Mexico
July 2011
Jaimie Alonso of British Columbia, Canada attended The Elijah Challenge Advanced Training in Houston in February 2008
Mexico “Project Serve” Team with Youth for Christ
July 2011
The planning for this particular trip to Juarez, Mexico has been in the works for about 2 years. For many years “Youth for Christ” in Williams Lake, B.C. Canada and their “Project Serve” team has been taking teams of youth to this area to build homes for the very poor, but because of the recent violence of drug gangs, many ministries have stopped sending teams to Juarez. Todd Hale was the team leader. Todd is a young man of God and it was a pleasure to be with him and this group of young people. “YFC” has partnered with “Casa Por Cristo” ministries based in El Paso, Texas. My hopes were to possibly train either the team members or local Mexicans in Juarez with the Elijah Challenge course and hold crusades in the evening after working on the homes. (“Youth for Christ” has graciously let me partner with them as a missionary liaison.)
Youth For Christ “Project Serve” Team 2011
Juarez is known as a very violent, drug controlled city on the American/Mexican boarder immediately south of El Paso, Texas. There has been much news about the constant murders in this city of over 2 million people and “Youth for Christ” has been very concerned about the safety of this team building homes there. Local workers with “Casa Por Cristo” had told us that it was safe to build, but YFC was cautious and concerned for the safety of the young team. Many meetings took place and it was decided that YFC would not be involved. A local church in Williams Lake was contacted and they had decided that they would sponsor the trip.
After driving almost 40 hours non-stop from Canada, I was stunned at the poverty in Juarez. The average income is about $50/month. The land the homes are built on is basic desert sand. With El Paso in clear view and the obvious abundance, I realized there is a difference of being poor and poverty. The Gospel is the only real solution for success in Juarez.
Casa Por Cristo uses building homes for the poor as a vehicle to share the Gospel and a testimony of God’s goodness to those that have “qualified” for such a home. My hope and goal was to take this one step farther and work with the churches by training and equipping them to hold Elijah Challenge style outreaches/door to door witnessing etc.
The main challenge was for 8 young men, 1 young lady and an older guy (me), to build 2,300 sq. foot homes in 4 days (12-14 hours days) in 40 C/104 F temperatures—AND then possibly train folks for a crusade in the evening. The evening crusades were not going to happen as we were all beat, especially the older man. Our accommodations were Pastor Chuy’s (pronounced Chewy) church which included fantastic homemade Mexican food and lots of kids.
During our stay there was not a hint of danger from the drug culture and the weather cooperated according to God’s will. We watched rain clouds come directly at us and then circle around the building with not a drop of rain until we finished. Then it poured!
The 2 families were overwhelmed as they watched from their homes, built of wood pallets and bed springs, the construction of their new home! A Gift From God! This was the result of our labor, finances, and many gallons of water.
Old house
New house
After our fourth and final day of construction, our host church held their evening service. The previous evening I had shared with Pastor Chuy about my adventures with the Elijah Challenge Challenge. The pastor was very excited and asked me to take the evening service
That night I made it very clear that the only reason we had come to Mexico was because of what Jesus had done on the cross for our sins and that God wanted to prove His love for the Mexican people by healing the sick that were at this meeting. This followed by a mini-workshop and then a demonstration of God’s goodness to this local body of about 30 believers. Everyone who came forward was healed!
The first lady that came forward had back problems. After we commanded healing, she danced before the believers. I saw her the next day and she was still dancing.
Above & below: lady dances after being healed of back problem
There were 3 cataracts healed that night. Seeing people healed from cataracts is always fantastic, there is always an accompaniment of tears or the biggest smile you can imagine as these folks receive their sight back. Also healed was a lady with a baseball-sized tumor and a 4-year-old boy with tonsillitis as well. His comment was “Daddy, now that the Lord has healed me, can we go for ice cream?”
Boy with tonsillitis healed
I watched two pastors wrestle each other as they had been relieved of years of back, neck and arm pain. They were enjoying their “new” bodies. Many other backs were healed as well.
Pastors wrestling after being relieved of years of back, neck and arm pain
The next day we visited an orphanage and the mother of the boy with tonsillitis was helping to feed the children. There were about 65 children to feed.
Feeding Children
Clay mixed with spittle restores eyesight as in John 9:6
This mom was wearing glasses and had cataracts. I was asked to minister to her. After two efforts there seemed to be little improvement. She shared how the day before she had been reading how Jesus had made mud out of clay with his spit and wanted me to do the same. I admit I was a little out of my comfort zone but complied. There is not much clay in the desert but after 10 minutes of searching one of the pastors found some. I asked for some water to make the paste but she insisted that I use my spit. Again I complied and made a paste and applied it to her eye lids and commanded healing. Immediately she went into a very powerful, dramatic worship time that lasted a few minutes. When she opened her eyes not only were her cataracts gone but her sight was restored too. She told her husband “Now that I can see you, you are more handsome than I remembered.” I cried when I heard this.
Mixing the clay paste to minister healing for eyesight as Jesus did in John 9:6
Commanding healing in Jesus’ name
The leader of our team, Todd, had his first experience at healing as a lady came to the orphanage with some back pains. Todd laid his hands on her back, his hands felt warm and she was healed right at the orphanage.
Pastor Chuy has shared with me that the pastors of Mexico have gathered and held meetings to form a strategy to reach the country of Mexico. Some 600 pastors will meet for a period of time to disciple, train and encourage each other to prepare for a mass outreach in Mexico. They have invited me to come and train them in the “Elijah Challenge End Time Model of Evangelism” when this gathering takes place. I will return in March 2012 to visit Pastor Chuy as well as minister in the area. Please pray for this door that has opened in Mexico.
Pastor Chuy with Host Pastors