Hey Everyone,

This is Pastor Chad.  I got a chance to talk to Pastor Craig today and have a short update from our team in Matamoros.  I apologize that this is late in coming.  The team attempted to post a blog from Mexico but the connection was too slow and they lost their entry.  This was quite frustrating!!

The team's travel went very well.  On Sunday they lead most of the church service for the church they are working for.  Pastor Craig preached.  Luke did a drama and Michael, Erin, Laura and Allissa shared a word of testimony.  They greatly enjoyed the service and the people of the church.

On a more personal note, Pastor Craig mentioned that the parents who are along have been blessed by the chance to minister alongside of their children.  It is a great thing to see fathers and mothers working with children and others to share the truth of Jesus.  Oh that more of that would happen in many places in the world, including central PA!!

The team has had a good start to their ministry.  Seventy children attended VBS and the soccer outreach.  This has been very good, but causes the team to be concerned (in a good way) about where the ministry will go.  A few personal notes:  After talking with a homeless man and sensing the prompting of the Holy Spirit, Dave Abt exchanged shoes with the man.  Luke met a man named Jose who had recently had a heart attack and is experiencing head problems.  He asked to be anointed and prayer, which Luke and others gladly gave in the name of the Lord.

A few side issues:  the now tropical storm Edouard has had not effect on our team.  A recent hurricane has left a lot of standing water which has produced a bumper crop of flying and biting insects.  These have served only to be both an annoyance and minor distraction to the team.  The team is thinking of you and concerned that you not be too concerned about them.  Their spirits are high and they are greatly rejoicing in what God is doing around them and in their hearts.  The worship leader for the week is the same leader that they had in Renosa last summer.  This has served to help the connect as a mission project group and with God more quickly.  Praise God for this.

Tyler mentioned that he would attempt to blog tonight.  I hope that happens, but I would not count on it.  On the mission field circumstances are known to be both fluid and unpredictable. Keep praying for them and for the ministry God is using them to do.  Look forward to a full word when they return.

Serving Jesus with you and the Mexico team, Pastor Chad