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september 2005 newsletter
134 youth in matamoros mexico
During the first week of June Cesar had the
opportunity to lead the first project of the summer in
Matamoros. On this project, we had 134 kids with their leaders. Most of these kids were Junior High
students. They
came from Georgia, Texas, and Nebraska. Below are some of the testimonies of the youth from Crossover
Community Church
in the town of Blue Ridge, Georgia.
camille ralston
“This morning a person came up to me and was sharing how their “ATL” time went, and they said that someone in their group had prayed and
saw a yellow truck, old shoes, and a tire in their head. Later that person saw that on the road and was led there. So I decided I would
try the ATL thing today. Well, all I could think of was a red car. We went door to door prayer walking, and I forgot about the whole thing.
We had a break and then went back to praying. We had already led 6 people to Christ. When we were in the street, I remembered the red car
and when I looked up, it was there! We went to the house and a boy walked out. {Later she told us that she at first was going to ask for
his mother, but she thought he looked old enough to understand so she shared the Gospel with him.} To make a long story short, the boy was
very attentive and I led him to Christ, but God saved him. {And after he was saved, Camille told us, crying, he leaned on the red car.}
But I couldn’t have done it without my #1 group: Mrs. Kim, Mrs. Jennifer, Caroline, Mrs. Ann, Maggie, Jenna, Ansley and our great translator
Jonathan … Steven Vecchio was with us the first half of our session!”
“When we first got to Mexico, I thought we were going to minister to all of the Hispanic people, but as the days went by, we were the ones
being ministered to. People got saved every day, and just to see God work brought tears to my eyes. This has been the best experience.
I thought it would be miserable, but I would give anything to go back and to see how God is still working. And just think, we can do it right
here at home … and we can get the message through more clearly since we don’t have a translator. We wouldn’t have made it through Matamoros
without God. It was all Him.”
tiffany greer
“This trip touched my heart. The kids were so kind. The people were so hospitable. The houses these people [lived in] were unreal. They were
trashy and run-down. I had heard how we were blessed in the United States but didn’t really care until I saw how these kids lived. It was a
life-changing experience. How amazing these kids were. They were so good at soccer it wasn’t funny. Which that’s all they really had and they
were so happy and so good. Well, God bless!”
caroline calliham
“The trip to Mexico was the best trip of my life. I’ve never felt and heard God so clearly. The atmosphere is so different from ours, and the kids
are so appreciative. The kids are just so humble and they were definitely hungry for the Word of God. Another thing that touched my heart was doing
door-to-door evangelism. The people of Matamoros were so open and they wanted to hear what you had to say. I even had the opportunity of leading
two women to Christ. This trip changed my outlook on things and I’ll never be the same!”
ashley gibson
“God has been so good, I never expected Him to actually ‘talk’ to me. It’s amazing! One day in Mexico we had ‘head-to-head,’ it’s where we got with
someone we didn’t know anything about, and asked God what their struggles were and prayed about it, then tell them what we prayed about. God hit
right on! Amazing how He works in everyone’s life as well as mine.”
jeffery cornacchia
At Mexico we went to the Rehab Center. Those kids were nothing like here. They were so happy when people came in to see them. They also did not
have half the stuff we had and they still had a smile on their face. It really helped me realize that we think we need everything when really we
don’t need that much. These were kids that were very happy and they couldn’t even walk. If we were like that I know we would not act like that. So
they really showed me how I should change in my life.”
russell ralston
“I loved the trip to Mexico because God showed up in so many ways. Our whole youth group grew individually and together so much. Overall, 100
people got saved and I know many more will come to know Christ because of what He did through us. Throughout the week I could tell that God
blessed me and my youth group so much.”
cody struthers
“The mission trip to Mexico was awesome! God showed me so much. He made me a lot more bold than I was before. I don’t really care what others
think about what I do or how I look as I did before. God spoke to me a lot. The Mexican children were so nice. All of them would give you anything
they had if you asked, even though they had very little. It made me thankful for all that I have. The only thing they have to play with might me a
soccer ball, but they are much happier than me. I am so thankful for all the freedoms we have here, but I’m disappointed at how we always beg for
new things. We’ve always got to have the most stylish clothes and all the latest technology. They are happy to have clothes and a roof. I am looking
forward to going back.”
lauryn ryder
The trip to Mexico was absolutely the best of my life! I thought I was going down there to teach them something but they taught me. Honestly,
when I found out about Mexico, I thought it would be a fun trip with my friends, but it wasn’t like that at all. I’ve grown so much and I’m
still growing. I’ve been having my quiet time and actually listening and waiting on what He is going to say. I’d give anything to go back. I
challenge everybody to go witness because you will be so amazed.”
connor stephens
“This trip has been the best trip I’ve ever been on in my life! I didn’t really want to go, but it was a blessing to me.
One of the things that was an eye-opener that God showed me was that back here at home, we are so selfish. There was a lady in Mexico that was
so thankful to have a pencil. The kids at the Salvation Army were so excited to see us that they were standing at the gate yelling with smiles
on their faces. I will never forget them.
I met some of the sweetest people there. God helped me grow in His Word. My friends and at praise and worship were kneeling and singing to the
Lord with our whole heart. I thought that was so cool.
So if you missed out on this year’s trip, then please go next year. Get out of your comfort zone and go. I promise you that this trip changed my
life forever!
Thank you and God bless you to all who made this trip possible!”
ansley brumby
“On this mission trip to Matamoros, Mexico, God really revealed Himself to me in so many ways. One thing He showed me each day was a quality of
true Christian leadership.
He showed me about:
Talking to the Boss: Asking God for direction and then just waiting and listening for His voice and then following His direction during Ask
The Lord.
He showed me about boldness and courage when we shared the gospel with people and got to pray with them and for them during Door-to-Door
evangelism and prayer walking.
And when I got the opportunity to lead a woman to Christ, He showed me a lot about teamwork and working through the power of the Holy
Spirit.
He showed me about stepping back and being an encourager.
He showed me about stepping out of my comfort zone to sing in front of people, even a solo a capella on the bus!
He showed me about genuine worship with Him and devotion from getting up early and spending time with Him in the quiet to singing praises at
the top of our voices!
He showed me about obedience to His will, by sharing verses that He had given me from His word in front of the entire camp.
He showed me about joy and thankfulness through the children at the Salvation Army orphanage.
He showed me about the blessings that serving can bring by cleaning bathrooms and washing dishes.
He showed me about it being His plan and that He is the salvation through 54 kids being saved at just one day of VBS!
He showed me about unity by the teams working together.
He showed me about my relationship with Him and that we can always run faster, aim higher, and raise the bar. He showed me it’s not over now
that we’re home, He’s with us everywhere we go and that it we ask Him, we can ‘Follow God and Reach our World.’”
jeffrey harrell
On this trip, He really showed me how much He loves us. No matter the sin we commit, He will always love us. He says no matter the sin, it is all
the same. As long as we ask forgiveness He will love us the same. His love is unfailing.”
a girls at the VBS site
this boy (roberto) acceted Jesus into his life after Jennifer shared the gospel with him.
two boys at the VBS site.
roberto and an aim participant.
Hurricane Katrina News
Tyanka's story
As AIM continues to love on the people affected by hurricane Katrina, we are beginning to hear happy endings to some pretty horrific beginnings;
here is one of the stories:
Tyanka Stephens and her mother Sylvia and son Jamon (age 7) woke up to water rising in their building. They were on the fourth story of an apartment
building in New Orleans. The water was already up to the 2nd floor. They looked around for something, anything, to grab and use to float. They
saw neighbors with kids’ pools blown up, but didn't have anything like that to use. They finally realized that they could use the doors from their
closets. Then, loading everything they could onto the doors, they got into the rising water. It was really frightening to Tyanka who could not
even swim. As they left, Jamon was picked up by a boat and they all headed for the Super Dome. On the way, they lost all their belongings and
Jamon as well. Tyanka searched frantically and finally found him. Once at the Super Dome they did fare better than most. Tyanka had worked
there for 4 years and was able to leave on a bus as soon as possible. She literally snuck out so that no one would see them leave.
They were then taken to Baton Rouge, Louisiana where it, believe it or not, got worse. Her mother, Sylvia, had diabetes and after a few days
of little food and medicine her health started to decline. She began to have strange, violent thoughts and told someone. She knew she needed help.
Several times she almost fainted. Thankfully Janeen Messner, AIM staff, was there and found out that the rest of their family had been evacuated
to Corpus Christi, Texas.
Because Janine saw the situation deteriorating, she called Cesar and me to see if we could help. She was able to get them on a bus headed to
Houston which is about 6 hours away from our home in Harlingen, Texas. We took off as soon as we could and headed for the Astrodome. By God's
grace, their bus and our van met up at the Astrodome within 5 minutes of each other, which was essential because the Astrodome officials were
trying to get her out of the area. It was 10:15 at night and they were not letting anyone on the property. When she saw us she just ran and
gave me (Jennifer) a big hug. Her trip was beginning to take a turn for the better. But, as we loaded them into the van, her mom had the
most glazed over look. She hadn't been able to take her medicine because she hadn't eaten. After we got them some food she took her medicine.
She slept most of the 4 hour trip to Corpus Christi and looked much better by then.
Because it was 4 in the morning by the time we got there, the shelter was closed so we stayed at a nearby hotel. In the morning we entered the
shelter which was amazing. The Corpus Christi shelter, which is housed at an ice skating rink, was so organized. They had a table for everything.
There were areas to get I.D.'s, schooling for kids, medical attention, banking needs, housing, food stamps, job references, bedding and supplies,
airline tickets to anywhere in the U.S. (one-way), and even have your make-up and hair done. There were few lines and lots of helpful people.
To them, it was heaven. Within about an hour and a half they had many things accomplished including a time set up to go see their new apartment.
They called just yesterday to tell us that Tyanka and her mom each have an apartment and will move in on Wednesday. They really want us to travel
up and come see their new place. Praise God!!!
The Big Picture
Adventures In Missions' (AIM) uniqueness is our quest for intense relational ministry and
discipleship. We believe God wants to use AIM to relieve the suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in three key locations: New Orleans, Biloxi and Hattiesburg. We have been ministering in New Orleans and Mississippi for eight years. Now, we are representing God’s compassion to those who perceive they are unloved and those who are, in fact, unloved. We will continue to build relationships. Reconcile men to God. Rebuild families. Raise up a small army of hungry ministers to do the work. Return ministers to their homes stronger and more energized in their relationships with God.
For more information contact AIM at:
1-800-881-AIM1 or at www.adventures.org
Or just call our family at 956-425-6440
Thank you so much for your prayers!!!
Cesar, Jennifer, Katie, and Hannah
Hurricane Katrina Relief.Do you want to be in the Picture?
Relief
Place evacuees from Hattiesburg, New Orleans and Biloxi in rebuilt and new homes.
Relational Ministries
Teams will go into homes, connect with families, help them get on their feet, meet felt needs, begin relational ministry.
Katrina Relief Projects last 1 to 2 weeks during Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring and summer break.
Financial Ministry
Your donations -- “where the tire meets the road”-- will allow us to:
Staff ministry centers in the hardest-hit locations.
Continue our Family Placement program.
Reach, comfort, encourage, evangelize and disciple thousands of people whose hearts have never been so open to God. And might never be again.
Prayer Requests
Pray that many people would be saved this summer.
Please pray for continued stamina for the summer. It's really busy.
Pray that we would hear God's voice and nearby in Mexico (Nuevo Loredo) the police chief was killed on his first day of work. Several others in that city had been previously killed. Because of this AIM has asked Cesar to move that trip to Reynosa. We need to be cautious about safety. Pray for wisdom.
May God Bless you for praying for us and for reading this long note. Thank you for your support! Let us know how we can pray for you!!!
Cesar, Jennifer, Katie, and Hannah Gonzalez
Thank You for All Your Prayers and Support!!!
Cesar, Jennifer, Katie and Hannah
1049 E. Matz Ave.
Harlingen, TX 78550
(956) 357-3430 work cell
(956) 425-6440 home
cesargonzalez@adventures.org
jennifergonzalez@adventures.org
www.adventures.org
www.aimcesar.com
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