Long Overdue Update!

Sorry for the delay in this long overdue post. Since Jo and I returned from Mexico we have been busy serving with Samaritan's Purse and getting ready to go back to Rancho Maranatha this fall.

In April the town of Mena Arkansas was hit with a EF 3 tornado and Jo and I were asked to help with the Samaritan's Purse disaster response. We were in Mena for about 2 weeks where Jo answered the phone and took requests from home owners and I contacted home owners to make assessments of damage for tree removal and temporary tarping of roofs. This was a wonderful time for both of us. We got to work with the SP staff and a great bunch of volunteers. In this town of 5,000, 1,000 of the home were damaged and of that 1,000, 300 of those were completely destroyed. We both pray that God continues to allow us to serve with Samaritan's Purse and share the good news.

When we returned to Wichita we went to Illinois to pick up our 2003 Jayco Designer fifth wheel that will soon become our full time home.

We spent several weeks painting and doing all those little repairs that I had been putting off in order to put our home on the market. That was done 3-4 weeks ago and although it has been "shown" several time we have not yet received an offer. Jo (mostly) has been trying real hard to down size and get rid of lots of stuff we have accumulated over the years and won't have room for in the RV.

A few weeks ago we had a major hail storm here in Wichita and at the church every car in the parking lot (Wed. night service) was damaged, but the RV only suffered a few broken vent covers. Thank you Lord!

I will be retiring and off staff at the church the first of August. We have started to visit some of our sister churches in the area to renew friendships and share about what has been happening at Rancho Maranatha in Mexico. Our plans are to return to Mexico this October and stay until May of next year with maybe a short visit back to Kansas around Christmas. The girls have not been returned to the ranch and Daniel is still in prison in Obregon. There is a great brother and sister in the Lord, Paul and Pam Cooper, serving at the ranch but our hearts long to join them there.

We really need for the house to sell for this to happen so please continue to pray that God brings us that one buyer we need.

If you would like any more information about Samaritan's Purse, Rancho Maranatha or what is happening with Daniel and the girls at the ranch, please let us know.

God Bless all of you.

Jerry and Jo

Heading Back to Kansas

Well, this is our last week here at the Ranch and we will be heading back to Kansas on Saturday. I have mixed emotions about leaving. While we will be happy to see our family & friends in Kansas we have come to think of the Ranch as our second "home". The people here have become very much our family, not just in the sense of being our brothers & sisters in the Lord but as people we love very much.

I have been going for daily walks with LaLa, Ana's mother, every morning. Since she doesn't speak any English it has been a great opportunity to practice my Spanish. She recites different verses from Psalms and I repeat them back to her. One of her favorites I have memorized in Spanish. "Ensenanos de tal modo a contar nuestros dias, que traigamos al corazon sabiduria" Salmos 90:12 I pray this for all of my brothers & sisters!!!
The weather has been really great, unlike the weather in Kansas, around 70-75 in the daytime and about 50 at night. Although today has been rather cool its still better than Kansas. It has also been quite a challenge, although fun, teaching the younger girls English since Lupita & Trini speak only a few words of English. The girls are all such sweethearts although they can be trying sometimes as all children can. It is a joy to see the lovely young women Josie & Carolina are growing into. They are great to help with the younger girls & Roshon's 2 little ones. Roshon's children are both precious but especially Obed. He is 9 months old & such a happy baby, always smiling and although I'm sure he has his moments I've never seen him cross.

Dan, Ana & Marilu left for Monterrey on Monday to finish the adoption proceedings of Marilu. They have to get her new birth certificate & should be back on Thursday. We haven't been able to spend to much time with them so will be glad to see them get back before we leave.

Carla, all the girls & I went into Navajoa on Thursday to the house of the grandmother of Elias (the little boy the Conners adopted). We took some fruit, cookies for the kids and shampoo & soap to bathe the kids. There are six children living at her house, all under the age of 7. The youngest one is about 17 months old. Their living conditions are less than desirable so we cleaned, washed their dishes, bathed all the children & just tried to show His love for them. What a blessing to be able to do this. The grandmother said they were going to start attending the Sunday morning service. lease keep them in your prayers that this will happen.

I have just finished reading "What the World is Coming To" by Pastor Chuck Smith (Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa for those of you not familiar with him). The book is a commentary on the Book of Revelation. While I was reading his comments on the "Great White Throne Judgement" Rev 20:11-13 it made me think of our conversations with many of our family members who asked us why we don't just send a check to the Ranch. Since we feel called by God to serve in Mexico we would not be in His will if we "sent a check". I recall Jesus' words from the Book of Matthew "Then the King will say to those on His right hand. 'Come you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. for I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in..... I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'Mt 25:34-40 I heartily recommend this book to believers as well as non-believers. We need to be sure we understand the consequences of not accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord & Saviour.
We miss & thank all of you for your prayers of support and pray God's Blessings to you.
In Him, Jerry & Jo

Fellowship with GOD

Just like back in the states, some Sunday's at church, attendance is up. People you haven't seen in a while, some maybe sick, some maybe had to work, some traveling. Usually there is an "ebb and flow" (like the tides), but every once in a while it seems like everyone is there on the same day. Maybe even some who have moved away, back for a visit. It's so great to see old friends and family again. Something just "clicks".

Well it was that way this last Sunday morning in Tesia and even more so Sunday night in Osobampo. People that Jo and I had not seen since we have been here in Mexico this last three weeks. We've wondered about them, and even asked about some of them from time to time. There's such a gladness in our hearts when we see them and we know that everything is OK. The buses and vans were there from Jusibampo, Mocuzarit, and Las Minitas as well as the local people from Osobampo. And the vans and buses were packed. When I mentioned this to Dan he said that there were still some missing that he noticed.

I got to thinking about how this is like when we're not fellow shipping with GOD. HE created us for that purpose. HE desires to fellowship with us, loves us, cares for us. HE has concern for us when we've gotten to busy to spend time with HIM. In devotions, in HIS Word, in prayer, and in church. I know HIS heart is gladdened when we return to HIM, just as mine did. The only difference is that HE doesn't wonder where we are or what we're up to, HE knows. Whatever it is that has taken us out of fellowship with HIM is not good! It's so easy to be distracted. The world has so many "things" to call us and tempt us. Occupy our time little by little. May we all cling tighter to HIM.

Dan and Ana got back this last Saturday night. It was great to have them back and everything was back on schedule Sunday. They have been running the ranch here for so long that they make everything look easy. Decisions, moment by moment!

It's hard to believe but Jo and I have only about a week and a half left here at the ranch. It seems like we just got here. We plan to leave on Saturday the first of February making a few stops along the way which should take about 10 days to get home. We love you all and miss you. Please continue to pray for us.

Jerry and Jo

BACK TO SCHOOL & OTHER THINGS

Three weeks from home & two weeks here at the ranch & we are so blessed by all we come in contact with. The Slushers were here for a few days on their way back to the states & we enjoyed visiting with them. They had been in Culiacan, a town south of here, working with a group out of southern CA providing the gospel to indignant workers from the Mexico City area. We went into Alamos with them Friday night to have dinner at a restaurant run by Ana's sister-in-law. It was an enjoyable time seeing old friends & sharing what God was doing in their lives.

We have settled into a routine here, more or less, in the last week. Jerry has been working on things around the ranch including the diesel bus used to transport people to bible studies in Tesia & Rosales. Since the Conners(the teachers from the states) have gone back to their home in Florida, the responsibilities for teaching the girls on the ranch are being shouldered by Ana, Roshon, Marilu & Carla. I am planning to teach English classes while we are here & when we return in the fall I hope to add a Science class to the schedule. So I will be looking for primary grade reading books & science books for intermediate grades. The girls are very eager to learn English, especially the new younger ones as their English language skills are very meager. Vanessa & Maura do very well with English but Trini & Lupita know only a few words. Teaching them will certainly try my Spanish language skills but will definitely be good for me.

Trini & Lupita both come from homes where they were abused & beaten by their fathers. They are cousins & both of them are 12 years old. In Lupita's situation her mother had died and her father remarried. Her step-mother would tell her dad stories regarding things she had supposedly done (although they were not always true) and he would beat her for them. Trini had a mother but she had psychological problems & beat Lupita quite regularly. Both girls seem to be adjusting to life here at the ranch & are very much in need of the loving & caring christian environment they have here.
It has been such a pleasure to be here helping out while Dan & Ana are gone to the states. God has truly blessed us with this opportunity to serve Him. I continue to be amazed at the dedication of the believers here. Most of them have to depend on others for transportation, either the vans from the ranch, walking, riding their bicycles or trying to catch a ride with a neighbor who is going by where ever the teaching is being held. Those who have cars can't always afford the price of gas yet they somehow find a way to get to the teaching. We feel truly blessed to be of service to them as well as humbled by how easy we have it in the states and yet so many of us find excuses not to go to church. I do lunch for the girls on Monday & Friday and dinner on Thursday so I will close for now since it is almost 12 noon & I need to start lunch.
May God bless you all & thank you so much for your prayers & support.
In Him,
Jerry & Jo

Getting Settled In

Hi to everyone. Sorry to be so late in updating. Jo and I have been busy resting up and settling in, but not that busy. Our trip south with the fifth wheel was great even though we didn't have water until we got out of the "freeze zone". Our travel days were a little shorter and at the end we just climbed into the rv for the night. One night was a truck stop parking lot and another was at a Wal-Mart. We finally stayed in a RV park when we were visiting our friends Paul and Ruth in Casa Grande AZ.. It was great to see them again and have a little warmer weather.

We arrived at the ranch New Years day and Dan and Ana left the next morning for the Missions Conf. in California. We joked about them leaving whenever Jo and I show up, but it's a blessing for us to lift up their hands, even if for only a short time. May they have a blessed time at the conference and get some well deserved rest.

Below are a couple of pictures of the great set-up we have to park our trailer in. It was built by Paul and Ruth for their motor home. It's great to be in the shade ( 70's here you know), plus the bug screen helps a great deal. We also have a storage shed out back to store extra stuff and make a little moving around room in the RV. You can see Jo in the laundry corner so you can't avoid some jobs, even down here.....

I"ll close for now, but Jo will post again in a few days with some pictures and stories about a couple of new girls here at the ranch. We miss and love you all. We thank God for allowing us to serve Him here in Mexico and we also thank each and everyone of you back home for your prayers and support.....God Bless you all...Jerry and Jo

Our Return to Mexico

Hi to everyone and Merry Chirstmas. Well here's our rig. God has provided us with a 1990 Road Ranger and a 2001 GMC pickup. I haven't updated since we got home in mid-November but we've been busy getting the trailer and truck road worthy. They are not perfect by any means but we think they will be great. We're looking forward to this next trip. We leave for Mexico again this next Sunday the 28th and plan on being at the ranch by Jan. 2nd after stopping in AZ. and visiting our dear friends Paul and Ruth. It is such an adventure following God wherever He leads us.

Last Sunday at church I shared with everyone that Jo and I feel that God is leading us to a more full time ministry in Mexico. Therefore, when we return from Mexico in February we will be putting our house on the market. When it sells our plan is to move full time into a little larger trailer, serving at the ranch in Mexico from approx. Sept. to May. During the summer we will return to Kansas and our friends and family, and continue to serve with Samaritan's Purse in disaster relief efforts. We also would like to travel and share with churches about what God is doing in Mexico at Rancho Maranatha.

Many people have shared their desire to help support us in our ministry in Mexico and the US. This support will help out so much! We will be able to provide most of our personal support, but we still need ministry funds. Money that is available to us for food, school supplies, auto repairs, building repairs, and of course help for hardship cases...

Please continue to pray for Jo and I that we continue to be obedient to His call upon our lives, He provide for our needs, and keep us healthy....God Bless, Jerry and Jo.

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