The Celebration Continues, and the Poor

As I laid in my bed thinking about where God had taken me—truly the song, “You Raised Me Up” was being fulfilled. The next day, after I walked through the group of young people celebrating New Year’s Day, I decided to find a place nearby to park my van and camp—I found it just a couple miles from the Lopez’s home on an ocean bay. It was a very large vacant area with a beach and some small palm trees. I was the only one camping there under a small tree for some shade. Across the street was a super market with an ATM machine, and Wal-Mart was just four miles away. Yet there were also many poor people nearby. This was again a perfect spot to minister. However, I still felt that I should still spend time in La Manga too, but the Lopez family offered something I definitely needed—fellowship, love and communication. Someday, I would like to see Juan and Manuela come to one of their worship meetings.

Living with the poor

Sunday, I had another awesome dinner and meeting at the Lopez house. That same evening their son invited me to his wedding, and Angelieta invited me to go to a church, the following Sunday, where they were going to lay hands on her brother, and some other men who were going into ministry. I said, would love to go to both of them.

Then that evening, I went back to Juan’s house after being gone a week. But something had changed. There wasn’t a warm welcome from Juan and only a few questions about my new friends in Guaymas. Then he said he was tired and was going to bed. So I went and parked on the bluffs again in my usual spot. It was nice to hear the waves again, but God didn’t have much to say that night either as I took our usual walk before going to bed. The next morning when I when back to Juan’s house, I got the same feeling from Manuela. Neither was I invited to either of their meals that day, and so it made for a very long and sad day for me. I went to the little church and told God that things were not going the way I had wanted or expected. He told me, “You’ve cast your shadow across this land, now it time to leave them in My hands. You’ve done all that I have asked of you and more for now. You demonstrated love, kindness and said all that you could—now I’ve opened another door.”

Finally, I went back to Juan’s house and found him busying himself with his chicken and said to him, “I think it’s time for me to leave. You will always be my friend and hopefully I will see you again. Then I went to Manuela and said goodbye to her and said I care very much about La Mange and loved everyone there including them. I thanked her and then shook their hands and Manuel’s also, who was standing next to her, and then I left. As I drove away I was heartbroken and had a lump in my throat. I felt I should still stop by where Delia worked and let her know too, and explained why. I had told her that I would stay as long as I felt welcomed. Then we gave each other a hug and said goodbye.

The resort you see in the distance is where I get my Internet connection

As I started to leave I took this picture of La Mangha from where she worked. This was my calling—to go to the lost and poor, and at times it can have its painful side too.

However, the very next afternoon, another miracle happed. Just shortly after I finished writing this article in my van, a red pick-up truck pulled up. I immediately recognized it and saw Juan and Manuela inside. I could not understand why they were driving through Guaymas, but Juan said, Manuela saw my van parked under the tree a hundred feet away.

They did not know where I was staying, but they had apparently talked about what had happed the day before, because Juan got out and greeted me as I got out and said they wanted me to come back to La Manga, and to eat meals with them again. He asked why I was staying here. I said there are many poor people here and God loves them too. Then, I showed him some of the shacks (homes) they lived in, and I even introduced him to one of the men. Manuela chose to stay in the truck eating peanuts from the shell—the very same thing I had just been eating. God’s timing is perfect. And apparently He’s not through with me being in La Manga either. Juan asked, when would I come back, I said, “I don’t know, there are many really poor people and new friends. I will come back and spend a few days, but I will also visit here each week to minister to them also.” He said that was okay with him.

A couple days later when I went back to Juan’s house, it was very different this time. He apologized that night for that happed and wanted me to always feel welcomed and wanted even if there were bad days, just like when he and Manuela would have disagreements.

This is indeed a time and year to celebrate and to expect miracles. Because the scripture says, that God is going to reveal Himself to a people who are not even seeking Him. (Romans 10:20)

The Poor

One night a few weeks ago, the Lord showed me in a dream how to free the poor. He also said, “I want them free, it doesn’t matter how they got that way, even if they spent all their money gambling, drinking or gave it all to a fast tongue talking preacher. I want them free of poverty.” So I have been doing that as He leads me.

Ricardo, his wife and two daughters live in this small house you saw next to my van

I have also given food and money to many poor people here in Guaymas and in La Manga, but recently I have had some interesting experiences in Guaymas that I would like to share with you. One day, two young teenage girls asked me to give money for a charity as they held out an empty can with some Spanish writing on it and a slit on a clear plastic lid. I was feeling generous so I put in 50 pesos. They thanked me and walked away, but then they turned around and came back and asked for more money to buy food. I asked if they would like some tacos, and they replied yes. So we went over to a taco stand nearby, but it was closed. Then I offered to go to the super market next to us, thinking I would get them some fruit instead. But when we got to the fruit stand they were not impressed. So I said, “What would you like?” “Chicken,” replied the one girl who had been doing all the talking. “Oh,” I said, “You have expensive taste. But when we got to the meat department, I realized she was no longer thinking of her self, but for the whole family. My heart was touched, as she picked out four pounds of frozen chicken that was on sale and then she wanted some potatoes too. I said, “why not.” She picked out about two pounds, and then we went to the checkout stand. The total amount was only 38 pesos; I paid that much for a MacDonald’s breakfast the day before.

Two men live in this shack and one in the house to the right. My van is parked under the tree you see in the middle.

The next day I saw two old women collecting something off the ground, but it wasn’t aluminum cans. So I went over to find out what and to give them some money. I learned it was a mother and daughter who had no husbands, and they were picking up the aluminum pull-tabs for money that others don’t bother to pick up. They did this all morning and it was 45 degrees until noon. When they got to where I was parked, I had collected about a cup of tabs around my van, and gave it to them along with some more money and food. I told them my name and showed them my van that was my house. They told me their names, and they were surprised to get money from a stranger who didn’t even have a real house. I gave them both a hug and told them God loves them and I watch them happily walk away.

These homes have no water or bathrooms and that's my van under the tree

On January the 15th, I reached for my Bible and it fell open to the first chapter of Jeremiah—It was my “commissioning,” as well as Jeremiah’s. In the margin, I had also written something the Lord said to me on the same date, but the year was 2006—“Do you trust me to trust you.” Our relationship depended on trust and that’s how it must be. But the verses that stood out the most to me as I read the chapter again, was verses 7 and 9, 10. “All that I command you, you shall speak.” On the following Sunday at Angelieta’s church a man that I had met before and he also spoke English, said, “I believed God has something for you to say. I can see it in your face.” Wow, I was surprised, but I also agreed and we talked a little more. Then part of the pastor’s message that morning was about spiritual authority.  

A few days later, I met a poor Mormon lawyer. I told him I was a prophet sent by God to Mexico. Then I had him read a couple of verses from Jeremiah 1, in my Spanish/English Bible, that said that I was called to be a prophet to the nations and that God would put His Words in my mouth to build up and to tare down. He was amazed, and he also asked me what I thought of Mormons and of Joseph Smith. I said, they all needed to know God better. Then we spent the whole morning together, as I drove him to several places to see people. Sometimes he would even tell them I was a prophet sent to Mexico. We ended our time together, by me taking him to lunch and then to where he lived with his sister’s family. He had told me, that he would like to buy my van. But he didn’t even pay for the single cigarette, that you could by that way, or for the jawbreaker candy that he also wanted from a little store that we visited. God loves the Mormons, and this man is about to know God better.

Another beautiful sunset that reminds me of God's awesome love for us

 I love what I’m doing and the people I meet. What an awesome adventure and privilege we have to be working with the Heavenly Father.   

The Celebration

This is a photograph of Ana Gabriela with her 88 year old grandmother, and her grandfather is 100 years old.

I had been invited to a New Year's Eve Celebration, the day before, and so I arrived at the Lopez Lopez home the next day at the agreed time of 7pm. Again, I was greeted with full hugs by everyone, even friends and the women often turn their heads to get a kiss on the cheek. Which I don’t mind doing. Then I was informed that it would be a couple more hours before we would actually leave for the house where the celebration would take place. That was fine by me. The women worked in the kitchen on food, Gabriela iron his clothes and some took showers while Ana Gabriela sat with me and talked. She is 21 years old and is a new student at a university and has four more years to get her degree, and her major is in Business Administration. She speaks English quite well and she is so beautiful, and so are her friends—the whole family is. She’s also an artist and showed me some of her paintings and drawings, and they were very very good. The whole family was raised Catholic. But, then her parents became Christians about four years ago, her brothers two years and she less than five months. And now she loves God, singing and reading her Bible. She also helps work in an orphanage with her brother. However, they all agreed, by raising their hand quickly, that they wanted to know God better when I asked them that question. Wow! I said I would do whatever I could to help them along.

While she took her shower, I got to look through a family album and talk with other. When they where all ready and it was time for us to leave for the party.

Arantza getting her hair done by a friend at the party

When we arrived, we were all greeted with hugs. It was a very nice house and quit large as you can see in the phonographs. The people were so friendly as we walked through the house to get to their mostly covered backyard where there were more tables and chairs for people to sit and eat. But the atmosphere was so different from other New Years Eve parties I’ve been too. There was praise and worship music playing over a great sound system and a projector showing recorded live worship on the wall with the words to sing along. They also had a couple standing microphones for anyone who wanted to sing Karaoke style and hold the microphone in their hand.

After a while I noticed on the laptop, the song “You raised be up,” by Josh Groben and so they played it for me. I enjoyed hearing it again, but it didn’t do much for them and it did for me, because it was in English. But it’s the message they need to know.

Angelieta with Arantza

Then they started serving food, chicken, mash potatoes and gravy, beans, a large while rolls with a soup and desserts. I started off with the soup that looked really good, it had lots of hominy and other vegetables, plus some meat, which I didn’t, recognized the taste or texture. So I asked Arantza who was sitting next to me, what it was. She said it was beef. I said what part of cow. She then pointed to her stomach and said, “cow stomach.” That explain why I didn’t recognize it. I ate most of my soup, but I saw a couple others who put the meat to the side or left it at the bottom of the bowl.

Ana Gaberiela singing with her brother and her father listening 

After the dinner we continued to sing praise and worship songs and even dance and I mean dance. There were over thirty people there of all ages and half of them were up dancing as they sang until midnight. 

Me sitting with my new family and friends, the man in the lower right is Angelieta's brother and it is his house we are celebrating at and plan to be a home pastor there.

Singing and dancing in worship to our God and Heavenly Father

Then some young people lit firework and firecrackers. After the display and noise everyone went around and hugged and kissed each other and to my surprise no one avoided me even the young children who were still up. Some also had heard that I was a prophet from the night before, but I didn’t mention it that night and they all accepted me. Even writing this I get overwhelmed by the love I felt that night, and many want to have their picture take with me, especially the children. I can’t describe the love and joy I felt in seeing this kind of worship, it reminded me of the Longview days in Sheldon’s meetings. Such healing was flowing over me and I even prophesied over some as we held each other at mid-night. Then we continue to sing and worship until 1:30am and only a few had left. Some of the young people where going to another place and I was invited, but I passed on the offer, yet it was nice of them to ask.

Some fo the ladies at the celerbration

As we drove back, I sat in the back with two you boys, eight and twelve, one on each side of me with our arms around each other. Wow, what a change God had brought into my life. They Lopez invited me to sleep in their house when we got there, but I chose to sleep in my van parked in front of their house while others in the neighborhood still partied. I was an awesome night, and one I will never forget. It is obvious to me that God was getting ready to do something special in this area of Mexico. I feel like I’m sitting on a box of dynamite waiting to be lit. 

The next morning, I went back to where the celebration was, because I had left my laptop there. Just down the street from the house, there was a New Years Day party going on with lots of young people in the early twenties all dressed up and drinking lots of beer. I walked into the crowd to touch more lives for the Kingdom of God. 

These young people need to know God too. They are the future of Mexico and the children of God, who need to know is His love and grace and mercy.

God is in Control

One of the beachs in Guaymas 

Where do I begin? Last week I shared about a meltdown and meeting a new family, and I ended it with a note on car trouble. I felt that things were beginning to look better and there was a new joy in my heart, but then the van’s motor would not start one morning. I had played some worship music the night before for about an hour and I want to charge the battery more, but then it would not start. The battery wasn’t dead; it just would not start up. Now, what do I do. Don’t panic, like the last time. But this was different, this wasn’t my wallet, it was my transportation and my house. I said to myself, “Remember, God’s in control.”

Okay, what do I do God? No answer, but I felt a peace this time. So I walked to Juan’s house and we got his brother, Pablo, to tow my van to his house with my toe strap that was meant to help others. Now I was depending on other’s to help me. Then Aaron checked it out, who had worked on Juan’s truck. I stood and watch as he took the inside of my van apart to get to the motor. Without a computer diagnostic test, it was a process of elimination. After checking the rotor cap and the spark plugs. It was obvious that this van had never had a tune-up in it’s 135,000. So Aaron drove me to town to get new parts and plugs. Then he installed them, but the van still wouldn’t start when he finished his work the next morning. He thought maybe the timing might be off, and the only way to check it would be to take the front of the motor apart to do that. I knew Aaron was good, but I felt we should go to a Chevy dealer. Which was the last thing I wanted to do, because they’re expensive. 

That night as I slept in my van with it all taken apart, I had another dream of Jesus. We were in a building with other people, and He had asked me a question, but I replied, “I left my house, my family, and even my wife. And sometimes I feel you’re not even there.” I was upset and left the building, but Jesus followed me outdoors and caught up with me as I walked down the sidewalk. Then He caught up with me and put his are around my shoulder as we walked and then He began to talk to me—end of dream. Now, that my not sound positive to you, but it was to me. It showed He cared, and He also put His arm around me, because we are friends, and that’s very good thing.

The next morning I still had His peace, as I was being towed to the Guaymas Chevy dealer, twenty miles away with the same 15’ tow strap—that was not fun. When we got there, we explained to the service manger, who was the only one that spoke English, what we had done and that I was a minister of God helping the poor in Mexico. I told him this was my house and that I didn’t have a lot of money. He said if it was the timing, it would cost about 15,000pesco or around $1,250, which I didn’t have. At 400pesco per hour, or about $35, I though I could handle that, if they found the problem quickly. But it was Friday afternoon, and they only worked a half days on Saturday and none on Sunday.  I left my van there, with everything in it including my sword and passport. All I had were the clothes on my back, my laptop and camera. I again had to trust God to protect all my stuff. That night, I slept in Manuel’s room and he had a cot in his parent’s bedroom. I slept very well and had His peace over me. Saturday, I asked Aaron what I owed him for his work, he said, “nothing.” Wow, now that a friend and I asked God to really bless him.  

God sent me to a family of beautiful angels 

Picture of family photo; starting from the left to right;  Ricardo, Angelieta, Gabriello, Luis Angel, and Ana Gabrila

However, I still had a 2 o’clock appointment the next day with the new family in Guaymas. So I paid another friend to take me there and hoped someone would give me a ride back. When I got to the Lopez Lopez house, which is their last name not an error. I was again greeted with hugs. It was so good to be there where their young friend Arantza, who spoke English. She had been a foreign exchange student in Canada for a year, where she learned to speak and read English. We had a chicken dinner at the Lopez Lopez house then they want to take me to Angelita’s brothers house. He wants to be a pastor, and his family wanted to hear me talk also. Wow, I said okay. We arrived had a very nice home, and again I was greeted with hugs from men and women. I spoke for about two hours with them asking me questions. I talked a little about my salvation experience, church life, about God’s love and the next move of the Heavenly Father and His Grace, about church life and a little some on religion. My whole body and face felt hot with the anointing that was on me. They apparently liked what they heard through my new interpreter, Arantza, that Angelita's brother asked me if I would come to their house again the next evening for a New Year's Eve, celebrations. I said, “I love to.”  

In this photo Ana Gabrila is 15 years old and the lower one is current

Angelita husband, Gabriel, who is the strong silent type, plus he speaks very little English, then informed me that he was a automotive instructor and he would like to go with me to the Chevy Dealer to make sure they were fair with me. Juan had called them late Saturday and they had found the problem. It was just a bad cable and they checked a few other things out and it was now running—that was great news to hear.

Ricardo, Ana Gabrila, and Luis Angel

However, the next day when Gabriel and I arrived at the Chevy dealer, the service manger, said the cost was 1,000pesos or $85. They replaced the cable and put back all the parts to the dash compartment over the engine that had been left open. I could not believe it. God again was in complete control, acting on my behalf. I gladly paid the amount, which the manager asked me to give him with no one watching us. Then he put the money in his pocked and gave me no paperwork, which was started the first day. Whatever, really happened, I was glad to pay and drive away from there a happy son of God.

My time in La Manga was becoming strained and awkward. I didn't know what to do. I loved them, but being unable to really communicate limited what I could share. They are a very simple and loving people in that community and I wanted to be more for them than someone whose walks a lot and gives them money, candy or food. Many of the children expressed their love in ways that the parents didn’t. One time I whispered in a little girls ear as I held her, that I loved her and to my surprise, she whispered back in my ears in English, “I love you.” Wow!

I decided to take some time away from Juan’s family, even if I couldn’t go to the United States when I had planned. So, I went to seek God for some answers about my role in La Manga. Another door had opened and it was not what I expected, but it was what I really needed. A family I could talk to and also wanted to hear what I had to say, and understand my heart better being Christians also. And maybe in the future they could help me in La Manga if that was what God wants.

So I told Juan I was leaving for about a week to seek God’s heart and that I would be back again. I didn’t mention I was going to a party that night, because He wouldn’t understand that I had one more appointment before my time alone with God.

                                   (to be continued)

·        

·       Next week— The New Year Eve Celebration. 

One Act of Kindness

A few weeks ago I helped a Spanish man about my age. He had a blow out tire on his van, but was unable to get the tire off the rim, because the lug nut and bolt had gotten bent. He returned the next day with another tire on a rim and some tools. We took turns chipping away at the nut with a hammer and cold chisel. In the process of helping, I hit the back of my hand one time with the hammer and it bled, but I continued working until Juan said it was time to eat breakfast. While we ate the man finally got the nut off and the other tire put back on the van. During this time his wife sat in an old VW bug the whole time, which was about two hours. After eating, I went back over to their van, and the wife got out of the car and for some reason, we tried to communicate. She was very pretty and spoke a little English, so I share with her why I was in La Manga. She went back to her car and got out a Bible that she had probably been reading and showed it to me, to indicate that she too was a Christian. So I went to my van and got my new Spanish/English Bible that I had earlier underlined some verses and shared them with her, starting with Gen. 12, 1-3. However, she got very excited when I shared the verse out of Jeremiah 1, that I was a prophet called to the nations. She then told her husband who was talking to Juan’s father. He briefly acknowledged, but kept on with his conversation. I continued to share more passages to her out of the Gospel of John. However, because of our poor ability to fully communicate, I thought her said she had a sister and a daughter she would like me to meet and they spoke better English. I said I would be glad too. But they were ready to leave, so I blessed her and gave her a hug. Her husband shook my hand and thanked me for helping him and then they left for their house back in Guaymas.

After they left, I wish I had followed them to know where they lived, because phones didn’t really help me and communicating directions to areas where they often have no street sign, made it nearly impossible to find someone when you’re new to the area. I realize I just have to trust God as to whom I see, when and how it all comes about. God has the perfect plan and timing. Even though I told her I would be in La Manga for a while, I could be gone somewhere else at the time, if they came back.

The next day, Juan took me with him to see some other friends about chickens. While they went to see the chickens, I sat in the car parked next to another house where a man was painting his house. He saw me and asked if I was an American. He said he spoke a little English and invited me into his covered porch and gave me a glass of water. We talked more as he painted and then His son came out who spoke better English. He was 25 years old and worked for his father in a computer repair business and satellite service. We talked for over an hour and then the father showed me the inside of his home and even invited me to stay for dinner. I thanked him, but said, “I need to stay with Juan to get back to La Manga.”

Then we went to another house, where I had been before, to see about more chickens again. As they talked, I went to a house across the street, where there were a lot of children playing. The last time I was there, the husband had been painting the outside of their new tract house. The houses are smaller than a two-car garage and each is painted a different color.

The children gathered around me, but they said that they only had one child there. But they were expecting another one. After play with the children some more, I went back to the young husband and gave him all the money I had left on me. That night was Christmas Eve, and we went back to Juan’s for a big family festival. 

The next day more friends and family came to visit Juan’s. They also brought some of their kid’s nice new electric toys, bicycles and two electric remote cars a child could ride in. (From what I saw, Juan’s gift to his family was some new clothes for Manuel and some wood for his father, brother and a friend that he had gather off the beach, because he had caught very little fish that morning.)

Family gathering

As I watch the families for a while, but I felt like I was on the outside again. So I told Juan I was going to La Manga II, to take a walk. I didn’t always tell Juan where I was going, but I did that day. I wanted to put my bare feet in the sand again, something I had not done in a long time. It felt good, the cool sand coming between my toes as I talked to God.

I walked until I came to a house where some people were and talked to a couple men, a father and son. They spoke some English and gave me more history about the storms in this area. I told them what I was doing in La Manga. They said they too help the poor too and that they where Mormons. I told them my name as I deliberately extended my hand and as they told me theirs. After I left them, I told God, He had some work to do with that family.

As I walked back to where I had left my shoes and sock on the beach I saw some people standing around nearby them. It was another family. However, when I reached them I could see a big smile on the wife’s face and she looked familiar, but it wasn’t until the husband pointed to the back of my hand that I made the connection.

They had come be to see me, and then I gave her a big hug. I couldn’t believe it. God made it really happen. They came back and even brought more family and friends. Then the mother introduced me to her daughter, two sons, a two of their girl friends; one was engaged to their son and the other spoke very good English and she helped me with the communication. They were all in their early twenty or a little less and the mother had told them about me. They too, wanted to meet me and came looking for my van. (Wow!) After hugging each other, they said that they had asked for me in LaManga and were told to continue to follow the dirt road toward the ocean. They did, and eventually saw my house parked a few hundred feet from the ocean.

The mother is wearing the sunglasses, son and daughter to the left of her and the two friend on the outside. The one on the far left speaks English ver well.

We all then walked down the beach a little further, with arms around each other like family. Then we stood and talked by some large rocks where the sand stopped, for about an hour. But it was getting colder and it was windy too. I asked them if I could follow them home to know where they lived so we could communicate more. They said, “yes”.

The Lopez's house is just behind my van and the white VW

We stopped by Juan’s house so I could let him know where I was going again. I followed their van for a few miles, but then they pulled over and stopped. Three of the young people got out and said they wanted to ride with me. This was getting better every minute, so they all got in back and sat on my bed as we followed their van back to Guaymas. As I drove, they asked me more about my calling and then I played some worship music for them so I would not have to repeat things when we got to their house. After we got inside their home and sat down, I repeated, “I couldn’t believe this is really happening.”  

It was another miracle, and an awesome evening as we ate hot Quesada’s, cinnamon rolls, drank coffee and talked mostly about God for about another two more hours. One of Lopez’s sons, Ricardo, felt God want him to give me a new Spanish Bible to give to someone, and so he did. He also wants to be a pastor. But, it was getting late and they wanted to see me again, weekly.  So they decided on Sunday at 2 o’clock. It was obvious that God was doing something special, that they needed and so did I.

Looking down at the Lopez's neighborhood

Note: Even though I don’t celebrate Christmas, this was the best gift I’ve received in a long time; the gift of love. I had a lot to thank God for that evening as I walked in the moonlight before going to bed. God is so-o-o-o Good! He keeps taking me to new places, and everything has a ripple effect. Who would of thought that a simple act of kindness could have such profound outcome?

Final note: My van is running again and it didn't cost that much it more on that in my next article, "New family and a new year."