Mexico 2006

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

posted by BRCC Missions @ 8:40 AM