We are at the border of Guatemala

So we made it through MEXICO, yeah. It wasnt easy but we did it. We had to endure 7 police stops just because we are white, most asked for money, and one told me he had a pistol. We drove over 7100kms, had over 23 gas stops, tons and tons of topes(speed bumps that just killed the bottom of my van), multiple military stops, a few stops by people who told us they were police, only 3 or 4 unexpected stops for peeing, one emergency stop to a mechanic to fix my lights because the bumps were so big they ripped all my wiring off and my head lights didn't work either. Its very hot here and I sweat 24 hrs a day.

I took my first shower from a garbage can the first night we got here. You fill up a clean garbage can with cold water, use a small bucket and dump the water over your head, wash and repeat as necessary. I haven't seen a house with hot water yet but because its so hot here we don't mind the cold water. Can't drink the water of course so all of our drinking water is bottled.

We have been invited to stay with Mario Alonzo for as long as we are in Mexico...his family is very nice and we are blessed to know them. Mario has an office that is not finished yet so it is our new temporary house. The office has no lights, shower, hot water or toilet seats but we are missionaries so we don't mind.

We visited the local churches and communities to check out the conditions. Our friends in Mexico are praying that we stay here to do our missionary work. Some of the conditions are terrible here. We met many locals and all of them were so nice. It's amazing to me when we asked them how they were doing most of them said good or very good, but all of them had nothing. In these areas people have little or no food. We met a family of 7 that had one potato, 5 tomatos, 1 onion, 1 chayote, tortillas, sugar, and coffee and nothing else. It was heart breaking. To watch them interact as a family and see them love each other, laugh and have a good time was great. We who live in Canada and the US have got it so good. These people didn't even own shoes.

I was presented with a great local dish and would have been offensive if I said no. It had everything in the bowl that I swore I would never eat, a dead fish with head and lips included, and shrimp with head and tenacles as well. My wife was so proud of me because I ate alot of the food. Thank God for helping on this one.

The hardest thing that we saw to date was a blind pastor. We were able to see his house and talk to his family. It is customary when people come over that you prepare food and drink for them but this man had nothing. I mean nothing. When we were introduced to the pastor he told us that he had no gold or silver and nothing to offer us except the power of God. He prayed a blessing over us. It was too much for me (Shawn) to handle and I broke down and cried. It was overwhelming to see such generousity and love encased in poverty. Addison mentioned that our dogs live in better conditions than some of these people.

The children are loving it here and would be happy to live here. They are enjoying Miguel's family as well as Alonzo's. They are trying hard to learn the language. We are so proud of their attitudes.

I have much more to share but we have to leave and eat with some more people.

Thank you all for your prayers and support.


the virags

WIA
151-10090 152nd st
suite 314
Surrey, BC, Canada
V3R 8X8

If you are donating and would like a tax receipt make the cheques out to WIA. Do not put our names on the cheque, simply drop in a quick note allocating the funds to the Virag family.