Piedras Negras

The San Antonio Border Ministries Board offered a challenge to the churches involved to donate 500 toys. The toys would go towards a few Christmas parties held at orphanages and Methodist churches in Piedras Negras, Mexico. Alamo Heights United Methodist Church committed to trying to collect at least 150 toys to send to the effort. Over the two weeks that we collected toys for this event we ended up collecting more than 190 toys!!! Thank you so much to this amazing community for making Christmas special for the children of Piedras Negras!

On Saturday, December 4, Wendy and Dave Meaden and myself set off at 6:45 for the two and a half hour drive into Eagle Pass. Once there we met up with the delegations from several other San Antonio churches and crossed the border into Piedras Negras. The first church that we visited was called Senor de Senores. We worshipped with the children and church members for several songs and then went into a back room to prepare the lunches that we had also brought for the kids. When all was ready we handed out toys and lunches and played with the kids. At the next church, San Pablo, even more children greeted us with smiles. They brought the team to the front and prayed over us before we had distributed the toys and lunches. Seeing each of those children with their eyes closed and hands extended towards us in prayer to our G-d warmed my heart.

Next we visited the church that AHUMC has been a long time supporter of, Aleluya Church. Unfortunately, the children in this area of the city were suffering from a chicken pox outbreak and we weren’t able to spend time with them. We did leave them their toys in the hands of Pastor Hector. Without the children there, we were able

to spend much time in conversation with Pastor Hector and the family that cares for the community at Aleluya, Flavio and Mari. These people are amazing! They are devoted to loving G-d and their neighbor and you can feel it in the way they talk and live. The cross ministry of this church is still running str

ong. If you are interested in supporting this ministry please visit http://aleluyaministries.blogspot.com/.

Lastly, we visited the House of Mercy orphanage and the missionary there, David Smith. They had just finished their December birthday celebration and the children were helping clean up. They received Christmas toys from us as well, but are waiting a little longer to distribute them. David expressed how deeply thankful that he is for all of the help that we at AHUMC have contributed to the orphans that he cares for.

The day was absolutely beautiful. Once again, thank all of you for supporting our neighbors in Piedras Negras. Even amid safety concerns that have prevented us from sending groups of missionaries to these locations, we have still been able to help these people spread the love of our Father. We are continuing to evaluate the situation in this town and look forward to the time that we are able to begin again to send missionaries to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Please pray for all of these ministries and for more opportunities for us to serve them!