COME OVER TO JUAREZ...AND HELP US.

CITY OF JUAREZ: THE BIBLE IS THE TRUTH. READ IT. 

TWO OF THE LATEST ADDITIONS

FRONTERIZA BAJA

HUECO TANKS PARK 

HUECO TANKS PARK IN EL PASO

 

I put in 222 miles on my SUV in three days while visiting different Pastors and Ministries in Juarez this past weekend. 

HUECO TANKS PARK IN EL PASO

I had the joy of visiting a ministry that I had never visited before.  It's called Emmanuel Ministries (visit www.emmanuelgo.org).  This ministry has celebrated 50 years in Juarez.  They are located very close to a landmark mountain in Juarez (see picture).   They work with orphans and children who have been abused and mistreated.  Currently they have 40 kids who have parents but the State only allows the kids to be with their parents from Friday evening through Sunday morning.  If the child is not returned by Sunday morning the authorities are contacted.  As soon as the children are brought back Sunday morning a nurse examines the kids for abuse.  Then they are signed back into this ministry.  After 50 years of ministry Emmanuel has grown into a facility with excellent services.  I was given a tour by the daughter of the man who founded Emmanuel.  He still lives across the street from Emmanuel.  He is 77 years old. She told me that before the crime wave hit Juarez that they had about 20 teams a year visit Emmanuel Ministries.  Today they are down to one team of Americans from Minnesota.  This team from Minnesota uses a basketball camp to minister to the children.  The kids love it.  When I entered the building many kids ran up to me and started hugging me and asking me all sorts of personal questions.  They wanted to know why the Americans have quit coming (gulp!!!).  As with all ministries in Juarez, Emmanuel Ministries struggles financially.  But the Lord always puts something in their plates.  The government does not help these ministries.  If anything, they just keep making the rules more and more difficult.  Some ministries have been forced to shut down due to the new government regulations.  A can of corn on the shelf that expired a day ago is enough to shut down a ministry.  

Emmanuel Ministries has living quarters for teams that come to minister to the children.  I would like to see such a place filled with visitors.  

Two hours before arriving at Emmanuel Ministries I found a place where I can buy bulk food at good prices.  I bought 250 pounds of potatoes (5 bags at 50 lbs. each) for $59.  I left 100 pounds of potatoes at Emmanuel. 

Spanish American Evangelistic Ministries (which I have mentioned in the past) also welcomes small teams (less than 20) who want to minister in Juarez.  S.A.E.M. is on the El Paso side of the Border.  The facilities there are very good.  Teams that want to visit Juarez but prefer to sleep on the U.S. side may get permission to stay at S.A.E.M. 

What am I saying?  I'm saying that the American teams need to return to Juarez,  and Mexico.  The blessings are on a two-way street.  You can't bless someone without being blessed also.  Mexico is ready for the teams to come back.  The Macedonian call has been sent out again.  We need help. 

One of the frustrating things that I face once in a while is when corrupt individuals take advantage and abuse the help to the needy.  Case in point:  I found out about a small group of people who are taking food given for hungry children and families and selling it to appease their addictions.  Someone called me to tell me of this.  So for three months kids and families who normally get a free meal on Saturdays have been left waiting.  But some still show up in hopes that things will change.  This place is about 15 minutes from my house.  I found a church that will help me.  I asked them to run a feeding center close to this area and I'll take care of providing the food.  We will have nothing to do with the people stealing the food.  We will let the Lord handle that.  I already took them potatoes, rice, and beans (25 lbs. of each).  We start next Saturday inside an abandoned house.  This week I will try to find some used chairs and tables.  I will also purchase disposable plates and spoons.  The church will provide the cooks and the Bible lessons.  I'm sure before long we will have 100 or more people show up.  (James 1:27:  Religion that our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress....).  Juarez is loaded with orphans and widows.  Here is where the heart of God beats. 

I took the rest of the potatoes to a girls refuge (to Marycruz, for those who have been here and know her), and to another orphanage (Cesia's). 

I want to share a story about a trip I made to Cecia's orphanage 2 Saturdays ago.  This orphanage is struggling to feed their kids. On Sundays they also try to feed people from the surrounding poor neighborhood.  I keep them on top of my list for food.  Two Saturdays ago I had two events planned but both fell through.  I had some rice and beans that I was taking to Cecia's on Sunday but since I was not too busy on Saturday I decided to go to Cecia's that day.  I brought them rice and beans (25 lbs each).  When I got there  one of the ladies asked me about a man who had been there the previous day (Friday).  Surprised, I told her that I had no idea who that man was.  She said that she was washing dishes and when she looked up there was a man on the other side of the window.  Then he walked inside the orphanage, which he is not supposed to do.  She asked him why he had walked inside and all he could say was that he came to tell them that Brother Daniel would be in the next day with food for them.  She kept telling him that he was not supposed to just walk in.  He repeated himself about Brother Daniel, which is what they call me at Cecia's.  Then he calmly walked out.  She followed him out the door and when she looked up he had disappeared into thin air.  Then she remembered that I never have sent anyone to announce my coming before.  Besides, they are practically in the middle of the desert.  She asked me again who that man was...she even described him to me, including the colors he was wearing.  I had no explanation...I told her that I had just made the decision to go there 2 hours before arriving.  We just stared at each other with big eyes and a silly grin. 

We have had more rain than normal lately, a welcomed blessing.  However, this is a desert and the system in Juarez is not prepared for even small amounts rain.  Some parts of the city had floods.  The pastor in whose church we are raising chickens was proud to tell me that only one chicken drowned.  A church member found them in water that was knee-deep.  A couple of people around that vicinity also came close to drowning.  

About three years ago I was in Juarez on a missions trip with the Arkansas team.  On our last day of ministry it started to rain.  We witnessed how God miraculously cleared up the heavens around us while we ministered outdoors.  It rained all around us for hours but not in our circle of ministry.  We got up early the next morning to depart and it was still raining.  We had to push the van out of a mud hole to get on the road.  On my return to Arkansas I was informed that the rains had continued and that Juarez was flooded.  I asked if I needed to fly back to help with a few outreaches to the needy and I was asked to come.  Within days I was back in Juarez.  It was a very different Juarez than the one I had just left.  The bare and rocky mountains that I had seen before were now covered with a tint of green as seeds which had been blown up there months and years before began to take on new life.  The streets were littered with debris as they had been turned into rivers washing away pallet houses, frame houses, and even vehicles.  Many people drowned, including children.  Dead animals were all over.  We visited two Colonias, Fronteriza Baja and Fronteriza Alta, that were hit especially hard since they were completely surrounded by mountains. We brought a lot of food and clothing to these poor people. The government brought in no help. It was here that, after a long day of giving out all we had, that a group of about 30 people stood around waiting. The sun had long gone down, we were using car headlights to see. These people were loaded down with bags of food and clothing. I walked over to them to tell them that we had nothing else to give. They said that they were waiting around because they wanted us to introduce them to our God. I couldn't believe my ears. Did I really hear that? I spoke to them for a while and led them all to the Lord. All those unforgettable memories of that trip filled my heart when I visited those two Colonias again last Sunday. I even wept again. I drove around and came to the same spot where all that occurred. I went to a church just a few blocks from that site. I was thrilled to walk in and see the church fill up with 250+ people. I wondered how many of these sitting in church I had led to the Lord during those days, and if they would remember me. But what mattered was that this Colonia and these precious folk had survived. 

People all over the world face traumatic experiences in their lives. But when they reach out and grab Jesus by the hand, as Peter did one day when he stepped out of a boat and he began to sink, they learn that they can survive anything. Christians here in Juarez know just how to do that. They have faced obstacles that their fellow brothers in other nations cannot even begin to imagine. And they know how to survive, because if there is one thing that they have learned, it's to reach out and grab the extended hand of Jesus.  

Thanks to all those who are keeping me here with their support.



Daniel Torres 
11985 Pellicano
Suite G, Box 169
El Paso, TX 79936
1-501-827-7679

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

CONNECTIONS....WHAT MAKES THE BLESSINGS FLOW.

ITALIAN MISSIONARY LEONARDO CINGARY AND MYSELF.

One of the things that constantly amazes me is the way in which the Lord uses me to connect the body of believers to work in harmony in accomplishing His work.  From the simplest of tasks to major accomplishments the Lord is working to see that it all gets done for the furtherance of His kingdom.  This is what the Lord wants us to do...to find a need and meet that need.  In order to connect blessings with needs the Lord has led me to meet a lot of different people with different types of ministries in the 13 months that I have been serving as a full-time Missionary in Juarez, Mexico.

CHILDREN RUNNING TO HELP SET UP.

LEONARDO'S TENT.

For instance, recently I met Pastor Marie Lara who didn't have anyone to lead the worship services at her new church.  The Lord had provided her and her husband with a great looking building to hold services. They started having church services 2 months ago. But they were without a worship leader.  Pastor Marie told me about her need and asked me to help her.  This was not a problem.  I just happened to know the perfect individual who could help her out.  I went to look for Manuel Ojeda, who is not only a great worship leader but he also plays the keyboard so well that you would think that an entire orchestra was in the room.  Manuel is also an excellent preacher.  Manuel was looking for a place to use his God-given talents aside from serving at his father's church.  Pastor Marie has services on Sunday at 11:30am and Manuel's father's church meets at 5pm, so there was no conflict in time.  Manuel could minister in both churches without a problem.  All I had to do was make the connection.  I made plans with Manuel last Sunday morning.  I picked him up at home and we both showed up at Pastor Marie's church.  Manuel not only led the worship but Pastor Marie also asked him to speak.  I made the connection and now Manuel will be coming to work with Pastor Marie on Sundays.  

CHILDREN ENJOYING THE OUTREACH

PIÑATA TIME....

A similar connection happened recently.  I was visiting the offices of Spanish American Evangelistic Ministries, a Spanish tract ministry in El Paso.  The Director of the ministry, Bety Garcia, showed me a small shipment of medical supplies that she had received as a donation to the people in Juarez.  Bety asked me if I knew what she could do with the supplies.  I knew of a Christian clinic in Juarez that would be thrilled to receive the donation.  I made the connection and soon a Doctor showed up at the tract ministry to take the supplies across the border to the clinic in Juarez.   

THE TENT CAN SEAT 450 PEOPLE.

GOODIES TO BE GIVEN OUT TO KIDS.

I realized the need to get Christians in Juarez baptized.  Very few churches have a place to baptize their people and since we live in the desert there are no ponds, rivers, or lakes to baptize them.  I contacted a portable baptistry manufacturer and they donated a unit, free of charge to the work in Juarez.  I actually have 2 units, and both were donated.  Last week there were 12 people baptized in one of the units. 

Last week I finally met another full-time Missionary to Juarez (I'll write more about him in this article).  His name is Leonardo.  He has a tent ministry and last weekend he had set it up at a Christian School for a three-day outreach.  He had a major problem.  He needed a team of men to help him take down the tent on Monday morning.  The Christian School offered him some students, but he needed major muscle power.  I knew that just a couple of miles down the road Pastor Javier Castrejon, who runs a Christian rehab center for ex-addicts and alcoholics, may be able to send help.  I made the Call to Pastor Castrejon and on Monday morning 20 men from the center gladly showed up to help with the tent.  The tent was down and put up in only 6 hours.  The men from the Rehab Center were thrilled to give back to God's work and Missionary Leonardo was blessed.  The connection was a blessing to both teams.

CLOWNS REACHING KIDS FOR JESUS

HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM

Recently a new project was started in Juarez by a hand full of people to try to bring more blessings to the City of Juarez.  We meet every Tuesday to come up with ways to help the multitudes here in Juarez.  There are tens of thousands of widows and orphans in Juarez due to the murders of the past few years.  There are an untold number of kids and elderly folk who go without food daily.  The basic necessities of life are far beyond the reach of the majority of people in Juarez and surrounding areas.  Our small team was very excited when a ministry in McAllen, Texas, about 800 miles away from El Paso, offered to donate 20 tons of food, clothing, and shoes.  This would be a huge blessing for the City of Juarez and its people.  The problem was getting the 20 tons of donated items from McAllen to El Paso.  But I had my connections already. I just made a call to Francisco (Paco) Salas, President of Root International in Mexico, who lives in Juarez.  I met Paco a few months ago and we have worked together in the past.  I invited Paco to join us at the next meeting and....yes, Root International will be able to help get the 20 tons of blessings from McAllen to El Paso (more details on that later in this article).  As an added blessing Paco informed us that Root international has received a gift of another 20 tons of nothing but rice.  The shipment of rice has already been brought to El Paso where it is waiting Mexican government approval so that it may be crossed over to Juarez.  This is, without a doubt, a great blessing. 

Connections are of vital importance in God's kingdom.  I have been very blessed as the Lord continually brings new people in my life.  Every time that I meet someone new I know that He has brought them to me for a purpose.  I know that sooner or later my new acquaintance will play a major role in God's work as He brings together the members of His Kingdom to hold hands with one another in unity and love...all for His Glory and Honor. 

...........................................................................................................

MORE GOODIES THROWN OUT TO ALL

KIDS ENJOYING THE CLOWN ACT

I continue to purchase Bibles to give away to those in need of them.  I never cease to be amazed at the joy in a Christian's face when they receive a new paperback Bible.  I know that most Christians in the U.S. have a super abundance of Bibles in their homes.  I have seen grown men weep as they receive a new Bible.  Most Christians in Juarez cannot afford a Bible and there are very, very few Christian bookstores in Juarez. 

I keep a steady supply of beans, rice, and other things with me to give out as I run into people with needs.  You don't have to look hard in Juarez to find families and ministries who have no food. 

I also carry reading glasses with me to hand out to those who can't see to read their Bibles.  This has been a great blessing to many.

Recently I have also been helping many people avoid surgery by providing them with the means to pass gall stones.  People cannot thank me enough when I show them how to avoid this type of surgery, plus it provides a means to share the gospel with many.   

I wanted to mention Missionary Leonardo Cingary again. He has been in Juarez for 8 years.  He comes from Italy and his wife is from England.  He speaks perfect Spanish.  He has used his tent in 50 outreaches thus far, and each outreach lasts for several days.  I have posted some pictures of the most recent outreach to children in Casas Grande, Juarez.  I have been blessed to meet Leonardo.  I no longer feel like the Lone Ranger in Juarez.  The Lord is preparing more full-time Missionaries to come to this City to help with the great move that He has already begun. 

Lastly, I wanted to briefly mention some of the Mexican government requirements for bringing bulk items across the border to Juarez.  First of all, used clothing are not allowed, no matter how clean and de-contaminated.  Even new clothing has to be approved.  If the clothing is made in China it may not meet Mexican standards and may be refused.  A list of every single item has to be made, including brand, size, amount per box, and amount per pallet.  Expiration date is also a must.  If the items expire in less than 4 months they will not be accepted.  The list is turned in to Customs in Juarez, they send the list to Mexico City, where it goes through the channels of approval/disapproval, and it is returned to Customs in Juarez, who then contact the organization making the initial request.  That's why anything that expires in 4 months will not be approved.  We will follow the government's requirements to the letter in hopes of getting help to the Mexican people.  We realize that governments are set up by the Lord and they have their purpose.  We pray that the channels will be opened for us and that favor will be on our side so that we may bless and reach as many for the Kingdom of God as possible.

Some of my days here are long.  There are days that I get home at 9 or 10 pm.  Yet, I still ask the Lord why it was me that was chosen to receive such a huge blessing.  Why was I chosen to come to Juarez?  What did I do to be so honored? I didn't do anything!!!  I am just a small part of the over-all team.  It's all God's abundant grace.  It's all God's great love.  Truly we are all very blessed. 

Daniel Torres

11985 Pellicano

Ste. G, Box 169

El Paso, Texas 79936

STARTING THE SECOND YEAR IN JUAREZ

Gregoria Reyes

On August 1st, I started my second year as a full-time missionary in Juarez, Mexico.  It is hard to believe that time has gone by so fast.  It has been an incredible and blessed first year.  The most amazing thing is that I KNOW without a doubt that God's blessings will be even greater as time goes by.  I have seen a lot of souls come to the Lord in the past year and multitudes blessed.  I have struggled with loneliness, extreme cold and heat, and attacks of Satan.  Untold number of times I have come home and broken down over God's blessings and how He has used me.  And many, many times I have come home and travailed in tears at the sufferings that I have seen and in which I felt so helpless.  The sufferings here are indescribable and almost impossible for those in the U.S. to visualize and understand.  After a year here I still do not have a kitchen, nor do I have hot water.  Those are comforts that I sorely miss.  My biggest pain right now is that I have not seen any of my 3 daughters in 5 months.  I have never gone that long without seeing my girls.  Yet I have been blessed with wonderful daughters who understand the work that I have been called to.  Yet, my pain remains.  (My oldest daughter, Christina, will be receiving her Master's Degree soon and she also landed the job of her dreams, which is working at the Orpheum Theater in Memphis,TN). My comfort is that our life on earth is but a candle in the wind, and we must seize every moment to make it count for God's Kingdom.

Margarita

Antonio, Ruben, and Margarita

Pastor Abel's kids. Bath time.

My first year in Juarez was to close out with 14 days in which we had 20 services planned with a family that came from Orlando, Florida.  The first week was great, but at the start of the second week I received a call at 2:20am telling me that they were going back to Orlando.  Nothing else was said and I thought that maybe I was having a nightmare.  Unfortunately, it wasn't.  So I was left with several churches to call and apologize to.  I still have no idea what happened, but a few of those churches had gone through great pains and expenses to host the family.  I also went through some expense.  I covered the preaching in most of the churches, however it wasn't me that they were expecting.  I was sick to my stomach for the rest of the week because I felt so bad for the Pastors who had programmed all this at my asking.  I felt very responsible.   

RUBEN

Yesterday morning I was with a group of Pastors and leaders from the U.S. and Juarez.  We met to discuss a 3-day crusade that is coming to Juarez in October.  The crusade is estimated to cost $50,000US, so it will be a massive venture.  It's also a faith venture, we're trusting in the Lord to provide the funds.  We have more meetings planned before the day of the crusade.  

One most recent blessing to me has been a ministry in El Paso called S.A.E.M., Spanish American Evangelistic Ministries.  They have been printing gospel tracts for Spanish countries for about 48 years.  This ministry has a small campus which has several buildings, each with a purpose to aid Juarez.  One building is used as a small warehouse for clothing, shoes, and other much needed items to be taken to Mexico.  People send donations here and Pastors or leaders can come to S.A.E.M. to pick them up.  The ministry goes through great trouble to keep the donations neat and organized.  They also get food to distribute to Mexico.  I have taken lots of rice and beans across the border which were given to me by S.A.E.M.  The ministry is also able to house small teams who want to come to minister and bless Juarez.  One such team from Ray of Hope Church in Comanche, Oklahoma was there a couple of weeks ago.  I was invited to cross over and meet these fine folk who truly have a great heart for Juarez.  My hope is to stay connected with this team.  Thanks to Ken and Carolyn for their love for Juarez.  Another personal blessing from this ministry was that they have opened their doors and are allowing me to stay at their premises anytime I wish.  I took advantage of that a week ago and I was gone from Juarez for almost 24 hours.  The house that I was given to me for that day had a bedroom and a kitchen/living room combination.  It is fully furnished and has pots and pans, and plates, and everything needed for a comfortable stay.  My most exciting part was the use of the shower with HOT water.  Thank you, Jesus!!!  This ministry is looking for a full time missionary to help in the office.  They need computer experience and must be bi-lingual.

Pastor Abel's kids

I still seem to keep finding folk who are suffering from gall stones or have been scheduled for gall bladder surgery.  I have helped many people like this with remarkable results.  Few things make a person happier than to know that a simple 4-day fast will avoid a surgery.  My most recent case was Gregoria Reyes, 60 (pictured).  Her daughter is single and has 6 kids.  I often take food to her.  Last week she was in tears because her mom (Gregoria) was in the hospital.  Later I found out that Gregoria had been released and scheduled for gall bladder surgery.  I went to see her.  I knocked and knocked and she finally came to the door.  She was bent over as she came to the door.  She was in deep pain.  She told me that she was in the bedroom praying that her Jesus would send her another way to get rid of the stones without surgery.  I smiled and told her, "I'm here!!"  During her hospital stay, even in her pain, she was helping one of the ladies in her ward who had just had gall bladder surgery.  She would get up and help her with the wounds and try to make her comfortable.  She saw the terrible pain that the lady was in and could only think that in one week it would be her turn.  She came to fear the surgery.  When I told her how I could help her she was very excited.  I returned home and I had everything she needed for the fast and headed back to her place to start her immediately.  On the same day that she had been scheduled for surgery, Gregoria passed almost a cup of stones.  She didn't need to but when I visited her that day she had saved them for me to see.  It really wasn't necessary. Gregoria now keeps thanking her Jesus and me and all the folk who help me so that I may help folk like her.  She now walks upright and is in no pain.  She had me laughing as I saw her overwhelming joy. I have other people on the list for non-surgical gall stone removal.  I just need to keep making trips to El Paso to buy what I need for the fast.

I posted some pictures of three brothers during bath time in one of the hundreds of poor neighborhoods in Juarez.  The temperatures are over 100 degrees during the summer, so a cool place to bathe is a lot of fun for these kids.  There are many, many places here without running water so they have water delivered by a truck.  But that water is usually contaminated with worms and other unhealthy critters.

Finally, I posted some pictures of Antonio, 76, his wife Margarita, 78, who is very short (she is actually standing next to me in that picture), and their son Ruben, 43.  I met this poor family about 7 years ago on a one of my first mission trips to Juarez.  I also still take food to them when I can.  Ruben is my spiritual son.  When I first met Ruben, a few years ago, he walked up to me and was demon-possessed.  He roared at me like a lion and his eyes rolled back.  I placed my hands on him and rebuked the demon(s) in Jesus' name.  Immediately he fell to the floor and when we helped him up he had no idea where he was at.  Today it is a joy to visit this dedicated man.  He continually reads his Bible and just the other day he asked me for another on.  His is getting really worn out.

People like Ruben are my joy.  They are the ones who put a sigh in my lungs and make my journey a remarkable one.  Changed lives, transformed by the power of God is what I am blessed to see everyday that I'm here.  It is what makes my life without hot water, and a kitchen a blessing.  The smile on Gregoria's face is all I need to feel that I have given someone that "cup of water" that our Master spoke about.  Taking bunny rabbits to visit orphans may not seem like much to someone who has it all.  But to this precious ones it is life changing event.  A pair of reading glasses that cost us less than a dollar is the difference between not reading the scriptures or growing in Christ as they partake of His word.  Or it may be the difference in a child's school work...will they fail or pass...due to a pair of reading glasses. Giving someone rice and beans is the deciding factor of whether that family will go to bed with full bellies or empty ones.  Telling someone about Jesus will be the turning point in that person who is hell-bound.  A hug, a smile, a pat on the back, a visit, a tear shared with someone hurting.  Jesus' strongest word to His saints is GO.  He will not tell you the how, where, or what, just yet.  He waits for the first step in obedience to His GO, the slowly the rest comes.  It's all about faith.  I can't ask if He has called you to GO, because ALL are called.  But I can ask you if you are...willing.

My sincerest thanks to all who have helped to keep me here for a year and for taking a part in the work that Jesus is doing in the City of Juarez.  This City is the catalyst that He will use for end-time world revival.  This place is a ticking time bomb that will release God's glory throughout Earth.  I stand in awe that He has called me to be part of this.  And all those who support this work though prayer and finances have their share in this blessing. Blessings to all.

And girls, I hope to see you soon. Your dad loves you very much.




Daniel Torres
11985 Pellicano
Ste. G, Box 169
El Paso, Texas 79936
d_torres 53@ yahoo.com


For tax credit:
Covenant Fellowship
P.O. Box 8126
Searcy, AR 72145   

MEET A HAPPY LADY

I met Pati through her sister, Elena.  Elena told me that Pati was soon to have gall bladder surgery.  She asked me to call Pati and see if I could help her.  I called Pati and arranged to visit her.  I gathered up what I needed and I proceeded to Pati's house.  There I met her husband, her mother, her brother, and 2 of her kids.  Elena is the only one in the entire family that is a Christian. 


Pati has been in and out of the hospital for a year.  Her gall bladder was full of stones which needed surgical removal.  However, the doctors wanted her to lose weight before the procedure.  Pati tried several diets but her weight loss was going too slow.  She had a huge amount of prescribed medication at home for her pain.  When the medication did not help with the extreme pain she was hospitalized for 1 to 3 days to alleviate her pain with stronger medication.  Pati had a great fear of being operated on.  Here in Juarez, Mexico you hear horror stories of people going in for a simple surgery and never walking out again.  Pati has 3 kids and she feared dying on the operating table and leaving her youngest one without a mom.  Her youngest is a 4 year old daughter who is very attached to Pati.  She will not allow anyone else care for her except her mom.  Pati did all she could to avoid the surgery at the cost of great pain.  


In recent articles I wrote about doing a four day fast with a group of Pastors.  As a side benefit, the particular fast cleans the body of kidney stones, gall stones, and in several cases living parasites were expelled.  


I brought Pati all the liquids needed for the fast, plus a Bible.  I know that Pati and her family were very hesitant about the fast and the results that I promised them.  But Pati was "between a rock and a hard place".  Her options were not good.  Yes, she was willing to do anything to avoid surgery, which in some cases leaves the patient suffering from the actual surgery for some years to come.  Pati knew of such a case, where a lady had the laser surgery but 2 years later had not recovered from the wounds inflicted on her body.  Not to mention loss time at a hospital, time of recovery, and the huge costs involved.  To Pati four days of fasting was a great option...if it worked!  She was willing to try.  I gave her all the instructions as she carefully wrote them down.  We reviewed everything carefully.  Finally I handed her the Bible and asked her to start reading in the Book of John.  She was very hopeful and thankful when I left.  We agreed that I would call and check on her periodically. 


Finally, the third day of her fast came. Pati had been a model patient.  The third day is a little hard because the patient has to drink half a cup of olive oil, along with doing other simple things.  The oil is hard for some to drink.  Pati drank it in one gulp.  After the oil, the gall bladder begins to eject the stones, which by then have been softened.  Most people sleep through the night before the body eliminates the soft stones all at once.  Pati started eliminating stones in less than 3 hours after drinking the oil, and it took her 4 trips to the restroom before her body was cleared of stones. 


I spoke to Pati on the fourth day of her fast.  I don't know that I have ever spoken to a more grateful and happy person.  


Yesterday I visited her and her family again.  She said the stones looked identical to the ones she had seen in her ultra sounds.  She collected some of the stones but the softening process kept working and just turned them into a black liquid.  She had been worried that some of the stones would remain in her stomach but when she saw them turn to liquid she knew that she was totally free of gall stones.  Pati is now pain free and medication free.  She had been scheduled for another ultra sound next week.  She told me that she was going to keep the appointment.  She couldn't thank me enough for her experience.  I always remind people that I have an army of prayer warriors who keep me in Juarez.  She wanted me to pass on her profound thanks to all.  I spoke to her about the Lord Jesus for a long time.  Her family knows so very little about the Lord, but she wants to start attending church.  She said her family WILL come with her. Her heart is now very opened to the Gospel message.  God has giving me favor with this family.   Pati, even more so than her husband, is the head of the family.  


Before I left Pati's house she said that on Friday her whole family was getting together to celebrate her new-found health.  I told her that I was glad that her family is so close knit and that she had marked a day of celebration.  She looked at me with pleading eyes and asked me gently if I would please come and be her guest of honor.  Before I answered I offered a silent word of thanks to God for the favor He had given me with a family that does not know Him.  I smiled and told her, "Yes, Pati, I'll be here".








I apologize that I couldn't load up a picture of Pati. The connections here are always bad and that could be the problem. I tried for a long time. Sorry.


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




For tax credit:
Covenant Fellowship
P.O. box 8126
Searcy, AR 72145

ONE EVENING WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

    Geraldo owns a meat plant.  He pays $500US to embezzlers or his family "will suffer the consequences".  Anyone else in Juarez would have already packed up and left the City of Juarez.  Geraldo is one of the few left in Juarez who can afford to do that.  But Geraldo is a very strong Christian man, and so are his wife and kids.  They refuse to leave the City that God has them serving in.  Geraldo is not a Pastor and does not hold a church position.  But He and his family, along with about 15 others venture out into the dangerous parts of the City on Thursday nights to bring the gospel message. Geraldo also provides the transportation, the food for the helpers, and about 200 meals to hand out where they minister.  Several times during the year Geraldo takes this team on distant missions trips.  He pays for everything.


Earlier in the week I drove to Geraldo's business to see if he would like for me to preach at one of his services.  When he saw me he came over to me and told me that he was just about to call me.  He said he wanted me to preach this Thursday night.  The Lord worked it all out.   


Thursday afternoon I drove to his place and we all headed to the North side of Juarez, known for drugs, prostitution, homosexuality, and every crime imaginable. Geraldo brings sound equipment, microphones, and musical instruments including a set of drums. 


As soon as we get to the square in front of a Catholic Cathedral the mini-army begins to set up.  The people know from past experience that they will be fed so the crowd slowly begins to grow.  A quick visual scan and we see that the people are hurting, dirty, hungry, tired...hopeless.  Some are prostitutes, addicts, most are unemployed...the Devil's punching bags...They have been beaten for so long that many have given up.  They are very young...and very old.  Some live in abandoned houses, alleys, under a bridge, in large culverts, or in an empty lot.  Dogs in the United States enjoy comforts that these know nothing about.      


In no time everything is ready and Geraldo's young daughter opens up with prayer, Bible reading and worship music.   


Soon she introduces me and I walk to the small portable podium.  My message was very simple. Luke 16:19-31...The rich man and Lazarus...with emphasis on salvation.  I knew that in these type settings you have to get to the point quickly.  During the message a young homosexual man kept walking in front of me and pulling his pants down.  Just before the end of my message two women ended up in an argument and soon one of them emptied a cup of water on the other one.  Within seconds one was grabbing the other one by the hair and trying to wrestle her down.  Some men from our group came over and pulled them apart.  They were about 10 feet from me.  I understand the enemies tactics, so I kept going without hardly missing a beat.  I made it to the end without any more major disruptions, but we still had minor ones.  I made a strong invitation to accept Jesus and 8 came forward, including the woman wrestler. I saw tears in their eyes.  I saw the pain.  I knew that if Jesus had been there in the flesh that He would have held them in His arms.  I did my best to represent Him in doing so.  I wondered when the last time was that any of these had a loving touch.


One woman told me that she had strayed away from Christ and wanted to return to Him.  Jerry told me that heroin had destroyed his life and he wanted out.  Jerry spoke perfect English.  He once lived in the United States but was deported for drugs.  I prayed for all of them individually with the help of the team and counseled many.  


Soon the feeding started but I kept walking through the crowd looking for more who needed prayer.


I heard a man screaming out at the top of his lungs as he sat by a large water fountain that actually had water in it.  He was screaming out to God to for help.  Others just stared at him and tried to give him plenty of distance.  I went over and spoke to him, listened to his sorrow, and touched him.  He immediately settled down.  He spoke to me in a quiet, normal voice.  He was very sincere.  He told me that he was a thief.  It was how he supported his wife and four kids.  His face was scarred from a beating he took while attempting to burglarize a house.  He wanted out of that lifestyle but didn't know how to do it.  I spent so much time with him that he missed his meal.  He was very hungry.  We found him something to eat.  He was the 9th person to accept the Lord.  His name is Ismael.  In less than 20 minutes Ismael's entire countenance and character had changed.  (While I spoke with Ismael there was another young man who had found three pieces of used lemon around the square.  He was squeezing the very last drop of lemon juice into a cup.  Then he filled the cup with water from the fountain, where birds bathed, people spit in, and who knows what else...and then he proudly drank his lemonade.)  


I was told of another young man whose father was a Pastor.  One of the team members spoke to him but I never had a chance to meet him.  He had become a heroin addict.  He knew that it was his mother's prayers that had kept him miraculously alive all this time.  The story of the rich man somehow broke his heart.  They found him grieving and in tears.  He was ready to go back home. 


We finished the work at the square, the mini-army took no time in taking everything down again, and we loaded up.  But we weren't finished yet.  A few blocks away we stopped at a hotel were a number of prostitutes congregate right in front.  They barely looked any better than the crowd at the town square.  They received a meal and were ministered to on a one-to-one basis.  A few of them walk away during the short time of ministry, but most of them stayed around.  I was told that many of them have been reached for the Lord and are now leading new lives.  


About four hours was all it took for the Holy Spirit to touch and change many lives.  I still remain in awe at the many needs and the many people who are hurting all around us.  There are many who are wearing suits and ties and expensive evening gowns who are hurting just as bad as those who I see in Juarez everyday.  Don't let the fanciness and the glamour fool you.  If nothing is done they will wind up in hell as the rich man did in the scriptures that I used.  As believers it is our responsibility to reach out to the lost, and with the power of Holy Spirit we will rob hell of those souls.  Thursday night we raided the chambers of hell and rescued souls for the Kingdom of God.  


Thanks to all those who backed us up with prayer.  




Daniel






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




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

THE COST OF SERVING GOD

       I often tell people that our Salvation is free, however sharing the Gospel may cost us plenty...even our lives.  Few Christians are willing to sacrifice for the Gospel, even fewer will put their lives on the line for the cause of the Gospel.  In Luke 14:26, Jesus says that anyone who will not put Him ahead of their entire family cannot be His disciple.  They are not denied salvation, they just simply cannot be His disciples.  Living in Juarez, Mexico I get to see what real sacrifice and suffering is from many that I meet.  Most believers in well developed nations cannot fathom what their brothers and sisters in Christ suffer.  The prosperity message in most of the developed nations may portray those who suffer for God's Kingdom as losers who are weak faith.  Yet, I have never seen such faith as I see in this City that has been beaten by the Devil as a rug on a clothesline.  Lately I have been preaching messages of suffering and faith.  If suffering is lack of faith then the Apostle Paul and the untold number of other servants of God failed miserably (see Hebrews 11).  And what can we say of Jesus' sufferings?  Suffering is as part of the Christian walk as is Love.  Peter even had the nerve to write that we have been called to suffer (1 Peter 2:20).  When we tell an unbeliever that God will fix all their problems, plus flood their lives with "things", we do a terrible service to them AND to the gospel.  They will set themselves on a path to fill their lives with the "things" that prove them to be a servant of faith.  They also fail to become a strong servant of Christ with all the sacrifices required.  And when life gets tough they become disillusioned with their faith and walk away from God. 


Yesterday I met Pastor Rosales.  Someone had told him about some nut who had moved to Juarez and he wanted to meet me.  He found the Lord in Jail after a long life of drug trafficking across the border.  He carried 200 lbs of cocaine across the border at a time.  He has been a Pastor for 6 years.  His church building looks very impressive for the area that he serves.  Most of his congregation comes from the same lifestyle that he did.  They are mostly ex-addicts and traffickers.  Pastor Rosales last sentence was for 12 years.  Twelve years in a Mexican jail is no cake walk.  As with others who have walked in his shoes, Pastor Rosales would visit Satanic churches and ask for protection from demons as he worked that lifestyle.  The things that go on in those churches cannot be described here.  Pastor Rosales even had demons appear to him.  When he gave his life to the Lord he prayed, and for reasons that he still doesn't know he was released after just 100 days.  He found a good church and served well until years later he became a full time Pastor.  He never called me by my name.  He kept calling me "Servant of God."  I could say a lot more about this man but let me share about what he experienced last year. 


Pastor Rosales has been followed by his old acquaintances from his old lifestyle ever since he became a Christian.  They beg him to return to work with them.  Surprisingly, they treated him well even when he tried to witness to them.  But last year things changed.  One man came to his church and told him that if he didn't come up with $8,000US that they would start killing off his family members one by one; starting with his mother and ending with his kids, wife, the burning of his church, and finally his own murder.  They knew that the only way that he could come up with that huge amount of money was to return to drug trafficking.  But what he did was to start selling all that he had, including his old car.  The only problem was that he only had $2,300 by the set date before the murders would begin.  Days before that he called a family meeting and told them what was going on.  He told everyone to leave Juarez, but he couldn't leave his church.  One member told him, "Pastor, if you die, I want to die with you. I will not leave you."  I also met that church member yesterday.  


The men came on the specified day and walked into his church, carrying their weapons.  They asked for the money.  Pastor Rosales simply told them that he only raised $2,300.  He pointed to his forehead and to his heart.  He told them to aim for those two areas so they can get it over quickly.  But he finished by telling them that one day they would have to answer to Jesus for their crime.  They asked him several questions about Jesus, he answered, they turned around and left.  Pastor Rosales was left holding the $2,300 and staring at the member who was willing to die with his Pastor.  The men never returned.  Pastor Rosales took the $2,300 and put it all towards the completion of his half-built church building.  It is a great looking building.  I will preach there Sunday at 5pm.  


Meeting people like Pastor Rosales in the flesh is one of my greatest blessings.  I meet men and women like him all the time.  They serve the Lord with such zeal and love, yet they struggle to meet the smallest needs.  Truly, we have been called to suffer for Christ.  We, like Paul, glory in our sufferings.  Do you suffer?  Do you know Christ? 


Last Friday I visited an orphanage that is dear to my heart.  When I got there I found out that earlier in the week they had gone 2 days without water.  I told them not to ever let that happen again, when they had my phone number.  The orphanage is run by 5 family members: a mother, three daughters, and one son.  All are highly educated. The Lord called them to Juarez from Mexico City to come and work here.  The mom used to Pastor a church in Mexico City.  Four of the kids are single and are licensed teachers.  One is a Veterinarian.  The Veterinarian works to support the ministry.  The kids in this orphanage are very blessed to have all this knowledge around them. The kids are very respectable and very well mannered.  There is very little need for a Veterinarian in Juarez.  Even with a million people left here, she struggles for work.  Even with her help this orphanage could not afford...water!!!  So the young Doctor has recently taken on a second job.  Unbelievably, this Doctor moonlights as a security guard.  It is in this orphanage that I wish to start another project raising rabbits.  I can't go wrong with a Vet on the premises.  


Some quick notes:


The Lord continues to ask me to keep preaching and many doors are opening for that.  


I will continue to work on Wednesday nights to build up a new congregation in an area where there are no churches. 


Three brave ladies drove down to Juarez from Arkansas to minister.  They worked in Juarez with Pastor Sylvia, who has a church in El Paso. It was great to visit with them during their stay. I only spent just over an hour with them.  Thanks Sandy, Sharon, and Carol for the sacrifice.  I know you were blessed.


I had another company who makes portable baptistries to donate a second unit. The first unit costs $250, and the second unit was $850.  I already have both at no cost.  My heart swells with blessings like these.


I will be very, very busy towards the end of this month.  Pastors Luis and Dalys Acevedo, who are highly gifted by the Holy Spirit,  are returning to Juarez with their daughter.  They will be ministering for 2 weeks and I will be in all those services.  I am really excited to see this couple again.  


Spanish American Evangelistic Ministries,  S.A.E.M., in El Paso, Texas is looking for a full time missionary with good computer knowledge.  They print and ship gospel tracts and literature to Spanish Nations.  Their campus has living quarters available.  Call or write if interested in more information. 


Temperatures in Juarez are back to 100+ degrees almost daily.  We had a rare rainfall yesterday, so we are enjoying under 100 degree temperatures today. 


I am closing in on one year in Juarez at the end of this month.  What an experience!!  I often struggle being here alone but God's grace is sufficient.  The valleys have been low, but the mountain tops have reached heaven itself. 


Blessings to all.  Thanks for the prayers and constant love. 


Daniel




Daniel Torres
11985 Pellicano
Ste. G, Box 169
El Paso, Texas 79936
1-501-827-7679


For tax credit:
Covenant Fellowship
P.O. Box 8126
Searcy, AR 72145  

FAST RESULTS

Greetings to all.  I have been without Internet service for about 2 weeks so I am behind on getting some information out.  Lack of good Internet service and phone connections are a constant battle.  I will try to cover the highlights of the past few weeks with a couple of entries to this blog.  


One of the most exciting events has been the four day fast with Pastors, their wives, and a few other souls who wanted to join in. We had a total of 25 initial 'fasters'.  It took me a number of trips to El Paso to gather all the things needed for this particular fast. The supplies are not easily found in Juarez and, if found, cost almost twice as much.  The total cost of this fast was about $500.  We met on Saturday June 16 so that I may give instructions for the fast, plus hand out all the liquids needed.  The Spiritual re-awakening and cleansing is the most important part of any fast but, as an added benefit, this fast also totally empties out the kidneys and gall bladder of any stones.  A good fast also helps to detoxify our bodies.  It serves as a great tune-up for out physical as well as our spiritual being.  If Jesus fasted, how much more should we?  It is a certainty that all individuals who still have a gall bladder and who have not done this fast before have gall stones.  A few also have kidney stones.  During the meeting I stressed the importance of the Spiritual fast.  We know that the believer's body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and what affects the body also affects the Spirit of man.  The Pastors wanted to start the fast the following Monday, the 18th of June.  I called another meeting the following Saturday, to share testimonies of the fast and to enjoy Communion together.  Before the second Saturday came around I was already hearing of some amazing stories.  Here are some of the fast results:


Everyone who fasted prayed for everyone else who fasted.  Everyone involved in the fast experienced Spiritual renewal including words from the Lord, wisdom, knowledge, direction, and guidance, along with renewed hope.  One Pastor was told by the Spirit of God about a wolf in sheep's clothing in his church, whom he thought was a great servant of God.  The Pastor did some investigating and, sure enough, he was very alarmed to find some disturbing truths of things going on in his church, right under his nose.  This surfaced before the fast even ended.  The pastor corrected the problem even though he lost a few members in his small congregation.  He was very happy with the way things unfolded, though he was also saddened by the events.  That same Pastor spoke about how "grossed out" he was when he passed parasites on the third day of the fast.  He passed them though his urine and they were still alive.  He asked his wife to come see them as they swam in the commode.  They said that they looked like tiny octopuses bobbing up and down in the water.  The Pastor had been suffering with severe back pain prior to the fast, but not after.  This same Pastor's wife, in her early 40's, testified about some physical problems that she had experienced in the past two years.  Two months before the fast she felt that she couldn't go on any more.  Before she finished the fast she felt 100% better.  She wept uncontrollably as she testified about her experiences during the four days.  She was extremely thankful for her new life.  Another lady passed about 200 stones along along chili seeds from her gall bladder.  She also had been suffering physically for 2 years.  During the last 12 months she has been in constant 24 hour-a-day pain from head to toe.  After the fast the only pain that she had left was a slight headache.  We prayed for her to get total relief from her headache.  Another incredible testimony was the one given by an evangelist couple.  I wrote a story in this blog about them titled THE SHOES OF THE HAIRSTYLIST.  Daniel pumped his body several times a day with hormones. He did this for 20 years to become a woman physically.  He gave his life to the Lord and was instantly set free from homosexuality, however, ten years later, he still felt that his body was filled with the toxins from all the hormones.  During the fast he was totally cleaned and he no longer felt the affects in his body.  His wife, Irene, had body aches for the past two months, including swelling of the feet.  She was also set free from the toxins that were causing all her troubles.  Some couples testified about how much younger their mates looked after the fast. 


Everyone passed gall stones.  The number of stones ranged from approximately 100 to 200.  Everyone got up to the microphone to testify. They ALL thanked me and their American brothers and sisters for this huge blessing.  We had communion, celebrated, laughed, cried, and prayed.  The fast brought the Pastors and leaders closer together.  


Before the fast ended I was called to visit a few people who are on the list for gall bladder surgery.  One particular 20 year old woman had traveled 2 hours (with her 4 month old) by bus to come to Juarez for Father's Day.  She started having gall bladder problems a year ago.  While in Juarez she became very ill, was hospitalized, and told that she needed gall bladder surgery.  She refused surgery for several reasons.  I went to visit her.  I took her everything that she needed and started her on a fast immediately.  Today she is back home with her baby and husband and is free of stones in her gall bladder.  Currently, I have 3 others with severe gall bladder problems on the fast.  I always stress to them the importance of prayer and Bible study during the fast.  I also have a list of 10 people who need the fast.  I have had to increase my trips to El Paso from one to two and three a week.  I have to bring what I need from El Paso a little at a time. 

I sense that people here are getting excited about fasting, which was something that they rarely did.  Most people spoke about only fasting a half a day in the past, but even that had been years ago.  I have asked church leaders that we must make fasting part of the Christian lifestyle and to teach their people about fasting.  




In the near future I will be introducing many leaders to a 10 day fast.  Prayer and fasting is what the Lord wants so that He may change lives.  I have also been told by a medical Doctor that he may call on me to speak before a group of Doctors about this fast.

Moving on to other FAST RESULTS... I now have seven baby rabbits living in my back yard.  I started with four adult rabbits on May 22.  They all seem to be doing well.  However, on the other side of town we started with a dozen rabbits and we are down to only one. The rest have died.  I suspect that there are several causes for this.  When I visit that place I often find the rabbits without water (temperatures are now above 100 almost daily), and cages not cleaned properly.  I also suspect that too many children are allowed to play with the rabbits without adult supervision and they are being mishandled.  I have spoken to them about this before.  I decided not to bring any more rabbits to that area and to just raise chickens there. The chickens are doing well there.  Recently they had 9 eggs hatch.  I also plan to bring the remaining rabbit to my back yard until I can move them to another place where I know they will be taken proper care of. 

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I plan on writing more about current events very shortly. 


Thanks to all for your continued prayers, support, and words of love and encouragement.  As usual, you are free to share these stories.


Daniel








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




For tax credited contributions:
Covenant Fellowship
P.O. Box 8126
Searcy, Arkansas 72145