The road along the mountains is often difficult.

Few outsiders ever venture to Refugio, there is one road in and it is a rough one. Homes and the Christian church building in the the tiny mountainous village are built on the side of the ridges as there is virtually no flat ground. It is located in the high Sierra Madre Oriental mountains. The village is squeezed between these towering mountains beside a flowing creek. It is incredibly beautiful.

Pastor Santiago and his wife, Edalia warmly welcomed the thirteen Christians who traveled from Galeana on Saturday July 9, 2016. It is about 55 miles but it took us close to two and a half hours to get there. Much of the travel time was spent on a dirt road that weaves up and down canyon walls clinging to the very edge of shear cliffs. The road ends at the base of the hill where the pastor’s home is located. It is an exhausting and treacherous climb to get to Santiago’s house, but the payoff is the view.

We spent some time visiting and though we brought sandwich makings, Edalia insisted we eat. She had made beans, noodles, and wonderful homemade tortillas. There is no electricity and they live totally off the land. The tortillas are made with corn they raise and grind themselves. Santiago several times voiced thankful prayers to God for bringing us to see them.

The road goes through these people’s goat pens.

Soon after eating, we headed down the hill to the small wooden Church building. We have visited here several times and it is always a joy to share the love of Jesus with these beautiful people.

After a time of sharing and reading scripture,  Juan played the guitar as we praised. Evangelist Ramiro, who enjoys traveling with the Galeana group, delivered another stirring sermon. Several prayed with him for healing. The Holy Spirit moved in power! All the children were brought forward and the adults  prayed for each one. Several laid hands on the kids and embraced them. It was touching.

We then fed everyone sandwiches and gave the kids a small bag of goodies. Everyone had eaten so it was time to bring in the clothes to give away. We had a large box and many sacks full. You would have thought we were handing them gold. The women and little girls were especially happy. What fun it was to see joy on their faces! Rejoice in the Lord always!!

The folks here make a living raising goats and growing crops on the small rocky fields beside the creek or on the edge of a hill. Life is hard here, but it does produce hardy people.

Evangelist Ramiro delivered a powerful sermon.

Tonyia hugged all the children while everyone prayed for them. Life can be difficult for them in this remote mountain village.

Santiago is 76 but still tends his goats and walks up and down the mountains with ease. After all the activity with the church, he took Martin, Ramiro and Stephen to see the waterfall. It was a difficult climb back up and all of us except Santiago were sweating and out of breath. He just smiled at us as he knew we were struggling to walk out.

The True Path Ministry team (Stephen, Tonyia, Martin, Anna and Genesis) appreciate the support of our Christian friends: Evangelist Ramiro, Juan, Sandra, Pastor Reynaldo, wife Lourdes, children Arele age 5, Jose age 8 and Elias 10 months. It is such a privilege to serve the Lord with these committed Christians! We are so grateful for the folks who support us financially and with prayer – All honor and glory to the King of Kings!!

Martin stands at the door of the wooden church building before the service.

These girls sang a song to Jesus during the service.

Worship was spirit-filled.

Juan played his acoustic guitar as there is no electricity.

Everyone takes part in the service.

We prayed for the pastor and his wife.

This man was walking much better after a prayer for healing.

This girl was excited to get new clothes.

The pastor’s wife smiles broadly in joy over her new clothes.

We fed sandwiches to everyone at the service.

Pastor Santiago is 76 but still walks up and down the mountains with ease.

The walk up to the pastor’s home was difficult.

Walking down from the pastor’s home was hard too.

Elephant ears grow wild along the creek.

Stephen stands beside the waterfall that is near the village.

People in this remote area enjoy visitors.

Edalia, the pastor’s wife (left) and Ana are cousins.

Over 50 kid came to the Wednesday night Marcos 10:14 club meeting.

Over 50 kids showed up to hear the gospel, play group games, make a booklet for verses, eat a light snack and just feel the love of Jesus. The first Wednesday gathering of the Marcos 10:14 club lasted two hours, glorified the Lord and exceeded our human expectations. One adult who had brought her child made a first time profession of faith in Jesus. Praise the Lord!

Tonyia and I walked out the gate just before six to go pick up some kids. We noticed groups of children walking toward Casa Cristiana El Alfarero (the ministry house).We were unsure how many kids would come but by 6:15 the sitting areas were full. We know God is on his throne and He is about our heart for Him and not about numbers.  Resting in Jesus!

Tonyia and I had already worked out to take the neighbor kids and to pick up some kids from Pastor Reynaldo’s church. It wasn’t long after we returned with these kids that all the benches and all twenty plastic chairs were full. Martin, Steve and Pastor Jose,who had come to help, used bricks and boards to build additional makeshift benches. When the program started there were over 50 kids and about fifteen adults. We had a few kids trickle in later.

Yessi kept the attention of the gathering.

Yessi played group games and sang with the kids before delivering a stirring Bible-based sermon. The entire audience listened intently and afterwards a lady came forward and said she wanted to pray to receive Jesus as Lord of her life! After the sermon the kid’s made little notebooks during craft time. The individual notebook would be for each kid to write down the scripture verse for the week. Once the craft time was over, we prayed and then fed everyone a half sandwich, some chips and a drink.

We had good help from Martin, Anna, Genesis, Pastor Jose, wife Pera, and 16-year-old daughter Brisa. Yessi did a great job working with the kids during all aspects of the meeting. Plus several of the parents pitched in to work with the children during craft time.

We asked the children we had brought if they liked the meeting and they said “si, si, si.” It is so cool to have the Holy Spirit working through our ministry to shine the light of Jesus on these children. Praise God!

This lady made a first time profession of faith in Jesus after the sermon.

Helping with a booklet.

Parents pitched in to help too.

Steve also pitched in to help with the craft.

These boys worked diligently to finish.

Groups of kids walked to the meeting.

Seven kids in our vehicles back seat.