What's a trip without some excitement??!! I'll tell you about that in a moment. First, the boring details. Armando, Guillermo, and Armando's brother, Hugo left Tuesday night around 11:30 PM, drove all night to be able to cross the border in Laredo, then get to Acambaro before nightfall.
The Cherokee was LOADED to the brim with mostly care box items for kids and some clothing donations. We had such a great response for care boxes for kids that they ended up having to leave most of the shoe boxes here and just take the items in them to be "re-package" in Acambaro. Still, some will be going as luggage with the other 3 individuals flying out to join them this coming Friday.
SO, they get to Laredo in the morning. They get a green light, so they cross. However, there was a group of men (not in any kind of uniform) who wanted them to stop. Knowing they were not officers, but seemed to be just street guys, Hugo told Armando NOT to stop. Of course, the men got a little angry and tried to run after them, but Armando was able to drive off. Not sure what they wanted exactly, but Armando said some police officers saw the whole thing and did nothing...Makes you want to say, hmmmm??!!
With that behind them, they had to cross a second immigration post about 40 minutes into Mexico. The officer stopped them saying they had to go back to the border to get a permit. Mind you, they have all the proper documentation to begin with! He had them drive aside then proceeded to "ask" for money (i.e., a bribe). Not wanting trouble and definitely not wanting to drive back unnecessarily, Armando gave him some money to allow them passage. Somehow, the officer ends up telling them that he has a son who is sick, but when Armando offered to pray for the son, he declined and simply asked, "Are you a Christian?" When Armando replies, "Yes!" the officer basically says, "I believe in that stuff..." (not exactly his words as I'm not sure how he said it in Spanish). Then, he asked Armando if he wanted his money back! Armando told him to keep it and they went on their way.
Just a couple of things to keep them on their toes!!! They arrived safely in Acambaro around 6:00 PM Wednesday.
Thursday, someone will be picking them up in Acambaro to take them to Morelia, in the state of Michoacan, where they will be giving an evangelism seminar. The gospel is definitely needed in this area!! This is a place where a grenade attack occurred last year carried out by members of a drug cartel during the Mexican Independence Day--killed civilians and wounded over 100. One rapidly growing cartel based in this area, called La Familia, is now using religion as a way to recruit and create discipline within its members. Needless to say, spreading the gospel in this area is vital!
They will stay in Morelia overnight and will be driven back to Acambaro Friday morning. My next communication with Armando will be Friday night, so I will update you after that. We truly appreciate all your prayers!! Please continue to pray...
"to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen." (Romans 16:27 NIV)
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