progress and prayer report

Hi guys!

Thanks for praying, God's building His church and i thank Him every day for the privilege to be a part of it.  here's the latest progress/prayer report.

monday- camp emilio

Geraldo, a 17 year old going on 30, now preaches in this camp every week.  i sit in the back room and read bible stories to the children.  This week God led him to have a concerted time of prayer.  moments later one of the men was so convicted of sin, he confessed to beating his wife just the night before.  So glad to see the Spirit of God is speaking to people, teaching, convicting, and growing and strengthening their faith.  This group begs me to take them to church but i just cant drive the distance to get them all and bring them all back.  pray God raises up a church close enough for them to get to.  they just want to worship God so much!

tuesday- camp chula vista

Claudia translates for me while i lead the small bible study at Rosario's house.  One family from this camp turned up at Amigos and Hermanos this sunday.  what a joy!  i pray they will keep coming and bring the other young believers along with them.  they are nahuats originally from Guerrero, southern mexico.

wednesday- church service at Amigos and Hermanos

I'm finding more and more people are stepping up to go out to camps with me.  praise God for their desire to spread the word.  this past wednesday we had an umpalumpa band playing during the worship time.  there was a big big man playing a trombone, a singer with a cowboy hat, and a guy on the accordian.  what a hoot!

I thank God for this church, they've seriously adopted me as one of their own. so sweet.

thursday-camp vaqueta

Marissa preaches with power to a group of men and women each week.  I've been teaching the children the bible and handing out Jesus film DVDs.  Tonight the Lord really helped me to build relationships with a couple of families.  One girl of about 12 whose name is Diana, enjoyed learning that she is a princess to the Lord.  Lets pray her dad will allow the family to come to church this sunday.  A nice catholic guy named Edgar, chased us down as we were leaving tonight.  Hey miss, remember me, i espeek a iingliish!  he said.  i gave him a new testament in hopes that he will draw nearer to the Lord.

friday-evangelism with the Neelies

Since Jovita and the church in Villamoro took over at camp cuota, i've been tagging along with the neelies on fridays looking for a place to start another small group.  pray God guides our steps to those men of peace who will receive the word of God with gladness.  And lets thank God for Jovita and pastor Amado who have continued discipleship after i've moved on.  praise God

This sunday pastor amado and the little church in villamora have invited me to preach again.  Esther will translate while i bring a word from 1 corinthians about living godly lives in preparation for the Lords return.  Pray God helps a bunch and things dont get lost in translation.

Lastly, i just wanted to formally invite every last one of you to join us on our caborca trip this year.  We'll endure record high temperatures and all sorts of missionary adventures to bring the word of God to the grape harvest workers of northern mexico.  the difficulties of the area seem like nothing when compared to the joy of seeing these people receive Christ for the first time.  This will be a joint trip involving both FBC and Shoreline.  Talk to Natalie Arnett for more details.

thanks so much for your blessings of support, prayer and encouragement.

you guys are awesome

sally

ps,  i've nearly got half the money ($950) saved up for the pick- up truck.  Thanks for the contributions!

latest and greatest

hi everyone,

      How is everything in California?  Winter is definitely over down here.  we'll  be turning off the hot water soon, and putting away sweaters and boots, seeing as its in the 90's already.  the ministry is heating up too.  its so awesome to see people continue to show up week after week to learn about the Lord.  its taken me quite a while now to actually appreciate how little they know about the bible.  One night when Marissa was leading the bible study, i sat down with the kids and started reading to them from the childrens bible.  i would read a well known story like the prodigal son or the good samaritan.  i'd get about half way thru and ask them, "so then what do you think happened?"  all i got was eager blank stares.  wow.  Moses and the children of Israel came to the red sea with the Egyptians close behind, oh no,  then what happened??  AND THEY DONT EVEN KNOW! amazing.

         We've been handing out new testaments and tracks and thats been great but most of them really need someone to sit down and explain face to face.  They are fascinated with the bible and the things that Jesus said and did, but having someone come out there and tell them in person makes a huge difference.  I'm so glad they all seem to posses the patience of Job as i stumble and bumble with my spanish to explain.

As many of you probably saw on facebook, i got another offer to teach at a local christian school, praise God! while aiming to explain my rules, i played aritha franklins Respect and definitely got the kids attention with that.  what a hoot dancing around the school yard singing into pens for mic's!

       thanks for your prayers for my little business here.  it is growing week by week.  my goal right now is to be able to earn enough to pay my own rent, food, gas and bills so i can use the support money thats coming in to get a truck.  i've been using the van for this season and i'm so glad i had it to bring down my furniture.  i'll use it when the team comes down this april (spaces still available, act fast!) and then i think its time to sell.  Mike is suggesting i get something a bit newer with much better gas mileage.  a truck should suit my needs perfectly.

        

So, at the moment i'm making plans to leave culiacan the last day of may and head for caborca.  anyone who wants to join me for a 12 day mission trip into un-charted un-reached territory is more than welcome.  I'll be passing by Hermosillo if anyone wants to fly in there and get picked up.  after caborca i'll make my way home and bring anyone back with me.  sound like fun?  the camps there have been mapped out by our faithful brother dave mcmullen but very few have been visited with the gospel CDs or the Jesus film.  its a great opportunity to reach the unreached.  all you guys who soaked up that perspectives class, now's your chance to put it into action.

ok, its almost time to run to church and jump up and down praising Jesus!    Thanks again for your financial support and prayers, now if you write back, i can pray much more specifically for you too!  I miss all you guys and look forward to seeing you this summer.  Until then i'll be preaching the gospel to every creature!

blessings!

sal

Mama Cande hosted a Saturday night fish fry.  i skipped the fish but had a blast singing along with the guitar crowd, her grand kids, aka the plebes.

new developments

hi everybody!

Booboo always helps me make friends quickly

Thanks for your prayers, i've sure needed every last one.  The ministry here is in full swing.  The folks from Projecto Culiacan are all here this month too.  Thanks to your support I've got this van down here, affectionately dubbed the blue beast, and have been using it to get out to the work camps 4 nights a week.  in just the last month, we've seen 4 cell groups spring up with 5, 10, sometimes 20 people in attendance.  We share the fundamentals of what it means to be a Christian, how to repent and walk with God, the power of prayer, and the nearness and great love of God by the Holy Spirit.  workers are getting involved from 3 different churches so far, so thats indeed answered prayer.  i imagine there are as many camps outside the city as there are churches in the city,  so we only have another 100 or so to go!

prayer time after the message

actually, i feel like i'm kinda doing what i did back in slo.  i'm mobilizing believers to step into evangelism and discipleship and respond to the needs of the nations around them.  at first it looked like i'd have to bring a message 4 times a week but God has been so faithful to provide others to shoulder the burden.  i've been training and encouraging them to lead the different discipleship meetings we started.  soon i'll be able to move on to different camps and God willing continue this trend of inviting local believers from the churches to come join us and eventually take responsibility for a camp.  

the indigenous people have been so overwhelmingly welcoming I still cant get over it.  every where we go there is someone who wants to be discipled and wants a bible.  i'm amazed at how few of them have actually had access to the word of God enough to even know how to find a scripture.  they listen intently whether its through Esther's faithful translation, or my bumbling spanish, and come back week after week for more.  someone is always giving us stuff too, a bag of tomatoes, hot tortillas and beans, or ten hard earned pesos to put in my gas tank.  its humbling to be so richly rewarded for simply doing what i love to do.

Health wise we could use prayer.  Booboo got really sick with a stomach virus a few weeks back and had to spend the night in the booboo hospital hooked up to an IV.  she's well now but still acts like she's uncomfortable at times.  i got some kind of cold-flu-allergy extravaganza a month ago which is mostly gone but still threatens my speaking ability.  not so good when your job is to teach english, your ministry to preach the gospel and your greatest joy to sing in church.  just pray and i'll be fine.

So here's a new development.  my landlady just popped by to let me know she'll be needing me to either vacate the premises by april or may, or else buy the house.  Hmmm,  which one.....  She's asking about $12,000 and i've got nearly half of that in my savings.  perhaps we will be able to work something out.  I'm dreading a long drawn out process of complicated paperwork and visa red-tape ahead.  i'm working on finding a lawyer who might be able to help me actually make the purchase legally, and maybe even begin establishing residency.  so lots to pray about on that end.

so here are the prayer requests in summary:

God raise up more local believers to lead small groups in the camps

God increase my business to provide for gas and other costs

God make us all healthy and strong to do His work

God give super clear direction and provision in regards to purchasing the house

God provide a team to come down with natalie in may/june

If you'd like to pray for my ministry co-workers by name they are as follows:

mama cande: spiritual mom of 70+ years, joins us three times a week.

esther: roommate and friend, translates for me mondays at san emilio

geraldo: 17 year old going on 30, preaches to the men in the camps

Geraldo in Campo 21

marissa: mother of four starting a new cell group with me next thursday, campo vaquero

jovita: powerful woman of God will take over giving messages on fridays, campo cuota

Pastor Amado: as beloved as his name implies, has adopted campo 21

Fredy: 18 year old missionary, works in the fields by day, evangelizes in the camps by night

Amigos n Hermanos youth: will begin joining us three nights a week, God willing

 there's more pictures on facebook.  Thanks so much for your keeping up the prayer and the faithful financial help.  Together we are spreading the gospel to hundreds of people just dying to hear it.  i just wish you could see how grateful they are for what you are providing for them.  

much love in Christ,

sally

Acts 22:14-15

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ “Then he said: ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. ¹⁵ You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. 

Hi all,

 This verse was God's encouragement to me the other morning.  I'm always glad when the Lord Himself reminds me of why I'm here, what we're doing, and of His support and approval of this whole project.  There have been days when i began to wonder whats going on, then i get something like this, we start to pray, and then there's always a turn of events. 

        So lately i've been adding one student a week to my tutoring schedule.  I've got a couple of schools lined up for january as well as classes of my own planned.  Should be fun.  

    This picture/video below is one of the classes where i taught dance routines.  The big school Christmas program is this wednesday, woohoo!

          Things are going well at Amigos and Hermanos too.  The pastor there is interested in visiting camps as well as a number of members.  It appears God wants to use me as a mobilizer as much as an evangelist, to get some of the folks in the churches here adopting different camps for discipleship and weekly bible study.   We're planning on heading out to a camp again this monday God willing, just a few of us to see what God might raise up out there.  Please pray nothing stops us from going, and that God leads us to a camp that really needs discipleship.

          The only thing that really hasn't materialized is sufficient funds to get home for Christmas and get my stuff.  My folks were willing to pay for a flight home but that would just be frustrating knowing i've got a van waiting for me in phoenix and a bunch of furniture and things at my house waiting to be moved down here.  So, I've told them i'd make one last check in with you all to see if anyone has ability and desire to contribute to my homecoming.  If thats the case please let me know right away.   

           Otherwise it looks like i'll just be having myself a merry little Christmas mexican style.  Not the end of the world really,  I have alot of friends here and even a short mission trip opportunity i could take if i stay.  One thing i really learned this summer at YWAM was to not be afraid to let God change all my well laid plans, let Him be God, while i trust and see what He wants to do.  His ideas are always way more rewarding and life changing than mine were anyway. 

                Lately, I've taken to just asking God to give me an opportunity to share the love of Jesus everyday with someone.  Its so awesome to see all the many and varied ways He makes that happen.  Ahh, I'm just so glad you guys let me come down here as a missionary,  I really feel like i've found my corner of the harvest field.  Thank you so much for helping me accomplish Gods calling on my life.  Please write back with prayer requests of your own so i can also participate in Gods calling on your lives as well.

many blessings to you all!

sal

typical day here in Culiacan,  hot, sweaty and living by faith.
 thanking God every moment for the opportunity to live out Gods call on my life to evangelize the lost

this is how the sunday school gets to the church and back in Villa Juarez

lots of joy!

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds  James 1:2

hi all

just a quick update this time with some prayer requests.  I've been here for a month with many ups and downs, set backs and plan B's and C's etc.  Looks like there's just alot of warfare aiming to discourage me and send me home.  I know the Lord has called me to be here to reach the indigenous with the gospel, so i'm staying put.  I also know that when you all pray in earnest everything turns around.  

So here's how to pray:

That we can actually get to a camp starting tonight.  no issues

Favor with the camp management

That God will lead us to those who are eager to hear the gospel and be discipled

Pray that i can get some side work as a tutor while i'm waiting for the visa

pray i get that visa at last !!

pray God provides the money to get the van, get home, and drive down here.

Pray for a team to come down with me for a few days, just after Christmas.

I know if you all pray, God will do these things and this ministry will continue to grow and move forward.  Every missionary i've ever read about goes through this stage where there's no money and nothing seems to be working out.  I know its a test to stretch my faith and endurance, to see how bad i really want to do this.  Thank you for joining me in prayer so we can overcome in this season together.  I'll be home in three weeks eager to share with everyone how God has answered our prayers.

         Thanks to those of you who've written.  i've been reading your emails, just havent been able to get back to each person individually, i really appreciate the words of encouragement and especially knowing you all havent forgotten me but are lifting me up in prayer. 

        Cant WAIT to see how God works this all out!

Many blessings to you all

Sally

first ten days

Hi everyone,

things are going awesome down here in mexico.  i've been having a blast visiting churches, making friends, and putting the house together.  camp visitation and teaching start soon, so i've been putting all my energy these past 10 days into getting the house livable.

 here's a brief outline of how its gone:

saturday night:  arrived at airport and went to dinner with roommates, booboo included, at 11:30pm, why not.

sunday went to church, came home, passed out, woke up, went to depot, taught my roommates how to dance, gave self black eye building shelf unit, fun!

monday:  called schools,  emails, online homework, washed clothes by hand, cleaned house, hid from humanity on account of hideous looking black eye

tuesday: took dog on bus to migration office, then out to village on bus, booboo head out window.  met friend who doesn't own a phone or a car, brought friend here, let him chat with my boss, mike, on compu for the first time in his life.  you may have seen the picture on Facebook.  prepped soil for garden

wednesday:visited depot, again for garden tools, bought floor mats, organizers, dishes, etc came home, installed same. annoyed at leaky pipes under sinks and mounting ant and cockroach numbers.

thursday:planted square foot style veg garden (with help) in front plot, pulled weeds, started compost heap.  bought morning catch shrimp from some guy in a truck on street, yum!

friday: took dog to village funeral.  hung out ALL DAY with family while kids played with dog near an open casket, 6 ft away, women made food, some cried, some sang.  very odd but very touching

saturday: went downtown to singing practice, electric so loud you can't hear singers, at all.  lol.  went to fabric store, paid $1.50 a yard for oodles of curtain fabric

sunday: dog and i both ill,  we just do everything together now ;o/   started curtains, huge job, 9ft ceilings  whew! video taped booboo attacking cockroach.

monday:  called school, papers nearly done,  built pantry shelving, pulled weeds, more visits to walmart and depot on foot. taught arturo and alfredo to dance.

tuesday: man fumigated house to lower population of termites, cockroaches, ants, etc,  took dog downtown on bus, got lost, ate coconut.  brought home ridiculous amount of fabric, looked hilarious, like overloaded santa with dog and curtain rods on bus.

wednesday: plumber replaced two leaky faucets and a totally stopped up drain, i sewed, jael ironed, arturo installed curtain rods, one more dance lesson. then bible study, then walmart, turned down 11pm dinner offer, time for bed, and here we are!

tomorrow we install light fixtures, find a bed frame, finish living room curtains, visit school and migration again, do online homework, visit a village cell group and teach another dance class!

so yes, i'm having a great time.  just really love it here.  i guess i'm doing well at living in the moment because i keep forgetting to write people back home and tell them whats up and how its going.  i walk slower, i wait with more patience, i think i worry less.  there are very few mirrors and clocks around too,  that helps.

my equipment comes in just a few days so we'll start camp visitation and evangelism next week.  I'll likely start teaching english next week too.  Good time to pray.   Another key prayer request:  Mike found a van in new mexico we have decided to purchase.  i'll attach pictures.  looks like its a donation from another mission minded church.  we only have to pay for some repairs, it will come to around $1000.  if thats something you'd like to be a part of just let me know.  i'd like to be able to pay mike when i pass thru phoenix on my way home in december.

Thanks again to all of your for your faithful prayers and financial support.  i'll write again after evangelism starts and let you all know how that went.  Pray for open hearts!

all for now

sal