Day 7 Fatima

Outskirts of Fatima colonia

house with mom and 5 kids

Dave, Rafael Maricella and a new friend Sergio

Yesterday I worked on the sailboat....a few of the electrical connections were all corroaded. It was really windy from the NW.

Dave met me at the boat and we headed for Guaymas. Our first stop was my favorite taco stand Julios.

Second stop was Fatima, a poor colonia that the Lord put on my heart last year.

The colonia is characterized by 100's of kids hanging out not going to school, malnutrition, moms being used by men and on and on it goes. While there I saw of smiling children everywhere but I also sensed the underlying pain of the community.

My pastor friend is Rafael and his wife is Marciella. They are truely wonderful people with hearts for the people. In our conversatiion Rafael talked about a woman who had just died and now her, son 8 yrs. old, has the same disease and will die soon too. Rafael an

d Maricella began to cry and Dave and I prayed for them and the boy.

When Rafael asked what I was doing there I told him that last year the Lord had put it on Alison and my heart to return to Fatima and see what else we could do to help he and Maricella with the ministry there. I told him that we would like to come to Fatima for a week and come along side of he and his wife and help them in the ministry here.

Rafael said that we are welcome anytime and that there is so much ministry to be had that we would not be bored. The people are open and hungry. Presently Maricella meets with 200 kids a week. There are small groups meeting in homes in the community and Rafael is seeing a positive change in the community.

An older woman on the edge of the colonia that has a large piece of property has offered a part of it to Rafael to set up something (building, tent, hut...anything) to feed the children of Fatima. We went to the site (shown above) ...it would be awesome. I told Rafael that I didnt have very much money but the Father does and we will pray and see what the Lord does.

In the photos you can see a black little shed....a mother with 5 children lives there.

We delivered some formula for her new baby. Rafael and Maricella scooped up the kids and hugged them. Dave tickled the boys and they latched onto him like glue.

So now we pray and see what the Lord has.

After leaving Fatima and feeling I felt a longing to help the people of Fatima and point them to the hope of Christ. I pictured a group of Americans swinging hammers and digging and laughing as they ministered to the people. I waved to the kids good bye in hopes of a soon return.

Went went to Daves house on the other side of Guaymas and Dee, Daves wife, had made dinner and we sat on their porch overlooking Guaymas.

What a cool day!!! Miss my family but I hope that this spy mission turns out to be really fruitful.