http://matamoros.myadventures.org Matamoros, Mexico - Adventures In Missions - Serving the Lord in Mexico! en-us Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:19:57 GMT 30 http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=hello-dolly http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=hello-dolly Hurricane Dolly has made landfall but we are safe. We have a generator here at The Gateway that is keeping necessities going. The latest news we have is that the hurricane is breaking up. What that means is that the effects will be less severe but the storms should persist into the evening. Cell phones are still working, but the service is going in and out.   Please continue to pray for us and our neighbors. We are looking at this storm as an opportunity for ministry and not a handicap Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=never-underestimate-the-power-of-prayer http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=never-underestimate-the-power-of-prayer   Prayer Walk The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective. --James 5:16 For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears attend to their prayer --I  Peter 3:12      The Vision: Christ, on many occasions, devoted time to prayer. Some demons were only cast out by prayer. All through the New Testament people were "devoted" or commanded to "devote" themselves to prayer. I believe that because prayer is perhap Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=dont-forget-your-off http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=dont-forget-your-off      We often ask our staff and participants to approach their time on project with us prepared to be not just flexible, but fluid. And fluid was certainly the word for this week! Beginning on Saturday the Matamoros skies opened up and the first downpour of the rainy season settled in for over three days. City streets became swelling rivers in a matter of hours. After the church services on Sunday evening, the colonias became impassible and our groups were forced to wait out Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=our-jerusalem http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=our-jerusalem Wednesdays   you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.--Acts 1:8      Thus are recorded some of our Saviors final words before His physical body left this earth. Many of you, in leaving your homes in the states to travel here to Matamoros, Mexico, likely feel as though you are acting out the last part of Jesus proclamation and becoming His witness at the ends of the earth. And so you are. But for those of Tue, 8 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=do-drink-the-water http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=do-drink-the-water   Living Water      The Stories:   6/19/2008  By: Megan Williams, Project Manager Tabernacle Baptist- Matt Yaley-  George, Iowa We spent a few hours at the plaza on Monday; our goal was just to be living water for those around us. We had a large water cooler and passed out good, clear, cold water to those who w Fri, 4 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=sharing-livessharing-life1 http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=sharing-livessharing-life1 Home Ministry        The Stories: During home visits we met a family who took time to talk to us. The wife was a Christian, but her husband had been very stubborn for many years. He didnt want to hear it. But today was different- he wanted to pray with us and wanted what Jesus offers. I got to pray with him and lead him to the Lord. Its a great feeling to be here and have God use me. - Nic Marco        The Vision: Home ministry is the Wed, 4 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=the-standard-of-living http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=the-standard-of-living Welcome to the Gateway      The Gateway (El Portal) will serve as your home away from home while you are ministering here in Mexico. Here's an idea of what you can expect:     Sweet Dreams: Rest assured that our dorms here at the Gateway are air-conditioned!!! There are three things you can do to help us make sure it stays that way: 1. Keep your use of outlets to a minimum so we don't blow a breaker. 2. Keep the doors closed so the a/c doesn't lea Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=setting-up-the-goalssports-ministry http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=setting-up-the-goalssports-ministry      The Stories: 6/11/2008  By: Sean Nestor, Project Leader Hope Fellowship-  Longview, Texas Yesterday, the group from Hope Fellowship had the opportunity to partake in sports evangelism. While some played, others struck up conversations with on-lookers. By the end of the ministry time, everyone had engaged in a good conversation with a local pers Tue, 27 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=wednesday-friday-schedule http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=wednesday-friday-schedule Wednesday 8 am - Breakfast 8:30 am - Silence/Time to get alone with God 9:20 am - Concert of Prayer   9:45 am - MTI Presentation 10:00 am - Instructions for Day 10:30 - Service Ministry Block in Ejido Buenos Aires (neighborhood where the Gateway is located). 12:30 - Lunch 1:00 - Second Ministry Block/VBS 3:00 - Break and snacks 5:00 - Sports/Carnival 6:00 - Cook Out 7:00 - Community Worship, Band 8:30 - Team Debrief 10:30 - Lights Out Friday 8 a Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=vbs-alert http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=vbs-alert VBS       The Stories: Seeing the joy in the kids eyes was fantastic. My own kids really enjoyed being a part of it. The kids here soak up all the attention. Its our hope that we have shown them a glimpse of Gods love and what it means to be a part of his family. Also, my son really came out of his shell during VBS and totally embraced it. --Joseph Paulson, Dalton, Ga.      In Brief: We do not provide your group with materials for VBS. Y Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=hmmwhat-to-wearand-not-to-wear http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=hmmwhat-to-wearand-not-to-wear Here's the insider scoop on the latest fashion trends at the Gateway. Please share these hip tips with your participants as they begin packing for the trip so we don't have anyone out of style and we can keep all the "rage" to a minimum.     GENERAL   Both guys and girls do not bring clothing that is tight, too small, or form-fitting in any way (nothing should hug your body). Do not bring pants that are low-cut (low-riders). You should be able to bend over and tou Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=monday-friday-schedule1 http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=monday-friday-schedule1 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 8 am - Breakfast 8:30 am - Time to be alone with God 9:20 am - Concert of Prayer  10:00 am - Leaders Meeting/Free time  10:30 - Ministry Preps/Free time 11:15 - Lunch at Gateway 11:45 - Leave for Ministry Sites  12:30 - Arrive for first ministry block 3:00 - Break and snacks 3:30 - Switch to second ministry block 5:45 - Leave the ministry sites and head back to Gateway 6:30 - Dinner 7:00 - Leader's meet Wed, 7 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=saturday-sunday-schedules http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=saturday-sunday-schedules Saturday 1:00 - Teams begin arriving at the Gateway and settling in. 6:00 - Orientation in the dining hall 6:20 - Dinner 7:20 - Project Facilitators check in with trip leaders/youth pastors. 8:00 - Worship 8:45 - Free time  10:30 pm - LIGHTS OUT!!! (No Jokes too many personality types to not take this serious!) Sunday 8 am - Breakfast 8:45 am - Participants and leaders spend time alone with Jesus (Devotionals) 9:15 am - All participants meet under the big tent f Wed, 7 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=summer-2008-participant-schedule http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=summer-2008-participant-schedule   Buenos Dias! After our first week of ministry at the Gateway we made some changes to the schedule. Please see the latest updates reflected on the links below.      Welcome back to the AIM Matamoros ministry blog. Hopefully today's post will answer a few more of those burning questions that arise for you and your group as you prepare to join us here at the Gateway where we pray that the spiritual climate will be as hot as the Mexican sun!      Wed, 7 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=2008-gateway-ministry-information http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=2008-gateway-ministry-information      Welcome to the official blog site for 2008 summer missions at the Gateway in Matamoros, Mexico. This site should become your primary point of contact for information on your trip and the ministries you will be participating in this summer. Please visit the site often as you prepare for your trip. Post your questions hereranging from travel arrangements to ministry opportunitiesand check back regularly for the answers. Once the summer begins we will post regular ministry Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=a-day-at-the-dump1 http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=a-day-at-the-dump1 After an extensive political battle, the Matamoros dump we used to visit as a ministry site was closed by the Mexican government in early 2008. As a result, we no longer have a dump ministry. The location itself had been an illegal dump all along, which the Mexican government chose to ignore to allow the scavengers to continue their way of life. By March 2008 the government had already cleaned up the site. Matamoros has another legal dump where all of the city' Wed, 20 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=day-one http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=day-one Colonia Las Palomas, Pastor Salvador We've just finished our first day of ministry in Matamoros! God is already moving in and thru the participants in ways that no one expected. Last night we went to church at the site where we will be working all week. It was exciting and fun to participate in worship with the people that we get to serve. The church and the people are beautiful- I forgot my camera cord, so I'm sorry, I can't post pictures. We came back to the Gateway and got settled into our Mon, 18 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=samuel http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=samuel Church Fe, Victoria, y Amor: Pastor Jesus Our first day out in the Colonia, I went on a prayer walk with a team from Morse Street Baptist Church in Denton, TX. We walked around the community and prayed for homes and people that we passed and we even stopped to invite locals to the church service going on that evening. The second house we stopped to invite had a few boys in the yard and as we introduced ourselves, we realized it might be a Christian home because the boys were named Abraham, Ez Tue, 12 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=jessica-gets-saved http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=jessica-gets-saved "Today a young lady, Jessica, was saved.   It's such an awesome feeling to know that if you allow God to lead you, mighty things can happen. God bless you, Jessica."    Vanessa, Morse St. Baptist Church Mon, 11 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=a-new-experience http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=a-new-experience "My highlight of today was getting to experience a lady expressing how she feels about the Lord.   [Another highlight was] getting to talk to the Lord. I also was interceding with the kids and getting to talk to them in Spanish."    Tasha and Michelle Morse St. Baptist Church Sun, 10 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=further-ministry-ydc http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=further-ministry-ydc We have not visited the Youth Detention Center for ministry during the summer of 2008. Dear James Dodds   Today I arrived at the detention and there were only 6 students. Most of the students had already left the YDC but there was one student in particular that I notice. He was wearing a necklace with an icon that appeared much like a demon/idol. I asked him if he believed in it and he responded, "My mother gave me this before entering so it would protect me." I started to preach Mon, 7 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=be-encouraged http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=be-encouraged This is another update from a brother serving here in the midst of the people of Matamoros. Oscar has been continuing to be faithful to following and obeying Christ and this is an email he recently sent me: God used me once more today and has been using me almost every day giving out biblical tracts in the taxi buses (peseras). You get on and they will take you anywhere in the city. Last Friday on my way to a church service, I got in a taxi bus (pesera) and there were these two ladi Thu, 3 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=youth-detention-center http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=youth-detention-center The following are two emails from one of our translators who will be leading our ministry at the Youth Detention Center. This will be a perfect fit for going to the places where we see God already moving. "Please pray for me because I am about to teach God's Word to 17 young boys at the Detention Center. Pray that they would grow spiritually and that discipleship would come to them beyond the walls of the center. Ask your congregation to join in prayer as warr Sun, 22 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=martha-rita-colonia http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=martha-rita-colonia The following is a testament of Christ moving in the hearts and minds of the Colonias and the participants that come to reach them. Kelsey is a student at Truett-McConnell College that was here to serve along side us during her spring break. Martha Rita is the name of a Colonia we will be working in this summer. "We were walking down the dusty street of the Martha Rita Colonia in Matamoros, and I Sat, 21 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=our-leaders-vision http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=our-leaders-vision In some meditations on the book of Malachi this last week the Lord has laid a wonderful foundation for hopefully what this summer will look like. The last words of Yahweh before 400 years of silence till the coming of John the Baptist were these               " Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet b Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=suggested-packing-list http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=suggested-packing-list Suggested Packing List        Clothes (See Dress Code for guidelines.) v      3-5 changes of work/paint clothes including work gloves, bandana, hat, sturdy work shoes (boots highly recommended), safety glasses or goggles v      3-5 changes of ministry clothing, including church clothes Lightweight jacket v   & Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=new-tennative-schedule http://matamoros.myadventures.org/?filename=new-tennative-schedule Mon, 1 Jan 1900 00:00:00 GMT