Vida en México: Update from Benny - Rehab Center in Arizpe

Greetings from San Carlos! I'm enjoying a change of pace, thought it was a bit of a weird feeling hitting Monday and knowing that there wouldn't be any students around! We definitely miss them and are thinking/praying for them as they get settled back into their homes and ministries.

Benny has written a brief update which I wanted to pass along to you. Thanks to those who wanted to be involved in their outreach for tomorrow, Día de los Niños. More help was offered than what was needed, so some of you will just have to hold on for the next opportunity! Here's Benny's letter:

Greetings from Arizpe, Sonora from your brother in Christ, Benito Hernandez.

We want to inform you of some of the activities that we are carrying on, firstly we want to inform you that when we first came to this place there were two people that were meeting here (mother & daughter) who helped us to find some of the people that had left the church for various reasons, people that we began visiting at their homes and inviting them back to the services and thus some of them have returned and are actually a part of the Church once again. Other activities that we have had is evangelism. We’ve have gone door to door, house by house where some people have showed much interest but they’re still afraid what others may say. Others who accepted the invitation are now attending some of the services. Also we’ve had some meetings in the town plaza where the people have come to listen to God’s word. The young people from the Church have helped presenting shows and dramas. Also we’ve been visiting Buena Vista, a town close by from which we had a good reception. The people came over to us and thanked us for going there. They told us that they were very thankful and blessed and asked us to return, something that we will keep doing since we had such a positive response by the people there.

Other activities that are occurring in the Church are that Monday is a day of prayer in which we pray for the different needs each one has and for the growth of the Church. On Wednesday we have a discipleship group where all are learning ways to share the Gospel. It focuses on teaching how to reach out to people who are lost and on how to share God’s word with them. On Thursdays we have an evangelistic meeting where we ask each member to bring a guest. On Fridays we show Christian films as an outreach ministry, also with the purpose of evangelism. On Saturdays we are going to neighbouring Buena Vista to continue in the work there. We’re at the point of forming a study group in this town, since some of our Church members live there and their neighbours are excited about what is going on there, telling us that they would be interested in some Bible studies. For this reason we are thinking of forming a Bible Study group in Buena Vista. Finally, on Sundays we meet at 10:30 am. Our meetings are for singing and praising our Saviour Jesus Christ and the study of His Word. The children also receive a Bible Message. We continue to have a Biblical message every morning that we share with the town through two loud speakers. We do it as if it were a radio program, praying for the town, the people, their farms, etc. We have got good responses from the people, some have come closer to listen, others have made positive comments, we have seen that many want to come but they fear what others may say; we are sure that God is working in their hearts and those persons that still haven’t had the courage, we believe firmly that God is touching their hearts.

Also I want you to know a little about the work we are doing in the Rehabilitation Center. We actually have four young people that are in the process of rehabilitation. These youth are being instructed with the Word of God. Their activities are focused in the Biblical instruction where each morning they have a devotional discovering firstly the counsel of God, then both individual and group Biblical Readings, prayer, fasting and a discipleship class on how to incorporate themselves into society giving them the Biblical tools for living a Christian life, knowing that without God we can’t do it alone . Other activities that they do is sports where they have time to build themselves up physically, being active through exercise and sports. Also we have visited the Junior High School talking with the kids about drug prevention and their consequences where our youth share their testimonies making the youth reflect on the impact of drugs on their own lives. I follow this with some photos of the different activities aforementioned.

And without more, awaiting to hear from you, I say good bye, but not without blessing your life in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I ask that you will join me in prayer that the Lord will give us strength to follow Him in His work.

With love, your brother Benito Hernandez

MAY THE PEACE OF CHRIST THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING REIGN IN OUR HEARTS, AMEN

Here's some pictures of things happening in Arizpe: