Today has been–well, interesting, to say the least. As you probably know, we have two fifteen-passenger vans and a minivan. Mr. Eagan drove one of those vans this morning, bringing sports ministry to the Alliance Church and some women from Campestre over to our current ministry site. The other two were headed over to our morning ministry site.
Problem: Although Mr. Ballard’s fifteen-passenger van’s engine would turn over, for the life of us we were unable to get it to start.
A neigbor pulled over and helped us by trying to obtain some gas from a nearby gas station and siphoning it into our tank. Yet despite all of the sounds of the fuel pump bringing gas into the engine, we were unable to get it to start.
We quickly prayed–several times–and got AIG Mexico, the van’s insurer, on the phone. They could not find our policy and would not get us towing. So we called the rental company in Harlingen and, thank God, they told us they were able to get us a replacement.
So we are short a fifteen-passenger van, which meant that we required separate thirty-minute trips over to our ministry site until Mr. Eagan arrived to help us out.
Despite all the roadblocks Satan places in our way, God has really blessed our ministry anyway. All of the women were there waiting for the Bible study to begin, and although it took a little bit for us to get the VBS back on track, the kids became attentive and engaged. Let’s continue with a report from someone other than me:
Joe Depuy (Sports/Prison Ministry)
We finally know possibly why God has brought so much rain. Today we visited the jail for juveniles because our traditional sports ministry has not been all that active. The rain kept the Mexican boys and men from participating, so it seemed necessary to consider some other options. We now know God wanted us to visit this jail all along, and if the rain had not driven the boys and men from the village away we perhaps might not have had the opportunity to see the Lord move in the hearts of several Mexican boys as we did today.
We joined up with a group from Minnesota who was already intending to visit the jail. Everyone from the group had limited to almost no Spanish-speaking ability. When we arrived I was asked by the one and only Mexican translator, “What do you want to do?” Since we were puzzled by this question, the translator explained that when people come to visit to minister they may play soccer with the inmates or play basketball or speak to the kids in an assembly format. Vicente Mora, a long-time friend of SWAM, shared his testimony with a large group of inmates, with five or six Mexican boys responding to the gospel and receiving Christ as Savior. After Dan and Dan were both blessed to play some basketball with some of the inmates as well. Meanwhile, I was with another Mexican believer, Javier, from the Alliance Church. The two of us shared Christ with three boys who were locked behind bars. With tears in their eyes after receiving Christ, the kids asked us if we would be back tomorrow. The answer was a resounding “yes!” We now thank God for the rain… for His ways are always wise and never cease to amaze us!
It is awesome to see God working so mightily – these are the hearts He has prepared all along! May these be established in His Kingdom, and know His Hope and Future for their lives – and be blessed to bring as many others as possible to heaven with them (as Meghan said….)!
Praise God for the rain!!! I kept thinking and praying for you guys this morning wondering exactly what prison ministry looks like…..sounds like the Holy Spirit has been at work preparing hearts for the harvest – and you guys have been blessed to witness it! Romans 8:28.
This afternoon I was blessed myself by a gorgeous bouquet of flowers that arrived, and it had an equally beautiful message with it! You guys have touched my heart more than words can express……..Thank you!!!
My prayers are with you all constantly – I keep looking at my watch and thinking about what you must be doing. Stay encouraged as God is doing amazing things! May this week give each of you some awesome standing stones for your lives!
Love you all and miss you!
Hna. Leslie
Amen Joe. We thank God for the rain along with you. May His will continue to be so obvious for the remainder of the trip.
His ways are so much greater than ours! It’s so amazing to see that even though you all have spent a long time preparing and planning for this week, that from the time you all took off in those planes HIS plan went into effect and your plans went on the shelf. Praise HIS plans!