September through December

September

Matt along with five other men went for one week

 to help build a church in 

Concha del Oro about two hours north.

Thanks to several churches and a special gift that paid for the truck 

we had 180,000 Romans with the church name printed on them 

delivered here to Zacatecas.  

Several church people came to help unload the boxes. 

It got here just in time for the State fair.

Every day an average of 20,000 people attend the fair.

We hand out literature to those entering and leaving the fair grounds.

The kids love to help, and usually they get a better reception than we do.

It was through a packet from the fair last year that we started our latest mission "Monte Sion".

And this year we made contact with one of the new church families 

through a Romans given out at the fair.

Independence Day

Ryan invited Matt to come preach at God is Love on the celebration of Independence day.

After the service there was a competition for patriotic dress and traditional food.

Baptisms

Sandra was baptized, and since then Carlos, 

her husband who has been away from the Lord, 

has started coming to church occasionally.

The boy looking on his their five year old son Carlitos.

Friend Sunday

October

The regional youth group was held here in Vicotria this month.

There are anywhere from 6-8 churches that participate.

It's always a time of learning, fellowship, and fun for the youth.

We were able to go Matt's home town 

for the wedding of one of the 'girls' we've watched grow up.

 Father and Son Camping Trip

Close to forty men and boys went on an overnight camping trip.

They had a time of testimonies at night.

The next day they went rat and snake hunting.

Enoch liked the rat.

Tasted like squirrel.

 Bible conference in Monte Sion

November

 Plateros

We took a day to survey a town that may be a possible site for a church in the future.

Plateros is one of the most visited towns in Mexico for religious purposes.

It is home of the idol "Santa Nino de Atoche"

Resigning from Monte Sion

On November 13 we had our last official service with Matt as Pastor 

in Iglesia Bautista Monte Sion

Matt preached a message and gave a demonstration of how the whole church 

needs to work together to accomplish its purpose.

The church prayed for Alan and Joahnna as he takes on the responsibility of Pastor.

December

Three Tuesdays this month we had fellowship in different members' houses.

We sang, gave testimonies, had a short devotional, and of course ate a snack.

Christmas Youth Group

Christmas play of the Three Trees

Monthly Activities

Hospital outreach

Every month we make sub sand-whiches and coffee 

and take them to three different hospitals here in the city 

to pass out to the friends and family who are there with loved ones.

We give them a packet or a Romans along with the sub, 

and then we take the opportunity to visit with some of them 

and ask how we can pray for their loved one.

Men's Meetings

We have started having monthly meetings designed especially for the men

to discuss the needs of different areas of the church.  

Ladies meetings and Baby Showers

This was our fifth baby shower this year!

Short-term helpers

Janalee Duarte (in the middle) stayed for eight weeks.  

She's an MK from Brazil and was finishing her requirements 

for Ambassador Baptist College.  

We appreciate the time she invested in this ministry.

David Aguirre is our nephew and came for two and a half months. 

He was Matt's shadow and helped him out and was able to learn more about ministry.

Dany Gonzalaz (in the red) is Alan's brother and lives in Saltillo.

He comes often and is always willing to help out while here.

The plan was for him to come next year full time, 

but the Lord has clearly opened the door in another direction,

 and he will be starting a church in Saltillo 

under the direction of Victoria here in Zacatecas.

Some of the new families:

Blanca got saved a couple of years ago, but had been away from the Lord for a while.

She started having terrible problems with Hugo, and they split up.

He was a drunk and showed no signs of changing.

He recently got saved and the whole family has been coming faithfully to church.

We ask for prayer for them for firmness and wisdom.

Concha's husband has been missing since June,

 and a couple of months later after seeing our interest in her 

and having a desire to 'know more about God' she started coming to church.  

Cristofer her five year old son had been coming for a while.  

She recently accepted the Lord and is excited 

about the peace and strength that she has had since then.

Another blessing

Our sending church in Wayland gave us their old church van,

and they paid for Matt's trip up there and the gas to bring it back.

We were in desperate need of one for Monte Sion.

Someone gave us a gift that covered the $280 that it took to paint it.

However, we don't have it here yet.  

It is still in Juarez waiting for the nationalization to go through.

It's several weeks late, 

so we ask for you to pray that the process would be finished soon.

Thank you so much for your prayers and interest.

We hope that you have a Merry Christmas 

and finish the year rejoicing in His goodness.

Missions within Missions

Missions Trip

Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua

 

Pastor Ruben Garcia with his wife Bette and daughters Kelli and Cielo
This was Kelli's 15th birthday service.

Ciudad Jaurez is the 5th largest city in Mexico.

A temporary bathroom we built for Iglesia Bautist la Gracia

The people waiting their turn at the clinics.
Some of our group took advantage and had a class for the kids.

One team in a make shift office

Two Doctors, a nurse, and two translators

Dr. KB, and his wife Dr. Natalie are from the Ivory Coast 

and speak several languages,but Spanish is not one of their strong ones.
Hna. Carmen is a nurse and one of our members at Victoria.

We were glad she could join us on the trip.

This man had run a re-bar through his hand the day before.

The dental 'office'

Bro. Rob is a dentist in Arkansas

and is also the pastor of a Spanish church

The pharmacy

All the medicine was provided to the people for free.

Every evening a different member of the team preached.

Here Matthew is translating for Bro. KB

Praise the Lord it only started to rain one night.

Most of our group that helped in Juarez
(Some were in bed sick)

Valle de la Trinidad, Baja California

Hno. Sergio with his wife Elena and daughter Sarai

Valle de la Trinidad

They are right on the edge of town

Another 'office'

We had a full house every service.

Again a different member preached for every service.

We had a kid's class for every service.

Two vans anchoring a tarp in between took the place of a class room.

The kitchen was always busy!

Class room construction

The layout

Higher...

...and higher.

We were able to pour the floors.

Ready for the roof and windows

The septic

Pure sand!

Deeper....

...and deeper.

Building the walls

Ready to pour

Ready for the bathrooms to be built.

In Kiliwas

Visiting with the people

Hna. Polita is the oldest living Kiliwa.

She doesn't know how old she is, but she says she's 93

...she's been saying that for a long time!

Her nephew's say she's around 103.

A house visit on the way out of town.

Beautiful bead work

One of these pieces takes several months to make.

They were very friendly people.

Our church bought a set of commentaries for Hno. Sergio, 

and he presented Matt with this bow and arrows made by the head Kiliwa.

The group we served with in Valle de la Trinidad

We pray that we were a blessing to the people 

to whom we ministered in these weeks.

We know that we were truly blessed to be a part of it.

Thanks to all who participated in praying, giving, or joining us!