Dear Friends in Christ,
… ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Cor. 15:58
The last of April, Pastor Russ Bishop went with me to the state of Chihuahua to take 5 pianos, a pulpit, chairs, doors and windows etc. For the first time in 37 years, I was turned around at the border, because their estimated value of the load exceeded the maximum limit. Unloading the windows and doors in El Paso, were able to import the rest of the load for $1,140!
It was a great, trip and Bro. Russ was a blessing by driving and preaching in Camargo!
On June 19, Randy Harrison from Valley Forge Baptist in Pennsylvania went with me to help me drive, to take materials to 5 churches in the states of Sonora and Sinaloa, but at the El Paso border we were turned around again! Because Randy couldn’t stay an extended period of time, we left the trailer at BPS in El Paso and drove back to Oklahoma so he could drive home.
I returned 2 days later, towing a van to El Paso that was donated to a Mexican church and I crossed it into Mexico. Though it had transmission problems, they will fix it at a minimal cost and it will be a huge blessing to them! Mexican churches really need vans!
I picked up my loaded trailer and headed to the border but had to pay $1,570 dollars to cross into Mexico with the materials! When I got to Anáhuac, Chihuahua where we started our first church, my truck broke down. We exchanged the 2 pianos and I limped the truck to Chihuahua City to a very good diesel mechanic. I found the turbo actuator for $500 dollars, half the US price, and my friends paid the mechanic! It runs great!
On Sunday, June 30 I preached in Camargo, at the last church we started, and a 13 year old girl who had been attending for some time with her family, got saved!
On Monday, 21 year old Cristian and I headed for Culiacan, Sinaloa, by way of Mazatlán and only had a flat tire en route. We unloaded the pews, a piano and trumpets that night and assembled pews on Tuesday and Wednesday. Pastor Saenz, his family and church were great hosts!
Wednesday I had a root canal then 2 hours later preached in Las Brisas, a small town 2 hours north. We enjoyed our stay with Pastor Efraín and his family! On Thursday we assembled pews and Friday morning went back to Culiacan to get the crown on my tooth.
At noon Saturday we arrived at Jitzamuri, Sinaloa, where the natives call it “The end of the earth”, because the land ends at the Pacific Ocean. We got the pews assembled, and Sunday morning I preached in about 100 degrees and 100% humidity! Pastor José Gil and family shared their humble home with us! I preached that evening in another village.
We got to Navojoa, Sonora on Monday and the kids, helpers and workers from the children’s home unloaded all the pews, chairs, etc. in record time! We got the pews assembled and loaded the trailer with some household belongings of Missionary David Scott who founded that church and two others. On Wednesday I took the things up to him in Tucson, AZ.
Before returning to OK July 13, I picked up chairs, tables, etc. in Bowie and Denton TX.
It was a great trip that lasted 25 days instead of 14, which helped 5 Mexican churches!
If you know of windows, doors, pews, pianos, chairs, musical instruments, vans, etc. please let me know! Praise the Lord, several people are also getting materials and bringing them to me! Thank you so much for your part in souls being saved and churches being helped in Mexico!
Please pray for the “Hands to the Work” ministry that souls will be saved God would be glorified by it!
Ron Winter
Your Co-laborer, Ministering to Churches in Mexico
Hands to the Work – Ron Winter
Missionary to Mexico