Sunday, June 28, 2015

DREAM TEAM VISITS JUAREZ... JUNE 2015



PART OF THE DREAM TEAM ENJOYING THE
BEAUTIFUL SKY FROM A MOUNTAINTOP.
I recently read a story about a group of people invited to have breakfast with the president of the United States at the White House. The story and the pictures vividly revealed the group's excitement at the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. My mind quickly thought about the recent week that a team from Searcy and Judsonia, Arkansas spent in Juarez, Mexico sharing meals and ministering to the poorest of the poor.  If you ask any of the twelve people from the Dream Team (as I like to call them) if they would have preferred to go to the White House, all of them without a doubt, would have chosen to be in Juarez with the downtrodden, the forsaken, the suffering, the widows, the orphans, and the heroes of faith. 



A MASTERPIECE!!
After months of preparation, fund raising, and prayers the team arrived at a Spanish gospel tract ministry in El Paso, Texas known as Spanish American Evangelistic Ministries (SAEM) - our meeting point before crossing into Juarez. We spent a day at SAEM making some final preparations, planning, and having more prayer. For many weeks I had been preparing for the Dream Team's arrival and I had organized a very busy schedule for them. We wanted to seize every moment for Jesus while in Juarez.   On June 8th we crossed into Juarez, Mexico with a greater excitement and anticipation than visiting the White House. For some this was the first time to ever set foot in Mexico, but not to be the last.                  (Michaela having fun →)


REGINA AT AN ORPHANAGE.
CHIHUAHUA PUPPIES. 
I quickly took them to the house in Juarez where they would sleep and then off to our host church with Pastor Manuel Martinez and his wife Dolores (Lolis, as she prefers to be called). The host church, Dios Con Nosotros (God With Us), prepared all our meals and also helped us prepare the daily meals that we took with us as we set out to different areas in Juarez to minister and feed the people. Every morning at 8 am left the house and headed to the church for prayer, breakfast, and to prepare for the day's ministry. And every evening we would end at the host church for sharing, dinner, and often we worked around the church. It was hard work but we enjoyed the beauty of the desert as we watched the sunset and we also enjoyed the beauty of working for the Lord Jesus. 


SWEET LITTLE GIRL
CONCENTRATING WITH MIKE. 
SOME DRESSES MADE BY THE LADIES OF THE
RIVER CHURCH, JUDSONIA, ARKANSAS. 
The very first day in Juarez at 3 pm we had a feeding and ministry time at a feeding center started by a young widow by the name of Celestina (scroll down to blog entry of March 9, 2015 for further information on Celestina and her work). Many kids from around the poor neighborhood came out as well as adults. We had games, a short drama skit, feeding and ministry time. Many kids also received sandals. The ministry time was great as many kids and adults made a confession of faith. Celestina currently feeds 50 to 60 children and adults six days a week. About 80% to 90% of the food support at Celestina's comes from those people and churches who support the work that I have been called to in Juarez.  

SUPERB JOB!!!
GIRLS ENJOYING REGINA'S VISIT.
On Tuesday morning we visited a neighborhood to hand out flyers inviting the people to an evangelistic service on Friday. Here the Dream Team entered one of the shacks where the poorest of the poor live. Words cannot describe what they witnessed that morning. Later we drove to another part of Juarez to visit with Pastor Martin Nuñez, his church and orphanage. I had Pastor Martin share his testimony about how he came to know the Lord. It is one of the most incredible and moving testimonies anyone has ever heard. Most of the young kids living here have come off the streets of Juarez with lives filled with crime and drug abuse. Our hope is to someday invite Pastor Nuñez to Arkansas to share his testimony and the incredible work he and his wife Leticia are doing in Juarez. Without a doubt he is one of the heroes of faith.


EDUARDO (RIGHT) ACCEPTED THE LORD
DURING LAST YEAR'S TRIP.
NOW HE WORKS HARD AROUND THE CHURCH.
On Wednesday we visited and ministered at another orphanage which has about 55 kids. It was another incredible day of ministry. One of the things we did here was to give the kids pillowcases for them to color what they had received from us as far as Bible lessons and stories. Some of the art work was amazing. The pillowcases would be a nightly reminder of what they had learned from the Dream Team. Many of the adults at the orphanage also enjoyed coloring a pillowcase.


Thursday was an amazing day at Casa De Refugio De Jovencitas (House Of Refuge For Young Girls). Here we were allowed to take pictures but not publish them. After an amazing and very moving time of testimonies and sharing God's Word the Holy Spirit moved in the hearts of the young girls like very few people have witnessed before. We spent about an hour in solid prayer filled with weeping and lamentation. Later we shared a very special time getting to know the girls in a deeper, personal way by doing pedicures. Even some of the men of the Dream Team got in on the nail painting. Days like these are never forgotten. 


MIKE VISITS AT VISION EN ACCION
Our last day in Juarez was very busy. The Dream Team got a quick tour of the City of Juarez that they had not seen yet. They also had a short time of souvenir shopping before taking off to a ministry called Vision En Accion (Vision In Action), which houses about 120 people who have come off the streets. Most of them reach this place with severe mental and physical problems. Those that are a danger to others or have committed violent crimes are locked in tiny cells for the security of others. We spent time visiting these precious ones and praying for them. You can see a 4 minute video of this ministry by searching this site: Vision En Accion - CSJ Award Winner 2012. Josue (pictured below), who is seen in the video was our tour guide. From this ministry we rushed back to our host church to prepare for a 7 pm evangelistic campaign, where about 300 came to be fed and hear God's word. Dale Donnell, member of the Dream Team, preached to the adults while I translated. After a very busy, very productive, and very blessed day and week we had to head to the border that very night and return to El Paso. 


JOSUE - OUR GUIDE AT VISION EN ACCION WITH MIKE. 
On Saturday back at SAEM we had a time of sharing and prayer. It was hard for me to watch as the Dream Team once again prepared to depart from me. I wept. But it was a week that would mark their lives forever. I heard the statement, "this week has changed my life forever" more than once. Somehow I doubt that the group that visited the White House had the same sentiment. Thank you Dream Team for a wonderful week of allowing the light of Jesus to shine through you and for blessing my City of Juarez. 


OTHER NOTES:

--I want to remind everyone that I will leave Juarez on August 13 to head to Cuba for almost 2 weeks of ministry. I need your prayer support. 

--There's a lady in Juarez who had a leg amputated due to diabetes. I also know of a ministry that will fit her with a prosthesis for about $700US. That is a small amount to pay to have her walking again. Anyone wishing to help her with this need please contact me. 

--The Dream Team will be returning to Juarez again. Anyone interested in joining the team or starting your own team may contact me for more details. The Dream Team will be sharing their recent experiences in Juarez at The River Church in Judsonia, Arkansas in the upcoming weeks. 

Blessings to all and may God richly bless everyone for their continue support and prayers. 

(Note: To enlarge pictures double click on them).



Daniel Torres
TYLER AND MIKE. ALWAYS TIME FOR FUN!!!
650 Linwood Drive
El Paso, Texas 79928
501-827-7679
d_torres53@yahoo.com


For contributions needing tax receipts:
Covenant Fellowship
P.O. Box 8126
Searcy, AR 72145