Fourth Week In Mexico

As Jo and I were preparing to leave we were able to share in the celebration of Carolina's 14th birthday. She has turned into such a wonderful and beautiful young lady.

Two new girls were brought to the ranch Tuesday by DIF. Being 12 and 13 years old they walked out of Mocusarit and an abusive family situation. Carolina really reached out to the younger of the two and was telling me on the bus ride back from the bible study in Tesia that she reminded her of herself when she first came to the ranch. Short hair, no smiles, and very afraid. As she held the new girl tight I asked her if she was cold. She said no, she was just giving her a hug.

This "special" birthday candle was a gift from Jason Slusser before he and his family left the ranch for their new home in Flagstaff.

Our dear friends, Paul and Ruth Wallestad....

They are leaving Rancho Maranatha after partnering with Dan and Ana for the last 14 winters. The will truly be missed but never forgotten.

In my last post I told you about dear Cuca. She went to be with the Lord 5 a.m. Monday. They waited for the burial until Dan and Ana returned Tuesday afternoon.

Jo and I have now returned home to Wichita. We will be quite busy for the next 6 weeks. We plan to return to Mexico between Christmas and New Year's Day. We plan to take our new fifth wheel trailer (1990) and we are praying for God to help us with a truck to pull it. We will also be busy working our jobs to earn enough to take off that month again. Thank all of you for your help, suggestions and prayers. We miss all of you when we're in Mexico and all of our friends at the ranch when we're here.

God Bless you all...... Jerry and Jo

Our Third Week In Mexico

Here Jo is teaching a class in Science to two of her star pupils Carolina and Josi.

They also get Math and History from Roshon, Spanish and Geography from Ana, English from Audra and Health from Carla.

The younger girls get Math, Geography, and Science from Marliu and English from Audra.Audra also teaches Lolita and Josi piano.
draft

This is Cuca. We were asked by her family to take her from the hospital in Navajoa to her home in Mocuzarit. She was being sent home to die. This same thing happed to another lady last January when we were here. It really breaks your heart to the elderly in the states, but even more so here in Mexico in the poorer areas.

This is Cuca's home until the Lord takes her home. The Lord continues to lay it on my heart to build a Hospicio (nursing home) here in Mexico. Please pray that He will show me how.

The lake at Mocuzarit is now full! Thanks to the hurricanes. Those of you that have been here for the baptism and swimming would not recognize it. This is the area we were at but the water was about a block lower. Praise God!

Bible Studies and Fellowship

Mike, Mark, Mac, and Tom from South Carolina.

This is one of the benches built by the South Carolina team. Four went to the bible study in Tesia. Four went to the bible study in Rosales and 3 more stayed here at the ranch. Paul and I are in process of extensive testing of the ones here at the ranch. We'll keep you updated with our findings!

The worship group Sunday night in Osobampo with Dan, Dulce, Brian, Roshon, Marilu.

The "gringo" section outside with our interpreter

Jake and Jessica from Tennessee. Frank Sanders from South Carolina. Ruth Wallenstad from Minnesota and of course Jo from Kansas

One of the two classrooms in Osobampo.

A stop for carne asada tacos is standard after the Tuesday night bible study in Tesia. Here is Rogelio, Carolina, Marilu, and Carla.

Spoke To Soon!

In my last posting I was bragging about the old 84 Ford van. Well I guess I spoke to soon! It didn't make it from Las Minitas to Osobampo for church services last Sunday night. After service they told us it made it about halfway and we had to tow it back to the ranch while Brian took the people home in his pickup. This week we filled the battery with water (empty), replaced the starter solonoid, both battery cable ends, new brake pads, packed the wheel bearings, and replaced the strut arm radius bushings on the drivers side. While getting ready for a test drive Wed. the transmission shift linkage broke inside the steering column. There was an old parts van on the ranch that I was able to get a used column from but we didn't have a key for the ignition. After taking the column and old key with tumbler into Navajoa for repair, I finally got it put back together yesterday and Marco came and picked it up today. He asked if we also fixed the broken exhaust pipe. We gave him 100 pecos (10.00) so he could get it welded in Navajoa!

Jo is cooking more and also teaching the older girls science. Everyone seems to be enjoying it. Dan and Ana are enjoying their visit in TN. If you don't get her updates and would like to, let me know and I'll forward them to you. Most of the people on the ranch stayed up last night for a campfire. Jo made Smore's with the girls. I went to bed early! This was a alternative night for their "day of the dead" in Mexico. (Halloween).

Frank Sanders and his team from South Carolina leave Sunday morning to head home. They have been such a blessing to have here. Paul and I have had devotions every morning with them from 7 am to 8 am. The cleaned the melon vines out of the orchard, cut brush, mowed grass, redecked the wood on the trailer, and built 11 benches for two of the bible studies and here at the ranch...One of the two washing machines broke and they also helped Dan purchase a new one. They didn't get to work on the ministry house but they have another team coming back in February. They have asked us to hire some electrical help and some stucco help. Plumbing is also still needed.