Worth the Drive?

I have been trying to get it into my schedule to go every week and talk to the 4th Division Calor team. Something almost always comes up, and today when nothing came up, I was actually kind of disappointed at first. I didn't really want to go.

It wasn't that I didn't like talking to the guys and teaching them about the Bible. It was more the fact that I only have about 15 minutes to teach them a simple lesson, and the drive is a 40 minute drive. 40 minute drive for only 5 to 15 minutes of teaching kids who I often wonder are paying attention. God gave me an attitude check today.

I made the trip and actually enjoyed my time to pray alone. I got there and the guys actually listened to my teaching. Afterward one of the boys asked me if I could pray with him for his mom sometime (she will be having surgery in a month). And one of my best friends down here (Cesar the youth pastor) was able to get a ride with me back to San Pedro from his Job in Torreon. We will be doing that every Wednesday which gives us 40 minutes to catch up and plan youth events (40 minutes that we never have during the week!!!). So is it worth 40 minutes?....it all depended on my heart and attitude.

Scattered Showers

Clemen and I just arrived to Mexico on Tuesday. We drove the whole way, but the trip went incredibly smooth. No car trouble. No close calls with driving. Easy border crossing (thanks to Jesus and our brother in Christ, Carlos). But the most amazing thing to me was the following.

Clemen and I drove a truck down to Mexico. We had most of our goods in the back of the truck. Even though we had put a tarp over everything and had covered other things with trash bags, I was still worried about rain. I had checked the forcast and because of tropical storms, scattered showers were going to cover our travel. It was like the rain was on our exact path home.

But God does miracles....and somehow he is always on time. Clemen and I only passed through some sprinkles, but we did however manage to arrive at 3 or 4 cities were it had rained just moments before. The streets were wet, put no rain fall.

God is good. I will not underestimate his power.

In Someone Else´s Shoes

So Clemen and I recently went to U.S. Consulate to get her VISA. It was an interesting process because they let me go in with Clemen. I was the only "Gringo" in the line. I was thinking how different the US culture is from Mexican culture. Everything in the Consulate was ridiculously efficient.
Clemen and I saw people both receiving and being rejected for the VISA. The consulate officers where not angry or rude like I had heard however, they were simply doing there job and matter of fact, and actually they did their best to pass every case they could and where even joking with some to lighten their day.
Clemen and I arrived at the window and we simply prayed silently. The officer asked for our papers and looked at my passport. He said "Paul, has your passport been through the wash?"
"No," I replied, " I jumped in a river with it." (That happened twice in Panama).
"Stuff happens." He said laughing.

With in the first minute he told us we had the VISA and he started to explain to us a different and better VISA we can get at the border. He hardly asked Clemen anything, and we had a good conversation talking about how I want to do things right and do everything according to the laws. He explained to me how that was possible.

We left with a smile on our faces and a load off of our backs. Thank God for his goodness and that he truly can do more than we can ask or imagine.

Luxury Washroom

This past week I have spent most of my time with Don Pablo. Don Pablo is the maintenance man for the church property. We call him Superman because he knows how to do everything.

The other day, Don Pablo told us his testimony. It was the first time that I had heard it all. He used to be an alcoholic and drug addict. One day his wife (who is a Christian) went to take her children to a Christian concert in the Plaza. Don Pablo yelled at her for taking the kids to such a place and went to a bar to drink. While he was in the bar, he only took a few sips and felt awful. He started to feel dizzy and sick inside, so he left from the bar frustrated on his bicycle. He described the scene saying that he felt like he was completely drunk (but had not drunken much), and because of that he kept making wrong turns. Somehow (by God´s grace) he ended up in the plaza where the concert was (the last place he wanted to be). The next thing he remembers is that a Pastor was praying for him. Don Pablo decided to give his life to God. He said his drunken feeling immediately left him and he was completely sober. There he saw his wife and kids there standing around him. The all cried together, for joy about what God was doing. That is how his journey began.

This week Don Pablo and I have been working on finishing up some public bathrooms on the property. I have learned so much from Him spiritually and in construction. He doesn´t have all the special tools he needs to do the job, but he gets it done with what he has. He is very creative. Also, he always talks about how the Jesus has been so good to him and how he changed his life. He always gives simple advice from the Bible, but it helps everyone who hears. He has only been a Christian for five years, but I consider him a spiritual giant. Please pray for Don Pablo and his family that God would continue to Bless them and that Don Pablo will continue to help others who were in his situation to come to know the Lord.

Undercover Blessings

Everything in San Pedro is still going great. The youth group had its first adventure night this past weekend. We are trying to develop the adventure night ministry into a weekly ministry that meets to teach youth (Christian and non-Christian) about God and his creation. The first event was a night of camping in the Cerro de Santiago. It was challenging, but very fun. We climbed a small, but very steep hill. Surprisingly, everyone made it to the top with out turning back. It was a well rewarded climb with an incredible view.
This past week, the school is getting back on schedule after a few weeks of vacation days and teachers who have been sick. Today, one of the students was crying. I immediately thought, "Oh great!! She misses her family and something else is wrong that is going to make her want to leave the school." But that wasn't the case at all. Her tears ended up being an encouragement to me. I had been feeling a little discouraged with the school because of not staying on schedule with classes and the fact that some students left because of various problems outside the school. This student however was crying she said because there are only 2 more months of classes left. She doesn't want to leave!!

Jesus is so good to us. Sometimes we let our thoughts get us down, but remember that God is for us and not against us. He always is looking to restore and encourage his children. Just when I needed that encouragement, he gave it to me.

Big News!!

There is a lot of updating to do and I probably won't get it all
done in this email. First of all, you all need to know that I am doing
great and that ministry is going very well. The missions school has
lost some students, but gained others. It is still going strong and
we are all working hard to learn together and prepare for a missions
trip in May. Also, my pastors here ask me to open a work in a near by town. The town is tiny, but we have one family connection there.
Thanks to Jesus and everyone who is helping, we had our first Bible
study in the town last Thursday.We had five enthusiastic visitors who
were eager for us to come back soon. Also, God has placed it on my
heart to start a new outdoor adventure ministry which will be part of
the Youth group and the missions school. Our first event will be
February 8th.

The other ministry that I have been able to take apart of is that
I am now the assistant to the youth pastor. My fiancé and have been
helping and will continue to help with youth events and re organizing
the youth group.

Wait Pablo!! Rewind!! Did you say fiancé? Most of you already
know, but for those of you who do not know the news... I am more than excited to inform you that I am engaged!!! Clementina and I have been dating for more than a year, and after much prayer, and we decidedbthat we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together and feel strongly that it is God´s will. So on April 19th we will have our wedding in Mexico. There will also be a ceremony/reception in the States, but probably not until July. I will keep you all posted.

Please pray for Clemen and I as we prepare for the wedding,
prepare a house, and continue working together in ministry. We have a
lot of needs but I know God will provide everything. He did not say "
Seek first the Kingdom of God and then feel free to worry about all
your needs" He said "Seek first the kingdom of God and all these
things will be added unto you." Matt. 6:33

Flashbacks

The other day, the mission School Students, Jacob, Donald, and I went to the Rehab Center that we support here in San Pedro. It was very good to see the guys there with smiles on their faces. They were happy to receive visitors. The rehab meeting went well. We played some songs and preached to the young men there. Many came forward afterward to receive Jesus as their Savior. We will be continue to help Jacob there and encouraging the young men to continue serving Jesus with all their heart.
This time they had set up the chairs in a way that I had not seen in a long time. The placed them in the same way that they used to back when I first lived in Mexico. It reminded me of my best friend James and how we used to go to the same rehab center and preach the word of God. In those days I didn't really speak Spanish at all, but James was patient and pushed me to preach anyways. His patience is one to be admired.
Now I am going through the same thing. I am helping people with there Spanish and with the culture of Mexico. I pray that God gives me the energy I need and a willing spirit to serve.
I give thanks to God for so many opportunities he has given us all to change lives. Ask him today to show you the opportunities he has for you today. I am convinced God is constantly giving us opportunities to advance His kingdom. After all he wouldn't have told us this in his Word if the opportunities didn't exist: " 15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:15-16