Making friends in Matamoros, Mexico
Here is one story of this mission trip (posted by Bill Britton)
7 years ago, while prayer walking, we met Guadalupe in Colonia Loma Alta. She lived in a shack along with her 3 children and her husband, Francisco who was quite a bit older than her and not very friendly. When he was around, both Guadalupe and her children were clearly intimidated. That first year we didn’t stay long as we didn’t feel welcome but every year since then, we would stop buy just to say hello and see how they were doing. Last year, one of the members of the team gave Guadalupe a hand made quilt which blessed her. In all the previous years, Francisco would shake our hands but spoke very little, he just seemed to be watching us. Last year, he finally spoke and told David that he had observed that the team enjoyed ministering to the poor which impressed him. A door was opening to Francisco’s heart and the team walked through. Over the years, clearly the Holy Spirit was working on Francisco and the grace extended to him by David and his group broke down walls. As a result, last year a plan was made for the team to help Guadalupe and Francisco when they returned this year. What was clearly a blessing to all of us is that Francisco was so sure of the sincerity of the group that by the time we arrived this year, he had framed out his expanded house (we have no idea where he got the money or how he did the work as we think he’s at least 60 years old). Now, as we work on his house, we are “family” and out of their poverty, Guadalupe has made us lunch each day we’ve been there. Yesterday, while working alongside David, Francisco confessed to David that he didn’t go to church but wanted to assure him that he believed in God. It ,may have taken 7 years to build intimacy but in God’s timing, fruit was born.
