...working together to gather the harvest
News from and about the Brothers (Hermanos) and Sisters (Hermanas) involved in the Churches and Missions of ILH
Hurricane (Alex) borne floods devastate Mexican Infrastructure
The recent Hurricane (Alex) that sliced through the core areas of ILH activity, brought torrential rain to regions that simply were not able cope with it. The Iturbide Church and Bible School, and the Madrono Church are situated in mountains which have seldom, if ever, seen such amounts of rain.
Every ditch became a creek, every creek became a river, and the gorges (along which was built one of the better roads one finds in Mexico) became mighty torrents, which bore along boulders the size of houses, automobiles, and anything else they could reach.
For many days, even communication with the mountain towns was cut off, and travel to or from them was out of the question. In many places there was no sign there had ever been a road, where the fine, paved, mountain highway had been. In some places, the ground was now 20 or more feet below where the highway had been; in others, landslides and boulders had deposited hundreds, if not thousands, of tons of rock and debris over the road. It seemed as though the mountains had reclaimed their territory. What a task faces our friends in Mexico.
Finally, after 2 weeks, Sister Alaniz was able to travel 18 hours by bus from Iturbide to Reynosa. A trip that normally took 6 hours before the hurricane.Please pray for our Mexican neighbors as they take on the herculean task of rebuilding a devastated infrastructure.
The pictures below were taken on the road from Linares to Iturbide and in the town of Iturbide. Much of the town was, unfortunately, built in a gorge and many residents watched homes and possessions hurtle down the mountainside with the raging waters. One picture shows where the destruction literally came to the very edge of the Church and Bible School grounds, but the Father said "thus far and no more".
ILH was privileged to be used by the Lord to help many in their darkest hour. The Bible School dormitories housed as many as 40 of the towns folk who were in need of temporary shelter. Our friends and supporters, through their generous gifts and tireless efforts, have made an indelible mark on this little town nestled in the mountains of Mexico.
Thank You All, (and remember to pray for the Mexican churches)
News item 1: Hurricane!
News item 2: Fear in Mexico
Fear Across the Border!
As we watch the news stories of murder and slaughter in our beloved neighbor to the South, one cannot help but imagine the fear that must grip the hearts of fathers and mothers in Mexico for their children. Even walking down the lane to get to church, one must keep constantly aware of the surroundings, because nowadays, a desperate gun battle can break out any where, any time in Mexico.
ILH has had pastors robbed, as lawlessness seems to have broken every fetter, and in many places is now the norm. ILH tries to help the pastors to be equipped with decent transportation, but in this sad environment, it seems that this makes them a target. Uncommon courage is now required simply to drive to the next neighborhood to pick up children to bring to iglesia (church).
Brother and Sister Alaniz recently spent the night on the floor in a closet, as a pitched battle raged on the streets outside where they had hoped to sleep. Bullets, sprayed out by murder crazed thugs, pelted their bed and furniture of their bedroom. Fortunately (providence), their children had not accompanied them on this trip to visit some of the churches.
Please take the time to browse the "Churches and Pastors" page, and pray for each one. We're counting on it!
