Joshua, Elizabeth, Bev and I left in our Dodge pickup, (the Red Ox), on Thursday January 19th. We arrived in Tepic and met our team of 8 young YWAMers at La Fuente Church. We loaded most of the food for the trip and 2 bags of cement and arranged for the team to take the bus up to Santa Teresa on Saturday. Up early the next morning, we left for the sierra, trusty Red Ox loaded to the gills. The 9 hour drive through awesome, majestic mountains went well, with Joshua helping drive once we reached the high mountain mesa.

We arrived at our ranch home late afternoon to a warm greeting from our host, Catarino and family. They were very glad to see us and helped unpack. I then noticed the right rear tire was half flat. An hour later and it was totally flat. Thanks Lord, for getting us there! Joshua jacked it up and put on the spare while I checked the solar system. I found the battery bank working and fairly well charged, so we had lights and power, another answer to prayer. After carefully cleaning and inspecting all components of the system, I discovered the charge controller was toast. So I connected the solar panels directly to the battery bank, but I need to purchase and install a new charge controller ASAP.

With the team due to arrive Saturday evening, Bev, Josh, Juan, Alejandro and I hustled to get their lodgings ready. Juan, Alejandro,and Josh went to work with a chainsaw, a hand plane, and hammer and nails to fashion a queen size bunk bed that sleeps 4. They completed it in 2 days and it is nice. The team arrived exhausted from the 13 hour bus trip and went to bed early.

Sunday morning, Bev fixed breakfast for everyone, and then the team managed to wash dust-covered Red Ox before we left for the church service. Two of the team members and Joshua taught the children outside. The rest of us worshipped and listened to the sermon. Scripture readings were from the Spanish Bible but everything was explained in Cora. At the end of the service, I spoke about the progress of the Cora New Testament that they will have, Lord willing, within the next couple of years. After the service, the team performed 2 dramas that everyone enjoyed. The rest of the day was for visiting, site-seeing, and preparing for the start of work on Monday.

Monday morning came quickly as the team got "fired up" to work. Over the next 3 days, they worked hard digging the footings, carrying rock, gathering dried "horse apples", mixing the mortar, and laying the stones to form the foundation. By Wednesday afternoon, the foundation was finished. Catarino was very happy, animated and gave gifts to show his appreciation. The team had won his heart and he theirs. They had been referring to him as "Big Chief" and "Grandpa".

The team left Thursday morning, some by bus and some in the back of a friend's pickup. They'd worked hard, gone without baths, and sacrificed comfort to bless a family who don't yet know Christ. They were able to plant seeds that God will use to bring them into the Kingdom. They made an impact that has eternal significance.

During our stay, I got ready for our next project. I bought 12 bags of cement and 2 loads of sand. At the end of February, I plan to take my daughter Rachel and a few other good workers to pour a concrete floor. Bev and I and our kids are laying the groundwork for small work/ministry teams to do roofing and repairs to our village house. At the same time, we will encourage and bless our ranch family with warm clothes, construction materials, and labor. Once the floor of the garage is poured, it will serve as a dormitory, work shop, and storage shed. It has already served as all those things with a dirt floor. Some of the YWAMers can attest to the experience of sleeping on the dirt floor.

If you and some of your family or church members would like to spend a week or so, working in a remote village without electrical power and be a blessing to the Cora people, then you need to contact me. Together we can encourage the believers and plant seeds for church growth.

God is directing us as a family into growing the church. Diana has been asked to lead worship for the Cora children this summer at Vacation Bible School in July. Both Diana and Joshua play guitar and sing, and Rachel is very good with children. All three are interested in learning to speak more Cora.

We plan to help the church grow by teaching Coras to read and write Cora. The church leaders and others want to read the Scriptures in Cora. In September, Gene Casad and I, along with our wives, are planning a 2 week literacy workshop in Santa Teresa. We need funding for this project. Food, transportation, school supplies, and printing costs need to be covered. This is a critical time for prayer as well.

Following the workshop is the 2nd Reunion of Cora believers and missionaries. The first one was October 2004. It will be a time for young Cora children to learn more about Christ. A time for those who have faith and believe to be baptized. A time for prayer, healing, and miracles if God chooses.

If that's not enough, God has us in the middle of a new church plant in Manzanillo. This is exciting as God has been speaking to us about this beforehand. Diana and Joshua are part of the worship team. Diana plays guitar and sings and Joshua plays drums. Pastor John asked Don to speak in the services at Melaque and Manzanillo this past Sunday.

At the end of February, I plan to work on Acts with Servando in Tepic. We will review the consultant comments and make any appropriate changes. After the work session, we'll leave for Santa Teresa to pour the concrete floor and replace the charge controller.