August 2010 Newsletter
Gonzalez Family
Rio Grande Valley Mission Project
We live in the south most part of Texas. This area is called the Rio Grande Valley. The county that we live in is pretty poor, but the county to the west of us (Willacy Country) is the 3rd poorest country in the USA. There is a city called Raymondville. It was here and in Harlingen that I lead a mission trip of about 20 participants. We worked with a Spanish speaking church called Valley International Christian Center of Raymondville with Pastor Manuel Castro.
On this trip we had a youth group from Austin and two families from the Houston area. Katie (my Daughter) joined me with two others (Xan and JR) as staff for this trip. We visited a retirement center, did Vacation Bible School, talked and prayed with people door to door, painted the exterior of a house and visited a soup kitchen called Loaves and Fishes.
We actually ate dinner at Loaves and Fishes each night and spread around at different tables to talk with the people there. During the week we spoke with many people and heard a number of stories from some that have a very hard life. One of these people was a lady named June. She was there with her two daughters and her boyfriend. After hearing her story, Katie asked if she could pray for her and she said yes. As Katie prayed for June, Katie started to cry. She really felt the pain that June was going through.
A mother and daughter prayed to accept the Lord as Savior at Loaves and Fishes!!!
I was touched by our visit to the retirement center. Many of the people there where in some sort of wheel chair. We played the guitar and sang for them. You could see that most of them wanted to sing and clap but due to their physical condition could not. Some smiled, some tapped their feet and some moved their lips. One day we took 6 puppies up there to bless the people. They loved them and told us stories of animals that they used to have. Seeing these dear people was a reminder to me that some day I might be in a wheel chair and in a retirement home.
On Friday, July 16 the mission trip in south Texas was over. The next day, Saturday, I got on a plane and flew to Houston and then to Puerto Rico for another mission trip. This time Jeff Michelle was the project leader and I was his staff. We had about 50 participants on this trip. Most of them were from South Carolina and 9 were from Pennsylvania.
For me personally the visit to the children’s hospital was the most impactful ministry that I did on this mission trip. The lady that hosted our visit let us see just about all the children in the hospital – room by room. Each room had 1-3 patients. We saw the kids that were in the hospital for a variety of things. We saw the children on the Cancer floor and we saw the children who had just had surgery. In each room we shared the Gospel with the children through a translator using a bracelet with several colors – each having a different meaning of the Gospel of Jesus.
On mission trips we usually have ham and cheese or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. But on this trip, the church cooked something for us at every lunch time. What a blessing.
We visited a sports center that had a track and field, a volleyball court and a basketball court. While some of the participants played, others shared the Gospel with the people sitting on the bleachers.
JFBC Men’s Trip
The men from Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia come down to Mexico every fall. On September 22 they will be coming down with about 40 men and will build 3 small houses for three poor families.
Our Financial Support
We want to say a big THANK YOU to those of you who have sent in financial gifts to us these last few weeks. We still need over $1,000 per month. Please pray for some new supporters.
Cesar Gonzalez
Adventures In Missions Mexico staff
cell – (956) 357-3430
