life

LIFE IN MEXICO!

FLOODS IN REYNOSA, MX AREA

While Nathan & I were in Nicaragua we were notified that Mexico had released the dams into the Rio Grande causing severe
flooding. Constant rains brought the water level up that the folks we minister to in the dump area had to move out of their homes
& relocate. If you've followed our website for the last 3 years then you probably know these folks from our Dump Church. The
bridges have been closed & word has it that limited entry is allowed. We were also told that their homes are gone.

It wasn't as bad as we thought it would be. We thought the homes would be washed away but they're there. Judy's probably got
the worst because the water has no where to drain. Nathan & some fellows are going tomorrow to dig out a ditch. There's even
little fishies in their water (2 yr old Moises pointed out). The water was 3 foot into her house. On everyone's house you can see
where the water level was as the paint is washed away. Judy was sad because it wasn't PINK anymore.

You can see where the water had
gotten up to. Judy & family are staying
with her parents till this is dried out.
Nathan & Art will be ditch digging this
Sat. to allow run off.

Here is 3 of the 4 SISTERS we're always
referencing. They said they KNEW we would
find them as soon as we got back from our trips
this summer. Judy w/Lupita, Moises, Gloria,
Josephina. They took us around the area
showing us the damage.

These homes have been built at the top of the ridge while the folks wait for their homes to dry out. I can't say that they look alot
different from the original ones but they're supposed to be temporary. Someone else will eventually move in.

The U.S. side of the Rio Grande. It
never looks this bear but the
floods wiped out much vegetation.

LEFT PICTURE...BEFORE RIGHT PICTURE...AFTER
Those teams that have worked in this area with us....this is to
the right of Judy's house....the wonderful sweet teenager that
lives with her parents...their home (wasn't much to begin with)
is rubble.

Government issued card to be able to
pick up food supplies.

You can see Gloria's surprise while
entering the church. Lupe has
removed the sheet rock from the floor
to allow to dry. He also removed all the
furniture & put it in the Sunday School
room. The folding tables & chairs were
swiped during the flooding which is a
big disappoint. Everyone was excited
when we said services would be
resumed this Sunday. The SISTERS
made it to the church in time to remove
the generator & sound system before
flooding rose that high!

This road leads to the Dump
Church. This is one of our church
members house...she's the one
that delivered her own baby on
Sat. night & walked to church the
next morning.

The outside looks o.k. from this
view though the outdoor stage
was washed away.

Right behind the church.

See the pink pig? He's all by his
lonesome cause Lupe says his
brother must have swam the
river...they've not seen him since!

Lupe & Nathan discussing what to
do. The church sits on Lupe's plot.
He is always so good to take care of
things.

We heard this horrible squealing down the road so Judy & I
ran to see what was going on. As soon as we got there this
giant sow was running towards us & she & I turned around
with it chasing us! The guys got it roped as we were the
ones squealing & loaded it onto a wagon.

Nathan praying over Lupita. 3
years ago when we first started
at the Dump Church, at the end of
the service she collapsed. All
her neighbors are standing
around like it's no big deal so we
thought...well, maybe she got
slain in the spirit (some in this
area worship this way). After
about 20 minutes she is still out &
her handicapped sister comes up
& says "she's diabetic."
OHHHHH....never got her awake
but carried her to the truck &
took her to her parents. You just
never know.......

Lupe's daughter & her son.
Last summer his younger
daughter disappeared & was
later found in the river. His
wife died several years ago
during childbirth.

We were able to cross over into Reynosa
but came to our stop sign & this pile was
keeping us from crossing over towards the
dump area! This is normally a road that
takes you straight in. After some navigation
we found our way in but going home was
the same story....roads have been rerouted
because of the floods.

THE NEXT DAY
They found Belin
& baby Melody (3
months old) plus
her siblings &
Mom. Melody is
growing but
continue to pray
for her & her 15 yr
old mother. I'll get
to hold her
tomorrow at
church!

8-28-10
Nathan & Art went over to attempt ditch digging to
help with Judy's water problem. They said they really
couldn't help much with that but brought some dirt in
to cover the water. The Mexico newspaper had a
large picture of Judy's house & detailing how bad it
was. She is a celebrity. The squatter's area has also
received news that they may be forced to move by
November. Nathan said there were some mighty sad
families as they don't want to move away from their
families. Let's pray.....O.K.?

8-30-10
We had a wonderful day getting back into the normal routine of picking up folks for the Dump church. We had a full
house for worship! The day before word got to me that they sure would like some chocolate so I made 2 GIANT
pans of brownies (yes, homemade) plus we took over 100#'s of beans.

Josephina & Judy reported that sometime in November is the deadline for everyone in the squatter's area to be
moved out as the government would be bulldozing what was left. The families were offered 2 bedroom, 1 indoor
bath (woo hoo!) for $50 a month until $6000 was paid but it is an hour away from Reynosa. Though sad at first they
now see this as a blessing/answered prayer of doing better...said they were embarrassed that they live so poorly &
want to show their kids there is other possibilities. Since their husbands have jobs they will be able to afford to
make this move & pay the rent. Their papa is not pleased but it's their only option. I think Nathan & I will be the
SAD ones as we've become really close to these two. The sisters plan to help out with CELEBRANDO NAVIDAD in
Reynosa with the bean cooking. We're planning on finding a pastor's family for them to stay with those 3 days.

Art & Annabell
Cornado have
been working
with us the last
few months.
We all attend
church
together in
Donna plus Art
went to
Nicaragua with
us.

Our newest
granddaughter who
happens to be from
Mexico. My
namesake, Melody

I've told you about Belin in the
past...never smiles or talks or
shows any emotion. Today she
talked, SMILED so big I could see
all her teeth, put her hand on my
shoulder. She's still a 15 yr old
though & needing encouragement
on how to mother.