I Forgot We Had One Problem...

...but we just left him there. It didn't slow us down too bad!!

Back in Texas!

The team has crossed the border and is back on US soil! Randy said they had no problems crossing the border and that it really went pretty fast. He said that for part of their drive in Mexico, their contact there - Oscar - knew someone in the police force and arranged for them to have a police escort for about 50-60 miles! He said they were able to go about 70 mph that whole time and it really helped them out.
They are having lunch in Brownsville and then will get back on the road for LJ. They should be here sometime between 9 and 10. Yea! We look forward to them being home!

What a Great Adventure

This trip has been really great...but it was not lacking for trouble and hurdles.

It started when we were pulled over well into Mexico for ¨speeding¨ just like everyone else. It did not take very long for us to realize that these police officers were not honest and that they were just looking to make a buck. We could fight it if we wanted to spend the night and have an appt with the judge the next day....ugh! At one point the officer said he wanted just me to go with him down to the station...that was not happening. In the end all we lost was some time and some money. Not too big of a deal.

We had a flat on a trailer, replaced two tires on a rental van...in the end no big deal.

We started our projects on Monday with a lot of excitement and energy, but quickly hit some pretty unigue bumps in the road. There was a visit from the Mexico health department warning the village about the flu. The health officer informed us that we could not hold our VBS, that the locals could not work with us on the building, and that the dentist could continue, but only one family at a time. We were actually pretty impressed witht the actions that the Mexican government took, but pretty disappointed.

Simultaneously, the local religious leaders were reacting to our being there. He blasted propaganda from a loud speaker warning the people that we would teach them not to worship idols...well that is true! He demanded that we leave the village and not continue our work. It was pretty intense and very confusing.

But, the real story is...that God won the day! The people of the village wanted us to stay! This was a huge victory for the work that God is doing in this beautiful village among these beautiful people.

In the end this was a HUGE deal!

Between the flats, the flu, the police, and a very corrupt religious leader this week was an adventure, but none of it compared to the adventure of watching God work! None of it.

I hope you will consider joining us on this adventure next year...you wont regret it.

This is really just the Cliff´s Notes version...ask someone that went, there are some great stories. [OR join us for the Mexico Party, Friday, May 15]

***Please pray for us in the morning. We will be leaving the hotel at 7am and driving all day back to Lake Jackson. Pray for safe travel and an easy transition through the border.

Back in Tampico

We are back in Tampico! We made it with no problems. We are settling in with the hotel now. The internet is very fast here, so I will write later about all of our adventures! But, first a hot shower, clean feet, and a good tooth brushing! Thank you for your prayers!!

Crossing the Border Soon!

Colleen received a call from Ronnie Waguespack this morning asking her to check border crossings. At this time, it seems that all border crossings remain open. The plan right now is to travel to Tampico today and spend the night there, and then cross the border tomorrow. If there is a liklihood that the borders will close, they will try to travel as far as they can today and cross as soon as possible.
If anyone hears that the borders may close, please email Colleen so that she can let them know.
All are well and they completed their projects before leaving.
Please continue to pray for their safe return!

Text message update 4-28

I received a text message from Randy this afternoon that said everything is going good. They are building a roof today and the dentist is still working. He said they will be breaking camp on Wednesday and heading to Tampico. Then Thursday they will most likely try to drive from Tampico to Lake Jackson. He said everyone is well, that they are having fun, and eating good. He said they have lots of crazy stories to tell. Greg texted Kathy and said that they have some cool God stories and that the trip has exceeded his expectations!
It sounds like God has done some exciting things on this trip, even though it will be shorter than they hoped! Can't wait to hear more about it!
Ashley

Update Monday afternoon

Note from Kirk Willson:
I received a phone call from Randy Dane at 2:30 p.m. on Monday. Health Department officials from Mexico came through the village where they are working and made some requests of the residents and our team due to the Swine Flue concerns. They do not want the residents in the villages and our team having contact with each other. Our team will not have contact with anyone other than themselves. All public assemblies and gatherings have been cancelled. The team will do the construction work, but not any of the other planned activities. The team will begin their trip home earlier than originally planned, either Wednesday or Thursday. They are not worried about the health issues, and everyone is doing fine. They are just disappointed that they don't get to interact with the local people. Please continue to pray for the safety of the team.

Safely inTampico

The team arrived safely in Tampico Saturday night. After a baptism in the gulf, they had dinner and were headed to bed to rest before the last leg of their trip Sunday morning. They got through the border with no problems, and had safe travel the rest of the way. Praise God!

Arrived at the Border

The team has safely arrived in Brownsville. They got there around dinner time tonight and had a good evening hanging out and playing 42! Randy said the big adventure of the night was seeing a huge tarantula in the parking lot of the hotel. Pray for them in the morning as they head to the border about 8:00 that there is no trouble with vehicles, visas, etc. Pray that they will get in the right line and have no trouble! I will update the blog as I get news from Randy or hear from Chantel.
-Ashley

Save The Date...

We will have a "Mexico Party" on Friday, May 15th in the Brazos Pointe worship center from 7:00 to 8:30pm. Childcare provided.

We want to invite you to join us! Come hear stories and see pictures and videos of the adventures that you are praying for. The Mexico Party is about celebrating the great things that we see God do...come celebrate! Who knows you might decide to join the team in 2010?

Please Pray...Exciting News!

I received this note from David Nuckols, BLFM Stateside Coordinator, today:

Please have your congregation in prayer for this outreach. History is being made in this village! God is really opening hearts and doors to others. Juan (Mexico Coordinator) will share more about this when we are together.

Dios le bendiga (God bless you),
David

Exciting! Please be praying Brazos Pointe!! It sounds like God is organizing this mission to happen in His perfect timing. I can't wait to share even more with you as we learn.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose....What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:28&31)

Bread Of Life Frontier Missions

Check out the website of our partner missions organization:

http://www.blfm.org/

We are privileged to serve with these wonderful folks (even Oscar)!

Cuatalan From Above

This is a beautiful picture of one of the villages that we will be in, Cuatalan. We will be staying in tents, using homemade showers, kitchen, and toilets...but you can see we obviously wont be roughing it that much up in the fresh mountain air. Beautiful!

Classrooms

These photos are of the village classrooms that we will be finishing out with a roof and electricity.

YouTube Video

Check out this video from 2008. It will give you an idea of the places, sites, and sounds of the beautiful people that we will be serving and serving alongside.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDfyI5BUXeM

This video is from our partners at Bread of Life Frontier Missions that we do Mexico Missions with.

It Is Almost Time...

The team will be leaving on Friday, 4/24 for Aztec country in the interior of Mexico. A team of 17 will be going from BPF to do serveral mission projects. The projects include: VBS for the children of the village, medical teams, Bible storying and evangelism, and construction on two village schools.

Trip Itinerary:
- Fri 4/24 - Travel from Lake Jackson to Brownsville
- Sat 4/25 - Travel from Brownsville to Tampico
- Sun 4/26 - Travel into the mountain villages / set up camp
- Mon 4/27 - Work Day!
- Tue 4/28 - Work Day!
- Wed 4/29 - Work Day!
- Thu 4/30 - Work Day!
- Fri 5/1 - Travel from villages to Brownsville
- Sat 5/2 - Travel from Brownsville to Lake Jackson

Communication will be limited on the work days in the mountain villages, but we will send updates as often as possible.

We are grateful for your prayers! Please check back often for updates and to find out ways to pray for the Mexico Team.