Border to Border Missions News

Hebrews 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others.

Summer 2008
Dear Family & Friends,
We trust this letter finds you in good health and are thanking God for the blessings He has bestowed upon you.
Jim and the crew have been getting ready for the summer teams and projects. We just had the privilege of working with a team from West Virginia.   They came to build a soup kitchen on the east side of Juarez. The temperatures were hot but the team was able to get the job done in four days. The building (14’ X 44’) will be able to feed 32 children at a time. A kitchen and bathroom were installed, benches were assembled and painted, the floor was painted to make cleaning easier, and verses were painted on the walls. After the dedication, 500 hot dogs were eaten by the neighborhood children and adults and gifts of New Testaments and toys were given away.  Jim and I feel so blessed that we had a part in this ministry; only God knows the impact this kitchen/community center will have on the community. This picture is showing only one of the lines of children waiting for their gifts.  
 Some men from Del Sol Church, TX, were able to rebuild Pastor Jose’s church roof that we had mentioned in the last newsletter. (It had collapsed)  Majestic Baptist Church, CO, will be building Pastor Jose a home and installing the insulation and sheetrock in the church’s ceiling.  A really nice front door and security screen door has been donated to replace the dilapidated door at the church.
The gifts you give to Border to Border Missions are incredible blessings to the people of Mexico.  Pastor Samuel and Elena from Jaltipan, MX, came up to visit Pastor Tino and to do some work.  We meant them a couple of years ago when visiting their church. With your gifts, we were able to give Bibles and different things they can use for their church. Jaltipan is also a very poor city.  It was wonderful to see their smiles and to know we were a part of helping them reach the people in their community.  

Your generous gifts have also helped an older pastor have cataract surgery so he can read his Bible again, replace a very rickety set of stairs for a pastor and his wife (she just had eye surgery), help support Pastor Javier who is preaching at a rehab center, given Bibles to men at the rehab center, and help pay off baby delivery debts. In some of the clinics, when a woman has a child, the hospital debt has to be paid before she and the baby can be released.
Barb has had some ladies activities. The women (and some men) made Bible covers form plastic canvas. Men and women both enjoy doing crafts and getting together. It was fun seeing the men use the sewing needle and the great creations that they came up with. Rosie form Del Sol Church, came in May and had a Bible study for the women and we’re making plans to have more in the future. The women of Juarez don’t usually have the opportunity to go to Bible studies. I’d love to have a retreat for them but haven’t a clue how to do it or where to go.  This would be an incredible, relaxing, refreshing weekend for them and I know there would be a lot of details to be worked out.
Jim and I have been here for six years. We have built relationships with the families and gotten to know the people in the area. No, our Spanish isn’t great but they understand us and our hearts. We’ve had the privilege of going to weddings,  asked to be madrinas (God parents), invited into their homes, gone on a camping trip, invited to birthday parties, and have been a part of their children’s graduation ceremonies. Arely and Yesenia, daughters of  Chon and Anna, graduated from kindergarten and fifth grade.  We had a nice time meeting their friends and eating grilled chicken. MMMM  The picture to the right is Oscar Jr. He turned eight early this month.  He loves the movie “Cars”, so his parents had a “Cars cake”.
We’ll have the opportunity to help a new pastor, Jorge, (he used to play the guitar at Pastor Tino’s church a few years ago). His church started in his new home when the neighbors heard him playing Christian songs on his guitar. They asked him to start a Bible study for them and it has grown into a church that now meets in his 12’x 14’ kitchen/living room. There are about 40 people who attend. We’re investigating if the government would donate or sell them land large enough to build a church on.  
Pastor Tino’s three year old mission’s church is purchasing the land across the street to build a future church. They have outgrown the present one. (It was constructed two years ago) They want to convert the present buildings into an educational and children’s center.
Jim’s shoulder has been 0k. He says he can be a short person and a tall person depending on how high he needs to reach. J

Prayer Requests: Pastor Jorge to find property Drug violence in Juarez to end Safety of staff and teams We need rain                                      Barb to find an eye surgeon to permanently remove ingrown eyelashes. Unemployment in Juarez

Praises: New kitchen/community center Ready for the summer teams  New teams  Good health-staff & us Sufficient  funds to help in Juarez

Many blessings to you,
Jim & Barb