South of the Boarder Report - February, 2007

What can I tell you....there are so many things going on here....ministry registration in Mexico, building, fund-raising, ministry growth, event planning, baptisms, prayer groups, Women's Conference, street evangelism, Bible distribution, worship, bible studies, paper work. It seems that this year we are multi-tasking, everyone working on a different project but all focusing on sharing the love of Christ with others.

LOVE IN ACTION CHILDREN'S HOME/BIBLES Rodney leads bible studies 3 days a week at the children's home and is working on getting all their governmental paperwork in order. (Wow what a task, since all the paper work in is Spanish.) He is also working on loving discipline for the children, especially the older boys. This is a challenge, since many of them have never been disciplined, but rather abused. Four of the boys came over today to spend the time with us, since it is a Mexican Holiday. They are having a great time, but I did over hear Rodney tell them that while here they would have to obey.

We have purchased Bibles for all the kids at the center (well those who can read). Although the Bibles are in hand, each kid will have to earn his or her Bible by memorizing a series of Bible verses. They have been studying a Proverb a day.

BAPTISM There were 5 new believers baptized at church last Sunday. Juan leads a bible study for those preparing for baptism. It is sort of like a new believers class that ends with baptism. The class lasts for about 6 weeks. He began a new class this Sunday.

SUNDAY SCHOOL Fabiola started a new Sunday School class for the pre-teen girls. We are really excited about the addition of another class and the opportunity for these girls to have a place to really learn more about Jesus. Rodney continues to teach the kids from ages 6-11, however after 2 1/2 years of teaching almost every Sunday he now has a group of teachers to help him. Now he teaches only once a month (twice on the months that have 5 weeks).

WOMEN'S CONFERENCE Kina continues to lead worship every other Sunday and has been invited to lead worship for a women's conference in March. She has been asked to put together an all women's worship team for the event. (This is no small task since most all musicians here in the area are men.) The conference is being planned by the Church of the Holy Spirit and will be located at an area hotel. There will be about 200 women in attendance and will host as a guest speaker, Jan Hicks from Florida.

NEW MISSIONARIES ARRIVE SOON Rich and Meme Thorpe have a contract to sell their home and should close on Feb. 12th. We are so excited about their arrival and having some more helping hands here in Mexico. Please pray for them as they make this huge transition. They will be doing some final support-raising in the states prior to their arrival here. We are hoping to see them "down south" around mid-March.

CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY OUTREACH CENTER March seems to be a big month for us as we are hoping to break ground on the Christian Community Outreach Center. Please pray with us about this project. We would like to see at least one large room and the bathroom facility complete before summer outreach teams arrive.

STREET EVANGELISM In April we will be participating in a community wide evangelism and worship event. In Mexico, Spring Break is always falls on the weeks before and after Easter. It is almost as if the entire country shuts down. During Holy Week there are tons of "party goers" that come to the lake side to "have a good time" This year the many churches and ministries will be joining forces to share the Gospel with these individuals. The idea is to saturate the lake side with the Gospel. The weeks' evangelism will lead up to a huge worship event in a local Bull Ring and the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as Savior.

Thanks for taking a moment to see what is going on here in Mexico. We appreciate all of your prayers and support. Remember we would love to hear from you! God Bless ! 

May God Bless you exceedingly, abundantly, above all you can ask and imagine!
Rodney and Kina