Our Second Week In Mexico

Well Jo and I are more into the routine here at the ranch now. She has been helping with more of the cooking for the girls and just helping in general. I've tried to work on a couple of the autos but haven't been able to fix much. Beyond my expertise. Also Friday night I came down with something and spent all of Sat. in our room. We're staying in a room in Dan and Ana's and are sharing their kitchen and living room. This morning was church in Rosales and it was great to see many of our old /new friends. Right now Dan has several of the vans or buses located in the smaller villages with a designated driver. Works great with the right, careful & responsible driver..It makes it so much easier for the people to get to church and is a lot less driving needed here from the ranch. Tonight is church in Osibampo and there will be several vans or buses there as well. Some of the same ones in fact.. The old red and gray ford van we donated last year is in Las Minitas which is about 30 kilometers past Osibampo. Not very far, but some of the roughest roads especially now since the flooding took out some of the road and the low water bridges are running water. That means they have to go out-around and spend a couple of extra hours on the road. Boy, and we think it's rough to drive across Wichita.

Dan and Ana will get on a bus tonight after church and ride all night to Tucson. Then about 10:30 am Monday they fly to Nashville to visit Bryan and Rochelle and the twins for about a week. It's funny because Bryan is here now visiting with the youth pastor from his church about bringing a team down this spring. He leaves Monday morn. on the bus as well.

Paul and Ruth have been coming to the ranch for the last 14 winters and have been a huge help to Dan and Ana. This will be their last year. Paul has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and they are leaving sometime in early Dec. Ron and Audra has been here with their 3 boys for the past 2 years and they are leaving this Dec. also. Joel and Stephanie Connors (the school teachers) have decided not to return this year as well. "The laborers are few". Ana, Audra, and Marilu have been doing the schooling and now Jo is going to help with English and Science.

Ana's family came into town yesterday for a family wedding and brought lots of clothes, etc. for the people in Alamos effected by the flooding. I haven't been to Alamos lately but I believe things are progressing well. The government hired anyone wanting to work for minimum wage. About $8.00 per day.

Please continue to pray for Jo and I that we stay willing and flexible to be used by God wherever and however HE chooses.

God Bless you all. Jerry and Jo

In the first picture you can see the water line and the debris washed up against the home.

The second shows workers shoveling debris and dirt about three feet deep around the tree...

The river is back in it's orginal bank, although flowing more than normal.....

October 17th Update

Hi to everyone back home....Jo and I arrived at the ranch safe and sound Wed. night as planned. We're both pretty tired but I think Jo is doing better than I am.....We spent most of Thursday unpacking and trying to rest...It's still very hot here and as those of you that have been here know it's great to get that rest...I finally made it into town to see the results of the flash flooding Alamos had Sat. night. Only part of the town was flooded, but the part that did got it pretty bad...Water was about 3 to 4 feet up in the houses and it went down quickly leaving 2 to 3 feet of mud inside and 4 feet of mud outside with so many sticks and brush that you can't stick a shovel in it...The Govenor and President of Mexico was here and has sent in equip. and hired labor to help the town..I went in to help but only worked about 30 min. and was exhausted..Just can't seem to get up strength...

There is an anual fellowship day here at the ranch this Sunday..Frank Sanders and his team of 5 are doing most of the work as well as cooking lunch for everyone....I'm guessing there will be about 200 here...They are from South Carolina and have been coming twice a year for several years...They leave next Tues.....

It's great to be here at the ranch but Jo and I are really looking forward to using that fifth wheel trailer next trip....That's all for now-Jo told me to take a nap and rest so I better listen to her...God Bless you all............Jerry and Jo

Why a blog, anyway?

As Jo and I are making plans to leave for Mexico next week via a few days in California, we wanted to have a way of easily communicating with our friends, family, brothers and sisters. That is the purpose of this blog....I pray that it works! Please check it often, add it to your lists and please pray for us and the prayer requests to be listed in the future..Thank You and God Bless you all.....Jerry