April 3, 2008

Greetings From Mexico,
          Recently we have passed through a time of forest fires, storms and blessings. I'll explain...
          Holy Week, the week before Easter is the time of our annual Youth Camp in the Bethesda Fundamental Baptist Church. This year, it seems like the devil was fighting harder than ever against us, even in the proceeding weeks as plans were being made for the camp. As we worked on the lessons for the camp, it seemed that one thing after another came up. First, there was a funeral at a ranch which was about an hour's drive from the church. Thus, a day for preparing for the camp was lost. Second, was the FOREST FIRE. The Friday before the camp was to begin, a forest fire started in the area nearby. It has been very dry this year, and the fire spread rapidly, consuming more than 100 hectares in the first day. The area of this fire is on the opposite side of a mountain, and the camp we rent is on the other. It all depended on the spread of the fire and the direction of the wind as to whether or not we could have camp. However, we were able to have the camp without any problems.
          The devil continued to fight as the time approached for the camp to begin. On the weekend before camp, the day after the forest fire started, the two church vans and the van of the Mexican pastor all broke down at the same time. It was a long weekend with a Monday holiday. However, we found a mechanic and all three vehicles were fixed.
          The devil still wasn't through fighting. On the Monday that the camp was to begin, we were informed that morning that another group was occupying some of the cabins that our group was to use. We delayed our departure for camp by an hour in order to give the other group time to vacate the cabins. We arrived at camp and began as usual. Then came the STORM. A cold front passed through the area on Tuesday. For us, this meant drop in the temperature. This was welcome, as the temperature the first day was around 100. However, the front passed with a lot of wind. (The city of Monterrey had nearly hurricane force winds.) With the forest fire nearby, the area was soon under a cloud of smoke and dirt. We were expecting the state Civil Protection to come and order us to evacuate the area at any moment. God protected us, and we did not have to evacuate. Right before supper that night, the lights went out. We set up candles and had a "romantic dinner", i.e., we ate by candle light. Again, the Lord was good and the lights came back on in time for the evening services. (When we arrived home on Thursday, the lights were still out in our house. There were uprooted trees everywhere, but there was no damage to our house. The only thing that happened was some things in the refrigerator spoiled, but not much. The lights came back on Thursday evening.) The Lord was also good to us in this area. We were able to stay in the camp, and we woke up Wednesday morning to clear, blue skies.
          It was at this time that the BLESSINGS began to come. The theme for the camp this year was the Bible. We had three classes every morning, and special messages during the evening service. The special speak was Arnolfo Olivo, who is a missionary to Panama sent out by the Bethesda Fundamental Baptist Church. God began pouring out His blessings with adults coming forward in the invitation. This started what was like a domino effect. On Thursday morning after the classes, we had baptismal services. Eleven were baptized: four who accepted Christ as Savior in the camp. and the rest were ones who were already saved but had never been scripturally baptized.
          All of these events reminded me of two things: first, "greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" (I John 4:4); second. the importance of prayer. Bonnie and I came back to town in order to have the Thursday night services at the Bethesda Fundamental Baptist Church. I was sharing with a lady in the church all the things that had happened. and she replied, "We have been praying for you." I know that many of you were praying for us at this time also. Thank you! God answers prayer.

In His Service,

Jerry, Bonnie and Timothy

Sent by: Calvary Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1345, Plainview, TX 79073
Support address: World Baptist Fellowship Mission Agency, P.O. Box 13459, Arlington, TX 76094-0459
Field address:  Apartado 1422, Monterrey, N.L., 64000 Mexico
Phone:  011-52(818) 383-5669