Blessings in the Mountains: San Jose Del Rio

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Juan played the music for the service

Juan played the music for the service

It was a wonderful day serving the Lord in remote San Jose Del Rio! We had a great worship service, fed about 40 people, gave away ten Bibles and handed out over fifteen pair of reading glasses.

The True Path Ministry team followed up on going with Juan, his wife Sandra and daughter Patricia today (Saturday June 4) as we discussed at our Wednesday night dinner. But the number of those joining us on this adventure grew. Twenty one people traveled with us on the hour long trip south of Galeana to San Jose Del Rio. It is a remote village on a dirt road in a canyon by a creek, deep in the Sierra Madre mountains.

We took our Ford Edge with six people and Juan took his 90 something Ford truck with the remaining 15. Yes, that’s right there were 15 people in his truck including Pastor Reynoldo and family (you may recall we posted a story about him recently),  Yessi and her two small children, plus several members of the Getsemani church in Galeana. It was truly an adventure in serving the Lord.

San Jose Del Rio has a great little church building, however their pastor recently died. We Galeana folks facilitated the Worship service. Juan played the guitar, Pastor Reynoldo’s wife, Lourdes kept the service on track, Tonyia signed, I told how we came to be in Mexico, Martin preached and  Pastor Reynoldo closed with a powerful prayer. The alter filled with people seeking special prayer.

Martin preached a powerful sermon from Romans.

Martin preached a powerful sermon from Romans.

The ladies of San Jose Del Rio sang a hymn during worship.

The ladies of San Jose Del Rio sang a hymn during worship.

After the service we fed everyone sandwiches made on the tailgate of Juan’s truck. We handed out four big print and six regular print Bibles. Plus, we had also brought a bunch of reading glasses from the Dollar Store in the USA. They were very popular – several of the local folks smiled broadly when they realized how much better they could see their Bibles.

As we were finishing the rain started. We rearranged who was to ride where so that the small children could be out of the rain. Martin and I joined Pastor Reynaldo and six of the older kids in the back of the pickup for a wet ride back to Galeana. But we poked fun at each other, sang hymns and turned what could have been a difficult ride into a fun adventure. The Lord had blessed us so that the rain did not dampen our Spirits.

All in the name of Jesus for the glory of God.

Stephen told how the Lord brought us to Mexico.

Stephen told how the Lord brought us to Mexico.

These two brothers belong to Yessi.

These two brothers belong to Yessi.

The reading glasses we had brought to give away were very popular.

The reading glasses we had brought to give away were very popular.

We handed out both big print and regular print Bibles.

We handed out both big print and regular print Bibles.

We fed sandwiches to everyone present.

We fed sandwiches to everyone present.

Tonyia checked out the Avacodas on a tree near the church.

Tonyia checked out the Avacodas on a tree near the church.

Avacadas grow well in the area.

Avacadas grow well in the area.

Pastor Reynaldo and son rode in the back of the truck.

Pastor Reynaldo and son rode in the back of the truck.

These two girls were part of the back of the truck crew.

These two girls were part of the back of the truck crew.

Martin borrowed a kid's coat to try to stay warm on the return trip home.

Martin borrowed a kid’s coat to try to stay warm on the return trip home.

It was a wet ride home.

It was a wet ride home.

We tried to use a tarp to keep dry, but it did not work.

We tried to use a tarp to keep dry, but it did not work.

Our Ford Edge had to travel some difficult roads.

Our Ford Edge had to travel some difficult roads.

An Amazing Testimony

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Juan, Sandra and Patricia are starting a new ministry to feed the elderly.

Juan, Sandra and Patricia are starting a new ministry to feed the elderly.

We had guests scheduled for this week’s dinner at the ministry house, but the Lord changed who the guests would be. He had a better plan. The original folks we invited had things come up in their lives and postponed their visit.

Martin called Juan, a Christian brother,  whom we had met once but that Martin knew. Juan is a musician and often makes visits to remote places/farms to play his Christian music. We have been interested in working with him to visit these remote farms.

Martin asked Juan if he wanted to come for dinner and discuss all of us going to a farm on Saturday.  He agreed and we were happy to have his family, Sandra wife and daughter Patricia, come eat with us at Casa Cristana El Alfarero for our weekly Wednesday night meal.

Amazing Testimony

Juan told us his family’s testimony. There were eleven of them in his family when he was growing up and his father was a hard and stubborn man. His dad did not know the Lord. One of his sons had a disorder where he had seizures. They took him to doctors who told them the boy has a serious condition and said he would surely die soon and there was nothing they could do.

One day their words came true. The boy of about four years old collapsed on the play ground – he was dead. They picked up the body and placed it inside their home and covered him with a blanket. The family began to mourn their loss.

When the father heard the news he went around to the back of their house and for the first time in his life cried out to the Lord. “If you will somehow give me my son I will serve you all the days of my life.” Still deep in despair the father entered the house to see his dead son. But, just as he entered the room where the body lay the boy sat up — he came back alive!

The father honored his promise to the Lord and used the balance of his life to spread the gospel into many parts of northern Mexico. He has since gone on to be with the Lord. But many in the family continue to minister in the name of Jesus, including Juan.

In fact Juan was the boy in the story. He never had another seizure and has lived a normal life. Everyone in the room had tears in their eyes as he told us his very personal testimony. He was also proud to say that on this Wednesday, June 1, 2016 it was daughter Patricia’s birthday. We sang the happy birthday song to her.

A New Ministry

Juan, his wife Sandra and daughter Patricia are totally committed to serving the Lord. Juan has a truck and makes a living hauling material for local folks. But, he is always looking for ways to honor Christ. Sandra told us they had seen some elderly people going through the trash looking for food and it broke their heart.

The family has set out to ease the hunger they observed in the elderly. They are about to start a new work called “Ministerio Nuevo Corazon – Galeana” (New Heart Ministry, Galeana Branch) with a little help from the Monterrey organization with the same name.

The elderly in Mexico get no more than $1,000 Pesos each month (about $60 USD) on which to live. These days not many families are willing to take in their older relatives, even here in Mexico. A hot meal at least once per week will be a great blessing to these older folks. But they were not sure where they would cook and feed them.

It is always amazing how God puts this stuff together.  Casa Cristana El Alfarero is close to being setup for such a meal and it fits into the vision the Lord gave us when we came here. We are still praying about this, but we will likely partner with this worthwhile ministry as part of our work here.

Music into the Mountains

Juan and his family have been all over the Galeana area as they all grew up here. They also have a heart for the poor who live in remote, seldom visited villages in the mountains. Juan plays the accordion and leads singing. We all agreed we would make a trip Saturday to a village they knew about, but it is one we never visited. The adventure with the Lord continues. We’ll let you know how it goes.

We all acknowledged that the Lord had brought us together for this meal and discussion. Praise the Lord, it is He we serve!

 

Prayers with Lopez Family

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Tonya, Pastor Lupe and Samuel Lopez.

Tonya, Pastor Lupe and Samuel Lopez. (click on photo for closer view)

Thursday night (May 26)  a small car pulled up in front of our Galeana home with Samuel and Tonya Lopez.  The Lopez family are well known locally because of their musical talent and we have been around them at multiple Christian events. Some of you may recall we had prayed with Tonya and her daughter Cindy some weeks back.

Samuel and Tonya Lopez were distressed and we were honored and humbled they had come to us. However, we were not sure what was the nature of their distress. We had difficulty talking with them because of our limited Spanish. We called our fellow True Path Ministry worker Martin who talked with them a while.

We learned from Martin they had just been to the hospital after Samuel had experienced some unusual bleeding. Plus, Tonya had a very disturbing dream the very night before. They were both concerned and wanted our prayers. We shared some coffee and cookies and then we prayed. We agreed to come see them at their home on Saturday so we could pray for them and their home with Martin present.

The True Path Ministry team (Martin, Anna, Genesis, Tonyia and Stephen) drove out to the Lopez compound, called El Poso, on Saturday night. It is about ten miles south of Galeana. Several members of the Lopez family and others have homes beside each other. They even have their own church where the senior Lupe Lopez is pastor.

We sat down with Samuel, Tonya and Lupe Lopez for a time of friendly visiting. After discussing their concerns we opened the Bible to Ephesians to read and discuss the power of the Armor of God in verses 6:10-20 and its application in our lives.

We began an intense time of prayer. We all realize we can only fight the rulers of the darkness in the Spirit through the name of Jesus. We laid hands on, prayed for, and anointed with oil  Samuel and Tonya Lopez and their home. The power of the Holy Spirit filled the room. It was a moving moment in the name of Jesus. We are so thankful to have a Savior that loves us so much. Jesus is our certain hope!

Pastor’s Birthday, Wound Care and Blessing Bag

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Pastor Jose and family.

Pastor Jose and family.

The True Path Ministry team (Martin, Anna, Genesis, Tonyia and Stephen) were part of a surprise Birthday party for Pastor Jose. Many from his congregation turned out to wish him well. His church is in Dieciocho de Marzo, a small community about ten miles northwest of Galeana. There were a number of touching moments as his wife Pera and family joined the festivities.

Everyone shared a moment about what Pastor Jose meant to them. A very special one was Louis. He is a young teen and nephew of the pastor. The family now considers Louis one of their own four kids. Louis told how thankful he was that Jose allowed him to come live with them.  He was in a difficult family situation in Monterrey but now living with Jose,  he knows Christ and he is being taught how to live out his faith. There was not a dry eye in the place.

After the hour long tribute the party moved from the sanctuary to the fellowship room for a meal and cake. The ladies of the church had prepared enough to feed everyone. The meal was good but the desert was special for Pastor Jose. He has a particular fondness for cake and he ended up with three from which to choose. After he got his pick everyone joined in eating one of the sweet treats.

Pastor Jose's congregation.

Pastor Jose’s congregation.

One of the tributes was from a new family in the church. We learned that the wife had recently had major surgery. The wound was not healing properly and reopened. They found out Tonyia was a nurse and they asked if she could come by their house to examine the site, give her advise and pray with her for healing – of course we were happy to visit them.

As it turns out the family’s home was next door to Lupe also a member of the congregation. He is a wonderful, spirit-filled 85 year old. He is going through a difficult time as a good friend of his was diagnosed with a serious condition. He has virtually no income, but a big heart.

Pastor Jose defends his cake - he likes cake.

Pastor Jose defends his cake – he really likes cake.

Several folks spoke and even sang for the pastor's party.

Several folks spoke and even sang for the pastor’s party.

We took him a “blessing bag” with staples such as tortillas, cooking oil, coffee, rice, beans, cookies, sugar and toilet paper. Pastor Jose also joined us at Lupe’s home to talk with him and to take his petition to God in a intense time of prayer. He is such a powerful witness for Jesus – he was grateful, humble and welcoming.

We took a "blessing bag" to 85 year old Lupe.

We took a “blessing bag” to 85 year old Lupe.

Tonyia used her nurse skills to discuss the Sister's wound.

Tonyia used her nurse skills to discuss the Sister’s wound.

Once again I am overwhelmed how we are being used by the LORD. I encourage you to go on a missionary trip – it will bless you beyond measure.

PS – You are always welcome to come see us in Mexico!

Church Building Plan, Dinner and Children’s Club

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The new church location overlooks Galeana.

The new church location overlooks Galeana.

Martin, Stephen and Pastor Reynaldo recently checked-out the location where Getsemani will one day be located. Pastor Reynaldo currently rents a small building for church services, but has big plans for the future. The property the church has purchased is up on a hill east of town overlooking Galeana. Once built it would be seen and heard all around the area. Please pray the Lord will touch hearts for the funds to build this church.

We (the True Path Ministry Mexico team – Martin, Anna, Genesis, Tonyia and Stephen) learned about the new building plan when we hosted the Pastor and his family for a meal on Wednesday night May 25. Joining us at the table were Pastor Reynoldo, wife Lourdes, children Arele age 5, Jose age 8 and Elias 10 months. Another member of his congregation, Yessi and her two small children, also ate with us. She has extensive experience teaching children and wants to be involved as we develop weekly programs at Casa Cristana El Alfarero.

We hosted the pastor and others for Pizza on Wednesday, May 28th.

We hosted the pastor and others for Pizza on Wednesday, May 28th.

Pastor Reynoldo has a number of young families in his growing church. Among his duties as a pastor he has developed specific skills as a marriage counselor. He has been a pastor eight years and five of those he has been working with couples to strengthen marriages. He was also pleased to hear we were developing plans to work with the children in the community.

We discussed having a weekly Christian club for children. It would be a fun time that would include games, life skills and Bible study. Yessi who has worked with similar programs over the past 13 years believes the idea has merit and agreed to help. We will all pray about the idea and pursue an outline detailing what would be involved. If the Lord is in it we’ll overcome any barriers that stand in the way.