Hey Everyone,

Alise is going to be heading up a new initiative to increase awareness and fundraising for the Children’s Home in Parras.  She is going to be making new posts here on the website and she is going to be working to re-inspire our support team scattered across the US.

Our first project is both promotional and fundraising.  We are getting some T-Shirts made and looking to sell them to anyone who has visited, supported, prayed for, or just thought about Vida Nueva.  The shirts are going to be pretty cool.  Our cost is $10.00 but we are going to give them to you for $15.00.  We are raising funds for a new dryer for the home in Parras.  They have been line drying clothes for the last 6 months, but with the rain season coming (hopefully) we would like for them to have dry clothes.  We are hoping to raise around $500.00, and just in case you are wondering no we do not expect to sell 100 shirts.       This is just the first of several new ideas we are running with.   The shirts will be grey and since we have not ordered yet we can still get them size specific.

Already we have about 17 people who have asked for shirts.  If you would like one.  Comment below, or email Alise at jah1723(at)hotmail.com (you will have to type in the @ symbol).  We hope everyone is doing well, and that God is moving in your hearts and lives.

The front says – New Life for the Least of These – Matt 25:40

The back says – Vida Nueva – Isaiah 58:10 and the web address www.vidanuevaparras.org.

God Bless – Chad

 Hey Everyone, 

I hope and pray that you are all doing well and that you are using all that you are for the Glory of God.  Today we arrived in Parras de la Fuente at around 9AM this morning.   We left our house in Rose City yesterday evening at 9PM after our evening service at the church.  It seemed like a very quick trip down we had no issues, praise God!  We have been coming down here 3-5 times every year since 2008 when we actually lived down here for 2 years.  We have been blessed to never see anything that made us feel in danger.  

Lets say for instance, that sometime, we did see something that made us feel that we were in danger, would our responsibility to do what God has called us to do be any less?  Could we justifiably say, “well Lord it is just to dangerous in Mexico right now”.  I have been counseled several times in the last 3 years that we should not continue going to Mexico.   When I explain to them that we talk to our Mexican contacts before our trips to ask about the danger levels and that we never go without encouragement from our Mexican counterparts, they typically look at me like I am crazy.  

I am crazy to accept the real time word of a person who lives here more than the word of the mainstream media.  I am crazy to know that the needs here don’t go away because I feel unsafe.  I am the crazy one who has seen God’s protection for the last 4 years as we traveled all over Mexico, and not seen anything to frighten us.  Yes I am the crazy one to believe that the God that has protected us these many trips can continue to do so.  

In working with Perspectives around Texas I get to regularly meet missions workers all around Texas.  Some of these are full time missionaries, some are Pastors, some are lay people that God has burdened for his world.  I have listened to story after story of teams to Mexico that were canceled because of lack of interest (mostly because people backed out because of the news reports).  I hear of ministries all along the US Mexico border that are failing and having to close their doors.  Many of them were formed to care for and host the hundreds of short-term teams that used to visit Mexico annually.  It is sad to me that the media focus on the danger in Mexico has had such an impact on US Christians that ministries are closing their doors.  Not because the people that we used to minister to are no longer in need, but because we are more afraid of the potential dangers, than we are of the mandate of the Gospel.  

Just in case you think that I am being foolish by saying this… you might take a look at Matt 10.  Jesus sent out his disciples and gave them a chapter of instructions about how to live, here is a quick highlight.  

Matt 10:28-31 “Do not be afraid of those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both the soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside of your Father’s care.  And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

 Seems kinda harsh Jesus?  Yeah, but he didn’t stop there… look at verses 37-39

“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.  Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”

We can worry all that we want, but when we care more about our well being or the well being of our family than we do about God’s call on our life, then we are disowning the Gospel that we claim.  Maybe you think that I am going to far, once more look at Jesus words to his disciples in Matt 10:32-33

“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.  But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.”  

That verse should strike every believer to the core, and cause us to examine what is important in our lives.  It might also cause us to ask what things in our life are most important.  If after honest and careful examination you find that the Gospel of Jesus is not at the top of the list, you might consider the most common words of Jesus, “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.”

Just to provide a little balance for Jesus words, in case you think that you can put to much confidence in HIM.  Yes I also believe that God gives us wisdom and discernment.  I am just afraid that to often we use that as an excuse to not respond to the Spirit’s calling.  I do not see Paul fleeing Philippi before they are flogged, jailed, and escorted from town (Acts 16), and I sure did not see Jesus wisely avoiding Jerusalem before he was arrested, tortured, and crucified. 

The bottom line is that what ever it is that God has called you to; Do it fully!  For his Glory and for His name’s sake.  

Fear is not the motivator of a Christ Follower!

Go! And as you go, be Christ in all things!

So we are already about to leave.  Again.  This week a gone so quickly and there is so much to recap.  I also have a handful of pictures to share with you.  First I will share some of the happenings here at the home for the last few months. 

I am sure you all notice that we are not updating the website very regularly.  This is primarily because with us living in Texas now we are always a little behind on the happenings here in the house.  It is always hard to share breaking news when it is really a week or two old and not even current when we write it.  The alternative is that we are able to share information when we are here on trips, and when we have urgent news.  This is the route that we have chosen for the time being. 

So let me catch you up on a few things that you may have missed out on.  This school year we had a smaller group of Students.  This was good for Karina because we had just left. Then in August when we started to have the requests for new kids in the house, we had a visit from the Mexican DIF (basically family and child services here in Mexico).  They put together a whole list of requirements that we had to meet before we could accept any new children. 

We had a small team in November and another team in March.  Between the two groups and the donations of many people we were able to make all of the necessary improvements to the home.  Praise God we have now met them all.  But the DIF continues to cause us a great deal of frustration.  They have required Vida Nueva to hire a Psychologist to come to the home regularly and interview the children here.  They have met with the parents of the kids.  They have showed up without warning.  Finally they are trying to dictate what kids we should have, which ones they feel don’t really need this home, and which ones we should kick out.

All of this is incredibly frustrating.  Before last Aug they just came every now and again to make sure the kids are safe and that the home is a good place for them.  Now it seems that they want to have all of the authority in the house.  The Mexican Staff was telling us that every few years the Gov’t agencies change over with the elections and some are more involved than others.  They told us to pray that the other party wins next years Presidential Elections.  I am not sure that is the only thing we should pray for, but maybe it will help.  Please pray for the leadership and staff of Vida Nueva as we have many decisions to make.

With all that said, we have an incredible group of kids this year.  All of them are well behaved and have made good grades.  The staff here said that this has been one of the least difficult groups we have ever had here.  We had two students graduate this week.  Reina, who will be going on the toughest College Prep High School in Parras and Mauricio, who is still deciding what he wants to do this coming year.  We were able to be a part of celebrating both of their successes.  This is a huge deal for each of these students.

Juanito finished his last semester of classes at the University in Saltillo.  Pending his finishing his work internship he will graduate from the University next February.  He was so blessed to find an internship immediately.  He actually was only home for a week after school when he received a phone call interview.  They were so impressed by his English that they hired him over the phone and wanted him to start the next day.  Another blessing is that this is a paid internship (most are not) so he will be receiving some compensation for his work as a college student. 

Finally Sheena Green, who has lived here since March will be ending her ministry internship here with Vida Nueva.  She has been a great blessing to the home over the last few months.  Pray that God will speak to her about her next step in life and ministry.  I know that she is considering several things, but first she gets to return home and see family. 

Tomorrow morning we will leave to drive back to Texas at 5AM CST.  Please pray for our safety and that Makaila would travel well.  We have a very packed car.  We have Sheena and Karly packed in next to Makaila’s car seat.  Enjoy the pictures.

God Bless!   -   Chad & Alise

Betin hanging out with Makaila		A new family photo!
Reina’s graduation party.  She is the second one from the left.		Mauricio’s graduation party.  He is the one in the center.
This is Mauricio and Gaby.  I just liked the picture.		All the girls with Makaila!  They had a great time playing all week.
Makaila playing at the water park.  She is far to brave.  Here she is trying to touch the fountain.  She is 18 months old now.  Amazing!		Vida Nueva’s new Guard Dog Max!  He is no Taz but I think he is going to do well.  Roger and Carol sent him down from Texas, he is only around 6 months old!

Hello Vida Nueva Supports,I pray that all is well with you.  Alise, Makaila, and I are back in Parras for a week long visit as the Children finish up their school year.It has been an exciting year and much has been going on here.  Sheena Green (Breakthrough Partner Intern) has been living here since March.  She has had a great experience during her time here and has been a great encouragement to the Staff and Children here at the home.  Feel free to check out her blog for a more detailed account of her time here.We will write more this week.  I just wanted everyone who is praying for us that we arrived safely and that things are great.  We have Karly Richardson from near Seattle with us as well.Pray that we all have a productive week and a safe drive back to Texas on Friday.  Also check out the updates on the Vida Nueva Children’s Page.  Thanks Sheena for compiling the new information and pictures.God Bless!   –  Chad Mason

Hey Everyone,

I just wanted to take a minute to give you a small window into our week.  We have been busy, busy, busy. We have complete everything on the list that the Mexican DIF gave us.  Tomorrow, Alise, Makaila, and I head back to Texas, and on Sat the Wichita, KS folks start their long drive home.  Please keep us all in your prayers. 

We have been so blessed to have no safety concerns during our trip at all.  We know that this does not mean that there are no dangers, only that God has blessed us thus far to keep us out of harms way.  Please continue to partner with us in pray in regards to our safety as our team returns to the states over the next few days.   Also pray for Alise as she has had flu symptoms today.  Also pray for the general health of the whole team.  I believe that everyone is tired and a little overheated so pray that everyone can get a good nights sleep here. 

Here are some thoughts from members of the Wichita Team:

Being called to missions, it was only natural that I would go on this year’s mission trip to Vida Nueva. Ministering in a land mostly foreign to me is a fantastic blessing. I have a decent understanding of the language, so I can get around just fine, but the culture and poverty is not something I am accustomed to. God has been deepening my conviction about working full-time mission work here in Parras. I will share a little bit of my spiritual journey since I left Parras in 2010. Last year, as we were leaving, I felt God speaking to me that I must come back here and work for Him. Since I had only moved to Wichita a week before leaving for Mexico, once I returned I was neck deep in unpacking and getting settled in. The conviction I felt as I was leaving Parras was drowned out by how busy I was getting up on my feet and healing from a broken relationship. I was also playing the part of Jonah, running from the conviction. About two months ago, as I was working and worshiping (which is a great blessing), God renewed the conviction of my call to missions. Now that I am here in Parras, I am reminded how much need there is for missionary work in this area. God is working me over and over; preparing me for what I predict will be a lifetime of missions work. Please pray that I will continue to listen to the Spirit’s call as I move forward toward full-time ministry. Thank you!

In Christ’s love,  – Adam Anderson

On this, our third trip to Vida Nueva, I feel the way I always do: I don’t want to leave. Hanging out and helping out here feels like home to me. We didn’t get to a couple of the projects I was hoping to, for various reasons, but I learned last year that flexibility is the name of the game on short-term mission trips. The last couple of days have been more relaxed, less work-oriented. They’ve felt more like normal days at the home. To a different personality type, it might be boring, but not to me. It feels like home.

Last night was our worship time with the kids, and I’m so encouraged at how easy it was to communicate. I left my Spanish dictionary in the car when we arrived, but I only needed to look up a few words to get my message across. Casual conversation has been going more easily too; I don’t get the blank stares that I used to, and I understand a lot more of what I hear.

Seeing some of the kids from last year is really cool, but knowing some are gone is a sad thing. I can’t wait for the day that the DIF gives Vida Nueva the go-ahead to enroll more kids. This mission trip was a huge part in bringing that day closer, and the pieces are in place for the rest to happen.

-Kyle Hoger (Metropolitan, Wichita)

It’s hard to believe this week is almost over. We just have one last evening with the kids, to play games like throwing water balloons (planned for this evening). I’m glad we have a few extra hours with Chad, as they have decided to leave tomorrow afternoon instead of the morning. Our discussions with him in chapel times have been meaningful and moving. It was interesting when four of us confirmed our desire to go into full-time mission work; we all felt called before, but today we testified that we desire to take the next step in serving overseas.

This has been a unique team, supporting each other. We had a nice, relaxing day today, including fun at the tank, the spring-fed swimming pool up the street.

-Charles Scrivener (Metropolitan, Wichita)

We have truly been blessed by the team this year and the past teams from Metropolitan Baptist in Wichita.  I pray that God will make it possible for future teams to be able to come.  Our chapels times have been inspiring for me.  It is not often that more than half of a team expresses the desire to be in eventual full time missionary service.  This blesses me like you would not believe. I believe my primary calling is to teach, train, and mobilize the body of Christ into global missions.  It is exciting for me to around people with the same heart. 

I have posted some pictures below for your enjoyment.

Juanito and Makaila hanging out.  She screamed when she first saw him… but they are cool now.		Adam playing with Charrito.  I am not sure who is having more fun!
Glenda and Reyna enjoying the confusion around finding leaks in one of the water heater installations.		Sheena painting the laundry room.
Makaila and Charrito chillin!		Megan, Gabi, and Charrito posing for the picture. Charro tries to be in every photo.
Adam, Charrito, Gabi, and baby Josiah.		Reyna and Luz cooling down at the posito.
Charrito stealing all of the photo attention.  If only he wasn’t so cute .		Karina and William doing puzzles.
Jenrri sitting on a coffee can.  Sounds uncomfortable to me.		Charrito doing his part of the painting.  Apparently no one could reach above the door so we called in Charrito.

I hope you all enjoyed this post.  God Bless and have a wonderful day.  – Mexico Team