A Ray of Hope

The streets of Mexico City are no place for a kid to grow up. But from about the age of twelve to twenty-three that is where Arturo has lived. He has been in and out of rehab several times and is struggling to start a new life. Drugs, alcohol, fights in the streets, prison, you name it, Arturo has lived it.

For about three weeks now we've been getting together. We've been studying the bible and I've been giving him bible verses to memorize. However, the fight for his mind has been intense. He has been tempted beyond compare and to top it off his family has been going through some really hard times.

Please pray for Arturo. Please pray for God to get ahold of his heart and transform him from the inside-out. Pray that He uses him mightily for His glory to reach others who have suffered through the same situations.

God is Faithful!

We are delighted to announce that in the month of July Lluvia became a U.S. citizen! While the process was at times difficult, God showed us His faithfulness and allowed us the privilege of seeing His hand at work on our behalf. God's word says in Romans 8:28 (ESV): "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

To read a more complete account, see our newest newsletter by following the link to South of the Border on the right.

Now we are back in Mexico and planning what the next semester will look like at Global Grounds. Please pray for God's guidance for us, blessings for our workers, and that His Son will be glorified in all that we do, allowing others the privilege of knowing Him through our words and actions.

Just Visiting

Dear Friends,

We will be in the U.S. until about the second week of August. If you would like to get ahold of us we can be reached at (309) 373-9433.

Lluvia will be taking her interview for citizenship on July 3rd. We would greatly appreciate you prayers as this will be in the form of a English and Civics exam! We are greatful to God for working out all of the details of our time here enabeling us kill many birds with one stone so to speak!!! Thank you.

God bless you.

We Are the Clay

Why do we run from pain? What makes us want to avoid suffering so much? Even experts tell us that we should aviod that which causes us hurt. We think it is unhealthy to be put in situations that make our ugliness come out.

But that ugliness is who we really are. When someone says something to us and a flash of anger runs across our face or changes our composure and words fly out of our mouth like darts something very profound is happening in us. Who we are in our core is seeping out. And we seep out like that because of the incredible pressure we are under.

But why should we avoid such unhealthiness? This is life! It is at these moments, when we can bear no more, that our God is lovingly molding us. He is molding us to be who He wants us to be.

But now, O LORD, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand. - Isaiah 64:8 (NASB)

Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker--An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?' - Isaiah 45:9 (NASB)

In Season and Out of Season

Sometimes we need to be strongly confronted. Strong words are best when coming from the Lord.

We had been facing discouragement. We have several groups under our care and with so many people to care for we felt that we weren't influencing anyone. Our work had become a bit burdensome. But God, who is always merciful, intervened.

There is a striking passage is 2 Timothy 4 where Paul is giving instructions to Timothy. Paul tells him to preach the word always, reprove, rebuke, and exhort. He also talks about things that can be a discouragement. Then, in verses 5-8 he says the following: "But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

This was exactly what I needed to hear. Discouragement is inevitable as are a great many other things. But we have work to do. There are people waiting to hear the Good News. Paul later goes on to describe many extremely difficult situations he had been facing, but he had held fast, he had kept the faith, and he had endured hardship. May we be found as faithful in the work the Lord has given us to do. Please pray for us and for all believers in these areas!

Need for a Savior

I have heard it said that Queretaro is growing by roughly 33,000 people per year. We know that the majority of those people are those who are fleeing the crowded Mexico City to find a place a little bit more tranquil to raise their children. All of that means that the population is growing faster than the gospel. It is no accident that we are here.

Among those who come here there are, of course, many college students. It has been our priviledge to be a part of their lives. We pray that God uses us, that He shines through us to them so that they can know Him as well. The more we get to know these students the more we can see their needs and are so positive of their need for a Savior.

One of the ways we get to know these students is through our English classes. These classes are usually the first time that these students get to know a Christian and, we pray, get to see Christ in the flesh. Please pray with us to that end. Pray that Jesus makes Himself known to these students through these classes.

Welcome to our Blogspot

Welcome to our Blogspot. This is the first time I've tried something like this, but it seems fun so I hope all enjoy.

You'll notice that our blog title is Debajo del Sol which means Under the Sun. This title comes from the Bible, from Ecclesiastes which is one of my favorite books. In this book, Solomon often talks about all that we as human beings do Under the Sun. It sort of puts into perspective the fact that we do so many meaningless things here on earth without ever thinking about He who is not under our sun: Jesus Christ who loves us, saved us, and looks down on us from above. We need to thank Him for His care of us and that we are always in His thoughts, though many times in all of our activities under the sun He is not in ours. And everything we do surely is meaningless without Him. What can we gain by seeking after pleasure, money, and wisdom and not seeking after our wonderful Lord? The answer is "nothing". Everything here, under the sun, is so temporary. The Bible says in Psalm 93:5, "You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath. Selah". We need to live the present in view of our eternal future.

Under the Sun also reflects how I feel in this beautiful country of Mexico where the sun is almost always shining. Although it burns, at times, the sun is just one more thing for which to be thankful. Without it there would be no life here. God is always good.

Lluvia and I serve in Queretaro, Mexico as missionaries. It is our prayer that this blog results in more prayers being lifted up for us as we keep people updated on happennings here and in our lives in general. May all that we do here, under the sun-every conversation, thought, and act of service-serve to bring praise to our mighty God and His Son Jesus Christ. Please pray with us to that end!

God bless you.