JULY 2010 Gonzalez Newsletter
June projects
In June Cesar worked on two mission projects. He was staff and a translator for these projects. They did Vacation Bible School, construction, sports evangelism and feeding programs. Praise God for the ministry of these churches:
* Bethany Lutheran Church from Nebraska
* The Rock Windwood Presbyterian Church from Texas
* Amelia Christian Church
* Grace Like Rain from Illinois.
* Hidden Valley Community Church from Wisconsin.
* Grace Community Church from Iowa
God worked in the hearts of the Mexican people and also in the hearts of some students that came down on the first project. Seven students accepted Christ! One of the requirements for coming on an AIM trip is that you are saved but apparently God still had some work to do on those seven. Radically affecting the lives of the teens is a big part of AIM's purpose.
Rio Grande Valley Project July 10 to July 16.
We are getting ready for a mission project on this side of the border close to our house. We will be working alongside a Spanish speaking church in a nearby town called Raymondville. There will be two families coming on this trip and one youth group. They are all from Texas. We are blessed to be able to use facilities from a ministry called Way of the Cross. They have plenty of beds, an area to cook, eat and even a prayer walkway created in the shape of a cross. Also, Katie, our daughter will be staff on this project. How precious is that! When they get here they will be doing evangelism, construction projects, ministering at a retirement home, working at a soup kitchen and doing Vacation Bible School. This is our first project in this area and there is always a learning curve. Please pray that we would hear God's voice, truly minister to the people here, and that they would respond to Him.
Puerto Rico Project July 18 to July 23
On the Puerto Rico missions trip Cesar will work with Jeff Michelle from Kentucky. During this trip we will be working in a town of San Juan called Santurce. My Dad, sister, grandmother, aunt and other family members live very close to Santurce so this is a special project for me. The name of the pastor is Sixto Pacheco. He is both a pastor and an ophthalmologist. The groups that are coming down for this trip are from: Emmanuel Bible
Fellowship Church in Pennsylvania and Harmony Church in South Carolina. On the project they will be doing some light construction work like painting, Vacation Bible School, evangelism, and other projects that they pastor wants them to do.
Financial needs.
We need your help. We need to raise over $1,000 per month. Many of you have supported us for quite a while so if you could pray that God would open doors for us in this area that would be great. It is so reassuring when we have someone come up to us and tell us God is moving in them to support us. I have to confess that having God raising up the funds for us like that is my favorite. So if you can pray for God to move in people's hearts that would be great. If you have the ability to give too that also works, but please pray. God seems to enjoy surprising us.
May God Bless you all!!! Let us know how we can pray for you.
Cesar, Jennifer, Katie, and Hannah Gonzalez
1049 E. Matz Ave. Harlingen TX 78550
956-425-6440
cesargonzalez@adventures.org
jennifergonzalez@adventures.org
Newsletter from October 2009
Thank you for all your prayers and support! Cesar, Jennifer, Katie and Hannah Gonzalez
Loaves and Fishes
Adventures in Missions
October 2009
With Adventures in Missions there are a variety of projects from which participants can choose. There are some projects that last 11 months and others that are just 3 days. There are projects that take you to the most remote places in Africa and others that are done in San Antonio, Texas. The purpose of these projects is tailored to the groups that will work on them. There is a big need to help reach our poorer areas within the United States and one of them is here in the Rio Grande Valley.
In addition to our work in Mexico, AIM has asked us to create six weeks of projects so that the people in the Rio Grande Valley can be loved on and see their need for Jesus. Below are some of the ministry partners that we are planning to work with here.
Ratama Manor is a sweet nursing home nearby. We have been there many times. We even took two litters of puppies there one time to bless them. They loved it!!! These people desperately need to be reminded of God's love and see youth there to minister and love them. They are hurting and so lonely. Here our participants will be able to minister through song and by spending time being a blessing in whatever ways we can imagine.
Loaves and Fishes is a very special ministry that operates in Harlingen, TX. It is supported by many of the churches in the area including the one that we currently attend. They provide shelter for men, women and children as well as two meals a day to anyone off the street. They have a job training program as well as ways to provide for families in emergency situations with financial help or food and clothing. As we partner with this ministry our participants will be doing a variety of ministries. They may be handing out food, helping to clean or doing Vacation Bible School with the children. Ministering in this way very directly respons to the verses found in Matthew 25.
