Gonzalez Family Newsletter 2011
A Home for Vanessa
About two weeks ago we (the AIM staff) built a house for a family whose home was almost completely destroyed by bad weather. The name of the mother is Vanessa. She and her husband have 4 kids and are living in a very poor place right now. We call it the “invasion colonia” because it has been literally taken over by people that do not have any other place to go. They end up in the “invasion colonia” and make a small house with whatever they can find. Little by little that land is being divided into small properties and eventually the owner of the land will charge them money for living there. Right now there is no electricity in most of the colonia and running water in just several parts, but this water is not drinking water. It is water to wash clothes, take a bath, and wash the dishes. Most people in Mexico, including the rich, drink purified water. For most of us the house that was built would be the size of a small bedroom, but for Vanessa and her family they were very happy to call this new place home.
God Hands Reach out with Food, Gifts, and Healings
Last month a group of about 20 people came from 3 churches from the Houston area to hand out toys, give away candy and present the message of the Gospel. This event took place at our Missions Training Institute – MTI. After the Gospel message had been presented, the speaker asked if anyone wanted prayer for healing of any sickness. One man that was walking with a cane came forward. One of the American pastors named Nathan prayed for this man and he was able to walk without using his cane! A lady came forward in a wheelchair. She had been in it for one year and was not able to walk. The group that came from Houston prayed for her for some time. Eventually she got up and was walking around the stage. She left walking without her wheelchair! The Lord had healed the man with the cane and this lady in the wheelchair. What a powerful God we serve! He still does miracles!Others from the American group were handing some basic food to people. They gave out about 100 bags of food like beans, flour, etc They also handed out over 300 small bags of chocolate and a toy to each child there. It was a blessing to see the faces of the kids as they got their toys. The next day this group from Houston gave out small boxes of toys and other things to the kids that live around the Gateway. A lady named Tony had requested the names and ages of about 20 kids and she mailed them all to our house. It was so fun to see them open their gifts. They were so happy. This group really was God’s hands and feet to these people.
The Gateway
As most of you know, there has been a lot of violence in the border cities of Mexico and the USA. Due to this, our numbers of participants have gone down. The Gateway will have to run at reduced capacity until the violence in Mexico has been handled. Please continue to pray for this situation for Mexico. It has dramatically affected the lives of so many people. The AIM maintenance and secretarial staff in Mexico were let go from their jobs. The Gateway is not closed. It will simply host less trips this year. Also, places like orphanages are really struggling. Because the number of groups coming to help them has been reduced, they are really short on funds and supplies. For example, at one orphanage close by, Pan De Vida, instead of asking for toys for the kids at Christmas they asked for underwear and socks. The orphans and those running the orphanages really need your prayers as well.
Also, since we do not have as many projects going on this year in Mexico, we are going to oversee mission trips in the south part of Texas. We call this area the Rio Grande Valley. The counties in south Texas are among the poorest in the nation. There are many poor people, people that need a personal relationship with God. Also, I may be staffing mission trips in other parts of the USA and other parts of the Latin world.
Our Finances
At this time we are still needing about $1,000 per month. If you could help us in prayer or financially, that would be great. If you are able to send a one time gift or support us every month you can make a check to Adventures In Missions with Cesar Gonzalez at the bottom left of your check. The mailing address is here or you can mail the first check to us.
