This edition of our eNewsletter is going to be just a bit long … thank you for patience and interest in reading it!

Mexico Medical Missions Trip Diary

Thursday, March 1st: We left our home in Louisville at 5 a.m. (EDT) for the 12 hour drive to Longview, TX – our first stopping point. The drive was pretty non-eventful except for the wind and rain between Louisville and Memphis. We arrived in Longview about 7 pm (CDT). Erika was delivered to the home of Bob and Carolyn Petty. Phyllis and Jim stayed with Paul and Evelyn Hanson.

Friday, March 2nd: We spent the day to visiting with our friends at Missionary TECH Team, having lunch with Tom and Pat Brewington (from TECH) and visiting our neighbors on Mahlow Drive. After another great meal, this time at the Petty’s, we called our day to a close.

Saturday, March 3rd: We arose early to get on the road to make the final 10 hour drive from Longview to Eagle Pass. Our goal was to be there between 4pm and 5pm. We needed to make our connection at 5pm with Crossroads’ staff, who would take us across the border. We headed out after a full breakfast and being loaded with lunch supplies provided by the Hanson’s. We arrived in Eagle Pass on schedule. After locating Crossroads’ staff, we successfully crossed the border and were delivered to Nueva Creacion Church/Juan Sebastian Bach School. The church/school would be our lodging location for the next week. We slept in non-used classrooms and the church sanctuary. Our first night was “unseasonably cold” due to a front that had come through. For those of us who didn’t bring sleeping bags or mattresses for our cots, IT WAS VERY COLD! (would we be talking about Jim?)

Sunday, March 4th: Two activities were scheduled for the day. The first was worship with Nueva Creacion Church. The worship service was completely in Spanish and very energetic. After worship in song, and some announcements our team was excused from the service to have lunch and setup for the Clinic. Our second activity was a Medical Clinic held specially for the church. This clinic served two purposes; first to help us have a ‘dry-run’ to fine tune the responsibilities we would have in the Clinics we would be hosting for the week. Secondly this clinic provided medical services to the church family for those who desired them. The clinic lasted from 1pm till about 4pm where we served about fifty “patients”.

Each evening our meals were prepared by a team of Mexican nationals (ladies), who are experts in preparing Mexican dishes. Their meals were absolutely fabulous – muy delicioso! Our day was rounded out with a period of worship and sharing in the church sanctuary.

Monday, March 5th: The day began at 6:00 a.m. Our lodging in the school necessitated an early departure each day in the Crossroads bus to Piedra Angular. Piedra Angular is a 40 house community that is under development by CrossRoads Missions. This is where CrossRoads first began their ministry and work in Mexico. Houses are constructed by mission teams and are made available to Believers. Our goal is to create a residential community of Believers that can impact the community around them for the cause of Christ. At Piedra Angular we had breakfast. Each morning breakfast was prepared by some of those participating in the mission trip. A time of worship in song and personal devotion followed breakfast. We then loaded the ‘Fun Bus’ with medicine, supplies and equipment needed for the days’ Clinics. The ‘Fun Bus’ is a school bus that has been modified to look somewhat like a 50’s diner inside. Basketball goals can be attached to the exterior. One side of the exterior also has a large awning to provide outside shade. The Fun Bus is used to provide activities and ministry to children throughout the year – and was used this week specifically while parents were in line or seeing doctors. Erika spent most of her time on the Fun Bus working with children during the week. After loading the Fun Bus with materials and the people bus with our team, we headed out to our first community. We would be working with Iglesia Vida Nueva (New Life Church) in a community neighborhood of Piedras Negras.

We saw more than 100 patients today with needs ranging from seizures to vitamins for pregnancy. Jim worked in the pharmacy (farmacia) and Phyllis worked with Erika on the Fun Bus. The surrounding community was very poor. Houses were often seen with the doors and windows covered with cloth rather than having actual doors and windows which could be opened and closed. All roads not used as main thoroughfares, were basically dirt and rock. Dogs were roaming ‘wild’ everywhere. The people were very gracious, very appreciative, and many were very very needy. Folks would stand in line in the sun for hours waiting their turn at the in-take table. At the end of the day we were very tired, but very satisfied as we were confident we had made a difference in the community and had introduced them to Iglesia Vida Nueva! We returned to the school/church compound to clean up and rest a few minutes before closing our day with another wonderful dinner and time of worship. Some of us spent another cold night on the cot, but it didn’t prevent us from grabbing needed hours of sleep.

Tuesday, March 6th: Today our team headed down to a town about 30 minutes south of Piedras Negras named Nava. In the morning Jim and Phyllis stayed behind to work on setting up a WiFi connection for the staff house at Piedra Angular. Around lunch time the setup was complete, so off to Nava we went. Enroute we stopped for a quick lunch at the Sorianna (kind of like a Walmart but with a functional fast-food area). We arrived in Nava about 1:30 pm where the Clinic was fully engaged. More than 200 people came through the Clinic today. The Clinic was setup in the town municipal square. During the afternoon Jim was chatting with Gustavo. Gustavo is a Mexican national and serves as a CrossRoads staff member. He often intervenes for us with Mexican officials when we cannot properly communicate, or where we don’t understand the laws or customs. While Jim and Gustavo where talking, a mother brought her teenage daughter over and began to speak, in Spanish, with Gustavo. Gustavo turned to Jim and said “the daughter wishes to accept Christ”. Gustavo then began to share the Gospel with the daughter and led her in prayer to accept Jesus. The mother, crying the whole time, then said “I wish to accept Christ also”. Gustavo then led the mother to Christ. PTL – not only have we seen fruit in introducing the church to communities, but we have also seen new lives being born!

Wednesday, March 7th: Today we will be providing a Clinic and health fair for grades pre-K through 7 at the school where we have been staying. In Mexico a 6th grade education is required by law; however, it is not enforced or checked. Most individuals living within the city limits complete the 9th grade. On the outskirts of the city and in the more rural areas, the average education is 4th to 6th grade. Our team setup the health fair in the church sanctuary. Each grade came through one at a time. The pictures in our photo gallery of children in red school uniforms are from the day’s activity.

Thursday, March 8th: Jim spent the first half of today attempting to resolve some issues on the school administrator’s computer. It’s apparently been non-operational for several months. Unfortunately, the computer is on the verge of not being able to be repaired. At noon Jim joined the team holding another clinic in another neighborhood of Piedras Negras. Phyllis worked in the pharmacy counting and packaging vitamins while Erika continued her children’s ministry in the Fun Bus. Upon arrival Jim pitched in to help in the pharmacy. Most of the people visiting the clinic were women and children. It was amazing to see people walking from all directions to come to the Clinic. Some folks walked as far as five miles on dirt paths and rocky roads to get help. An official of the local government shared with Jim, through an interpreter, her appreciation for us being there. She also shared that the mayor wished to express his deep appreciation for our reaching out to the community. She asked why we were doing what we were doing. Jim answered that “we love God, and the Father teaches us to love His people. Our work here through the Clinic is one of the ways in which we can express the love of God to others”. The interpreter shared this information and the woman responded with speaking blessings and appreciation to all of our team.

Friday, March 9th: We left for the border at 7:15 a.m. and successfully crossed with few questions by the border patrol. By 9 a.m. we were back on the road on the first leg of our return trip to Louisville. After a 10 hour drive we were back to Longview, TX.

We had the pleasure of spending Saturday and Sunday in Longview. We got to see friends and worship with our church there, Trinity Baptist. Monday we headed back to Louisville departing by 8:30 am. We arrived home safely that evening at 10 pm…very tired, but very satisfied!

Closing

During our time in Mexico a man came up to us, and in very broken English said “thank you for coming to bless my people”. I couldn’t help but think that the thanks we just received really belonged to you who made it possible for us to go! So we “forward” to you this man’s appreciation for your prayers, your financial help and for those extra efforts you took to make what we do possible.

We’d like to also convey special thanks to our supporters and our prayer team, to Bob and Carolyn Petty for opening their home and providing meals, to Paul and Evelyn Hanson for opening their home and for providing meals and those special extras like “fresh eggs” and “Texas peaches” to take home, to Mary Hochmuth, Mark and Bobbie Saunders, Paul and Evelyn Hanson and Bubba Barnes for help with purchasing gasoline for our drive to and from Mexico, to Jim and Sue Boyd for opening their home and providing meals and to our church families, Faith Bible Church, Trinity Baptist Church and Jeffersontown Bible Church for your extra prayer support and encouragement!

Other Updates

Earlier this year we shared that we will be having a Help Build Hope weekend event in the Cincinnati area. Actually, there are now two events scheduled. We will be at the event being held in the Beechmont area April 27 and 28. Please come out and check up on us and also check out first-hand what a Help Build Hope event looks like. Drop us an email or phone for location and time!

Check out the photos for the mission trip in our photo gallery by following this link!

Serving With You Because of Him,
Jim and Phyllis

Ministry Support : CrossRoads Missions is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)3 organization; as such your contribution may be tax deductible. Contributions may be mailed directly to CrossRoads Missions, 4112 Old Routt Rd., Louisville, KY, 40299 to the attention of “Jim and Phyllis Null Ministry”. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20