September's Newsletter

Dear Friends,

I hope this newsletter finds you well and in good health, enjoying all that God has for you.

*Standing at the US-Mexican boarder in Laredo Texas, I am just thinking “ what a long trip it has been”. Its Just 10 weeks ago when I went through this exact same place heading to my first destination Corpus Christi through San Antonia Texas, having no idea how the trip was going to turn out, and everything I would experience during the entire time. It was just a leap forward as I just step out totally by faith not even having the funds to pay for my way back into Mexico, but God is exceedingly good, as the saying goes “all the time”. After Texas, I headed to Oregon, Washington State, cross country to Washington DC, Virginia, Arkansas, Oklahoma, then now back into Mexico.

Everything really went very well, a part from the tiredness of being on the road for over a hundred hours during the 10 weeks, I experienced different types of hospitality, people offering their beds, camp cabins, guest rooms, couches, mobile trailers, and some even their own master bedrooms with treadmills and gym equipment. I also had the opportunity to speak in various venues, such as 5 different churches 2 of which being Spanish, a school, bible studies and youth meetings. One part of the USA that God provided many opportunities for me to minister during my stay was with my friend Colin in Grants Pass Oregon. Grants Pass is a small Town with a population of about 30,000 people, this is one of the US towns where racism was practiced on a high level. I heard that about 20 years ago right on the highway before entering the town, there used to be a sign post reading... “IF YOU ARE BLACK, DO NOT LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON YOUR BACK”... in other words meaning do whatever you gonna do, the sooner you leave the town the better, otherwise you would be attacked and whoever accommodated you. But as it turned out, during the first week of September while I was preaching at Colin's Church, there was a lady so surprised seeing me at the pulpit, by the end of the week she had spreed the word around even beyond 40kms/23m to the near by town about this young black man who preaches the word of God with passion. And before I knew it, I had invitations to meet different Pastors and Preach in a Spanish church. How awesome is that?

Its just so interesting what happens in our lives when we dare to trust God with everything we have and who we really are, being in all these different states in the US has been in some way kinda a desert to me. I mean like I mentioned in the August's newsletter of a “compelled desire to spend time in Prayer” and just seeking God, right before I left Mexico I had started to burnout which wasn't wise nor good physically as I always felt the pressure of doing a lot and thinking that I don't know enough language, playing the guitar and so on. The way the US acted as desert to me (being a reciprocal as San Pedro where I live is encompassed by a desert) I just felt more carefree, sometimes even not knowing where my next destination would be 3days prior to my next journey, this is where I was always drown to spend hours in prayers, taking walks with God and just listening to Him.

Mexico
Just after my arrival back to Mexico, I am so surprised as always how these guys live. I was thrown a welcome back surprising party with everybody saying how much they really missed me with gifts during my absence, I mean no wonder being the only black person (don't get me wrong, its pretty much depending on CHARACTER than skin color) among the 100,000 plus people who live here in San Pedro.

I have just been talking to Paul about the missions school, a number of things have changed from last year, the classes started about 3 weeks ago so I need to catch up with them. I also had the opportunity to catch up with Stephen during my visit in Virginia where he will be for a few more weeks. I am also excited to say that we are sending out one of our graduate student from the missions school to Pakistan this December, her name is Tita, she is really so excited how God opened the door and learning some Arabic phrases.

I haven't been to Delicias yet, but during the trip God has been showing me a number of different things that I will be putting in the ministry, one of which is to set up a 24 hour weekend prayer tent for people from San Pedro and may be even Torreon, creating more opportunities for the Gospel to get to the Village. This is the idea that God put in my heart during my time in prayer last month, I don't know how its going to work out exactly and so this is an area where I really need your prayer more than anything else!

Prayer
Just pray that God will be reveling to me exactly what I will need to be doing in Delicias.

Pray for Tita as we send her out.

Last but not least, pray for our general safety, some of you who keep in touch with international affairs, there is a lot of killings that are taking place right now in the country, I was reading the BBC news yesterday, and they put the kidnapping rate in Mexico even higher than that of Iraq and Colombia. A few weeks ago the Tolmans received a phone call, from some gangs threatening to attack the property where we live, our response is simple we are only living here for God, and if anything else, I don't believe I would have been here!

If you would like to spare a day during this month and remember us in your prayers, just send me an email and will let you know what day is best.

Thank you so much for your friendship and all your prayers, just to say that if you really enjoy reading my newsletters, you can pass them on to someone who you think might be interested to read about missions. Thanks again,

Loveisking
Donald



*Written on 30th September, the rest of the newsletter on 1st October.