Day 3: Orphans and Fellons!
This day was an eventful day, jam packed with fruitful ministry. The morning started out as usual with delicious authentic mexican food. We may be gaining weight on this trip! After breakfast, we performed drama, sang songs, and loved on the children. That is the easy part - the children are precious. Some want to play soccer, some want to play on the playground, some just want to be held and loved on.
The lessons today for the young children were about Noah´s Ark. The older children learned about the tabernacle. We set up a tent to simulate the tabernacle. Each child went through and learned the different parts of the tabernacle and what they represent. Costumed characters brought this lesson to life in a way they will not forget. Besides learning about the different parts of the tabernacle, each child put their hand on the head of a lamb, symbolizing the transfer of sin. The lamb was then sacrificed complete with blood (ketchup). As always, there were crafts that reinforced the lessons the children learned. These kids know their Bible. Steve Wiersum commented that they know the Bible better than the BSF kids he teaches at home in the US. Alma Alvarado says her children knew the Bible better than she does. I don´t know if I believe that, but you get the point.
This ministry does an incredible job of taking in children whose parents are incarcerated, who are abandoned, or that no one else will take. They love them and give them some semblance of family, give them an education, teach them God´s Word, and prepare them for life. Approximately 50 children raised by a family of 6 with the help of volunteers. GOD is blessing this ministry!
In the afternoon, Pastor Luis, Mark Montgomery, Steve Wiersum, Jorden Ross, Ernesto (a local volunteer) and Hilario went to a men´s maximum security prison about 90 minutes out of town. They went to meet with about 30 men who attend a bible study in prison. The bible study is led by a pastor who is also an inmate. This was an incredible expérience, one that none of the men will ever forget. There is apprehension when doing something like this, but God provided them with protection, and also a peace about their mission. They met in an open prison yard with inmates freely walking around. They sang praise songs, Mark shared his testimony, Luis shared from God´s Word, and Hilario encouraged the men. When Luis gave the invitation, every man came forward. I get chills just thinking about it. There were men in our midst who did bad things to end up in prison. However, what God showed us was men who were hurting, who love Jesus and the hope He provides.
While the men were visiting the prison, the rest of the group had a 2 hour adventure at Wal Mart buying supplies for the ministry. Wal Mart didn´t like our credit cards, but it all worked out in the end. We were able to buy some essentials for the ministry, for which they were very appreciative.
Dinner was delicious as usual, followed by a visit to a restaurant where mariachis serenaded us. What a treat!
Keep praying, it is working. We are blessing children, they in turn are blessing us, everyone is safe, no one is sick, God is working in our midst.
Mark Montgomery
Day 2: The Ministry begins...
A brief re-cap on our amazing day yesterday:
We all rolled out of bed and met in the hotel lobby at 8 am where Hilario greeted us. He and a few men took all of us to the orphanage in 4 run-down vans (We´re talking cracked windshields and check engine lights- but hey it´s transportation and we were thankful for it!). As we rolled up the dusty, pot-hole filled dirt road, we saw the old barbed wire framed building that was the Orphanage. Our hearts were full of nervous anticipation. We unloaded our supplies and gifts, and hesitantly walked into the building. We saw about 50 children seated in the room, awaiting our arrival. It was overwhelming to see the precious little faces so full of joy. We greeted them briefly, but then it was time to eat. Let me just tell you, everything (and i mean EVERYTHING) we have eaten here in Mexico has been MUY bueno... that´s "VERY good" for those non-Spanish speaking people :o) We then divided the children into groups by age, and started the vacation Bible school program. The older children seemed very receptive, and then there was Sharon Montogomery´s 3 and 4 y
ear old class that was more like crowd control! Lauren, myself, Annie, Joanne, Melissa, and Kelly all came in for "back-up" haha We had kids basically climbing the walls, but you couldn´t help but chuckle. They were so adorable! Believe it or not, we actually settled them down and were able to teach them something! All-in-all it was so neat to see the impact we had on the children. You can´t help but fall in love with each and every one of them. It breaks your heart to know they either dont have parents or their parent(s) are in prison.
At the same time while we were putting on our vacation Bible school, Dr.Naus was in the building next door treating patient after patient. He came with $19,000 worth of donated supplies and medicines! It is incredible how the Lord provides! Hilario had passed out fliers around the neighborhood telling them that Dr. Naus would be there. There was a line waiting outside to see him. He saw 27 patients in 4 hours (which when you do the math is an INCREDIBLE amount). It is so neat to see everyone using the unique gifts that God gave them to serve!
The last part of the day was the most impactful. We loaded up the buses once again, this time including about 12 children and headed to the women´s prison. We were taking the children to see their mothers and also to share the gospel to the other prisoners. My bus was stopped on the way in and a "lovely lady" with a scar gashed across her cheek bone and a big gun (i´m not familiar with guns... but is was a BIG one) stopped us and questioned us. She opened the van door and started looking around. I won´t lie... I was a little scared. haha Anyways after some Spanish dialogue between her and the driver (none of which I understood), we were allowed to drive in. We all arrived to find out we needed identification to enter the prison, however none of us knew that prior to going. The majority of the group didn´t have i.d. with them. We were all ready to turn around and leave, when Pastor Luis said, "No, let´s pray!" So that´s what we did. We stood outside of the women´s prison with 3 other prisons in sight and stopped to pray. We asked the Lord for his will to be done and to open doors if we were to minister to the women. After Hilario made a phone call, within 5 minutes or less, the prison Warden arrived, and somehow we ended up being allowed to enter the women´s fac
ility- all of us! We all went through their security procedures and eventually made it into the main "court-yard" area where we arrived to 560 women waiting for us! We all walked in, in a single file line wearing all black to be identified in the "sea of kacky and white clothing" (according to Daniel Naus). We opened in prayer, sang praise and worship songs (in English, Spanish and Portuguese), did a few dramas, and finally Alma preached an incredible message. It was amazing to see the faces and hearts of the women break. Tears filled there eyes and when the alter call was given, about 150 women came up to recieve Christ! It was moving to see the Lord work in such a unique situation. We knew at that moment that God´s hand was in everything and he had allowed us to enter the prison for a reason yesterday! These women who had no hope, now have hope and security in Christ! Praise the Lord!
We all headed back to the hotel absolutely exausted- physically and emotionally. We showered and went to get a quick bite to eat, which again was AMAZING! Thank you all so much for your prayers! We ask you to continue to pray for us, that we may be a blessing to Hilario, the children, and this ministry here in Guadalajara. Also, Pastor Luis, Mark, and Steve will be heading to the maximum security men´s prison this afternoon. We ask you to pray for their safety and also that God word put on their hearts the words He would have them speak. We love you all! God bless you!
-Tina
Day One
We started off the day meeting at the Miami airport at 6:00am (everyone was pretty tired!). Our first flight was from Miami to Mexico City, where we met up with the Naus family. We enjoyed our first "real" Mexican meal, then we continued on to Guadalajara, arriving around 2pm. There were vans waiting for us at the airport, so we loaded all of the bags and were taken to Hotel Morales. The hotel is absolutely beautiful, and is located in the colonial area of Guadalajara.
After unloading and cleaning up, we met a professor who took us on a walking tour of the area, showing us beautiful historic buildings including a government building, a cathedral, and a theater. We learned some history of the area and were able to take some beautiful pictures!
Following the tour, we walked back to our hotel to get ready for dinner. We ate at a local restaurant, Santo Coyote, which was very impressive. We were shocked at how beautiful the restaurant was with hanging lights, winding paths, interesting art, landscape, and tiki huts. Everyone wore Mexican blankets to stay warm and enjoyed eating awesome Mexican meals while listening to the mariachis play. By the end of the evening, everyone was extremely exhausted and happy to get some sleep!
This morning we are beginning our work at the orphanage. We have met the adorable children and are currently preparing to begin the vacation Bible school, including lessons, crafts, dramas, and sports. We will be at the orphanage for the first half of the day, then are going to the women´s prison where Pastor Luis and Alma will speak to around 500 women.
Please pray today that we will be able to reach the hearts of the children and the women in the prison.
Please pray for the Family Mission Trip to Mexico
BRCC Family Mission Trip to Guadalajara, Mexico, December 26-31, 2006.
Please pray for 24 team members:
Luis Alvarado
Alma Alvarado
Gabe Alvarado
Tina Carlen
Barb Carlen
Daniel Carlen
Douglas Figueiredo
Melissa Hernandez
Joann Lopez
Mark Montgomery
Sharon Montgomery
Lauren Montgomery
Morris Naus
Lisa Naus
Daniel Naus
Kelly Naus
Annie Newcomb
Lucas Pereira
De Andrea Pereira
Bianca Ramos
Julie Ross
Benjie Ross
McKenzier Ross
Steve Wiersum
The Trip Itinerary:
Leave Miami Dec 26 8:00am
Arrive Mexico City Dec 26 10:35am
AeroMexico 429
Leave Mexico City Dec 26 1:00pm
Arrive Guadalajara Dec 26 2:10pm
AeroMexico 286
Leave Guadalajara Dec 31 9:00am
Arrive Mexico City Dec 31 10:10am
AeroMexico 225
Leave Mexico City Dec 31 1:30pm
Arrive Miami Dec 31 5:25pm
AeroMexico 422
