A Canadian, a Mexican, and an American serving together at the Dream Center on Saturday. 

Another long line waiting for food to be served.

Serving the children.

Maddie brought some dolls for the little girls who come to the Dream Center.

We had lunch with the Cota family on Sunday. This is Seb and Lex.
 Most of their children are bilingual. Seb has a busy construction business and has work all around the state of Sonora.
What a beautiful family.

Sunday evening service in the village.

Good morning all!

We listened to a message the other day by Tito and Judy's Pastor Dave from Idaho. In his sermon he made the statement " the definition of a good friend is someone who knows everything about you and still loves you." I pray that I am that kind of a friend and so thankful for my friends.

Yesterday was spent in the village of Los Cerritos pouring a concrete sidewalk on the northside of the church and digging in a water line for a future garden. Casa de Esperanza is hosting a team from Carlyle, Saskatchewan, Canada  who organized the project. What a great group of people! Families, teens, some on their first mission trip.

Monday evening we went with Oscar to the drug and alcohol rehab center where he has been doing a ministry for a couple of years. The ages of those being served were 14 to mid 50's. Tito and Judy gave them a powerful message of love. These people were so hurting and accepting of our presence, prayers, hugs and kisses. Many tears flowed knowing that someone cared enough to visit them and pray with them. Luke 6:37

There is so much more that I could share, but in another post. Time to jump into the day.

Installing the forms for the concrete. The sidewalk is 78 ft. x 3 ft.

We don't mix concrete much this way anymore do we?

A little finishing touch on the doorway.

After the work was done, the team did some ministry with the people of the village. The children had a craft and story time.

A hot game of soccer in the street. There were only a few casualities and lots of dust.

The Canadian team brought a ton of clothing for distribution.

Much hard work went into this sidewalk.

The women made a pearl bead necklace.

 

Oooops!

Medical Missions team at Torim

On Friday we went with a medical mission team here from Montana to the village of Torim, approximately one hour and 15 minutes south of here. The Yaqui Indians live here and this is the first time that the medical team has visited their village.
Some of the men of the village curiously watching as the team set up for the day. 

Part of the ministry was giving reading glasses to those who needed.
This was checking out her new readers.
 It amazed me that most who came for services were dressed in what appeared to be their finest clothing.
 Many of the women had the beautiful shawls on and wore them over their heads.
 I assume partly to protect themselves from the very hot sun, mostly it is a customary article of clothing.

Parts of the homes are built differently than I have seen before.
 They have walls woven out of branches that we thought could possibly be bamboo.
 We also noticed that there are not satellite TV dishes on the houses as we have observed in other villages.

One of the areas set up for the clinic was where blood pressures and temperatures were taken.
 They then went on to see nurses to get a history and what ailments they may have before going on to see the doctor.

This is Sara, my new friend.
  She came up to me so excited about the new Bible she had been given and was praising God like I have never heard before.
She hugged on me and chatted away as if we were long lost friends.
 It is awesome how God breaks down language and cultural barriors.  

Some of the Yaqui children with a young lady from Minnesota who is in San Carlos teaching English at a school there.
She and some others from the team had set up a children's ministry across the street.
 It looked as if they were having a great time.
 We teased her and told her that the paint they put on her face was probably permanent. 

The medical team, translators, and some of the women from the village who helped with the ministry.
I think that the Montana team told me that they have been coming to this area doing medical visits to the villages for 6 years. They come for about 10 days and visit many villages while they are here.
What dedication on their part and what a need there is here.
 It was a long, hot day, but we are so thankful that we were able to be a part of it.
God is good! All the time!

Hanging on the walls of Centro Cristiano church are flags from 20 some countries.
 These 3 hang in the front of the sancutary. When I see them, I pray for unity between these countries.

Last night I got my lesson in tamale making at Candy and Beto's. What a project!
This is Candy's mother and her sister Techi, who we rent our house from.

My first tamale!
 They told me that I make them a little to small.
The contents wanted to fall out of them as I was wrapping and tying the ends. 

The growing pile of tamales.
They will be cooked today in a large pot with a little water in the bottom.
We will enjoy them tonight at a party at Candy's mothers.
What a great time with lots of laughs!

This picture should have been first in the tamle making.
 Candy mixing the dough that is spread on the corn husks.
 It is a corn meal and lard mixture and it took her a very long time to get it to the right consistency.

Picking oranges at Casa de Esperanza.

Then Itzel and I juiced them.

The concrete was being poured on the roof of the new dormitory at Casa de Esperanza the same day.
The concrete was pumped onto the roof by the largest pumping machine I have ever seen.
So different than how we build in Iowa.

The guys working hard to pump the concrete.
 This is the roof now, but will be the floor for a second story someday.

Sunday we had shrimp and ceviche at Juanita's.

Our dining companions. Great good and fun.






PRAYER REQUESTS
Please pray for health and heeling for our neighbors, Alicia and Jesus and their family. They have had illness in their home since shortly after we arrived here. Both of the children have been sick with colds, bronchitis, and their son has had a bout with pneumonia. Alicia is now ill and has been to the hospital twice for intervienes antibiotics. She had been in a terrible car accident this past summer and is not completely healed from her injuries.

Also, Jesse and Jenny need prayers. They run an orphange up near San Carlos. An arson set fire to their pickup last week and it was destroyed. By God's grace their home was not damaged, nor was anyone injured. They need prayers for a new vehicle and safety. I have not met this couple, but understand that they are doing a wonderful ministry.


PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING
Tito and Judy have informed us that the finances have been secured to transfer the van's title to Mexico.
This is huge Halleluia as we have been told it is approximatelt $1000!
Thank you Lord!

We are well here and enjoying our time.
 Tito and Judy will be here on February 14th.
 Our friend Molliann will be joing us on March 1st for about nine days.

God bless you!
Dios te bendiga!