TOUCHING HUNDREDS OF LIVES...ONE AT A TIME.

We only met a few times to prepare for a major outdoor event in Juarez, Mexico. There were 10 such events throughout the City of Juarez, Mexico last Saturday, November 17th. I could only be part of one of them. Pastors from the area around where we held the campaign, one of the ministerial alliances, and myself planned on a few thousand coming out to this outreach. Little by little, more and more things were added to make this event as special and productive for God's kingdom as possible.

We had a special program for children, free haircuts given by volunteers, free food to take home(out of my budget 100 lbs. of beans, 100 lbs. of rice, and 100 lbs. of potatoes were donated), free food to eat on the premises, a large table was set up for free legal counsel, free New Testaments and Gospel of John booklets, and free dental check-ups. We had face painting, which is a kid's favorite (before we left, the place looked like an old Indian movie).

 I was volunteered to do animal balloons for the kids. But before leaving the house that day I decided to take the reading glasses that I bring to churches to help those people whose eyes have become too weak to read the scriptures. The reading glasses also help some kids whose eyes have already began to fail and who are also failing in school due to poor eyesight. I brought the small table that I carry with the reading glasses and I set up immediately. But before the 2pm hour when we were due to start a line began forming for the glasses. I failed to think that I was not going to a church where 30 or 40 people would need glasses. This outreach was for a few thousand people. Suddenly I realized that I could not do the "promised" balloons for kids and the distribution of glasses. I needed help! I asked for assistance and immediately had 3 Pastors come to my aid. I gave them the basic pointers in handing out glasses and started with the balloons since no one else knew how to make animal balloons (I will hold a training session before the next outreach). It turned out that the longest line was the one for glasses. The line for food was the second longest. No less than 50 people remained on the line for glasses the whole 3 hours we were serving the community. I estimated that we gave out 500 to 600 pairs of glasses. One of the Pastors who worked the "glasses line" told me that he estimated about 1,000 glasses were given away. (I get the glasses at less than $1 each). If we gave out 1,000 glasses, then the Lord multiplied them because I did not have that many. I have witnessed the Lord multiply food before, this is a first for glasses. I always get watery eyes when I see a happy child with his new glasses and the contentment they feel to know that their school grades will soon change. I did the animal balloons right next to the reading glasses station, so I witnessed the blessings of the glasses. I was speechless when a lady, probably 40 years old, told me that she would not have to give up her factory job now because she could see the small parts she has to work with. Jobs in Juarez are very hard to get. Her joy reminded me of 84 year-old Maria who received a used pair of bi-focal glasses last year. Maria went to her daughter, then her grand kids. She would hold their faces in her hands as if she had never seen them before. She would tell them that she had forgotten how beautiful they were. Maria's world opened up in front of her, again.

BEFORE WE ACTUALLY STARTED KIDS WERE WAITING

CROWD BEGINS TO ARRIVE

I couldn't believe the excitement of many just to be getting a free haircut. We know that many go to bed hungry so it was specially wonderful to give out food. The smiles on children's faces who were getting a puppy balloon was priceless. Once in a while I would spot a teenager and hand them a balloon. They would be too embarrassed to get on line for a balloon. When I approached them with a balloon their whole face would light up.

THE FRONT OF THE LINE FOR GLASSES. I HAD MORE IN THE CAR

BROTHERS DECIDE OWNERSHIP OF THE BALLOONS

I witnessed many blessings that day. I was over-joyed to see Pastors from many different churches and denominations come together and work side by side. Love was the glue that held that wonderful day together(I am planning a re-union of those Pastors with a real nice meal on December 8th). Many children's lives were changed by the kids program. We had 39 people offer their lives to the Lord. And we had 600 people who registered for someone to visit them at their homes to tell them more about Jesus. Oh, My!!!

This is what the gospel is all about. Reaching lives for Christ and His eternal Kingdom. The church MUST get out of its four walls. How can we let our lights shine if we lock ourselves up? How can the world taste the salt of the earth if we remain inside the salt shaker? The Apostle Paul said, "I am not ASHAMED of the Gospel, because it is the POWER of God for the salvation of everyone who believes..." (Romans 1:16).



LINE TO REGISTER TO HAVE MINISTERS VISIT THEM

LINE FOR GLASSES

The last blog entry that I sent out was about the impact that a small gift had on my life. We are trying to impact the lives of children as well as adults here in Juarez. We are harvesting many souls, in others we are planting seeds of love. A person, especially a child, who is blessed by our work will have a strong seed of the love of Jesus planted in their hearts. Nothing we do for Jesus is ever wasted, even if NO immediate results are seen. Maybe someday that child will will end up in jail as an adult, or walk down the street thinking about how destroyed their lives are. Suddenly the Holy Spirit will bring back a memory. A memory of when someone blessed them in the name of Jesus. They will see a church and remember that years before someone from a church blessed them to tears. They will remember a minister who simply gave them a penny balloon with a big smile. Or a plate of food, or a hug, or....whatever!!! 

SIDE OF THE TRAILER FOLDS DOWN TO A STAGE

WE LOST COUNT OF THE HAIRCUTS. ONE LADY DID 39.

This is the Power of the Gospel. We may or may not see fruits now, but the wheels of the Gospel have begun to turn. And fruit is always guaranteed wherever there is love shared in His name.

Many thanks to everyone who sacrifices to make all this happen. I can't thank you properly or enough. But there is One who promises that He will reward a cup of water given in His name. So how much more will He reward a greater sacrifice than water?

VERY HANDY STAGE. TRAILER BELONGS TO THE MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE. SEE THE DENTIST, FAR BACK.

Some say that Juarez is where the Devil abides. Hell itself. I live in Juarez. I am not ruled by fear because I serve The lord of Hosts, who is much more powerful than the Devil. Goliath walked towards David, but David ran to Goliath. Everyone thought that David's victory would be impossible. Yet, within minutes Goliath was on his back because a little boy believed in a big God. David said that the battle was not his, but that it was God's. The battle in Juarez is not mine. The victory is NOT impossible. We will be victorious here. We need fearless warriors to take part in this dream that God has given me to annihilate this little gi-ant. 

I want to close with a theme song that I have for Juarez. It is titled THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM. But the dream is only impossible to those who do not know my Lord and His promises. We need more men and women to become part of that dream. That Possible Dream.


God's richest blessings on all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGsYrpejAYw&feature=related

If the site does not open go to youtube looking for The Impossible Dream by Luther Vandross.




Daniel Torres
11985 Pellicano
Ste. G, Box 169
El Paso, Texas 79936

1-501-827-7679
d_torres53@yahoo.com




Double click on the pictures to enlarge.

THE LOVE OF A BUG

I want to share a story that I wrote for the Christmas issue of Searcy Living Magazine, in Searcy, Arkansas a couple of years ago. Many of you have already read this personal story but I wanted to refresh your memory because it will tie in with the next blog story that I will be writing.  

                                                                                        THE LOVE OF A BUG
                                                                                                                       By: Daniel Torres

We lived in a tiny house. The yellow tongue-in-groove boards on the outside could also be seen from the inside. We had no interior walls. Pictures were hung directly on the 2 X 4s that supported the little house. I often used the missing knots on the boards to spy on the outside world. It was an adventure that needed no props. I was barely five years old. The year was 1958. The town was Mayaguez, third largest city on the west coast of Puerto Rico.

We were dirt poor. The neighbors around us were dirt poor, also. Everyone did what they had to do to scratch out a living. There was no shame in being poor; we had plenty of company. Father was always gone working as a maintenance man at the University, so I would entertain myself for hours with a stick, kicking a can, or fishing. Yes, fishing. I would take a pin and bend it, take some thread, wrap it around the head, and dip it in the shallow creek that ran behind the little yellow house. I never caught anything but it kept me occupied. I saw others doing it. Years later I realized that it would have helped if I had put bait on my homemade hook.

The Spirit of Christmas was in the air. Folks talking about it and the music coming through the radios of passing cars were obvious hints. Our family did not have any money to spend on such luxuries. About the best that we had was a special holiday meal. But one afternoon my father came home and told me that he had registered my name in town, and that I could possibly be getting a Christmas gift. My world changed. The day that we were to drive into town to pick up my gift could not come soon enough. In those days, before the world became smaller with our current technology, Christmas was celebrated on January the 5th. We did not welcome Santa Claus, but the three Wise Men.

Children would go out the day before and gather grass, tie it in a small bundle and put it under the bed with a bowl of water. This would feed the camels while the jolly Wise Men dropped their gifts under their beds. Christmas had taken on a new meaning to a five year old. I hardly slept the night before. And finally the day arrived. My gift was not under my bed, but it had been left in an auditorium.

We drove into town. Father led me by the hand into a large auditorium that was filled with other children and parents. Names were being called out over a loud speaker. We sat down and waited. And waited. And waited. Finally I heard my name come across the thunderous speakers. It was my whole, entire name. I did not know what to do then, but father led me by the hand to the front where a lady reached behind her and pulled something out of a box. It was not wrapped. And I didn't care!! I believe Father went through the usual formalities of, "What do you say, son?" I'm sure I said something or it would have been the switch when I got home, but I was awestruck. In the palm of my hand was the most beautiful, brand new, shiny, candy-apple red Volkswagen Beetle a boy ever put his gaze on. It was my only Christmas present that year. But who needed anything else? It was my treasure. All mine. I couldn't have been happier if you had given me a real one. Life was good.

I can still close my eyes and see it. I can still smell the Three-In-One oil aroma that it gave. That gift was so special to a five year old little boy that it helped to forever stamp the memory of those days into my heart. I would spend hours just staring at it. It fit my hand from finger tip to wrist. Today, it would only sit on my palm.

Fifty-one years later, it still brings me joy and floods me with the memories of those simple days. Not a Christmas season goes by that I don't think about that particular part of my life. Many times I have sat in my living room staring at the bounty of treasures under the Christmas tree for my own three daughters and smiled as I thought of the greatest Christmas gift I have ever received. My little bug affected my adult life, too.

My life has gone in many directions since those simple days. When I was ten years old, my mother, who was living in New York City, sent my father a plane ticket for me and my brother to join her there. I grew up in the complexities of that major city. By the time I was out of high school, my family had decided to move back to Puerto Rico, but I decided to stay and continue my education. Yes, I was a young teenage man living in the big city without family, but I survived it, thank God. After joining the U.S. Air Force, I was stationed at Blytheville A.F.B. for almost four years. Eventually, I would take up residence in Searcy. Yet, with all those complexities of life, the simplicity of those early days never left my heart.

For the past five Christmases I have gone to Juarez, Mexico, to bring gifts to poor children, and even adults. Most of these children would not have anything for Christmas were it not for the generosity of folks from the Searcy area who help to make this possible. And, as usual, the gospel message is packaged together with their gift. It is the most important part of the gift. I always see in their faces the joy of what I imagine my face looked like 51 years ago. I guess it's my way of saying thanks to that wonderful stranger who in 1958 forever changed my life with a gift of love. Oh, and by the way, as I write this story, next to my laptop sits the a perfect replica of my Red Beauty. Life is wonderful. Merry Christmas, Everyone.

 

 

Daniel Torres

11985 Pellicano

Ste. G Box 169

El Paso, Texas 79936

 

1-501-827-7679

d_torres53@yahoo.com