I will begin a new blog, but I don’t know how far I will get. Just a bit ago, right after we got up from breakfast, there was a huge explosion right outside the kitchen window as the transformer blew up with a mighty BANG! Fortunately this time there was no associated fire, and all is well. One time several years ago when it blew, there was a fire as the oil and flames spilled down onto a parked van below the power pole. That time the pastor jumped into the flaming van and drove it to safety. Today’s excitement is less heart-thumping, and rather bland after one got over the initial explosion. Interestingly though, Pastor Ezequiel had just walked down the steps and out the door. He had just stepped into his car at the time that the transformer exploded. Theresa, in shocked panic quickly looked out the window convinced that someone had set a car bomb to kill him. Of course it was not a bomb, but it does sober ones thoughts to realize that such a thing would not be completely out of the possible. Thank God, nothing worse took place than the inconvenience of not having power until who-knows-when.
Interestingly, from the pastor’s perspective – he had just sat down in the car and put it into neutral to start the motor. At that moment the explosion happened only feet away, and he too was convinced that it was a bomb. In his words “he took off like a bird”. He shot out of the car in a sheer panic while it rolled backwards onto the street. The car was in the middle of the road before he had collected his wits and realized what had actually happened.
Thanks to owning a laptop computer, I can begin this letter and work until the battery runs out of power (in my case, this is not very long since my laptop is getting rather elderly – rather like its owner – and the “juice” doesn’t seem to last as long as it once did).
Today I want to bring you up-to-date with what has been happening with the purchase of land for the Bible School and Vocational School.
The past year has been an interesting “ride” for Theresa and I. We returned to Cd. Valles around a year ago convinced that we had a pretty straight-forward mandate, and a rather clear understanding of what God had for us for the next several years – we were to quickly acquire a good property for the schools and begin, and oversee their construction. However, we saw almost immediately that the vision to build a Bible Institute at the little plot of land at La Pimienta (which we had purchased many years previously) was too small, and that God had bigger plans which involved the training of pastors and students in vocational trades as well as in a strong biblical foundation. (Take a look at the VitW website, vitwministries.com to catch this unfolding vision).
Miraculously, we returned to Cd. Valles last September with the unbelievable (in the natural) having happened – friends, having heard God’s prompting, had donated enough money to buy a piece of land outright! By that point we had already found a location which we felt would be good for the school, and had released the need to God. Although I must admit that my faith was small, God miraculously moved through these friends, and we got back to Mexico with money for the purchase waiting in the bank. We were elated, and as my newsletters at the time reflected, we were sure that we would be in possession of the land within weeks / months, and that the building of the schools would begin before, or by the new year.
Sometimes God opens and closes doors in ways which surprise us. How hard can it be to buy a piece of land when you already have the cash in the bank – right? If you are honest with me, I am sure that question has gone through you mind now-and-again whenever you have considered the work here. What is Frey up to anyway, and why is he taking so long?
We ceased considering purchasing the first piece of land when it became clear that there had been some things that the owner had not been upfront about – such as the fact that there were ongoing plans to build a gravel crushing plant just outside of the front door of the property. However, immediately another acreage opened for us, and it had all of the ear markings of being God-directed. We were excited to begin, and indeed, even before the paperwork was completed we began surveying and preparing the land for the building of the Bible School and Vocational School, sure that we would very shortly be in full possession. If you will recall, in one of the last blogs I mentioned my friend Allen Ko who drove all of the way down from Houston in order to donate a week of his valuable time to survey and map the landsite – this was the property. We were excited and chomping at the bit to begin the work at hand.
God apparently had other plans. We soon ran into a title transfer issue, and it became evident that we would not be able to receive clear title on this land, or at least not without a long, drawn out procedure. The issue is that the land is “ejido” land, or co-op land which the government had partitioned out years ago. In order to change ejido land into a clear title involves years of paperwork. Once again we had run into a door which seemed to be closing for us. About a week ago the owner went once again to the Land Titles Office to see how things were going with the land transfer paperwork which had been applied for over half a year ago. He was told that there was no record of any application at all, and that there was nothing in hard copy files, nor in computer records. This, despite the fact that application and payment had been made in the same office, and with the same person six months previously. When Pastor Ezequiel spoke to the owner the next day, it was mutually agreed that it seems that God had given us a sign that we were no longer to pursue the purchase of this property.
Interestingly, two things must be mentioned in regards to this: first of all, we had set aside most of the month before this to pray specifically for direction on the purchase of this property, and for complete clarity as to what we were to do. We had been praying throughout April for God’s answer by the 30th of the month. On the 29th, the owner, unaware of our prayers throughout the month, went to the Land Title Office. Secondly, what merits mention is that the owner, although sympathetic, is not a Christian. We had already proceeded to a place in the land transfer (we thought), where there was no easy turning around. We thought that Ezequiel’s name would already be on the land title application, and that any change of direction would be extremely difficult, and that it could cause very hard feelings with the owner. What happened in fact, is that the owner was the one who was in complete agreement that God seemed to be saying something, and that if we simply returned the paperwork to him we would be released from any, and all verbal commitments that we had made on the purchase of his land. Wow, talk about God answering prayer in clear language that even I have no problem understanding!
But now we are still landless… however, in January we had begun looking at, and exploring, the possible purchase of another piece of property about eight miles out of the city towards the west. It is located in a small town called Coyoles, and has a main road running in front of the property, water access, as well as electric lines just outside the property. We were assured that the paperwork was all in order and that we would be able to receive a clear title right away. The price was good, and the location seemed to be ideal for the schools. Since that time, we have found that this door is also shut. Although the land is titled, the owner has sold off “chunks” without having the title reflect his sales. Now, it is impossible for us to purchase what remains since this is no longer reflected on the title. To get the title changed over to what actually exists would take years of paperwork, and once again this door seems to be closed, and we still do not have land.
So what is God saying? Well, I’m not exactly sure…
There does seem to be a bit of a “shift in the wind” however. We are beginning to look seriously at trying to purchase an already existing building and renovating it for the schools. Or, perhaps God is wanting some of the original ideas to be modified all together in how the schools should be structured and run. We are looking at some very interesting new ideas “outside the box”, and are getting excited to see where God takes us. It is premature to include any of these ideas at this point because they are only thoughts which are being birthed. However, I will keep you abreast as things begin to mature.
Nothing has died. The vision and commitment is strong. God is opening many doors, and closing others. We are in no way discouraged, and we know that God is busily at work. It is just interesting sometimes, to watch as God shifts one’s direction. If a person sticks his foot down and refuses to budge from his preconceived plans, he can miss what God is doing. But the flux can be uncomfortable (and hard to explain to others).
This is where we are. We covet your continued prayers.
