14 Members updated 06/22/08
The team has returned safely home,
Thank you for praying
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Thursday 6/12/08
Dear praying friends and family,
The last few days have been very busy here in Ixtlan del Rio.
Yesterday morning we continued "blitzing" in the town. After lunch, we worked hard for 2 hours separating thousands of pain relievers such as Tylenol, aspirin, and Advil into sets of 20 or 30, and sealing them in small bags to hand out at the wellness clinics.
We were involved in the church service again last night. Christine, Amber, and Julieta worked in the children's class. Several of the team members sang special music, and Jason and Jennifer played a trumpet and violin piece. Then Jim preached using David to interpret. What a blessing to be so involved in this work here. After church, we continued bagging medicines and vitamins to be used tomorrow at the clinic.
We do have an urgent prayer request. We saw on the Mexican government's website that our vitamins should have been allowed into the country, so we are going to attempt to recover them. Please pray that we will be able to get them back as it was most of our adult vitamins that we hoped to be able to use in the clinics.
Today we are going to a village 5 minutes from here to pass out flyers for tomorrow's clinic. This afternoon we will be going to another small town to give a gospel presentation like the one we did on Monday.
The Lord is truly blessing. We do covet your prayers for souls to be saved.
We thank you for your love and prayers,
Kari--on behalf of the team
Go Forth Baptist Missions Summer Mission Team
Tuesday 6/10/08
Dear praying friends and family,
Sunday evening we were involved in the teen service that the Robertson's hold. Jim, Sebastian, Moses and David sang while Jennifer played the violin, Jason the trumpet, and I played the piano (keyboard). After the service, we passed out invitations downtown for the 3-on-3 basketball tournament we are having on Saturday.
Yesterday after eating breakfast at the church and having a team devotional we headed to a "pueblo" (a small village) up in the mountains. There we passed out invitations for a gospel presentation at a basketball court next to the town church. At the appointed time Jason sounded the trumpet to let the people know that we were starting. The team sang, Jason played a trumpet solo, Moses and Julieta shared their salvation testimony, and Jonathan gave a gospel presentation. Then we handed out copies of John and Romans to everyone there.
We drove to the next pueblo and handed out tracts. We were unable to do a second presentation because the rains started. This is the start of the rainy season here.
Today's ministry has been "blitzing" in Ixtlan. Brother Chris's goal has been for the church to be able to go through the whole city for a third time giving out tracts and invitations to church. So we split up into groups and hit the streets.
We do so appreciate your prayers on our behalf. We know that God's work will be victorious.
Because of Him,
Kari (on behalf of the Mexico team)
Go Forth Baptist Missions Summer Mission Team
Sunday 6/08/08
Dear praying friends and family,
We are happy to announce that we made it safely to Ixtlan. The team was in good spirits but tired after a long day yesterday.
We arrived into Guadalajara around 3:30 pm.
We did have a small problem at customs with two of the bags that were checked. Mexico uses a red light/green light system to check bags. Only two of our team members received red lights -- praise the Lord. However, all the medications and vitamins in the two checked bags were confiscated. Sad to say, it was quite a bit of our supply of adult vitamins that we were hoping to be able to give to each person that comes to the clinics. We do know that the although Satan would have us defeated from the start, the Lord will provide and bless abundantly. That is our prayer.
The Robertson's (the missionaries that we are serving with) met us at the airport and we loaded several of our suitcases into their truck and the rest squeezed in with 14 of us in their church van. Jim drove the van and Missionary Chris Robertson drove their truck. That was an experience, as Jim is not used to driving on the Mexican roads. They are very aggressive drivers, and Jim is a cautious driver.
After leaving the airport, we traveled into Guadalajara to the Sam's Club to do some grocery shopping for the team. Space was limited so we only purchased things that the Robertson's knew we would not be able to get in Ixtlan or that would be a much better savings. Then we drove about an hour and a half to Ixtlan. The team enjoyed a very sweet time of singing hymns and choruses on the drive. After checking into our rooms at 11:00 pm (our time--it's Mountain time here), everyone crashed.
This morning found us eating breakfast at a little taco/torta stand just down the block from our hotel. We then proceeded to the church for the service. Jason helped Brother Chris with the van route, while the rest of us practiced some special music. The people were very excited to meet us and welcomed us with open arms. David led singing while Moses played guitar and I played the keyboard. Jim introduced the team and then several of the team members sang a special while Moses accompanied on guitar. While the adults were downstairs, Teresa was in the nursery and Amber, Christine and Julieta helped Mrs. Robertson with the children's class. Amber taught a missionary story and Christine taught a Bible story with Julieta interpreting.
Once the service ended, Jim and Brother Chris took the people from the van route home and bought chicken for our lunch. Meanwhile, at the church several of us walked through the building (it is a 2 story home) to determine the layout of the clinic. Then we had a delicious lunch of chicken and corn tortillas.
Mrs. Robertson, Jennifer and myself are going to finish the grocery shopping now, while Christine stays with the Robertson's three children at their home during their naps. The rest of the team is at the church practicing skits and music for our outreaches. We have a busy and exciting two weeks ahead. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. Pray that lives will be forever changed as a result of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Kari Showers (typing for the Mexico team)
Go Forth Baptist Missions Summer Mission Team