This is Carole in the "shoe workshop", sorting & cleaning gently used shoes in the bay of our garage.

Greetings to all our blogger friends and supporters of Sharing The Sword!
We have been working steadily since September toward our 2015 trip to Mexico, and God has provided for all our needs as we plan to leave at the end of this month.  Thanks go out to so many who have come alongside us to help make this possible!
   The "shoe ministry" has been helped along with our 6 elementary schools bringing in shoes from their early morning "Bible Release Program" for the 3rd year, three Churches have collected shoes, two schools in North Carolina, and many individuals have been excited and motivated to help in this unique program for needy families in Mexico. As our granddaughter, Ashley, helped me with sorting the shoes, she made a poster and asked her principal if she could have her schoolmates collect shoes for the children in Mexico. The response was wonderful, and we received over 200 pairs in only 7 days!

On our way home, we had one "blow-out" about two hours from the border, and another in the states.  Guess 7,000 miles on "inside" tires was too much for these.  Just as Peter was finishing up, a "Green Angel" appeared (what Mx. calls the helpers on the toll roads), so he offered what he could, and we thanked him and gave him a New Testament, which he was happy to receive!

We have so much to be thankful to God for, as we leave this beautiful country.  We arrived home safely, this week, and we can't thank all our supporters enough for the way you have stood by us and prayed for us and for all the people God put in our path who now have a copy of God's Word, who have heard the good news of Jesus, and for the many who prayed to receive Christ in their lives.
     We pray that God's Spirit will cause these dear ones to be like: "newborn babies, craving pure spiritual milk, so they may GROW into a full experience of salvation. And cry out for this nourishment, now that they have had a taste of the Lord's kindness."  I Peter 2:2,3

Tomorrow is April 1st, and we will be leaving Villa Corona to begin our long trek homeward.  We want to thank everyone who has kept up with us on our blog, and have been praying for us as we travel from place to place, handing out God's Word, and sharing Jesus with whomever we meet.  We will spend two more nights in Mexico before we reach the border, and would really appreciate your prayers at this time.  We will fill you in as soon as we have internet service again.  God bless each of you.

After the baptism, the family treated everyone who attended, to a meal & fellowship.   Then the evening service was about to begin.  As we were singing, a farmer was sending his cows down the middle of the street, and when one cow was about to enter the gate to the Church, I sent Peter out to take a picture, but she turned away.  I can't help taking pictures that you just don't see in the USA!
     Then this sweet Christian lady is always ready to give a testimony, but tonight she blessed us all with a song that she sang from her chair - ALL 4 verses - right on tune!  It's things like these that make us so thankful that God lets us experience these special times!  This little Church has really been GROWING, and there were over 50 people who attended.  A large group in a place where there is so much idolatry and strong opposition to Christian teachings.  

The Pastor's wife, Jill, leads this little class of children during Church time so the parents can hear the message without lots of interruptions.  It's quite a challenge when the oldest is 13, and that little one just turned 1. But they all are learning Bible verses, and hiding God's Word in their hearts, and baby Kimberly just claps her hands & makes everyone smile!

On Sunday before the evening service, Pastor Jesse had the pleasure of baptizing a young man from the Church. His little son & a friend had a prime overhead view from the stairs.
     When he came up out of the water, the pastor's "helper" found a dry spot on his shirt, and threw water on it just to make sure he was fully "dunked"!
     Everyone laughed & we were praising God for this young man wanting to honor God and to live for HIM!

My day wasn't over after helping at the school.  I was able to get in touch with a friend I had met in this town 9 years ago, and it was wonderful to catch up on the news in both of our families.

     Then it was off to mid-week Church service, and fellowshipping with more special people.  It always amazes us how welcome everyone makes us feel, and how thankful they are that we come to their Church and encourage them.  We left our last couple of bags of mixed shoes that we had left, and a few people were able to find a pair, and we left the rest with the Pastor & his wife to give out to whomever  was in need.  A big "Thank YOU" went to God for answering my prayer, and the day was far from "boring".  Now I need to get back to our camper, because we're expecting 5 guests for a cook-out!