Sunday 4/24/16

We left the house around 8AM headed to Rayones. A village to the northeast of Galeana. We have never been there and we were not sure how the roads would be. We had met Pastor Armando and his wife Rosa at the event the previous Saturday in Galeana. She invited us out for worship and a meal.

Rosa told us the roads were rough so we wanted to give ourselves enough time to make the 10:00 service. Well we had to stop a few times on the way and enjoy God’s beauty. There is a natural bridge over a creek several miles outside Galeana on the way to Rayones. It is called the bridge of God. BEAUTIFUL. A creek runs under an upside down “U” formed rock formation which is the bridges support. There were stairs down to an overlook and actually stairs that took you closer to the water but we did not have time to walk all the way down. Another day.

We left and continued our journey. It was about 22 miles one way but it took us one hour and 45 mins. (2 hours including the stop). Sister Rosa was right about the road, it was bad. There were times we were not sure if our vehicle would make it, we even had to back down one hill and try it again. We really needed a 4 wheel drive. But God helped us through.

We arrived and had a beautiful service at their home under the pecan trees. The town is covered by an orchard of pecan trees. It is absolutely gorgeous!

Steve preached as Martin interpreted and at the end of the service I signed. We had a gentlemen give his heart to Jesus. We also prayed for many, believing in their healing!!

Besides having service at their home, the Pastor also preaches in a tiny village about 10 minutes away called Goche. We drove over there so we could see the facility.

The it is an old adobe building with an unstable and leaky roof. Also there is no electricity to have night

services. The electric bill has not paid by the previous owner so it was cut off.

Their prayer is to have a church built on their land by their home. We told them we would also being praying, seeking the Lord to open those doors. They estimate it would cost around $3,000 US to complete the building and they already own the land.

Our God is so faithful!! He moved in mighty ways today! Thank you Jesus for allowing us the opportunity to show your love!!!!

 

 

 

 

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

Tonyia and I attended services at Pastor Hernandez’s church Sunday evening. The pastor called for a time of prayer when he asked men to pray for men, women for women. It was up lifting as everyone participated and the room filled with the sweet sound of folks connecting with the source of life. I was particularly touched to see two boys pouring out their hearts for each other.

It is a very active church. The congregational worship is on Sunday afternoons and Thursday nights. Plus, they have special service times for youth, teen boys and children. The church is often full, but there may only be one or two cars parked out front – most people walk. Many don’t have cars or can’t afford gas. After one recent service Tonyia and I took some ladies home and they had walked over two miles to attend.

There are no pew sitters in the churches in Mexico – everyone is expected to actively participate. Tonyia and I sang “I have decided to follow Jesus,” others offered a testimony, or read passages from the Bible. The preacher also expects everyone to follow along in their Bibles as he leads a preaching and study time. People in the congregation are called on to read the passages aloud and sometimes to recite the text out loud together.

It is common to see everyone at the alter by the end of the two hour service. The Holy Spirit is very alive in worship here – the people are sincere and many live totally by faith. It seems they have taken what Jesus said in John 4:23-24 to heart “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”