Hey there everyone!!!! Sooo sorry that it's been so long since we've updated anything, life has been very busy and well, we don't really like sitting down and just writing something out for the sake of writing but we only like writing when we feel that God has given us something to share. Honestly, if you care so much that you want an monthly update, you've probably called us by now... (Moms...) haha
Anyways life has been crazy!!! We've started a new bible study here at the orphanage on Sunday night for the high school/college aged kids. They used to come to the Monday night groups and then all of a sudden stopped coming. I thought it was because they didn't like it or something but then one of them told us it was because their school schedule got changed and now they don't get back from class until about 8pm and bible study is at 7pm. So we met the need and started a Sunday night study going through the "Johns" 1st, 2nd and 3rd John... so far, not going to well.... haha. Things keep coming up. Either they've got some soccer game, waltz rehearsal for an upcoming quince etc. the time just isn't happening. But as we did last week we'll sit here in our house every Sunday night and wait for them to show up, if not we enjoy a nice quiet evening alone if they do... PRAISE GOD time to open His word. Please pray for this age group. They tend to get neglected in a sense. American missionary groups come down and love doing projects and games with the little kids but it's so much harder with the 16+ ones. They're lost, searching and need the word of God in their life, ESPECIALLY since in the next few years most of them will be getting jobs and moving away from home. And if any of you know Ernesto you know that this age is his passion and he desires to see a youthful nation on fire for God!!!
Secondly there's our life changing adventure with Paul-a.... well her name is actually Lupita but you'll understand in a bit why I call her Paul-a. About 5 days ago Renae received a text from this lady named Lupita saying that there was an 18 year old girl with 2 kids who really needed some help and asked if Renae would be willing to bring her some groceries and spending some time praying with/for her. And on top of that this poor girl has a physically abusive husband that doesn't feed her or the kids but spends all his money on drugs and whores. So... 2 days ago we went up to her house with Lupita. When we drove into this very poor neighborhood I noticed that everyone was staring at us and in particular, glaring at Lupita. Lupita went on to explain to us that she's been evangelizing to this particular neighborhood for the last couple years. She first found this area when her daughter moved their not knowing the darkness she was moving into. (she's since moved back with her mom) The people here hate Lupita because Satan hates her. She has had her bible ripped out of her hand and thrown down a cliff, she's been jumped and beaten up, she's had bricks and rocks thrown at her, she's had threats on her life and that's just what causally spoke about while driving in. And still this woman of ~45 years old returns to the place where her and the gospel have been physically thrown out. So... that's why I call her Paul-a because she is in a sense, a modern day Paul-like evangelist. Anyways... we get to the girl's house and knock on the door and she comes out. Lupita asks "can we come in?" and the girl tells us that it's probably better that we didn't because he husband is home. So we started talking to her and sharing the gospel with her but it was FREEZING so we suggested that we sat in the car where it was nice and warm. When we were all getting in the car her husband came out yelling and cursing at his wife telling her that if she didn't come in the house right now there were going to be problems which in the abusive situation she's in, is never a good thing. He walks up to Ernesto, stares at him and says "if you don't want problems, leave now." He then grabbed his wife by the arm, ripped her away from the car and dragged her back to the house.... After sitting outside and praying for them for a while we decided to write them some notes sharing the gospel through words. Ernesto wrote to the husband and Renae and Lupita wrote to the wife. We bought them about $50 of groceries and hid the notes in the grocery bags for them to find later. When we brought the groceries to their door the husband said "What do you want?" Ernesto simply responded "to bless you, that's it. Please take this food as a provision from God and know that we're praying for you" They did and that was that.
Part of us wishes that we could just simply say "that was that" but we can't. Every night since then and we lay our heads down thinking about that girl. On the one hand we feel so blessed that neither of us are scared that somebody may beat or abuse us soon but on the other hand we can't stop thinking about this girl and her kids. Honestly, we don't know what to do. The way the justice system works here in Mexico is that we can't report this abuse to the authorities, the wife has to. Lupita and her daughter have urged this girl to do so but in all honesty, she's scared. She's afraid that if she reports this man, when he gets out of jail he'll find her and do much worse than just beat her up. We've got no idea what to do and at this point all we can do is pray. We're actively looking for a place to move her but there isn't really such a thing as woman's shelters or rehabs here in Mexico so as of now, we're stuck in between a rock and a hard spot. Please be praying. Remember how blessed you. Not in the cheesy sort of way but actually take time to pray and reflect on how blessed you are. I thought living as a missionary in Mexico was kind of hard, I've got it good.
Lastly. We will be leaving Door of Faith in Aug. of this year. Ernesto will be attending Eternity Bible college for a bible degree. http://www.eternitybiblecollege.com/ and Renae Cal State Northridge for her Spanish degree. Another quick thing we've started that we'd like to make available to all of you is our "monthly financial update." Every month we show our supporters exactly where the money they send goes in order to be 100% transparent. If you have any questions about this entry or would like to receive our financial updates please email Ernesto at "ernesto42189@yahoo.com"
Gracias y Dios les bendiga,
Ranesto
