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Colima Mexico is ripe for the harvest. Christian Life Church sent seventeen members on a mission to Colima to work with the church Groupo Amor and minister to the people of Colima. Spending nine days in Mexico wasn’t as difficult as the members assumed and many were surprised. "I thought it would be much worse," said Kelly Toole of Milton and member of Christian Life Church. "I had an Oliver Twist assumption (about the conditions in the orphanage), but the children we taught ministered to me as much as I ministered to them." The members of the mission team stayed at Hogar de Amor y Proteccion al Nino, a Christian orphanage supported by Groupo Amore. Forty-four children call the orphanage home and all are happy, contented children. Although the children are happy and well cared for, each child can be supported by monthly donations. The oldest orphan, Omar is a gifted artist and writer and has his eyes set on a job as an architect one day. Omar’s mother works with a traveling carnival and only sees her son once or twice a year. The youngest is a three month old infant named Jacki whose mother is a young teen on drugs. Each child at the orphanage has a sad family history, but the workers and members of the church give each child much love and attention. The mission team had three street ministry programs; one in downtown Colima and two in villages close to the town. Working with a professional clown team affiliated with the church, many people came to salvation with Jesus Christ. The team handed the people Spanish New Testaments, Bible tracks, balloons and candy for the children. The Jail ministry was by far the most successful. Christian Life Church was the first American team to be allowed into the Mexican jail. Twenty-six inmates at the men’s prison and the same number at the women’s jail all came to know Christ as their savior. "The jail ministry was unbelievable. I’ve never seen anything like it," said Stan Carver, member of the mission team. Carver was the speaker who gave the alter call and witnessed inmates with tattoos on their foreheads fall to their knees to accept Christ. "But God was in it, it wasn’t me," said Carver. The trip to Mexico wasn’t without trials. Two members of the team were held up at the airport in Pensacola and couldn’t fly with the rest of the team because of paper work. This delay affected every member of the team. "We were all discouraged at the problem. We wondered, why is this happening? But we had hope and believed we would meet up. It was only a small delay," said team member Jenny Kicker. The sacrifice of two members to help get the team together at their destination was monumental. Don and Kelly Toole stayed fourteen hours at the Houston airport waiting on the delayed members. After the long hours and the drive into Colima, the team was reunited and relieved. The local people made a great impression on the team from Milton. Many team members were awed by the gentle ways and big hearts. The culture of Colima moves very slow and team members were happy to get away from ringing cell phones and noisy televisions for a week. Team leader Janine Howle was pleased with the success of the mission trip. "Our mission was two-fold. We wanted to build up and support the existing local church and to evangelize unreached areas and people. We succeeded in reaching both goals. Our ministry was well received and we saw many make decisions to follow Jesus as their Lord," said Howle. Submitted to the Press Gazette by Pamela Holt. |
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