The Train - Tractor and Implements ready to cross into Mexico
It has been many weeks since I have last posted a blog, and much water has flowed under the bridge since that time. I will try to bring you up to date with what Theresa and I are doing, and where we are now.
Fred Erb from Listowel, Ontario arrived on the 12th of January and taught Project L.A.M.B.S. courses throughout the weeks of January 16th through January 27th. The days immediately upon his arrival were filled with meetings with the Board of Directors of Obreros Unidos para Cosechar (OUpC), the non-profit under which the Bible Institute functions.
Theresa’s days were filled with taking minutes of the meetings in English and cooking meals and hosting Fred.
There were several things that I want to mention concerning Fred’s time in Cd. Valles with us.
First of all, on the Friday of the 20th of January there was a graduation for three students who had completed the Instituto Biblico Luz de las Naciones program. Fred was honoured to give the graduation address for these young men.
Once again the Project L.A.M.B.S. courses were taught in conjunction with assistant teachers. It is always exciting to see the work handed over to the nationals. A formal announcement was made by Fred to the directors and students that when this cycle of classes ends at the November graduation, the expatriate involvement will end, and the complete program will be run by national leadership. This has been the goal of Project L.A.M.B.S. all along, and it is a joy to see it heading towards accomplishment.
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em - Our grandsons Ari and Jude with their Ford 8N. Maybe we could at least get one of these down.
Then, finally, a rather disconcerting turn to the whole issue of instability in Mexico caused us to decide to avoid travel after dark to and from Tampico. The issue is that the closest airport is in Tampico; about a three hour drive to the east of Cd. Valles. There is only one plane which arrives daily from Houston at about 8:00 o’clock at night. The only plane heading north leaves at about 7:00 o’clock in the morning. The late arrival means that we normally would be on the road until around midnight. The early departure, plus the two hour early arrival time required for international flights means that we need to leave Cd. Valles at around 2:00 o’clock in the morning. Because of the danger involved in night travel in Mexico now, we were strongly advised not to drive after dark, but rather to stay in Tampico overnight coming and going. We were blessed to stay both nights with the family of the mother of dear friends of ours, Adrián and Lucinda.
Board of Directors meeting at our house
The week immediately after Fred left was filled with legal preparations for the Bible Institute. The OUpC Board needed to take care of banking issues as well as setting up Power of Attorney documentation for Javier as the director of the actual farm site. It is very frustrating sometimes how much time, energy and money the simplest of matters seems to take, but in the end we got it all accomplished.
Then on Saturday morning, the 4th of February, Theresa and I headed north to the border, and then on to Dallas where we had a meeting on Tuesday morning. From there we headed quickly to a little town close to Tyler, Texas where we were privileged to spend a day with our friends J.W. Cunningham and his dear wife Mary. On Wednesday evening we were given the opportunity to share again in the House of Faith in Kilgore, Texas where Pastor Frank Sturrock ministers.
From Tyler we headed south to Donna, Texas again where we were blessed to stay with our dear friends Rea and Judy Thompson. We have been so warmly welcomed and loved by these dear friends over the past months whenever we have been up at the border.
Now began the waiting game. We had been given the names and contact information of several Christian brothers in
Luz de Las Naciones graduates - January 2012
Texas who were possibly able to help us get the tractor and implements across. But, as these things always go, it is never straight forward, or an exact science. So the wait began.
God is always interesting in how he puts things together. As closely as I can piece the story together it goes like this…neighbours of Javier and Christina in Cd. Valles, as yet not Christians, somehow knew of a person in McKinny, Texas who is a pastor and a lawyer (interesting combination, eh!). This brother, Alex Camacho, knew of a Christian broker, Rafael Dueñas, in Laredo who might be able to help us. I also was given the name of Rafa’s pastor, Mike Barrera. Telephone calls were made, plans were made, scans of paperwork sent, and we waited some more. Then on Monday (the 13th) we were given the green light to head west to Laredo, Texas, about a three hour drive west of Donna where we had the tractor parked.
We arrived here on Monday night and were welcomed into the home of Pastor Mike Barrera and his lovely wife Polly. We feel very much loved and at home here, even though it is more “hurry up and wait”. The processing of paperwork began yesterday morning. The Lord willing, we will actually be ready to roll south tomorrow??? But the guys are all being positive about us getting everything taken care of soon (what ever that actually means), so that we can get the tractor into Mexico – something that no one else has ever been before. I don’t know what the price tag to all of this will be in the end, but I leave that one in the Lord’s hands as well.
Land Clearing with Machete
Please be in prayer for my parents. In the past couple of weeks my father has taken a precipitous nosedive in his health. His heart looks like it is weakening, and he is facing the symptoms of congestive heart failure with fluid build up in his lungs and extreme weakness and shortness of breath. He has spent the past couple of weeks in the hospital and the doctors are saying that he cannot be discharged to go home because his care is more than my mom will be able to handle. For all of you who know my mom and dad, you will know that they have been exemplary in their love for the Lord and in servanthood. They are both very much loved by many.
Theresa and I are now left in a quandary as to what we should be doing. With the probability of the paperwork finally coming through for the tractor should we continue south, or should we head north to be with my folks? We are keeping very close contact with my brother Paul who is keeping us up-to-date with my dad’s health on a daily basis. We want to be ready to go to Manitoba if, and when, his health continues to decline.
We are praying that there will be someone who will come forward who will be willing to come down to Mexico to fill in
Steven and Theresa in Restaurant
for us when the inevitable phone call arrives. It needs to be someone who is willing to work on the land and do some soil preparation, stump pulling and tractor work. They can also use the audio/video equipment that we have and continue a film ministry. They can live in our house and use our stuff. They don’t even really need to know Spanish, although at least some language ability would make their lives much easier. If this person is you, please prayerfully consider spending some time in Mexico. The fields are ripe for harvest – both spiritually and in the natural.
I trust that my next blog will show pictures of the tractor sitting on the landsite just outside of Cd. Valles with a “Gloria, Hallelujah” heading under the picture!
We love you and thank you for your prayers,
Steven and Theresa
