Geppeto's Workshop in Mexico...Building Dreams

Luis Millan's church in the community of Cerro Colorado III just finished their vacation Bible school. Here are some pictures of the kids who attended. Around 200 kids came everyday for a whole week!

This seven year-old is the bass player. Luis has been his teacher and Isai has been working hard. He can't even touch the ground yet and still he has a great future as a musician.

Here is the little drummer praying before he starts to play. He is eight years-old and his name is David.

This is Isaac and he is 10 yeard-old. He is the worship leader.

Hi, this is Lydia Lozano your Amor reporter giving you the latest news about the goodness of God in Mexico.

I've been feeling like that lately...though I really like it!

One thing I know that many of us here at Amor Ministries are actively involved in our churches and other ministries. For example, I have a puppet ministry and Sunday School program at a child abuse center. This facility takes in children temporarily due to abuse, neglect or abandonment. Then they are placed in foster care. We bring joy and the love of God to countless of kids and I have been doing this by the grace of God for over 5 years! We have a Bible program that gives a child in his own language a Bible to keep as their very own. It has been a blessing each time we have gone.

Another person who has been very active in his church is our Mexican Field Representative, Luis Millan. Luis Millan is our Mexican staff person who ensures that the houses are verified, materials are on the ground and that if their is any emergencies he works hard to get make the necessary connections.

His church in the community Cerro Colorado III is very active in missions. They currently have a mission church in the community of Terrazas del Valle and also make a yearly trip to an indian reservation close to the town of San Quintin, Baja California Norte. It's about 7 hours from Tijuana by car.

This is the name of the church. "Philadephia Church" for the gret love they have for one another.

Here is my conversation with Luis about his trip.

Lydia:Luis, how long have you been working at Amor Ministries?

Luis: I have been working at Amor Ministries for about 4 years now.

Lydia: What is the name of your church? What's your pastor's name? How many years have you been an active member of the church?

Luis: My church's name is Iglesia Centro de Fe y de Amor and my pastor's name if Pastor Martin Gomez. I have been steadily working in the church for about 8 years.

Lydia: Tell me a little bit about your trip with your church to the Indian reservation and tell me how God moved among the Triki tribe.

Luis: Every year my church gathers things to take to this church. The tribe we visit is actually the Triqui tribe and we also minister to the Mixteco tribe. Amor Ministries has been able to help by providing clothing, first aid kits and blankets to this very poor community. The men are rarely seen because most of their professions is either working on farms or fishing in the oceans. My pastor has a great heart for these forgotten people. It is said that the indigenous here in Mexico is like a people without a country they rarely have a voice in government affairs. The people here are very quiet and friendly. Even though we all speak Spanish we need an interpreter because they all speak the Triqui language.

Lydia: Wow, that is so awesome! I'm glad that Amor could help you take donations to these wonderful people.

Luis: Everyone was so happy to receive blankets (from the Wrap Them in Love organization), first aid kits (from the Harborside church of Florida), and clothing (various groups that come on trips).

Lydia: Other than the donations what else did your church do?

Luis: We had a huge outdoor service for all the people in the community. We had to have it outdoors because the church is too small for us to all fit in! Then my pastor helped the pastor of the Philadephia church perform a baptismal celebration.

Lydia: That's great! How many people were baptised?

Luis: Three young people.

Lydia: Thank you for sharing this time you had with the Triqui tribe. Also thank you Luis for all your hard work that you put into working out in the field.

Here is Pastor Martin Gomez with his co-pastor and the two gentlemen in front is the pastor of the church and his Triqui tribe interpreter.

Here is Luis leading worship at the outdoor service.

This is the pastor of the Triqui tribe.

Pastor Antonio and his family.

Too many people to hold church inside!

Singing His Praises!

The ladies of the tribe wear these beautiful robes in their tribal colors.

Luis arranging the donations that Amor Ministries help provide.

This grandma was so happy that Luis gave her this sweater that she gave him a little bracelet that she made in return.

Pastor Antonio, Luis, and Interpreter Juan.

Baptismal service at the beach.

Praising God.

One young man's journey to new life.

God is good all the time!

Newly baptized members.

The man who started this all Pastor Martin Gomez.

"Every day holds the possibility of a miracle!"

Last year I had the opportunity to meet John Close from the Church of Christ of Calgary, Canada at one of the Youth Specialties Conferences. He was oragnizing a group of young people to work with the children in Mexico. I was able to help them organize their program for a week long vacation Bible school in the colonia Lucio Blanco in Rosarito. Yesterday, I was able to see them in action. They did great! Even I was able to participate. Fun! Fun! I hope in the furture they can participate with us. Way to go Canada!

Two sweet little girls having fun with bubbles.

Isn't he darling?

If only we could delight in such simple pleasures!

One of the Canadian teens with a new best friend.

Necklace anyone?

Little two year-old Lily was carefully making her necklace. Though she was busy at work she never let her piece of bread far from her side.

Amazing what a child can do to you.

This is the little church where we had the program.

I find myself reflecting on why God would take time with us to come down and visit with us. Then I see the sheer joy of a child and the complete trust that they have in knowing that no matter what happends we are all going to be ok.

"You are valuable just because you exist. Not because of what you do or what you have done, but simply because you are." Max Lucado

After my time in Saltillo, Mexico. I almost felt like a seasoned veteran. Then I was needed back home and I felt lost for awhile. I went back to work for Mama Stamps in Tijuana. This time was different... She had planted several churches in Tijuana and Tecate. There was almost one for each day of the week and Mama Stamps had me teach the kids about the Bible in each of the churches. At this time I didn't have a job so I was constantly in Mexico for about one year. There I worked in the poorest of the poor communities and the children acted at times rough around that edges. The children's ministry in these churches was a challenge for me. Especially, since I had no formal training for such a thing! It's just like what the Bible says that He that calls us will equip us.

A community in Tijuana, Mexico that was a good "boot camp" for me was the community of "Canyon del Pato". It was a rough community with many rough little kids. God gave me favor in the community and I was able to see the fruit of our labor.

The little boy to the left (second from the top) was my special boy. He was just a little guy. Around 6 or 7 years-old, but with the temper of a wild cat. This child only knew hate, abuse and drugs. His parents were constantly thrown in and out of jail. His nickname was "Gigio". He was though the most faithful little boy to church. One day I opened my arms to Gigio to give him a hug and he stood there like a stiff board. He had never had a hug before! Slowly as timed passed he warmed to the idea of being special to God and to us that when he saw our van drive up he would run to give us a hug and a kiss. I sometimes wonder what happened to Gigio.

The church when it was started did not have a room for the kids. So, I would pile them in our van and have children's church in the van! We had some very special times all packed in the van like little sardines.

Not only do I work at a ministry I love (hint:Amor Ministries). I also am involved in my own puppet ministry at a child abuse center in San Diego. I've been taking my troop of puppets for about five years now and it's been wonderful since day one!

Well, something awesome happened this weekend. Saturday night I was mentally preparing what I would bring the children at the child abuse center (this center takes in children that have been abused or neglected and place them into foster care). I didn't have a clear picture of what to tell them. During family worship my mom prayed, "Lord, let these children find you as their Father and that you want them as your children." Well, the next day we arrived prayed and worshipped together with the kids at the center. What happened that was so amazing is that there were 45 teens!! Boys and girls who sat on chairs, mats, and on the gym floor participated happily with the puppets. Before that though I shared with them that my earthly father was nothing like my Heavenly Father. Being a child of an alcoholic father who never showed or said that he loved me until I was about 28 years-old I can relate to the kids at the center. Most of these kids might have never even met their fathers let alone have them say that they love them. I had a captive audience... God's presence was like a healing balm that covered every corner of the place where we were at. After the show almost all 50 Bibles that I brought with me to the center were GONE! I just can't get over God's ways!!!!

"Don't be ashamed to be as a child in your relationship to God. Let the everlasting arms rock you to sleep....He will take care of you day and night, forever." Norman Vincent Peale

Awhile a go a gentleman brought to our office here in San Diego around 20 new bikes. So, we came up with the idea of having a coloring and short story contest with the kids from our pastor's board churches. Each church turned in their best pictures and we had several winners. Here are a few of those winners. Also, Canyon View Christian Fellowship of San Diego had an event at their church where the community could donate unwanted bicycles and the congregation would fix them and give them to needy kids. We were able to receive around thirty of them! It brought many smiles to many kids in Mexico.