LWML support CPTLN

The women of the LWML PSWD voted to support the work in Tijuana with the approval of a grant project. The women of the LWML Oregon/Washington-Alaska invited Director Melissa Salomon to be the mission speaker at their June convention. From there, Director Melissa traveled to Iowa West to speak about the work in Tijuana to women assembled at convention on beautiful Lake Okiboji. Thank you!

Group from Bellevue, Washington Come to Work

From the 25th to the 29th of May we received a service team from All Saints Lutheran Church in Bellevue, Washington near Seattle. Kathy Dallman, pastor Dallman´s wife, had just returned from China where she led a team to assist the government teach parents play therapy. She is a professional marriage therapist and she gave our CPTLN staff a workshop on Christian Counseling which was excellent. Ron Maxam and Mel Pettit were our computer resource experts. They installed software and set up an electronic newsletter. Lori Pettit, a Preschool Director, and Cris Maxam prepared materials we were going to use in our JOEL school drama and our Children’s Fun Day scheduled out at the Lirio de los Valles Lutheran Church, our newest mission.

Home Church Begun

- Our volunteer, lay pastor Francisco Lugo continues working with the family of the man that was kidnapped for 76 days. This is a beginning mission work because they gather between 35-45 people Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturday evenings. The kidnapped man gave Pastor Lugo a watch for Father’s Day and said he was his “spiritual” father and because of him he knew freedom not only from his period of captivity but to know the freedom that only Jesus provides.

CPTLN at Family Fair in Tijuana

- On the 12th of May we participated in a Family Fair called “Let´s Take Care of Our family” and led a workshop on The Values of the Family. We distributed the booklets of “ What to do in the Face of a Divorce” and “Family Violence.”
- We participated in a children’s festival on the 20th of May making available the booklet of “Stable Parents, Happy Children” to the adults and the “Pet napping Mystery: Puzzle Club” to the children. We partnered with the Alliance of Evangelical Pastors and the Municipal DIF (the Government’s Social Welfare Agency). The event featured Muppets, games and clowns and we participated in a gift distribution for the children.

Welcome Gaby Mendoza PROYECTO JOEL

Joining us is Gaby Mendoza who will be working with Legna Lanza and begin to transition into the position of coordinator for Proyecto JOEL. Gaby is studying at the Teachers University here in Tijuana studying Educational Intervention. She is a strategic thinker and has already devised her three month work plan! In the last three weeks she has already met with various government officials and has planned a sports outreach in joint partnership with the DIF for July 15. Please pray for this event.

Welcome Pastor Josue to CPTLN Staff

Newest member of our staff is Pastor Josue del Carmen. He is the pastor of our newest mission, Iglesia Luterana Lirio de los Valles in Tijuana. Formerly a supervisor with the Mexican Census Bureau, he will be heading our evangelism and Equipping the Saints program and training as well as the community outreach through our "sobreruedas" program. Please keep him in your prayers.

God Frees A Kidnapped Man

CPTLN volunteer Francisco Lugo leads family in a prayer of thanksgiving when kidnapped man is freed. Seventy six days of daily study of God's Word and fervent supplication for the freedom of a kidnapped family member of this large family has ended. After having grown in the knowledge of God and His grace, the family has not disbanded their evening ritual of study and prayer. They continue to meet on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays with the freed man now joining their prayer group. They now pray for families who are victims of kidnappings.
The freed man told Francisco that throughout his ordeal when he was given little food and was blindfolded the entire time, he never gave up hope. He said throughout he would wonder if God was able to hear his pleas. He felt God wouldn't abandonded him and is now convinved that God was with him the entire time and did hear his cry for help.

Legna working PROYECTO JOEL

Legna is working hard scheduling various JOEL activities around Tijuana. She is working with Andrew Fitzgerald to organize a JOEL-CPTLN sponsored sports program in June.
Keep her in your prayers and the many young people that she is mentoring and coming into contact with also.
If you want to send her a note her email is:
legna@cptln.org

Graphic and Web Volunteers

We are happy to have joining us for the next four months two young women who are studying Web and Graphic Design at the university. They will be with CPTLN doing their senior project.
Thank you Sandy Rodriguez and Griselda Alvarez!
They have a busy schedule of projects from webpage creation to design of literature and promotional materials for a summer conference to the preparation of presentations Melissa will be giving at LWML conventions this summer. They are amazed we have so many opportunities for them to show their talent!

Lirio de los Valles - Sanctuary Being Built!

The foundation was poured over the weekend and the walls are going up this week. Next week the roof. Worship on Easter! Isn't that amazing?

Iowa West LWML Convention Invitation

I am very excited to be able to visit the LWML women at their convention in Iowa as their mission speaker. A group of LWMLrs visited Tijuana after their trip to the Rose Parade and painted rooms and bunks at our Centro Concordia. These Iowa women are hard workers!

They have a very nice newsletter that talks about their visit to Tijuana in January.
Click on http://www.idwlcms.org/harvest/spring06/lwml.pdf to read the LWML news.

Message from the Director

Dear Friends and Supporters of the Harvest ministry of Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones Mexico,

Thank you for walking along side of us here in Tijuana through your prayers and continued support of our ministry programs. Knowing that you are an invisible army of prayer warriors behind us makes us even more grateful workers.
It has been a privilege to serve the congregations and missions here in Tijuana with the Equipping to Share Program. We have been receiving wonderful feedback from the many volunteers who are recognizing and realizing their unique ministries.

Blessings,
Melissa

Theology and Ministry Training Begins a New Course

Using the Hispanic Institute of Theology/Concordia Seminary, St. Louis materials and under the servant leadership of mentor, Rev. John Durkovic, one of two groups studying in Tijuana use the CPTLN office as their home base. LBCM underwrites their materials. They are beginning a new course in New Testament studies. Please pray for these willing servants.

Marta - Guided by God's Hand

Marta's husband died one year ago. She wondered how she would support herself and her four children. She said the material from CPTLN encouraged and reminded her to trust God. With the encouragement from her friend, CPTLN staff member, Tere Montoya, Marta began a preschool and she began to listen to Tere's dream of a mission church in their neighborhood. That dream became reality when Lirio del Valle Lutheran Church began and Pastor Josue and his wife, Betty came to serve the people of Marta's neighborhood. The church sanctuary will be built next month but alot of neighbor people, including Marta, have put sweat equity into building the church community that is already worshipping in a provisional space on the church property. Marta tells us that God has not let her or her children go hungry and He has always provided everything they needed. Marta is a charter member now of the new lutheran mission in her neighborhood. She has a new dream.....perhaps a preschool or day care could be a part of the new mission's future. Marta is ready to serve where God may need her.

Now Receiving OnLine Donations with a Credit Card

Brand New! Responding to a request from adonor and thanks to the hard work of Leslie Tucker of our International Department, you can now give to the ministry of CPTLN Mexico through our Lutheran Hour Ministries web site credit card center!

Go to : www.lhmgift.org
Click on: Go to the link that says " Donate Now " and click on the pull down menu choice that says " Support an International Ministry. " There you can designate your gift to the MEXICO office along with your credit card information.

Your gift will support the local budget that the Mexico office raises. If you have any difficulties or questions, you can contact Leslie Tucker directly to make your credit card gift. She can be reached at the toll-free number (800) 944-3450. Of course, you can also contact Melissa Salomon at melissa@cptln.org for additional information.

GRACIAS!