Web Editor - Don Tarvin
Updated 29 Feb 2008

Febuary 2008 Prayer Letter 

Dear Friends in Christ,

This month we made a trip to Guadalajara to take some material and to visit Lonnie Jr. and Martha in the work there. Let me tell you about this trip.

In the early years the roads were two-lane asphalt with no shoulders, but today they are four lane super highways. On these super highways it is seven hundred miles from McAllen to Guadalajara. The toll cost for these 700 miles is $90.00 dls, and of course the return trip is the same. If you are driving the speed limit it had better be in the right or slow lane, or you will get run over by the other cars going up to 90 mph. We made the trip in good order in one day each way.

Living Word Baptist Church is in an affluent upper class neighborhood.  After working in the lower class areas for many years and building 8 churches which have been turned over to Mexican pastors, Lonnie Jr. decided to began a new work with the affluent. Five years ago they were meeting in rented buildings. They were able to buy an old gym at the cost was $253,000. dls. The church paid $68,000 dls down and borrowed $185,000 from the Commerce Bank in Sp, Mo. They have been able to pay this debt down to $10,000 dls and hope to have it paid off in three months. They spend another $100,000 dls to put on a new roof and remodel the property. There is land next door valued at $250,000, which they wish to purchase. If you can help them it would help. Please pray for this project.

Last year in Living Word there were 57 souls saved and 47 baptized or added to the church. They gave $23,000. dls to help another mission buy property and build. This work is now self-supporting and had over 50 saved with 11 baptized last month. Jr. has four more men in training for the ministry and will soon go fulltime. Praise God for this work and these people.

The works in Monterrey, Reynosa and Matamoros are doing well. God continues to bless with souls and growth. Pray for all of these pastors in Mexico

Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer and support toward our ministry.  May God continue to bless each and every one.

Yours for souls in Mexico,

Lonnie & Margie Smith