TGIF

We didn’t start well.

As a matter of fact, we despised each other.

It was in the wild and wooly days of the Phoenix Preacher and I was hammering away on a certain CC pastor till I was tired, then I would rest and hammer him again.

I was relentless.

My (now) friend did not appreciate my efforts and some of the spiciest emails I’ve ever received were typed by him.

That war ended, the years went by, and my adversary went quiet.

Quiet, until a couple of years ago.

His familiar email moniker (which was a judgment on me itself) popped up and I was curious as to how I’d tripped his trigger this time.

Instead of a rebuke, it was an invitation…to go with him to Mexico and serve the people I’d been writing about.

He was going into hell at great risk to help people in one of the most dangerous places in Mexico…and the world.

I was stunned…and very humbled and grateful.

I was in recovery from surgery and couldn’t go but I’ve kept in contact as he has continued this great work since then.

I’ll let him tell you about it:

“So we have been going to Mexico now for almost 12 years. It is a beautiful area in the mountains of Mexico among the (deleted) people who live in pueblos of 100 to 150 people. Our sole goal and focus is to plant indigenous churches led by indigenous leaders among the (deleted)people. It is a very slow work at this point but everything we do is designed to assist that vision. So far we have planted 2 indigenous churches. The most recent was in a village of some 300 people, a large pueblo by their standards. 

We begin by making 6-8 trips a year and in the beginning we go primarily to establish a friendship with the people. We help stimulate their economy by bartering beans for crafts that we sell. We feed them plentiful meals as well as take doctors, nurses, and dentists when they are available to go. The docs are a very good resource to let us know what the health needs are. In this latest village they needed a good source of clean water. The entire region has been a 7 year drout. They live off of their fields but when there isn’t any rain there isn’t any food. All the water that was available to live on was run off and shared with livestock. The children are dying off at about 25-35% before age 5 because of the water and malnutrition. So we determined to drill a water well and give them access to as much as they want. The Lord graciously supplied a donation that paid for the drilling of the well. 

The snag we ran into was that the electrical authorities found out that we (Americans) are behind this project. And so to bring 300 feet of electricity to the site they decided we needed to pay $11,000 American dollars. We have tried to negotiate through the local leadership and authorities and they are just not going to budge. We budgeted a lot less than that but are now having to raise an additional $11K to get electricity to the site so that we keep fresh water stored and available. There’s a lot of logistics that I won’t bore you with but we have the potential to pipe 6 outlying communities with this water (where the water goes the gospel goes with it) and won’t be able to do it without the electricity. Until we drilled this well the women were forced to walk 6- 10 killometers for a couple pails of putrid water. They are now walking half that distance for much better quality of water.

With this unforeseen expense the $9000 we needed to raise for a purifier will be completely used up and so we are having to prioritize the need. We have to be able to deliver the water before we purify it. Immediately we need to raise $11000 for electricity and in the near future an additional $9000 for a purification unit. Every dime that is given is used in the field. 

We need medical professionals to go with us. This has become a real need as many simply have not continued to go with us because of the threat of violence. 

We need short termers to go with us as many are reluctant for the same reason and yet the Lord has blessed us with His mercy and protected us to date without a single incident that would be considered dangerous. We don’t presume to think we are immune either and so it must be considered. The work among these people has increased to critical proportions as many of the ministries that once worked in the area have chosen not to return and there is a lot of “unfinished” work to be cleaned up. 

We work with 2 indigenous (Mexican National) missionaries who have laid down their lives for this work that I hope one day that I can attain to even a fraction of their sacrifice and faithfulness. As everyone can imagine the economic crunch in the states has severely hindered their support and we struggle each month to meet their financial needs. It is humbling to receive thier gracious thank you’s every month for what little we send. 

The great news is that we are seeing a harvest take place among these people that is nothing short of early church proportions. In a village of 80 or 90 people we are seeing well over 130 attend services. Some walk over 15 miles to receive from the Lord. He is teaching people the value of fellowship and community among a people who don’t even have a concept in their language or worldview for that kind of living. It is truly miraculous and due to the work of the Holy Spirit. “

In the providence of God, an enemy who has become a friend is doing what I have longed to do…he’s carrying my heart to where I can’t go.

Only God could have brought the hearts of two very different men together for His kingdom…and that’s exactly what He did.

He needs help, as he’s explained above.

I completely and wholeheartedly endorse this man and this ministry…and if the Lord leads you to help, please do.

Email:

bolexpeditions@gmail.com

Paypal:

bolexpeditions@gmail.com

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