Update...

The San Diego Firestorm has subsided quite bit and we have not had much wind or smoke here since Tuesday evening...

Today I got a chance to take the new-old truck out to East Tijuana to talk to one of my students who is hoping to get a medical clinic at his church and then visit with 2 more students- one that was hosting a clinic and another student too.... Out there you could see the huge plumes of smoke coming form the San Diego fires that are closest to the border- it looked almost as if it was just over the hill, but I'm pretty sure it is quite a distance away.

One of my students had his kitchen blow away, some other folks in the neighbourhood had there houses blown down-- though the fire did not reach them- the wind did and did it's damage! Another couple sat in their house and prayed as they watched their roof lift off the top of their house seemingly inches away from fully blowing off- but the Lord spared them and their roof and they are doing well...

We went to Pastor Ramiro's church in a squatter camp East of Tijuana. Last Christmas I helped hand out gifts and take pictures in a community close to his and was glad to get back. Most of the folks who live there are very poor- many are new arrivals into Tijuana from Southern Mexico. They are lured north with the prospects of jobs and high wages ( up to $90/ week as opposed to around $30/ week for the better paying jobs in Acapulco and Puerta Vallarta and Cancun-- please tip well when you go there!!) the problem is that the cost of living is much much higher and they are forced to live in squatter camps in squalid conditions so they have enough money for food... Pastor Ramiro and his assistant Lamberto own the land they are on-- Lamberto worked for the railroad and when he left 5 years ago- they gave him 1300 meters of land beside the railroad- so now he has a house there and they have built a church beside it-- it has 3 walls (one of those belongs to the house) no roof and a stage- with donated pews (of which they are very proud!) The plan is to assist them by bringing a medical team down to help with diagnosis, assistance for doctors visits, vitamins along with food and clothing. It will be an outreach to his area- please pray for opportunities to speak of the Love of Jesus at the same time as we show His love!!

Tomorrow I'm taking Lupita to the Doctors office again- it will be the last one before she is scheduled for surgery. The problem is that neither she nor we have the money in hand now to help pay for the surgery, but it is quite necessary-- my understanding is that she has kind of like a "brain hernia" where her brain is pushed up against her nose and the bridge of her nose is wider than the nostril part-- I suppose it could be life threatening if she ever got hit there... please pray that God would supply her needs... I'l try to get a pic up here tomorrow night...

Thanks for reading and please continue to pray for us as we represent you here in Mexico, May God bless and keep you!!

until next time,

Mike