Celebrating One of God’s Servants – Feliz Cumpleaños Santiago

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Pastor Santiago just turned 76 and a True Path Ministry team was on hand (Saturday, July 23rd) with many others to celebrate (Stephen and Tonyia are in the USA). Martin, Juan, Romero and Marcos, another brother in Christ from Chona also made the trip. They took a guitar, an accordion, a sound system and a power generator – there is no electricity at the church there.

It is a difficult two and a half hour drive from Galeana to Refugio. The road is mostly dirt and rough. It is up and down the side of mountains and in an active creek at times. But, it was worth the drive as it was a great day praising our Lord and celebrating Santiago’s life. He has been the faithful Pastor in the village for many years and lives life raising up the name of Christ. Feliz cumpleaños!

 

Santiago (left) and his brother - by blood and in Christ - have been through a lot over the years.

Santiago (left) and his brother – by blood and in Christ – have been through a lot over the years.

Ramiro shares a few words.

Ramiro shares a few words.

Martin gives Santigo a bear hug.

Martin gives Santiago a bear hug.

Everyone gave Santiago a birthday hug.

Everyone gave Santiago a birthday hug.

Juan plays the accordion as the Pastor's brother sings.

Juan plays the accordion as the Pastor’s brother sings.

This group joined Santiago in front of the gathering.

This group joined Santiago in front of the gathering.

Juan sang and played the accordion.

Juan sang and played the accordion.

Refugio is deep in the mountains in a valley between towering peaks.

Refugio is deep in the mountains in a valley between towering peaks.

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Marcos, the guitarist, is from the Chona and rode in with the True Path Ministry team.

Marcos, the guitarist, is from the Chona and rode in with the True Path Ministry team.

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A Good Evening at Marcos 10:14 Club Meeting

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This boy made a camel during craft time.

This boy made a camel during craft time.

A good group of children gathered Wednesday (July 20th) evening at Casa Cristana El Alfarero (the ministry house) for the weekly Marcos 10:14 kid’s club meeting. Yessi had a good lesson from Luke 8:51-56 about Jesus raising Jairus’ daughter from death. She made the story come alive by acting it out with her husband’s and one of the small girl’s help. The kids also enjoyed prayers, group games, craft time and a light snack.

It is always a joy to host the children, but we are also happy to have a number of parents come each week to help. The Lord is blessing this ministry – all glory to God!

Martin used his truck to transport some of the kids from Reynaldo's church.

Martin used his truck to transport some of the kids from Reynaldo’s church.

They glue a new Bible memory verse into their booklets each week. Martin used his truck to transport some of the kids from Reynaldo's church. The kids always have fun. There was a good group at the meeting even though several other events were going on in the area.

They glue a new Bible memory verse into their booklets each week.

They glue a new Bible memory verse into their booklets each week.

The kids always have fun.

The kids always have fun.

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Blessing Bag for a Special Lady

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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

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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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Remote Pastors Visit Ministry House

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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.