A town of approximately 20,000 people. There are less than 500 who consider themselves believers.

These photos are from a recent re-vision trip to allow our pastor to see the field.

The need for the work has been confirmed and reported back to the church.

 As a whole the people in Lerdo de Tejada are hard working and friendly, open to making time to say hello.

 Notice the headset. It doesn't take long to realize that teens of all cultures love their music!

 These stores offer a wide variety of personal health products, medicines and health foods. Keep in mind that all the stores are open air. Most store buildings are made of brick and cement with garage doors which stay open during business hours. Most buildings are not air conditioned.

 Notice the boy behind her. He would stay close and play while his mother sold her fruit. About 8-10 pieces of fruit were 5 pesos which is the equivalent of somewhere around 35 cents in U.S. dollars.

 This trip was taken during what the locals call Festival. It is a time of celebration before Lent with parades every evening filled mostly with school children who had made papiermache figures and carried them through the streets. Some groups had drill team routines. The main focus of this celebration was patron San Jose. Crowds filled the plaza every night while music blared and dancers took the stage. All of this celebrating is proof of a lost people who do not know the true reason to celebrate.

 We came across a young man writing on this woman's arm. She explained they were trying to find the best method of painting on the girls' arms in a baton twirling group as part of their costumes. The band was made to look egyptian as that was the theme of their routine.

 This girl was a member of an all girl group which was practicing their baton routine for the festival parade. Notice the students wear school uniforms.

 Children of all cultures love to be the center of attention! Well except for maybe the little one.

 Bicycles are a common mode of transportation. Notice the wooden seat which has been added for the little one. She needs to hear the story of a heavenly Father from her own dad. Who will tell him so he can tell her?

 These teenagers are preparing to take the stage at the festival wearing traditional Mexican costumes.

 This group of teenage boys were none too eager to have their photos taken. Notice how they all turn their faces from the light of the camera flash. Some hearts which see the light will turn away from it. It is still our responsibility to go. Only God knows those who will accept or turn away from Him. 

 These young people work at the grocery store.

 Meat is processed fresh each morning and picked up by the local butchers where it is hung in open air shops. Noticed the intestines hanging at the left of the photo. Nothing goes to waste.

 This woman consented to let us take her photo in front of the food stand she and her husband were operating.

Man's best friend has a presence in Lerdo. Most are no where near as fat as the ones in the states. This guy just seemed to beg for attention. His situation though reflects the black and white of our sin against the truth of what Christ did on the cross. Many stay trapped in their sin and need to know the way out.

 This culture struggles too with things that capture the imagination instead of Christ holding us.

 While many ride bicycles and some have cars, it is not uncommon to see this mode of transportation hauling a load.

 This house is typical of an average family.

 This family lives in a tin house. Observe the tires holding the roof down. Lerdo is a town of all economic classes even the rich.

 Young couples are seen everywhere. Like most post-modern cultures, promiscuity is rampant. Who will teach this generation the value of a marriage based on God's principles and not what the world says is the norm.

 We met this woman on our first day of prayer walking. Turns out she was the avon lady. She used to attend the mormon church in Lerdo but decided that it was not for her. Many times people in this culture will just keep adding different beliefs to the catholicism in which they are raised. If it's good why not try it. This is called syncretism. When people pick and choose different parts of different religions and meld them into a religion of their own. We were able to share the true Gospel with her. 

 This teen had never heard the verse John 3:16. He had no understanding of what hell is. He was willing to listen to the Gospel. Pray that this seed sprouts and grows to bear fruit.

 These two men were willing to hear the gospel. They accepted the book of John with the understanding that it was for them to read for themselves. Many believe that the Bible is only for the priest to read and has no application to their personal life. More young men need to hear the truth.

 This young girl went to school in the afternoon. The school systems are divided with some students going early and some late.

 This young mother met us as we were walking and praying. At the time, we did not know the road we were walking led to the cemetery. We were able to share the truth of the gospel with her. She did not know if she was good enough to go to heaven. When we explained that you never can be and the only way was through Jesus as He stated in John 14:6. She wanted to know this way. Who will follow up with her and disciple her in the decision she made?

 

We also learned that we had met her husband the night before at the plaza. When team members tried to share the gospel with him, he turned away from it. He had told his wife about meeting us though. We met her on the opposite side of town miles from their home or where we met her husband. This can be no accidental meeting. We need to follow up with this young family.

 

 

 How many bodies have past through the gate into this cemetary without every hearing the gospel while they were yet alive?

 As we were leaving the cemetary, yet another family suffers loss. People walk in a procession behind the hearse.

 This man was the first we met who made the distinction between being a Christian and being Catholic. He wanted us to understand that he was not Catholic. Obviously every knows him because of his business. Pray that, Lord willing, we can build a relationship with this man.

 Imagine a group of young men building a relationship with Christ. Who will see that they have this opportunity?

 This group was excited to meet Americans, especially the Princessa. It is hopeful that at this age they have not yet participated in some of the culturally accepted indulgences. It is a short window of time that we have to reach this generation so they can reach their own people for Christ and raise up a new generation of believers. How will they hear?

 The main agriculture crop in the area and main economic boost centers around sugarcane. As the picture shows, it can be back breaking labor to harvest the cane.

 The cane fields are burned off to run out all snakes. Then a machete is the tool used to cut the cane a stalk at a time. Stalks are then bundled and loaded on trucks going to the refinery. It's a dirty job. During this time the suet from the fields and the refinery dust the town. It lands on your clothes, your face...all surfaces. 

 Many of these men will work in the fields all day earning about 200 pesos a week. At the end of the day, they ride their bicycles home.

 Some still use this beast of burden to get to work and haul supplies.

 This little boy was none to anxious to have his picture taken. While the mother was more than willing, he never gave up. Parenting, not so much different in any country. It's a job. This mother needs to know how a relationship with Christ can give her strength to face the days ahead and teach her little one.

 This woman was out in her yard scrubbing her clothes on a washboard then rinsing them to hang on the clothes line. She believes attending the Catholic church occasionally will be enough for her to go to heaven. She believes in what is not true.

 This group of people were so kind as to invite us to dinner one afternoon. They are members of one of the AG churches we found in the town. They are glad to have help in reaching their town for Christ.

 Scooters were everywhere. Obviously this are becoming a popular form of transportation for those who can afford them.

 These people were waiting for the school program to begin at the plaza.

 The young girl in the yellow shirt takes advantage of her English studies in school. Able to speak to her first Americans, she was a delight. What great plans could the Lord have in store for this bilingual young lady?!

 On the outskirts of town, part of the roads are not paved. There are a few neighborhoods where this is the typical scene.

 This mom walks with her son early in the morning as he heads to school. 

 This woman stopped us on the street. She was filled with questions and directions to her restaurant down the street. Even though our language skills presented a small barrier she was excited to tell us about the town. Her personality already lends itself to someone who be bold in sharing the gospel, if she believed. Pray this woman comes to an understanding of who Christ truly is.

 The evening before we came home, we met this young man in the city of Veracruz. He had a blanket spread open on a street corner and was weaving bracelets, necklaces and bookmarks. We stopped to look at what he was making to buy a bracelet to serve as a prayer reminder. By the time we left him, he had accepted Christ and was excited about being able to share the story with others. By the leading of the Holy Spirit, Bro. Blake had the idea to use the cords in the young man's own bag to share the gospel. Using the red, black, natural and green--he explained the gospel of Christ and what He did for us. The young man wanted to see a change in his own life and prayed to repent and accept Christ as his own Savior. When Blake told him that now he could tell others in the same fashion, you could see the anticipation of being able to do so wash over his face. He wanted to go back over all the colors and their meanings so he could remember.

 

He needs to be discipled to grow as a follower of Christ. Just when you think a trip is over, God calls one more. And to this one He has given the tools to reach others. It's not over. It's just beginning. What now will you do with your new awareness of the need for the Light in this area of darkness?

 Right now we have an open door to share the gospel with the beautiful people in Lerdo de Tejada. We need to go several times a year to share and disciple new believers. We need to teach them how to reach their neighbors and families for Christ. Pray and ask the Lord how He wants to use you in this endeavor. Then be obedient to His call. [For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed." -Romans 10:11]