We celebrated an “agape Sunday” last weekend during the church services in Boca del Rio and in Compuertas.  Regularly, the church takes a Sunday to specifically encourage one another with testimonies of God’s work in the past few weeks, prayer requests, take communion together, and enjoy a potluck meal with fellowship.  Both congregations participated with excitement!

In Boca del Rio, after some testimonies, a brother asked for prayer for his sick son, and the whole congregation prayed together.  And God responded!!  Within the week, the boy was healed, with a healthy echocardiogram as proof!  And, even though we are not in fishing season, and consequently almost the whole town is without income, each family found away to bring something to share at the potluck lunch, and we enjoyed a special time of fellowship.

In Compuertas, many praise reports were given, especially now that God has provided funds to make the first payment on the new land!  One brother even shared a song of praise. After the testimonies, the whole congregation stayed to share a small, but special potluck meal- even the tons of evening mosquitoes did not keep them away!

           The pastor of Boca del Rio, Sergio, and his wife, Briseyda, had their second baby boy on August 7^th: Isaias.  

Isaias’ s life and health is a miracle because Bris had a very difficult pregnancy, with a complication called placenta praevia that has the risk of severe vaginal bleeding resulting in the death of both the baby and mother. We were very concerned for Bris, especially because we live 45 minutes away from the nearest hospital- too far to save her life if severe bleeding had started.  She was ordered to complete bedrest.  She did start to bleed on two different occasions, but we rushed her to the hospital, and by God’s grace her life was saved.

Isaias was born one month premature in an emergency c-section delivery. He was born with serious respiratory complications, and spent over a week in neonatal intensive care on respiratory support. 

But, even with all the complications, our Great Healer God, gave complete health to Bris and Baby Isaias, who returned home to Boca del Rio after 2 weeks in the hospital.  We, and both churches here, rejoice with Pastor Sergio and his family with this new baby, and are very thankful to God, and to so many people who were praying for them, and for Calvary Chapel Rancho Santa Margarita for their donation of baby clothes.   

 We finished the “Wordless Book” Vacation Bible School in Boca del Rio last week.  What a blessing!- 93 kids heard the message of God´s love and Christ´s saving sacrifice!  (More kids here than at the same camp in Compuertas  two  weeks earlier- even though Compuertas is a larger village). 

We witnessed such an excited response from all the kids- they would come running each morning a full half hour before the camp started. Though the camp was intended for 4-12 year olds, even 13- and 14- year olds arrived to participate.  Not even the weather could stop them!!  It poured rain three days last week.  Though we canceled VBS on Wednesday (due to power outage from the storm) the kids came in the pouring rain on Tuesday and Thursday to participate, even if they were drenched. 

Even though we had more children, our staff crew was much smaller than in Compuertas, with only a team of 8 people to teach 93 children all week! (Needless to say, we were a very tired team of 8 people at the end of the week J).  Not only is thecongregation in Boca del Rio very small, but the members it has are either elderly or wives with non-believer husbands (whose husbands do not allow them to participate in church activities) who cannot participate in VBS.  But, the tiny crew we had was very committed, and the Holy Spirit was manifested as powerful in our team´s limitations and weaknesses. 

We know that the Lord touched children´s hearts last week!  We were given a tiny view of His work at the closing ceremony when 8-year-old Christian came up to Paco to ask: “Teacher, isn´t it true that it is not good to fight?  I used to fight a lot, but now I know that when I fight I make Jesus sad, so I´ve decided that I will not fight any more.”  Wow- that is testimony of the work of the Holy Spirit in his little heart!  Praise God for all of his miracles in this Vacation Bible School in Boca del Rio!

 The third day of VBS in Boca del Rio, we were awakened at 4:30am to a serious rain storm- crashes of thunder, lightning that illuminated our room, and buckets of pouring water.  Then, we lost electricity (it is a sickening sound to hear the A/C unit go silent in this hot and humid climate!)  What would we do for VBS?!

It was still pouring at 9am, an hour before the camp.  Our recreation yard was a flooded mud pit, the whole cement patio was slippery, and without electricity we had neither microphone for Bible class nor speakers for music class.  We decided it was necessary to postpone VBS for a day.

As Paco and I drove around the village announcing the VBS postponement through a megaphone, we felt confirmed in our decision as we witnessed the standing water in the roads over ankle height!  We could only pray that the weather would improve for the rest of the week. 

 Our church in Boca del Rio hosted a 2- and-a-half day Christian retreat for 17 adolescents/youth from a Mormon-fundamentalist colony in Chihuahua. What an interesting experience!  This colony, though in Mexico, is home to Americans/English-speakers, who are members of the same family.  From my research, the colony started in the early 1900’s by a Mormon fundamentalist who wanted to continue his polygamist practices outside of US prosecution, and therefore established his family in Chihuahua, Mexico.  I was amazed to meet a member of the group who has 32 siblings- and all live in the same house! (Obviously, polygamy continues in the colony)  Though the colony is still very Mormon, a Christian church has been established there by a believer in the community, and is slowly spreading the Gospel.  

Though all the youth who attended the retreat with us have attended that Christian church, some are still Mormon.  It was a privilege to serve these youth with Christ’s love during their stay with us- preparing their rooms, cooking/serving meals, taking them out to the ocean and river, and hearing about their lives.  During the retreat, Pastor Sergio shared Bible messages about the Bible as the Word of God, God’s call to peace/conflict resolution, and finally repentance of sin and God’s forgiveness through Christ alone. 

The team is a very special group of people, and we started to develop friendships in our short time with them.  We pray that God will continue to reveal His truth to them and their colony that they will grow in their commitment the Lord. 

 We witnessed the Lord’s blessing as we led a week of Vacation Bible School in Compuertas (2 hours from Boca del Rio)!  75 children were impacted in the event, and many parents heard the message of salvation in Christ at the closing ceremony.  The theme was “The Wordless Book” of the Gospel, with each day focused on a specific topic: Gold(representing heaven), Black (representing man’s sin), Red (representing Christ’s sacrifice for man), White (representing forgiveness), and Green (for growth in the Lord).   Wow!  So many details to share…

 -God answered the prayers of the children during the week! When rain poured down the very first hour of camp, or when we lost electricity during worship, God immediately responded to the prayers of the children to stop the rain and return the electricity!

-The children actually memorized their Bible verses!  At the closing ceremony, the kids joined Paco reciting the verses, completely without prompting even!, as he gave the evangelistic message to the parents.  I marveled that two of the children shared how they even wrote and practiced their verses every night at home on their own!

-We all (especially me!) loved the praise songs!  The 4-yr-olds, the12-yr-old, and even the adult volunteers were dancing with the joy of the Lord.  It was a moving sight to see so many little children singing praise to our Great God!

-The Lord protected every child and volunteer without a single accident or sickness the whole camp.  It is a miracle that no one was dehydrated, surviving over 100F weather each day without fans o A/C (though we sure did get sweaty!)

-The church in Compuertas does not have a building, so the village auditorium was loaned to us for the event.  We were shocked to find it in deteriorating condition without electricity, but with lots of cleaning, colorful decorations from the youth, and an extension cord to a house across the street, the Lord provided the space we needed.

Because Compuertas is 2 hours from Boca del Rio, we avoided the long trip each day by spending the week in the homes of different brothers in the congregation- they all received cared for us with loving hospitality, and we strengthened our relationships with many of the members.

We praise God for His obvious presence and blessing over VBS and the life of each child He touched in Compuertas!

 Paco already had the opportunity to preach here in Sinaloa- which he loves!  Pastor Sergio, the lead pastor of the churches here, attended pastors’ conferences out of town for 2 weeks, and Paco stepped in as interim pastor, preaching both Sunday and midweek services in Compuertas and Boca del Rio.  He started a series through the book of Habakkuk, encouraging the congregation through the Word to be conscious of the needs around them in their communities, state, and nation, and to cry out to God for those needs. It was obvious that the Holy Spirit was using Him to direct us!  Praise God! Paco feels very confirmed in his calling as a pastor, and is very excitedto be here in Sinaloa with these two special congregations.   

      Besides ministering in the church in Boca del Rio where we live, we also join the church staff in ministering in the town of Compuertas, an hour and 45 min from Boca del Rio.  The church there was left without a pastor 6 months back, and the pastor at Boca has been caring for the congregation.  We lead services there on Sunday and Thursday afternoons.  Though it is a long trip, it is worth it to share the Word with such a loving and receptive congregation!  The members often have us over to their humble homes for dinner before we return to Boca del Rio, and bless us with good food and great company. 

          The church in Compuertas does not have a building. They have spent the last 6 months moving from location to location for services: at the homes of some of the brothers, in the town basketball court, a local auditorium, etc.  In an answer to prayer, the church is purchasing its own plot of land for a building, with the help of the church in California!  However, the congregation was really struggling to make the down-payment this month; the people have such little income that even family contributions of $50 are taxing on their budgets. 

          But, God provides!!  We received an anonymous financial donation this month, and believe that God sent it to complete what was lacking for the down-payment of the church plot. He is so faithful to these special, loving people in Compuertas!

 THE PERKS-

 Mangos!  I have finally arrived  at the “Land of the Mangos”, which Paco always described to me! We arrived at the height of mango season, and mango trees are dropping their fruit everywhere.  Brothers from both churches often give us mangos from their homes, and I eat about 5 a day!  One brother even invited Paco to go mango picking, and they returned with 4 different types of mango- some were huge!  The experience was impressive for Paco- the brother climbed up super tall mango trees to shake them down.  Though, mangos have a cost, because swarms of mosquitoes live around the grove, and Paco returned covered in bites.

Sinaloa hot-dogs!  Not your normal hot-dog because it is packed with everything you can imagine.  Awesome! 

Coconuts are also in season.  Paco dropped some coconuts from the palm trees right in front of our dorm building, and enjoyed fresh coconut flesh and milk. 

Fish!  Since arriving in this fishing village, fish and seafood have been a common part of our diet- and we love it.  We can’t complain about the food here!(though cooking is sometimes difficult in our dorm J I laughed at Paco roasting quesadillas with his torch, because we don’thave a stove!) 

Church family!  We already love and feel at home with the church staff here: Pastor Sergio, his wife Briseyda, worship/youth leader Luz, and others.  We have good times of fellowship with them.

THE DOWNSIDE: 

The ever-present reminders of drug violence in the area:  It is very common to see military vehicles driving along the roads with armed solidiers geared up with weapons drawn.  The violence is a common topic of conversation among the people. 

The mosquitoes: we do not want to leave our room in the morning and evenings to go to the bathroom, brush our teeth, or wash dishes, knowing that the mosquitoes are waiting to attack us! They make even these simple tasks more of a chore.  

Critters: a scorpion, big hairy spider, an opossum, and an iguana (which I thought was cool, but Paco not so much).  The church is a very occupied building!

Slow internet! The internet signal in Boca del Rio is despairingly slow: too slow toupload blog sites or email pictures, or download ministry material online, or find videos for Sunday school, etc.  Sigh…at least we can check email and browse internet for information.  For anything else, we have to come 45min into town.

 One of our School of Ministry professors from California, Pastor Fausto, and his son Samuel, along with Pastor Gregorio and his son Nehemiah from New Mexico, arrived in Boca del Rio in July to teach in different local churches. 

 On that Monday, Pastor Fausto shared a message at the church in Compuertas on biblical service and discipline, which initiated a preparation program for those interested in serving in the congregation.  On Tuesday, he taught on Christian leadership in a pastors’ conference en Los Mochis.  On Tuesday evening, the group joined the church in Boca del Rio.   

We were blessed through the ministry of the group at all of these events this week, and especially through our fellowship with them.  It was wonderful to have a special friend from California visit us here in Sinaloa!  We know that the Spirit will continue to use them in their upcoming conferences in Queretaro and Toluca as well.