Childrens home is doing well.

Just a few notes and updates on the Children’s Home. It is doing well! All the children seem happy and thankful for all they received at Christmas. There are no emergencies, no dire needs. However we do need your continued prayers and financial support; but then that’s what makes us not have emergencies or dire needs.                       

Showing off the Christmas gifts and Rubi receiving an award at Plabra de Vida, proud of all our kids!
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​As we shared in an earlier newsletter. God had provided a van last year for the children’s home that left us with a 1992 F-150 truck (wore slap dab out) and a Caravan Luis had purchased a couple years ago. Well when I arrived at the children’s home in January, the Caravan was not there; Luis took me to the mechanic’s shop (a real shade tree kind of shop) where it sat out in the dirt, dust and rain with one head off and water in the cylinders. I had to just shut my mouth and walk away. Well I had been looking for crew cab truck that could be used as a multipurpose vehicle, so that when we needed a truck we’d have one. Something that we could take smaller groups of kids in and for local running around.  In looking around I had found nothing that I figured we could afford and then pay $ 2000.00 - $ 2500.00 to import into Mexico.
While talking with Bobby Crow a long time missionary and Pastor of Palbra de Vida church, he remembered that another long time missionary, Ercel Lewis, had a crew cab, 2008 Texas Edition Silverado. I went to look at it thinking that he’d want too much. Kelly Book showed retail at $10,000.00 – 11,000.00, that was toooooooooooooooooo much. However we made a deal for $8000.00 and it had been already imported and had Mexican plates. While it is not pristine it does look nice, the scratches and dents are not overwhelming and mechanically it seems in great shape with only 100,000 miles on it. Mechanically Pastor Ercel had taken good care of it. So the Children’s Home now has the vehicles it needs. Thank you God! We will be putting Children’s Home decals on the truck this week or as soon as possible. 

​We will be needing tires for both vehicles and have to pay insurance on the new truck. That will be about $2000 for everything. 

​Since our last update we completed the partitions in the school bathroom. A great big thanks to Heart of Forgiveness Ministry and Jolene McCord for providing the funds to complete the project. 

Our old microwave gave up the ghost. In Mexico I could only find 1 cu. Ft. ones which in reality were too small for the children’s home, I had looked at three places for a 2 cu. ft. microwave and found none. I mentioned this to my son, Jim Slack and when I got home he presented me with this 2 cu. ft. microwave. Thanks to Carla Mansee for taking it back in. Lucy was one happy camper.
 
While the children’s home is our priority it is not our only calling! As most of you know the Medical Mission was what we did in Mexico for about 15 years prior to the children’s home. I just must share what God is doing in Xico. LaVerne, Carla, Raul, Pastor Tavita and I went to visit the church in Xico that we had helped to start during the Medical mission trips. It has had the same pastor for the last 7 years.
 Pastors Juan and Sonia have done a great job.  I just wanted to encourage them and see what God was doing there. They have a solid hundred members and are very evangelistic minded.
 

​SME supporters purchased the land for this church and provided them with a tent and chairs that seated 150 to 200 and was up on this land until they got the building where they could use it.  You again have helped them. SME left them with enough monies to install window doors and brick to complete this portion of the church. What you see is ½ of what the building size will be.  Add Xico to you prayer list, they are impacting their area for Jesus! When they found out we were coming they put on a very nice meal for us. They are/were so gracious to us. It is and is going to be an even greater lighthouse for the Gospel.   Pastor Lerado was wanting to repair the tent we had given them to start evangelizing in surrounding area. So I took it to Palbra de Vida to be repaired and was told that is was past repair and needed to be replaced. Pray about this, I think that they would put it to good use. A new tent would be between $2000 and $2500. Pastor Crow is looking to see what might be available.  
 
  As you might suspect from my infrequent newsletters, that writing a newsletter is my most “un-liked” part of being a missionary, however I realize that it is my responsibility to keep you updated. “you” are the most important part of the ministry. Without you, we could not do anything like we can do together. I remember as a mission director in my earlier years of how infrequently I heard from missionaries on the field and thought “they better write or I’ll/we’ll just quite giving to them” however wiser voice’s prevailed and that did not happen.  Now I know how they felt.
 
  I personally thank each person that has given a penny through SME ministries. Whether it was for the children’s home, Pastor Tavita, Dr. Reyna, or monies that were un-designated, we were able to share with other ministries like Casa de Dios Sus Manos Extendidas in Xico.  Only eternity will reveal the lives it has and will affect for Christ. Which is our purpose, our drive and our passion!  Not by just preaching but by “doing”.  In the following scriptures God shares some truth’s that we should never forget.  Prov 22:9 “A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor. And in Prov 19:17 “He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done.” NIV This is not why we give, we give because we realize all that Christ has done for us! It’s just something God said he wants us to do as his obedient children.
 
Thank you for praying & supporting the Children’s Home, Dr. Reyna, Pastor Tavita, and all the people you have allowed us to help spiritually and physically.  LaVerne and I thank God for you and your compassion for the people of Mexico.