Army guys- Prayer request

The violence between Drug Cartels has increased markedly in the last month. The Mexican Gov't has sent an additional 2000 army guys into Tijuana to patrol, weed out and either kill or arrest the Drug Cartel leaders.

Since we've been in Mexico there have always been Army guys doing "Random" searches of every 10-15 cars (usually new pick-ups and SUV's) and I've been stopped once and searched, but it was no big deal.

Yesterday I was on my way to classes in the Eastern Colonias of Tijuana when I was passed through an army checkpoint with hummers like these ones pictured here. As I turned off pavement onto dirt- there was another checkpoint- by 2 guys. There were several other soldiers in a nearby house and a hummer driving around. The soldiers asked me to get out of the truck and searched quite thoroughly my vehicle and questioned me about what I was out in this poor area if I lived so far away. after about 10-15 minutes they let me go.

And my 1991 Ford Explorer wouldn't start. It was dead. Nothing. I had forgotten to bring my cell phones ( a big no no here) and was stuck about 1km from the church in a not so safe to walk in area. The soldiers told me to open the hood, so I did (they had large sub-machine guns- I did whatever they asked) and one of them proceeded to hit my battery posts with his gun and then told me to try to start it. I did, and, praise God, it worked. so off I went and off the soldiers went to their next place.

Please continue to pray for our safety. There have been 100 murders in Tijuana in the last 3 weeks. The usual number for a year is about 300+ the same as cities like Washington Dc, New Orleans and many other US cities. But this year the battles between drug cartels and police and army has escalated the violence exponentially. Almost all of these murders are rival drug cartels battling each other or police.

Recently it's become a little closer to home with 2 people we know having had their cars stolen at gunpoint this last year and a teenage daughter of one of our pastors almost kidnapped. There was a police killed on the road in his own car only about 5 minutes drive from us and now- the army's heavy presence in the areas I work. It is fueling a bit of insecurity on our part and could use your prayers for wisdom, discernment, guidance and protection.

Thanks for standing with us in prayer!

McDonald's in Mexico

The new Church building

I only have a few pictures to show right now- but here is a bit of the construction team we had here from Sept. 29-Oct 10...

They came from mostly Alberta Canada (one from Abbotsford, BC) to construct this church building in a very poor community of Valle Redondo in between Tijuana and Tecate. It seems a little (a lot!) out of place in the neighbourhood of shacks and squatter homes, but it will serve as a base for ministry to this entire area!

On one of my last blogs I showed the progression of the building from meeting without a roof and only 3 walls to the paving of the cement. These are the stages that we progressed through in the last couple of weeks, Praise God!!
The Canadians were joined by some of the guys form the church that didn't have other obligations. One family are "brickmakers". They rent some land and use the clay on it to make bricks. The landowner comes as the bricks are being baked and collects his 15% of the profits before they are sold. The family then needs to sell enough bricks to buy the other materials needed and pay the rental fee before they can start again. This family had not sold enough bricks to be working making more bricks so they came by to help in the construction. This picture was taken on Wednesday of the first day after 2.5 days of working!

The original goal was to try to get the roof on to keep out rain but the group worked so fast (and well!) that they went well beyond that and got the stairs up (front and back) and the upstairs walls in as well as electricity (with the help of Lake Morena Community Church in Campo, CA)!!
Right now the church in Campo is trying to raise enough money to finish off the insulation, electrical fixtures and drywall downstairs! Praise God!


Here is Ramiro collecting the keys to the church from Don and Judy Kropp- team leaders from Alberta! This is a huge blessing to this congregation and community!

Ramiro immediately plans on starting a daycare in one of the upstairs rooms. Many families work and the kids are left to fend for themselves for a good portion of the day. Often times single moms will put their kids in orphanages rather than let them run the streets.
He also plans on using one of the rooms upstairs to house a sewing shop for church ladies to sew goods to sell in the local markets to try to make a living for themselves as well as support the ministry of the church. They also have a children's feeding program to help feed the neighbourhood kids. This program (and the daycare and sewing shop) could use regular monthly support if you would be so inclined, get in touch with me and I'll help you make it work!

Thank you to the Kropp's group and Lake Morena Community Church in Campo, CA for blessing the Mexican church here in Tijuana. I am certain that this building will be an effective tool in the hands of the local church to spread the Good News of Jesus sacrificial death and resurrection on our behalf!

May God be Glorified!!

Fall in California

We live close to the US-Mexican border so last week went up to Julian, CA to see some fall-like weather in the mountains...

The area is famous for apple orchards and apple pies. We bought a whole pie (cheaper than by the piece) and it was still ovenwarm. The guys were quiet... REALLY quiet while they were eating the pie so we thought we'd better catch the moment on "film".










Here we are at the Apple orchard. Elijah is pretending to pick an apple. It started off chilly that day- about 14C- quite cold for us! It was hard ot believe this place is only a couple hours away from the mild coast and the Hot desert.











We went down the mountain and found a pumpkin patch / petting zoo/ corn maze. Here are some Mexican cows. I assume they are documented...












We picked a pumpkin here and played with the corn cannon and even found popcorn on the cob. you put it in a paper bag for 3 days and pop it in the microwave. very cool.

We were missing fall and the things normally assosciated with Canadian Thnaksgiving. This was a nice blessing! We had thanksgiving chicken (couldn't find a good- whole chicken so bought parts and Shar skewered them together to look like a whole chicken- kinda like a bionic chicken...) and had pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes and gravy. Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

quick update

I haven't blogged for a few weeks here- I've gotten busy with a church build- so I'll give you a quick update and come back later with pics and more details...

As for my dad.. we found him a place in a retirement home that is affordable, gives him lots of freedom and he gets the medical attention he needs. Praise God! Last I heard he is doing well, I hope to get an update soon, things will begin to slow down some here soon...

Church build-- We've had a group from Canada out building a 2 story church building for the formerly "open air church"! They finished today what they can do and tomorrow we have a church dedication. There is another group from just north of the border that is helping put in electrical and drywall. We are praying that God will supply the finances for them to finish the job!

I am having some families down over Christmas time and they may be doing some painting at the church. We hope to have it all finished by Early January, Lord Willing!

I'm off to Canada in a months time to speak in churches as well as speak at the Alumni retreat at Nipawin Bible Institute, my old school. Please pray for the extra needs that come about on a trip like this!

Praise! We are getting a new-to-us Car via donations! Someone has donated a 2003 Dodge Caravan! Praise God! Our vehicles have been in the shop ALOT lately, so hopefully this gives us a reliable vehicle! PRAY... for the extra $700 or so needed to import and license the van in Mexico!

MORE LATER!!!!

MM