REACHING THE DOWNTRODDEN IN HIGH PLACES

CHILDREN PREPARE FOR A VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL AT COLONIA GRANJAS UNIDAS

For a long time my heart has been captivated by a neighborhood in high places.  It sits up high on the side of a mountain in Juarez, Mexico.  It is called Colonia Granjas Unidas, or Colonia United Farms.  But there is very little unity and there are very few farms left.  At some point long ago the mountain had many hog farms and a few other animals were raised.  But today most of it sits idle.  The Colonia, or neighborhood, is very poor.  There are a lot of shacks and places of residence that were built with anything and everything.  I know a family that used old water heaters to make the outside walls of their house.  They took the water heaters apart, took out the outer metal skins, flatten them out, and nailed them up to make the outside walls.  Others use cardboard, old store signs, or scraps of plywood.  Many of the houses that have been here a long time were made of concrete block.  The dirt roads are in terrible condition.  As I drive up the mountain I must go 5 miles per hour or less.  The poor quality water is delivered by trucks to those who have money to pay for it.

 

RENTAL HOUSE WILL BE THE NEW CHURCH

NEW CHURCH AT GRANJAS UNIDAS

I know of senior citizens who live half way up the mountain and a round trip to the supermarket takes them about 5 hours on foot.  Their age does not permit them to walk fast, they fight every loose rock along the way, and on the way back up they do the same plus bear the weight of their groceries.  I know of a mom who walks one hour to take little Victor to school.  Her house is closer to the top and the school is half way up the mountain. Two trips to school a day make up four hours of walking a day. 

 

In many places the Colonia looks like the city dump.  And like many places in Juarez the people at Granjas Unidas are barely scratching out a living.  After constantly fighting to stay afloat the people of this Colonia and other Colonias seem to have adjusted to this lifestyle and it has become the norm.  When everyone suffers no one feels at a disadvantage.  So in suffering there IS unity.

 

BACK ROOM CREATED FOR OLDER KIDS

KIDS ENJOYING VBS

The beauty of this Colonia, aside from the souls that make this their residence, is the view of the City of Juarez at night.  There is a spectacular view of Juarez from the top of the mountain that makes you just want to sit and stare down with a cup of coffee in hand.  I visited an elderly couple last winter and did just that.  We would sit at their tiny wooden porch and drink the hot cocoa that I brought.  Eventually they would have to go back inside and stand by their 55 gallon drum turned into a cook stove and heater, but I would stay outside and stare at the beautiful lights way down below.  One evening I came up for my usual fix of "the view" and the porch was completely gone.  I was very disappointed.  They told me that they ran out of fire wood and had to use part of their house, including my favorite porch, to keep warm.  An old metal chair just wasn't the same!  Temperatures in Juarez during the winter drop down to the 30's, 20's, and sometimes lower than that.  I have seen snow in Juarez on several occasions.  Now, imagine living in a house in the winter where the wall is only the shell of an old water heater!

 

During the last 12 or 13 months I have brought in a lot of help to Granjas Unidas but it seems like a drop in the bucket compared to the need.  The Colonia is also in desperate need of a good church.  There is only one very small church here and I visited with the Pastor about the possibility of working with him and reaching more people.  But his vision is very limited.  After 20 years at Granjas Unidas the congregation is made up of about 25 to 30 people.  At first when I asked the neighbors about this church they all told me that the building is there but that there were no services.  To make sure I arrived one day at the time stated on the wall of the church and, yes, the church was meeting.  But the people in the Colonia are not being reached with the Gospel.  My visit with the Pastor just left me wanting to start another church.

TWO HOUSES FROM THE CHURCH

HOUSE NEXT DOOR

 

There is now another church being started at this Colonia.  With the help of a Pastor from El Paso and a few women that come out with her on Tuesdays the Lord has granted our desire for another church.  A family at the Colonia has allowed us to use a small rental house to start this project and they are not charging rent.  The neighbors next door allow us to tap into their power outlets so that we can have electricity for a few light bulbs and fans.  The people that rented the house before left a $500 electric debt, which must be paid in order to get the power turned on.   That's how things work in Juarez.  The services at the rental house have continued on Tuesday mornings with the Pastor from El Paso and a Pastor from Juarez.  Last week we had a VBS there and we averaged 45 to 50 kids during the 5 days.   This weekend we will start the first regular services at the rental house.  But the house is already too small.  The last Tuesday that services were held at the house about 30 people showed up.  There is some land around the rental house that I am having someone look into to find out who owner is, if it has one, or if we can talk to the City about having it donated for a ministry. 

 

There is a lot of work for the Lord to be done at Granjas Unidas.  Once we get set up with some kind of building I would love to have a team or teams from the U.S. come and help us do outreaches in this community.  We can provide food and other necessities for the people along with a presentation of the Gospel.  There are many children who live in this Colonia who need to be guided in the ways of the Lord.  The youth here walk about aimlessly wondering what their future will be.  A lot of them know that dealing drugs and other evil vises are options that will get them out of their current situation.  Girls at a very tender age walk around pregnant.  I know of little Jordan, who is 7 or 8 years old, and who alone takes care of his grandfather, who is blind.  I know of 11 people in one family who live under one roof and not one of them can find a job.  You may remember Chuy, who used to eat pig slop before I met him.  There are single moms living here and I have no idea what they do to feed their family.  I know of kids who go to school hungry.  Of parents who introduce their kids to sniffing chemicals because it relieves their hunger pains.  And of parents who allow their kids to be used for sex so that they all may eat.   

 

If you read this and shed tears, can you imagine us who actually SEE it?   Sometimes I wonder where all these tears keep coming from.

 

Hope!  I just want to help bring the hope of Jesus to these whom Christ died for.  They need hope!  They need to get to know the love of Jesus and the hope that is in Him! 

 

Please pray for this project at Granjas Unidas.   Pray for Pastor Roberto Nuñez and his family, who have worked on this project to get this church off the ground.  Pray for Pastor Sylvia Luis, who has initiated this work and still continues to bless the project.  There are others who are interested in this work whom the Lord will move in at the perfect time.

 

And there is not one single thing that we do that can be done without funds.  I appreciate and I am very thankful for all who sacrifice to keep me here and allow me to bless some of these precious people in one form or another.  I just completed two years of living in Juarez, Mexico and I don't want to be anywhere else, aside from heaven. Thank you from the very bottom of my heart for your support.  I know that Jesus thanks you. 

NEW CHURCH AT GRANJAS UNIDAS. TIRES MAKE A NICE BORDER FENCE

 

As a side note, we recently had 45 churches in Juarez to attend an INVASION, which is a project completely funded by a ministry called COSECHADORES VICTORIOSOS, or Victorious Harvesters.  This ministry comes into a City and trains the local churches to evangelize using several methods.  The classes last for 3 solid days and the churches hit the streets for another three days.  The harvest for the three days was 6,200 souls.  From there those who accepted the Lord are invited to the local church at a time where there are no regular services. The walk in to a celebration including food and free Bibles.  It is a wonderful time for the new converts to meet the people of the church and get familiar with the church building.  Many churches plan to repeat this as often as possible.  Please pray for these new 6,200 Saints.

 

 

P.S.  Double click on the pictures to enlarge them.

 

Have a Jesus-filled day!!!

 

 

Daniel Torres

650 Linwood Dr.

El Paso, Texas 79928

1 (501) 827-7679

 

For tax receipt send

contributions to:

 

Covenant Fellowship

P.O.  Box 8126

Searcy, Arkansas 72145 

 

 

 

 

 

REMEMBER WHOSE YOU ARE

             

                 Jesus said of John The Baptist,  " I tell you, among those born of woman there is no one greater than John" (Luke 7:28).   Jesus and John were related to each other (second cousins).  As the forerunner to Jesus, John prepared the way for Jesus to enter into His personal ministry.  He taught the multitudes that One would come whose sandals he was unworthy to untie.  He also announced that Jesus would baptize with fire and with the Holy Spirit.  And it was John who baptized Jesus in the River Jordan after proclaiming that He was "the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world".  After Jesus came up out of the water heaven opened and God spoke, "This is My Son whom I love; with Him I am well pleased".  John was led of the Holy Spirit in all these things and he witnessed all this things.  John heard God's voice.  As a matter of fact John's own birth was very special.  The angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah, John's father, to announce his birth.  Gabriel told Zechariah that John would be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth.  In Biblical history John The Baptist is one the greatest characters. 

But then we fast-forward to Matthew 11:2 and we read this incredible account:  "When John heard in prison what Christ was doing he sent his disciples to ask Him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" "

That is a strange question from the lips of a man with great faith and who came into the world to introduce the Savior.  Is John doubting everything he experienced and saw?  What Happened?

 

 

What about Elisha, another one of the greatest prophets in history?  The most famous story concerning Elijah was when he invited the prophets of Baal up to mount Carmel for a show of power (1 Kings, Chapter 18).  He proposed a competition between him and 450 of the prophets of Baal.  They cup up two bullocks and put wood under each one.  Then each team was to pray for fire to burn the wood and the bullocks.  Elijah, team 1, had one bullock and the 450 prophets of Baal, team 2, had the other.  The 450 prophets went first and they began to call on their god.  Nothing happened.  No fire!!  Elijah began to mock them.  He suggested that their god was probably visiting with someone, on vacation, or taking a siesta.  The prophets tried harder.  They even cut themselves and their blood ran heavily.  Elijah's turn now.  He even made it more impressive by having barrels of water thrown on his bullock and the wood.  After a simple and short prayer our Lord sent down a fire that consumed the bullock, the wood, the water, and even the dust.  Elijah then had the 450 prophets killed.  Immediately after this Elijah, in prayer, ended the drought that had plagued the people for a very long time.  And if that wasn't enough the story is followed by Elijah asking King Ahab to leave mount Carmel before the rains.  Then King Ahab takes off in his royal steed, the best horse in the nation.  In yet another miraculous event Elijah pulls up his garment, takes off running, passes the king on his steed, and gets to Jezreel, about a marathon race away, ahead the king.  Elijah's name is historical.

 

But then at the beginning of the next chapter we read where Queen Jezebel threatens to kill Elijah.  And suddenly Elijah has a meltdown.  He goes into a depressed state and wants God to take him away.  He wants to die.  He mocked 450 prophets, called rain down, outran a royal horse, and just because a woman threatens him he is ready quit.  What happened?

 

Then we have the great Moses, who was used of God to bring the entire Nation of Israel out of Egyptian bondage through great miracles of God.  Yet Moses feared men so he often introduced his wife as his sister.  What happened?  Are these not men of unquestionable faith?

 

There are more men and women of great faith who at one time or another seemed to hit rock bottom and they questioned God's presence and His purpose for their mission and lives.  Jesus himself spoke, "My God, my God , why have you forsaken Me?"

 

Many of God's great servants with huge ministries have been down this road.  It is a trial. God seems to take a step back.  And immediately the enemy steps forward and begins to speak.  You feel alone, abandoned, powerless, without a purpose, and even depressed.  This often happens at the end of great victories.  You question your call, you question what God has done through you, you feel useless, you feel like you are just spinning your wheels, you sense that even those closest to you (those who swore that they would always be there for you)  have left you.  Everything in your personal life seems to be going South.  You take inventory and you even think about abandoning ship.  You want to quit.  And many of God's servant do just that...they get up and leave their sacred duties.  Like Peter, they go back to fishing when the Lord's presence is gone.  They have not only forgotten who they are but they have forgotten whose they are.  Some not only turn their backs on their calling and those whom you were called to serve, but worse than that, they turn their backs on God.

 

Why am I writing all this?  Two reasons:  One (the primary reason), I felt very strongly that I should write this because someone out there needs to read this.  The Lord would not allow me to let it go, although I wanted to.  Two, because for a many months I experienced some of these very same things. 

 

Many, many times this year I have felt the spiritual darkness that hovers over this City as a big weight upon my shoulders. Sometimes I felt as if I was sharing my own bed with the hordes of hell. I have been frustrated with the church leaders who, because of ignorance, make it harder for me to help them.  It is similar to a person who is drowning and you are trying to reach out to them but they start kicking and punching you. Loneliness set in bigger than I can describe.  And, yes, some who I thought would never leave me have left.  But yet I know that I am where I am supposed to be.   

 

 

There is no way that I can compare myself with the caliber of men mentioned above, but I am doing God's work, as is every Christian in the planet.  God does not measure a ministry by size, but by obedience.  The world measures ministries by size, and small or big these uncertainties will come.  It is at those times that we must remember whose we are.  We must remember the call that brought us to this point.  We must remember God's promises.  And we must remember that no matter how bad things seem, and how distant God appears to be, that His Word is ever present and real and it is on that knowledge we must rely.  Feelings will steer us wrong, but God's Word will never fail us.  His Word is the root, the foundation, the essence, the basis of faith.  When we say that we have faith we are saying that we have faith in God's Word.  His word is eternal, everlasting.  His promises are His words.  His Word and promises will always come to pass.  Always!!!  

 

When God seems to take a step back He never takes His word with Him.  His word is still in our hearts and minds.  In that we must trust. 

 

I recently spoke about Elisha being called to become Elijah's assistant.  Before Elisha departed he took the oxen that he was plowing with and killed them.  He then cooked them with the wooden equipment that was used to team up the oxen.  What Elisha did was to burn the bridge that would take him back where he was should the ministry get too tough.  Sometimes we leave our call because we have failed to burn the bridge that takes us back.  The ever present bridge makes it too easy to return to the plow and to the fishing nets.  

 

In a few weeks I will complete 2 years of living in Juarez, Mexico.  Usually at the two year mark in a ministry is when we first face these uncertainties and attacks of the enemy on a large scale.  Then another few weeks more and I will hit the 60 year mark, which I am not afraid of.  I was destined to be here in Juarez and I believe that I have burned as many bridges as I can possibly burn.  I have been going over God's promises given to me for the City of Juarez, for the Nation of Mexico, and for myself.  The promises are incredible.  The visions are remarkable.  I must not allow myself to forget them.

 

I am still doing some personal evaluations and re-commitments.  And I am remembering the vision(s) that God has given me.  I have been burying myself in the Scriptures and spending more time in prayer.  I know the enemy and this is not was he was wanting to happen.  I am weak in myself, yet very strong in Christ.  When the enemy attacks heavily it is because he knows that great things are coming.

 

I can't close without mentioning that there has been an untold number of victories over the last several months.  I will mention some in another blog entry. 

 

I also cannot or dare to forget all my prayer warriors that have stood with me.  Your prayers are my breath.  They are my life source in Juarez.  Your prayers go before me and behind me.  I give a million thanks to those who sacrifice financially to support this work and my presence here.  Only heaven knows the impact that you have had on this City and on my life.  Thank you from the very bottom of my heart.  

 

 

 

Daniel Torres

650 Linwood Drive

El Paso, Texas 79928

1-501-827-7679

 

For tax credit send contributions to:

Covenant Fellowship

P.O. Box 8126

Searcy, Arkansas 72145

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MEET CRISTHIAN AIDE...

CRISTHIAN AIDE WEARS A SOFT RUBBER-LIKE SUIT DOWN TO HER ANKLES TO PROTECT HER SENSITIVE SKIN

CLAUDIA AND CRISTHIAN AIDE

MY LITTLE HERO, CRISTHIAN

           Cristhian Aide is only 6 years old.  But it can almost be said that Little Cristhian Aide has been to hell and back.  The nightmare for her and her family started back in June of 2012,  less than a year ago.  Someone in her family had died or had been killed (not sure yet) and Cristhian's mother, Claudia, went to the funeral home.  Claudia's mother and her sister also went to the funeral home.  Cristhian Aide was also present.  But while they were at the funeral home someone threw a "burning cocktail" into the middle of the crowd.  The burning cocktail usually consists of gasoline inside of a bottle with a burning rag.  The "bomb" exploded and the place caught fire immediately.  I believe that there were more deaths, along with many very serious injuries.  Cristhian Aide was the one who suffered the most in her immediate family.  She received burns in 65% of her body.  Her mom, Claudia, was burned in 45% of her body.  Claudia's mother and sister were also burned but Cristhian Aide and Claudia were the most serious cases.  Both their lives were hanging in the balance.  With special permission from U.S. authorities Cristhian Aide and her father were flown to Galveston, Texas to a Shriner's Burn Center for children.  Claudia was taken to a hospital in Chihuahua, Mexico.  Thankfully both lived through the nightmare.  However, since Cristhian's body is still growing she will need surgeries until the age of 21.  Cristhian also received a hair transplant during the 4 1/2 months that she was in Galveston.  She had lost her hair at the explosion site.

 

 

Claudia's husband had asked her not to attend the funeral on that day.  Their two older children, a 10 year old girl and a 15 year old boy, stayed home.    

 



SEE THE TIPS OF HER FINGERS

BETY GARCIA GAVE HER A GIFT



 I came to know this family just a few weeks ago.  A friend of mine here in Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico asked me for assistance in getting Claudia a wheelchair.  Claudia's back was injured at the funeral home and she was now working with U.S. Immigration trying to get a permit for Cristhian's next visit to Galveston.  She had already missed the second appointment and she was not wanting to miss another one.  The wheelchair was needed because she knew about the long lines at immigration and she knew that her pain back would cause problems during the long hours of waiting. 

 

The day I brought them the wheelchair was when I first met this family.  I was a very hard moment.  I scanned the family with my eyes and it was almost surreal.  I felt as if everything had gone into slow motion.  I saw three adult females standing in front of me.  Each one had burn scars.  Claudia's arms were completely showing. She was wearing short sleeves.  What I saw did not make my stomach weak but it made my eyes water.  I fought the emotion.  Then Cristhian Aide walks into the room.  Without a doubt her small body had received the worst impact of the detonation.  I knew that I couldn't cry in front of this child.  I asked God for help.  I had to be strong for her.  I succeeded in keeping the tears under control but since then I have released a flood of tears in private. 

 

 

I sat down and spoke with the family.  I got to know them for a few minutes.  Soon they would head over to the U.S. Immigration services to see about a permit to return to Galveston for Cristhian's next round of surgeries.    

 

My next question was how they would make the 800 mile trip from El Paso to Galveston. They looked at me and they said that they had no idea. Claudia mentioned a bus but I knew that she could not sit that long. If a trip like that could be made it would take days under her conditions. The family didn't have any money. I wanted to help. I just HAD to help. But how? 

 

I quickly got an idea.  S.A.E.M.!!!! This ministry in El Paso had a van with a seat on the back that folded into a bed.  If I could ask the director, Bety Garcia, to borrow it then I could drive them to Galveston and Claudia could make the trip sitting or lying down to accomodate her back pain.  I called Bety Garcia at S.A.E.M., explained the situation, and she authorized the use of the van.  S.A.E.M. and Bety Garcia continue to be a blessing to me.  I knew the cost of gas alone for a van that gets 12 mpg would be high but that was of no concern right then.  We had to get them to Galveston.  When I told the family that I would take them I thought that they were going to kiss me.  But I did get lots of hugs.  They cried.  Cristhian Aide was so excited about riding the big van that she hardly slept that night.  The family told me later that it was all she spoke of.

 

It would not be until early the next morning (Thursday) at 1:30am before they were given a permit for Cristhian Aide and Claudia.  They called to share the news and within minutes I was sitting back in their living room.  Cristhian Aide had to be there by Monday afternoon.  We planned to leave on Sunday at about 4pm, I would drive straight to Galveston, drop them off, and then I would have to head back to Juarez.  And so we did.

 

When Cristhian was at Shriner's for the first time they put some kind of outfit on her that she says made her look like the Super-hero Iron Man.   Now she says that she is Iron Man. So the Sunday that I picked them up from their house in Juarez I wore my Superman t-shirt.  Cristhian smiled.

 

Along the way while Cristhian Aide slept Claudia and I visited for a short time.  She told me that her husband blames her for Cristhian's condition since he had asked her not to go to the funeral home that day in June.  For those reasons he has left her.  He has even asked her and his kids to leave "his" house or he would get an attorney to file suit and have them put out.  Claudia's older two kids feel neglected because of the amount of time she has to give to Cristhian.  Claudia is under a lot of pressure.  Claudia and her family are not Christians...,yet!

 

We got to Galveston a few hours early so we went to have breakfast at a McDonald's that just happened to have the ocean right by it.  I asked my two guests if they would want to walk the beach before we headed to the hospital and the were happy that I asked.  Then we headed to the Shriner's Hospital.

 

Cristhian Aide still remembers some of her care givers from her last visit at Shriner's.  She wanted to see them and I tried to find them for her.  I waited until they were well taken care of before I left the hospital.  They went through a series of visits with hospital staff.  In the meantime I sat in the lobby watching child after child whose little bodies had been severely burned.  Some were missing limbs as they were completely burned off.  I've always had difficulty restraining my tears but once again it was a must that I did not break down in front of these tiny precious ones.  Once again I succeeded in doing so for the time being.  Finally Claudia was being checked into her quarters at Ronald McDonald house and I could leave.  She hugged me and we prayed together.  They would be there for about a month.  Although exhausted, I headed back home to Juarez.  I arrived back in El Paso at 3:30am the next morning stopping for 2 hours of sleep.  I lost many tears along the way as my mind could not erase those memories. 

 

Since then Cristhian's surgery has been postponed because she came down with a cold.  She needs to be at peak strength before her next surgery which will try to correct problems with her left hand.  They may also try to do some work around her mouth.  Her facial skin is so tight that when she opens her mouth her eye lids are pulled down.  Eventually even her teeth will need replacement since the explosion did major damage to them.

 

I am looking forward to the call from Claudia telling me that it's time for me to come for them again.  Cristhian Aide always gave me the sweetest little shy smile and I miss it. 

 

Is this the work that a full-time missionary does?  I've been called to Juarez and when God opens a door for me it's because He wants me to walk through it.  I will do anything that will bring Him glory.  And someday in the near future Claudia will be testifying about God's goodness to her, her daughter, and her family.

 

And all the glory will be God's.

 

 

 

Daniel Torres

650 Linwood Drive

El Paso, Texas 79928

d_torres53@yahoo.com

1-501-827-7679

 

 

 

 

 

 

To enlarge the pictures just double click on them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

DANIEL'S PRAYER

It has been a long time since I have been able to have some quiet time to sit down and post on this blog.  I have many, many things to share but before I do that I want to use this post exclusively for a lesson on prayer. 

I have an army of friends praying for me continually and I certainly feel the presence of those prayer warriors going with me everywhere that I go.  I am most grateful for those whom the Lord has praying for me.  As a missionary in Juarez, Mexico it is wonderful to have the confidence to come and go with that army of warriors covering me in prayer. But I must have a strong prayer life of my own to be able to accomplish the tasks that the Lord sets before me.  I want to share with you a prayer that I have been using for a long time that has been a great blessing to God's Kingdom and to myself.  

Many years ago Bruce Wilkinson wrote a book called, THE PRAYER OF JABEZ.  The prayer of Jabez is found in 1 Chronicles 4:10, and it is hardly one verse long.  The book blessed many people and it became a New York Times bestseller. 

But prayer that I want to share with you was uttered by a man simply know as Abraham's chief servant.  As far as I can see there is no name given to the man.  But since it is a prayer that I use very frequently I will call it  DANIEL'S PRAYER.

Before we get into the prayer I want to first say that a prayer that is repeated as if it had magical powers is of no value.  That is just religion.  The prayer must come from the heart and the spirit of man, and it must be fueled with faith.  I want to share the idea of the prayer only.

The story of Abraham's chief servant is found in the Book of Genesis, chapter 24.  (I encourage you to read the entire chapter.)  Apparently Abraham knew of his upcoming death and he wanted his son Isaac to have a wife before he passed away.  Abraham calls his chief servant and makes him promise that he will go to his old country to get a wife for Isaac.  Abraham promised his chief servant that God will send an angel before him (verse 7) to lead him on his mission.  The chief servant immediately loads up ten camels and heads out on his journey to Nahor.  And now here is the chief servant's prayer when he arrives:

                            Oh, Lord  God of my master Abraham, give me

                            success today, and show kindness to my master

                            Abraham.  See, I am standing beside this spring,

                            and the daughters of the townspeople are coming

                            out to draw water.  May it be that when I say to a

                            girl, 'Please lay down your jar that I may have a

                            drink,' and she says,' Drink, and I'll water your

                            camels too'---let her be the one you have chosen

                            for your servant Isaac. By this will I know that

                            you have shown kindness to my servant."

The very next verse states that before the chief servant had finished praying that Rebekah came out with a jar on her shoulders.  He asked her for a drink and she immediately gave him some water.  Then she offered to water the camels, too.  Verse 20 states that she ran from the well to the trough.  She had to have done this many times.  I've never owned any camels but probably few land animals drink as much water as camels do...and there were ten of them.  The important thing is that we know that the chief servant was blessed of God and he completely and successfully accomplished the mission that he was sent on.  Rebekah was to be Isaac's wife.

I'm sure that there are different ways to look at this prayer but I want to share with you how I see it.  I see the chief servant as anyone of God's servants.  God (here seen as Abraham) sends us out on a mission.  He promises that His angel(s) will always accompany us as we seek to do His will.  But we need to always pray that He will give us success in everything that we do for Him.  The success is not for our sake, but that we will be successful in accomplishing His will and purposes.  In other words, we do not want success so that we accomplish our will, but we want success in accomplishing His will and that the end result will be that He, and only He, will get the Glory and Honor.  We are seeking God's success, not ours.  Sometimes we define success as accomplishing the task that we had in mind, but as His servants the success comes when we accomplish what God had in mind.  After the success of the mission the servant bowed down and worshiped the Lord for His kindness, faithfulness, and for leading him on his journey (verse 26).  It is very important that we are grateful for the success that we experience in bringing Him success and that we testify to it as the servant does later on. 

For months my prayer has been that the Lord will give me success in bringing Him success, which means bringing Him Glory in everything that I do.  I recognize that my mission is to have His will accomplished through me.  I desire none of the Glory nor do I seek it. I just want to be a vessel through which His name is Glorified as His will is successfully completed.  In prayer I even remind the enemy that he will not steal God's success.  He has no right to it because I have united myself to my Master and His success is a sure thing.  I have seen the Lord's hands move mightily as I surrender myself to accomplish nothing but to bring Him Glory and honor as His will is successfully accomplished through me. 

Now my prayer is that many others will join in and ask God to give them success in accomplishing His will so that only He will be Glorified and honored.  I believe that this prayer surrenders us to be used for His purposes and for His Glory.  Seeking our own glory is a very dangerous thing and God's plan will fail if we try to do so.  God will not share His Glory with anyone (Isaiah 42:8).  Jesus tells us to let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and Glorify our Father in Heaven (we take none of the Glory).  We are instruments through which God receives Glory.  When we pray and ask God to give us the honor to bring Him Glory He will give our journey success.  God will hear and answer that prayer!!!  Glory and honor to His name.

 

 

Daniel

 

 

 

P.S.  Please note that I have an address change.  I will no longer be using the Post Office Box in El Paso, but I will be using the Spanish American Evangelistic Ministries (S.A.E.M.) address to receive mail on the U.S. side.  Blessings to all...and keep praying. 

 

 

Daniel Torres

650 Linwood Drive

El Paso, Texas 79928

1-501-827-7679

 

 

For tax-credit:

Covenant Fellowship

P.O. Box 8126

Searcy, Ar 72145

 

 

 

SAMARITAN'S PURSE: THE OTHER END OF THE RAINBOW



TAKING A HEAD COUNT

LOADING UP THE BUS AT THE CHURCH

Have you ever prepared a Christmas shoe box or boxes for Samaritan's Purse and wondered where in the world it would end up?

First, let me say a hearty thanks to you for touching the life of a child.  And secondly, I want to share my experiences at a Samaritan's Purse distribution area last Saturday in Juarez, Mexico, where I serve as a missionary.

BEACH BALLS FLYING IN THE TENT

THE CLOWN ACT

Pastor Roberto Nuñez, who pastors the church where we have one of Saturday lunch rooms, signed our kids up for gifts from Samaritan's Purse and we were selected to receive gifts. There are not enough gifts to supply the needs of the entire City of Juarez.

Pastor Roberto had been preparing the children for several weeks for this wonderful event. This past Saturday the kids eagerly arrived at the church. Excitement was in the air, but so were the freezing temperatures. We had a total of 74 kids who had to be transported to the site, about 40 minutes away. We only had four vehicles so I decided to rent a bus. It was only 500 pesos ($42) round trip and we would be at the distribution center a little over 2 hours. The bus ride over made the day even more special for the children. Several adults rode the bus with the kids and the rest of the adults followed in our cars.

When we arrived there were over 300 children from another church who had arrived in 4 buses. We were the second wave of groups that day. We were received with all the warmth and love that anyone could possibly give. 

 I met an incredible group of Christians who were helping with the event. They were the ones who handed the children their Christmas presents. The group came for The Simple Church in Bossier City, Louisiana (This church of 5,000 people has an incredible history).

When we first arrived I was expecting to get the kids off the bus, file them in, pick up the Christmas presents, file them back unto the bus, and return home. But there was a special service planned for the children before gifts were given out. It was another major excitement to make this Christmas all the more meaningful. The kids were welcomed with animal balloons and bead necklaces. Then they had them all to stand up and then big and huge beach balls were bounced around the 450 seat capacity tent for about 15 minutes with upbeat music. Then 2 clowns entertained us with side-splitting comedy. And after that the gospel message was presented by Lion King characters. This lasted about 40 minutes. Mufasa, the head lion led the kids in prayer. Then we were filed out for the main event: The Christmas presents!!!



I watched the children's faces as they passed by to receive a box. I thought that I would see happier faces but there was so much excitement, wonder, and awe that they were in a dream. It was as if they couldn't grasp the moment. They were afraid to get too outwardly excited because maybe they would...wake up. Once they got back on the bus the emotions flowed.

We drove back to the church and once the bus doors open the race was on to get home in a hurry and open the Christmas gifts. Some couldn't wait so they went inside the church and open their gifts there. The faces were classic. The place was quiet. Each item was studied carefully.

As I looked at the happy faces on these children I thought about the many millions of people who had sacrificed to make this possible. I wanted to be able to thank them all personally and individually.

And as I looked at the happy faces I was reminded of many, many years ago when someone donated a beautiful little candy-apple red Volkswagen. I was the fortunate one to receive it. There has never a greater gift given to a child. Yet I'm sure that every child last Saturday would say the same about their gifts.

Thanks so much to all who gave. A million thanks!!! And many thanks also to Spanish American Evangelistic Ministries and Missionary Susan Kirk (Thru His Mercy Ministries) who donated presents and other items so that I may distribute them to kids at the other lunch room and a few other places.

 

 

AN UNFORGETTABLE DAY. A MILLION THANKS.

(Double click on the pictures for enlargement.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daniel Torres

11985 Pellicano

Ste. G, Box 169

El Paso, Texas 79936

1-501-827-7679

For tax receipts:

Covenant Fellowship

P.O. Box 8126

Searcy, AR 72145

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



PASTOR TINA'S MIRACLE

PASTORS WHO RECENTLY  RECEIVED A NEW STUDY BIBLE. PASTOR TINA IS IN THE CENTER.
 

The more stories that I write the more I realize that this blog has the perfect name. It's amazing that a city with as bad a reputation as Juarez, Mexico can be so full of miracles. Romans 5:20 says, "...where sin abounded, grace doth much more abound". The power of God that we witness so much in Juarez proves that His presence is here and He has not forsaken this city. And once again I am writing about God's supernatural presence in the lives of His people and in the history of Juarez.

I met Pastor Tina a few months ago. Not very long ago Tina's husband (who was a pastor), herself, and a few others were caught in the middle of a shoot-out. Tina was the only survivor. Pastor Tina has metal screws in the middle of her back as a reminder of the horrible ordeal.

After she lost her husband she asked God for guidance and direction. She felt that God wanted her to continue pastoring. But she struggled with her small church. She always wanted to have a lunch room in her church. Pastor Tina spends hours a day in prayer. She asked the Lord about a lunch room many times and one day the Lord showed her a vision of a man who would make her desire a reality. And one day not too long ago I showed up at her church door asking her if she would be willing to open up a lunch room in her church. The kids in the neighborhood were going hungry and we needed to do something. Of course she was delighted about the answer to her prayers and her tears showed it. She's had the lunchroom for almost 2 months now. All I do is supply the food and other material things.  

Last Saturday morning, before feeding time started, I payed Pastor Tina a visit and brought her some supplies. She shared with me these incredible events that happened to her while I was away from Juarez visiting friends and family during the Christmas holidays.

A couple of women, whom she had never seen before, came to her church door wanting to speak her. She escorted them through the church and into her small house. She asked them to sit down while she prepared something to drink. But as she turned around they tackled her down, quickly tied her arms behind her back, threw her inside the bathroom floor, pounded her with their fists, and told her that they were going to kill her. Then two more men joined in with the two women.

Pastor Tina's back was hurting from her recent surgery. But she still had the strength to make a statement to them from the bathroom floor. She told them that in as much as she was a child of God and that Jesus was her Lord and King they had no authority over her life. She told them that if they killed her, it would only be because He authorized it, not them.

The team of four proceeded to collect things from Pastor Tina's small house to carry off. She mentioned the microwave, the 5 gallon water dispenser, her T.V. set, a large mirror in the living room, drinking glasses, and other items of value. They carried these into the church and put them by the front door. By this time Pastor Tina crawled out of the bathroom and into the living room  to see what they were doing.

They started to take the items out of the church door but they were unable to. One by one they would pick up the items they had collected but when they got to the church door an invisible force would not allow them to get them past the door. Pastor Tina witnessed how they would have a tug-of-war with the items taken from her house. They picked up the microwave but it wouldn't go past the door. They would pull and then push but it would not go beyond the threshold. Someone was pulling the items back inside the church. Someone who they could not see. Finally they set the last item down and took off running. Pastor Tina set herself free and eventually carried everything back into the house. Not one thing was broken.

I was reminded about the two times that someone came into my house property and things were stolen from me. The second time they broke my car window and took what I had in my car. It is not a good feeling to know that someone has done this to you. I remember standing there and telling the angels who were supposed to be watching over me that they were fired. Of course, I was teasing...trying to find humor in a bad situation.

Was the Lord late? Were our angels asleep or off somewhere else? Did God forget us for a few minutes and the enemy took advantage of it? NEVER!!!

Pastor Tina and I both know that the Lord was just as present with us while I was being robbed and she was being beaten as He ever has been.

I reminded Pastor Tina about Paul and Silas in Acts 16. They were severely beaten because Paul had cast out a spirit of divination. Later, after they were thrown in prison, they are miraculously set free by the power of God. Was God late? Was He unaware that they had been severely flogged? No, He was there the whole time. God has His purposes and His divine plans.

Do you feel that God has departed from you? He is closer than you can possibly imagine. Faith! It's all about faith.

It doesn't matter what the circumstances are. As a child of God He is all around you and in you.

In Joshua chapter 1, the Lord continually tells Joshua to be STRONG and COURAGEOUS. That is what we must be. Pastor Tina told her assailants that they had no authority over her. We are children of the King. He has authority over us and no one else. And He allows things to happen to us for a purpose. Let that purpose have its perfect way. Faith...it's all about faith.

Daniel Torres

11985 Pellicano

Ste. G, Box 169

El Paso, Texas 79936

1-501-827-7679

For tax-deductible gifts:

Covenant Fellowship

P.O. Box 8126

Searcy, Arkansas 72145

P.S. To enlarge picture just double click on it.