Final day of our Week of Prayer

Hi Friends! Last day of prayer for us and we wanted to ask that you pray for Mexico. Mexico has definitely gotten a bad reputation over the past 3 years. Things have changed here and it isn't the same Mexico as it has always been. However, there is one thing that will never change; that is the power of Jesus. He is so big and so awesome that we all know the grave couldn't hold Him. Well, drug lords and evil have no power over Him either. He is moving. 

Over the last few months we have seen His movement in ways we haven't seen in a long time. A few weeks ago we attended a baptism where 14 people from different villages were baptized. Just this week we saw 7 people give their hearts to the Lord in a Good Friday service where many youth were moved to tears ( this never happens here) and many lives were changed. We have seen new believers stand strong under persecution from family members. We will have a family camp this weekend where we are planning on baptizing more than 10 people. He really is moving. The people of Mexico are precious people and I love them with all of my heart, and Jesus loves them far more than I ever could. Please join us in prayer for the people of Mexico. Pray that God would continue to move in the hearts of the people and we would see a true change in Mexico. Thanks! Missy, Greg, Jerod, Alex and Annie

Please also pray for us. Pray that we would know who to spend our time with, how to best spend our days, how to reach these villages and still find time for family.

Prayer Week Day 6

Meet Pastor Isai (Long e- sigh- long e) and his sweet family. Vero is his wife and his son is Oto, and his daughters are Sarai, and Shidel. We love this family so much. We have been working with them since we first arrived in Mexico. Isai and Vero are from Guadalajara. They grew up on the comfortable side having families with money. Not rich, but comfortable. 

After finishing seminary, Isai felt called to reach the indigenous here where we live. It is about 2 1/2 hours from where he grew up. When he told his family and church that he was going to pursue this calling, what do you think they said? Well... it wasn't AWESOME, go... reach those poor people who speak a different language. It was, "What are you thinking? There are lots of churches right here in Guadalajara that you can serve in. There are lots of lost people here. You can earn a good salary here and provide for you family well. WHY, WHY would you want to go and live in a poor village to try and reach some indigenous people, who are so different from us? They talk different, they eat different food, they look different, wear different clothes, and they are 2 1/2 hours away from all of your friends and family. Brother, they don't have money, how will you provide for you family?"

For him, it was an easy answer... Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you: and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

So, he and Vero headed out, not knowing what lie ahead and began their journey with God. It has been fun to be on the journey together. They were about 25 minutes from our first village and then at about the same time they felt called to move to a new village, which is about 2 minutes down the road. We do everything together. Partnering with this family has been what our family has needed. Our kids are in his youth group, and Annie adores his girls and Oto too! Vero and I have so much in common and really love working together. 

Financially they remind me of Greg's grandfather's situation. He was a pastor many years ago as well and I have heard stories about how his grandmother could stretch food forever to feed all of her kids. They live off of nothing. I mean, we are surrounded by poor people, but this is a missionary family of 5 that lives on about $100 a week. That is for food, gas, medical expenses, whatever comes. So it doesn't go far! Please pray for them. Pray they would be blessed in ways they cannot explain. Pray that their church would continue to reach out to the surrounding villages and we would see many other groups started. Thanks for praying, I know it was long. Sorry! Missy

This was at Oto's graduation from Kinder when Annie was his "escort."

Alex loves Sarai and she loves him back! 

Can you tell?

This was at a Fall festival event.

We were playing minute to win it games.

Pastor praying for Jerod last year at his 15th birthday.

This was at one of about 100 VBS's we did last summer! 

He is a great leader. great pastor and a really awesome friend to our family. Please pray he would make time for his family and not let ministry or lack of money keep him from spending time with his wife and  kids. I am not implying that this is happening, but it is so easy when you are in the ministry. 

Day 5 of Week of Prayer

 Quality and not quantity. That has become our motto I think. These pictures will show you 4 families who have hung in there with us for a very long time. They have all been studying the Bible with us for at least 5 years now. This is the remainder of our church in our old village. When we lived there we averaged around 50 people each week. When we left, so did a lot of the people in the church. Even though we return each week to study with them, these are the only families that have shown interest in their continual growth in the Word. It was sad for us at first, until we saw the hunger they had and the desire they had to continue following along the path which Christ is leading them on. It is amazing to see what God is doing in and through each family. Please pray for our village group here. Pray that they will reach out to their friends and neighbors and more will come to know Him in a personal way. We pray that through these 4 families an entire village can be changed!

This was a "fun" day when three of the families came to visit us where we live. They were teasing me, saying I was missing something in my arms. I told them Annie was too big to carry! ;o)

This is Pedro and Mimica. They have 3 boys.

This is Raphael. His wife is the one on the far left of the picture above. They have 2 daughters.

Pedro and his youngest, Jeraldo.

Alicia, Petra, Me, and Mimica

Serious game of connect four!

Barbara. She is precious, but has been struggling lately. She is letting material possessions pull her away from church. She has been away for about 2 months and has just now returned. 

Icho, Barbara's husband. Awesome man, struggling also. The "Jones'" are in every country and there is always someone trying to keep up with them. Although here, they are probably the "Hernandezes." 

Prisiliano with his son. Love them! Prisci has a huge heart and truly wants to serve the Lord with every ounce of his being. Please pray he will be obedient to the Lord.

Day 4 of Prayer Week

Please pray for Laura and Lyz. These are our two wonderful friends. Laura is my dear friend who lost her sweet husband to diabetes about 8 months ago. He died waiting on a kidney transplant. They spent every dime they had on his medical expenses and it still couldn't give him life. However... during his time while waiting for his transplant he gave his heart to Jesus. This was not a popular move with his extremely Catholic family and caused a lot of problems. While in the hospital he lead his sweet wife Laura to the Lord as well and begged her not to grieve his loss but to live, to live for Jesus and to teach their daughter about what Jesus did for them. This has been difficult for both of them. Not only losing their father/husband, but having to go against all of the family and all the traditions that go along with their families' faith. After Temo's (her husband) death all of his family quit talking to Laura and will not have anything to do with her family now. She was left with no job, a daughter to raise and a lot of  debt that she knew nothing about. She is struggling but her faith is a ROCK!! I share Bible stories with her each week and we study together. She and Lyz are ever so precious to us and we covet your prayers for their strength, financial situation and that they would feel the hand of God in their lives like never before. Love, Missy

Laura and Lyz at the funeral.

Annie and Lyz celebrating Annie's birthday.

We had a slumber party together! It was so fun!

Best friends, no color, no language can keep the heart from loving! 

Prayer Day Three

Please pray for Abel. He is pictured here in the blue shirt. He is the pastor of a very small church that is trying to do everything it can to reach the lost. He has a passion for his village and has such a sweet spirit that you can't help but be drawn to him. His church has struggled for years as no one has stepped up to help him do his job. Greg has partnered with him and is trying to teach he and the leaders of the church how they can better reach their village. Please pray that through this sweet man and his family that they could lead their church to become missional and plant new works in a different area of their village.  Thanks so much for praying! Missy

This is Abel with his son, Alex, and wife Alma. Then beside them is his sister-in-law, Griselda and niece, Flor. Since this picture was taken they have had another little boy.

Greg and Abel at a camping event. 

This is his church during VBS. ( That is a team of Americans on stage, notice the white bodies!) They don't normally have that many kids, but since this VBS, many of those kids have continued to come back without their parents. 

Prayer Day Two

Ramon. PLEASE pray for Ramon. 

If there has ever been a man who I could beg you to pray for it would be this sweet man. 

About a year and a half ago we started meeting with Ramon and his sister and brother-in-law.

They were very open to having us come into their home and share Bible stories with them. It was soon after that when Ramon decided he was tired of living the life he had been living and he was ready to turn it all over to God. He quit drinking and started reading the Bible like no one I have ever known. He would bring his questions to us each week and he had a hunger that was contagious. He made us all want to be better. 

However... his wife and family were not at all in favor of this change. They liked the drunk Ramon. They didn't like this sober, happy, peaceful Ramon because he all of a sudden had something they didn't have and they didn't want to change in order to get it. They didn't want to quit following the world's ways, b/c to them that is where they found their fun. So one day, Ramon's wife got him in a room, shut the door and nailed it shut with many boards. No food, very little water, no bathroom. 3 days he stayed in there until she finally let him out. He then was so hurt and angry all he knew to do, was drink. So he did. After not drinking for almost 8 months, she broke him. He came back to our study the next week, sorrowful and sad and hungry again. He is praying for his wife and family and I would ask you to do the same. Pray for Ramon and his family. Ramon, to our knowledge is one of VERY few (I would say 2 or 3) Christians in his village. Ramon could be the one person that could change his village! It is VERY dark. So dark, that for a while we were not allowed in there. We are now praying about returning in the next few weeks. I know this was long, but he is special! Love, Missy

His village.

Prayer Need Day One

Please pray for Estella. She is our precious house helper who lost her husband due to alcohol about 8 months ago. She is a strong Christian woman but has faced many trials since his death. She is a mother of 3. Please pray that her oldest son, Marcus (17) would turn his heart over to the Lord. He is following in his father's footsteps and has been drinking and is involved in drugs. This has been almost unbearable for Estella. Please also pray for her financial situation as she never seems to have enough for each day's needs. This picture was taken with her youngest son, Jacob, right after her husband died.Thank you! Missy

Spring is definitely here!

Happy Spring break week! I have seen so many posts on Facebook about how cold it is in so many parts right now that I wanted to share a little Mexican spring with you. We have been super busy with so many different things that it has been hard to keep up. However, I have somehow found time to stop and smell the flowers. Hope you enjoy!

Every week Greg and a pastor whom we have partnered with, have been recording discipleship messages on DVD. These are on a variety of different topics that the pastors in different villages have said their people were needing. Jerod has been recording the two of them in a talk show type of setting and they plan on distributing these to the pastors and local leaders who will then use them as a Bible/discipleship study with people in their villages. They are being done in the spanish and indigenous language. It is quite an undertaking but I think it will be a wonderful tool for many to use once they are complete. The key here is that Greg and Pastor Isai would love to help these pastors personally, but due to distance, cannot on a regular basis. These DVDs will give them a way to connect with them and their villages and then visit them afterward to followup. Please pray this project is successful. 

Jerod really wants to study cinematography and we are so proud of what he has done thus far. 

Our boys playing a game with their friends after a Bible study. I love those kids!

A day in the village.

Salsa has never looked quite so good!

Spring has definitely sprung!

Thinking of Him lots this week. He truly changed my life. Has He changed yours?

Just a little Mexican view for you! 

Remembering that we all need a Shepard! 

We love to see beautiful flowers blooming in rusty old cans. 

Jealous yet?

We are planning a family camping event in a few weeks at this place. We are so excited about it b/c there will be a lot of churches coming together for worship, fun, food, and a big baptism. HOWEVER... whenever there is an event with water I get a little nervous. Most of our people can't swim. Please be in prayer for this event and pray that we have a wonderful time without injury. Pray that all families would take special care of their children and that no one is harmed but that many are drawn closer to Him! Thanks for your prayers! 

One thing about living here, they don't have... Krispy Kreme, (ok, well they do in some larger cities, but not where I live!) Chick-fil-a, or Panera Bread. They don't sell lima beans, green beans, black-eyed peas, okra, or about 100 other things I love, but they have the most delicious fruit you have tasted! Not to mention avacados for next to nothing! So, you just have to change what you love eating and you are fine! ;o)