I love all of Paco´s stories when he
returns from ministry in the villages of Ixcamilpa! I have to share…
As soon as he arrives, Paco feels
like a sort of Santa Claus in the villages-
When passing on the street, he
overheard one child remark: “Momma,
momma, look! It’s Hermano Paco! The one who brings gifts!” Though his
donations come from many of you, he has the joy of delivering them to grateful
people, along with the Gospel message.
Many children recognize Paco from
our discipleship classes a couple years ago. One boy,
Alan, excitedly insisted his grandmother invite Paco to their house
for lunch! Alan shared that he had read his discipleship book many times
since finishing the classes. (I praise God for lasting fruit in some of the
kids there!)
The food bags were greatly appreciated. The village president and nurse
helped Paco make a list of the people with greatest need for the 73 bags he brought in our packed car (so
jam-packed, in fact, that 3 food bags had to stay behind). Paco reminded each
grateful person who came for their bag that it was a gift from God who loves
and sees them, and who is also offering them a greater, more lasting gift of
eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Two elderly ladies arrived during
the distribution who were not on the food bag list- one actually started to cry that she would not receive food! (these
were obviously coveted gifts!) However, Paco rushed to reorganize the situation
and made sure each lady received groceries. They left smiling!
In gratitude for all of his visits,
Doña Mari tried to insist that Paco take
one of her newborn piglets home with him! Paco was able to politely decline
(I don’t know what I would do if Paco brought a pig to our house! We don´t even
have a yard!). However, her gratitude was very sweet.
One couple told Paco there were down
to their last bag of corn. However, it has not run out! Don Chava and Doña Selerina have been receptive
to the Word of God ever since Paco first arrived in their community- Chava is
one of the blind men who faithfully listens to the audio Bible that we gave
him. They testified that, in
answer to prayer, the Lord has faithfully provided food for them. They had expected their last bag of corn to run out
over a month ago, but there are still a few cups left! Paco left them money for another sack of corn
and we pray that the Lord will multiple its contents in the same way.
Witnessing Chava and Selerina’s
faithfulness in their desire to know God, Paco would love to stream our weekly church services to a
screen at their house. The couple joyfully agreed to open their home as a
mission to others who want to study the Bible. Paco said he did find a slight
cell phone signal there (very difficult to find in the villages!) so he thinks
it may be a possibility-
with lots of prayer and research and the right
equipment. Please pray with us for this
goal for 2020- to set up a “tele-mission”!
New year, new mercies ... even in
poor villages like those of Ixcamilpa...
We are so thankful to all those who
minister alongside us! (even from far away!)
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