Update from Keith Jean 7/21
Today, Thursday, the team has spent much of the day finishing up our classes and preparing for the performance in Palmillas tomorrow. Palmillas has a really nice amphitheater in which to perform . Josué (our translator) and I are preparing an audio announcement to play through a loudspeaker tomorrow as we drive through the streets of Palmillas to publicize our outdoor ministry event (……when in Rome). Our ministry event will consist of a indigenous praise band, dramas, a short movie, and a message where Carlos Gonzalez, the pastor of a Baptist Church in Palomas MX will preach about what Christ did for us on the cross and what one must do to accept Him as their personal Lord and Savior.
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On Saturday and Sunday of this past week our team, along with the youth/young adults from Mexico did a Gospel Saturation of Palmillas.
As a result 7 people came to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior and 2 catholics provided information to the pastors here. At any rate, we have a number of names with which to follow up. Our prayer is that these who have prayed to receive Christ will continue to grow in Him and that others will see His awesome power and grace and accept Him as Lord.
Update from Keith Jean 7/12
We are here in Palmillas and everything is going great. Today we cleaned rooms, cut some grass (that I didn’t even know there was until Hurricane Alex), tore down, moved, and reassembled a bed for the apartment and Mateo’s room. I mexican engineered the apartment door so it opens like the one in the Hotel in Ciudad del Maiz (with a string). The girls SCRUBBED, & SCRUBBED, & SCRUBBED, the apartment, cleaned the girls dorms and bathrooms and made posters for our new store for snacks, “La Tienda de Zack”. The boys helped us move beds, tore out the old picket fencing dividers around the planting beds, cleaned the boys rooms and wait…………get this…………..CLEAN THE OUTSIDE BATHROOMS!!! The band arrived last night and our teams have bonded with them quickly and all is going well. We are starting to get the remaining “future leaders” and Christian made the cut from Palomas. Also, Monico and Valentina, are here from last year. It was good to see them coming to further the gifts the Lord has given them.
So, all is well and I will try to give you daily updates. By the way, the weather is beautiful today and I had a chance to run 5 miles into and around Palmillas this morning.
Team has arrive in Palmillas 7/11 @ 8:00pm
The FBCA On-Mission team arrived at The Timothy Project campus at about 8:00pm this evening, tired and hungry and ready for the roast chicken dinner that Sheri has prepared (or purchased in route) for them. But the trip was not without some challenges.
They were just on the outskirts of one town when the local police stopped them (it is common to be stopped at random Federal Police and Military check points) but usually if you are stopped by the local police it’s because they are looking for some “supplemental income”. This case was no different; they got our missionary Jack and short-term missionary John out of the van and frisked them. They found a pocket knife on Jack and insisted that it was illegal, which it isn’t. However they said they would be happy to take the $2000 fine to the Judge for him so the team would not have to be detained. Jack told them that it would be best if they just went to the Judge. After the two policemen talked among themselves a few moments they came back and told Jack that they were sure the judge would be happy to take just $1000. Jack told them that he would be happy to pay the $1000 fine… to the judge. After a little more discussion they told Jack that they were going to do him a favor and let him go, but they had to confiscate his “illegal” knife.
Jack though it would be prudent at the time to accept their “generosity” and let them have his “illegal” knife.
While this is not at all uncommon, I’m sure it provided some anxious moments for the folks in the van.
Teams have joined in Brownsville 7/10 @ 6:30pm
All have arrived and are checked in at the Hotel in Brownsville, TX. Last report was that the rain has stopped, or at least for the time being. They will all be up early and, after getting visas etc. at the border they will be headed for Palmillas. Please pray for the team as they travel. There has been much rain and we know that there is at least one bridge washed out. Even with that if all else goes well they should arrive at the Timothy Project campus early afternoon on Sunday and will be ready to start the seminar on Monday
Team #2 left Saturday 7/10 @ 7:00am
The second and final team left this morning to fly to Harlingen, TX shown L-R Brad & Jean Bean, Lauren Jensen, Amber Lee and Alex Phillips. They will be met at the airport by our missionaries Jack and Sheri Thomas and spend the night in Brownsville, TX.
Team #1 left Friday 7/9 @ 7:00am
The first of two teams left FBCA Campus at 7:00am this morning: shown L-R are Mellissa & Eric Phillips, Keith Jean, Zack Okerson and John Rosbrugh. They are scheduled to arrive in Brownsville late Saturday afternoon where they will meet our missionaries Jack and Sheri Thomas. The remaining team will fly out Saturday to join them. They will be spending the night in Brownsville, TX and heading to The Timothy Project campus early Sunday AM. There has been severe rain and flooding all along the border and south making traveling somewhat of a challenge; but with God as their pilot and Jack and John as the co-pilots they will arrive in Palmillas mid-afternoon. The normal six hour drive will be extended somewhat by the rain and at least one bridge that has been washed out which will detour them about an hour and a half.
As mentioned in a previous post below, because of severe weather brought about by Hurricane Alex the previous weeks seminar was conducted without electricity, except for brief periods. Also, for unrelated reasons, water has been in short supply. By God’s grace and the generosity of a few faithful individuals a 19’ foot trailer, 3 – 280 gallon water tanks and a 5500 watt generator have been donated and are on the way with this team.
Please pray for you On-Mission team as they travel. Pray for the Mexican youth that God would prepare their hearts to receive the training that is being presented during the next two weeks.