run the sound system for the adult and kid’s worship time. He played the music and Sandra sang. Pastor Jose and his family from Dieciocho de Marzo came along for him to preach and Pera lead the song service. He delivered a powerful gospel message and lead a wonderful prayer time.

Yessi, our kid’s club teacher, was with us to lead the children. She had them play fun games, make a Jesus honoring art project and sing Christian songs. The local kids were overjoyed for the rare opportunity to experience the gospel in this way. They later joined the adult worship to show what they had learned. After the service each child was given a Christmas gift. Each present included a tract explaining what it means to follow Jesus. It also had toys and personal items such as soap and combs.

Martin and Ana were also on hand to help. Tonyia and Stephen, plus visitors Larry and Belinda Bookman from Bandera, Texas were there to testify and support all the activities. Tonyia used her beautiful sign language to a Spanish song for an uplifting moment during a spirit-filled worship service.

At the end of the service, after the gifts were given to the kids, the adults were invited to pick from donated clothes and shoes. We also gave out reading glasses to those who needed it. Plus, Sandra who runs the Nuevo Corazon ministry, brought food items to give away such as cereal, bananas and other items.

Because there were 18 of us, three different families divided us in groups to feed us in their homes. It was a wonderful time serving the Lord. On our way back we stopped to give a very poor family gifts and food as we traveled by their home. It is such a joy to serve the Lord! It was a long, but memorable for all involved.

We want to thank everyone who has been praying for us, donated gifts and money. It has kept us going during a very busy time delivering the Christmas spirit in remote villages. If you feel moved to make a donation please see our “support” page. (Below: Check out some of the pictures we took. Click on a photograph to see it larger.)

The kids enjoyed the art project. They are rarely given an opportunity to make a decoration for their home.

The kids enjoyed the art project. They are rarely given an opportunity to make a decoration for their home.

gifts2kidsignsgifts1kidsinchurchsideofroadtoys

Pastor Jose preached a powerful message.

Pastor Jose preached a powerful message.

Tonyia used sign language to praise God to the words of a Spanish song.

Tonyia used sign language to praise God to the words of a Spanish song.

The local folks were part of worship too.

The local folks were part of worship too.

singerprayerchurchfront

Sandra who runs Nuevo Corozon, gave away food.

Sandra who runs Nuevo Corozon, gave away food.

supplies

lbfronthselarbelinfriendskitchen

The village is in a beautiful high-mountain valley.

The village is in a beautiful high-mountain valley.

The road was challinging.

The road was challenging.

road2

We gave our hosts a "blessing bag" that included fresh oranges.

We gave our hosts a “blessing bag” that included fresh oranges.

We used Juan's generator to power the sound system.

We used Juan’s (left) generator to power the sound system.

We gave away clothes too.

We gave away clothes too.

A local home and burro.

A local home and burro.

Tonyia discover they separate the strands on a rope to hold their freshly washed clothes on the line.

Tonyia discovered they separate the strands on a rope to hold their freshly washed clothes on the line.

boywdaddy

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

Larry Bookman’s well used Bible is a wonderful sight.

 

La Avena Desert Joy in Giving

On December 30th the True Path Ministry gift giving tour group was in La Avena, a small village in the middle of the desert. It is over an hour away from any paved road. Many of the people there are relatives of Pastor Jose who lives in Dieciocho de Marzo. Pastor Jose and family came along to visit, preach and share the gospel. We held a spirit-filled worship service. Tonyia used sign language to show her joy of the Lord to a Spanish Christian song. Larry and Belinda Bookman expressed their love of the people and the Lord. Yessi lead the children’s church.  Martin and Ana were on hand to help and share too. The Gospel of Jesus Christ was shared in many ways.

After the service, gifts were given to each child, clothes to adults and glasses to those who needed them. It was another wonderful day serving the Lord!

The local folks greeted us warmly.

The local folks greeted us warmly.

kidgift1

The gifts were a big hit with the kids.

The gifts were a big hit with the kids.

kidgift5kidgift4kidgift3kidgift2

Tonyia used sight language to a Spanish song during worship.

Tonyia used sign language to a Spanish song during worship.

Pastor Jose from Dieciocho de Marzo preached a strong Bible-based sermon.

Pastor Jose from Dieciocho de Marzo preached a strong Bible-based sermon.

The kids sang a song they learned from Yessi.

The kids sang a song they learned from Yessi.

They always feed us even when we show up with a dozen people.

They always feed us even when we show up with a dozen people.

kidstime3

The kids had fun during their special time.

The kids had fun during their special time.

Yessi lead the kids at their service.

Yessi lead the kids with Ana’s help at their service.

There was a good group at the service.

There was a good group that came for the event.

burro

Pastor Jose's extended family lives in the village.

Pastor Jose’s extended family lives in the village.

hug

Larry and Belinda from Bandera, Texas enjoyed the village.

Larry and Belinda from Bandera, Texas enjoyed the village.

Genesis and Martin posed beside these old wheels.

Genesis and Martin posed beside these old wheels.

Tonyia and Stephen also posed beside the old wagon wheels.

Tonyia and Stephen also posed beside the old wagon wheels.

Tonyia and the local Pastor.

Tonyia and Pastor Esperanza.

 

 

 

We took several bags of clothes.

We took several bags of clothes.

cloths2

We were able to give out some glasses to help folks read their Bibles.

We were able to give out some glasses to help folks read their Bibles.

It is an interesting village.

It is an interesting village.

oldwagon

Pablo (Yessi's son) had fun hitting a box withstick, but no candy came out.

Pablo (Yessi’s son) had fun hitting a box with a stick, but no candy came out.

pinyataplaylarrybelindoor

Larry and Martin

Larry and Martin

We were pleased to have several others come with us.

We were pleased to have several others come with us.

The ministry Suburban was loaded with gifts and clothes and people.

The ministry Suburban was loaded with gifts and clothes and people.

belltower

 

 

Gifts to Dieciocho de Marzo Kids

After a service and delivering gifts at Tepazon in the morning on Thursday, December 29th a True Path Ministry team made their way to Dieciocho de Marzo that evening. We had a great Christ-honoring service at Pastor Jose’s church before handing out gift bags to all the kids. It is such a pleasure to show the love of Jesus by giving gifts to the little ones. They were grateful.

A lady from Monterrey gave a powerful message at the service.

A lady from Monterrey gave a powerful message at the service.

The church prayed for the children.

The church prayed for the children (click on a photo to see it larger).

Larry Bookman from Bandera, Texas helped hand out the gifts.

Larry Bookman from Bandera, Texas helped hand out the gifts.

Tonyia and Belinda handed gifts to the girls.

Tonyia and Belinda handed gifts to the girls.

girlgiftsboygift

After the service we had a meal at Pastor Jose's home.

After the service we had a meal at Pastor Jose’s home.

food

Martin and Pastor Jose joined in the Christian fellowship time.

Martin and Pastor Jose joined in the Christian fellowship time.

Tepazon Kids Were All Smiles

The True Path Ministry Inc. Christmas-time kid’s blessing tour made its way to Tepazon, a small village in the desert about an hour south of Galeana. It is Pastor Reynaldo’s home community and we set up at his parent’s farm. About 80 kids and 30 adults came to the open air worship service focusing on the children. Yessi, our kid’s club teacher, lead the children in fun games and songs. Martin gave a short Bible-based sermon. and Pastor Reynaldo lead a powerful prayer time.

After the service we handed out gifts to the kids. They were overjoyed to have some candy, a few toys and essentials like soap and shampoo. We spread out clothes and shoes for the adults. We also gave out reading glasses.

The sack race came with lots of laughs.

The sack race came with lots of laughs.

Yessi taught the kids a Christian song complete with motions.

Yessi taught the kids a Christian song complete with motions.

Martin gave a short sermon.

Martin gave a short sermon.

The cart race was fun too.

The cart race was fun too.

Pastor Reynaldo from Galeana lifted up prayers in Jesus' name for everyone.

Pastor Reynaldo from Galeana lifted up prayers in Jesus’ name for everyone.

prayer

Larry Bookman from Bandera, Texas helped hand out gifts.

Larry Bookman from Bandera, Texas helped hand out gifts.

Blenda Bookman also helped hand out gifts.

Belinda Bookman also helped hand out gifts.

gifts8gifts3gifts4gifts7gifts6glasses2glasses1

We met at Pastor Reynaldo's parent home.

We met at Pastor Reynaldo’s parent’s home.

Most of the True Path Ministry team for this service lined up for a photograph.

Most of the True Path Ministry team for this service lined up for a photograph.

The restroom was an outhouse.

The restroom was an outhouse.