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BIVENS’ NEWSLETTER

April 9, 2012

Dear Faithful Friends and Prayer Warriors

This afternoon I am writing you greetings from the Pryor, OK public library. We left the border on March 29th and headed north with all kinds of plans. And, we are having an unbelievable adventure of bountiful blessings.

I am so thankful that Bud made it back from Mexico safely. He came out on the bus March 21st, dressed in his disguise-his floppy hat, dark glasses, and paint stained shirt. I had waited for him at the What-A-Burger in Hidalgo from 1:45, so when I saw him walking up through the parking lot about 4:30, I went running to meet him. Believe me, I was singing songs of thanksgiving.

Bud has not let me go down with him on the past two trips, because of the risk. We have heard several stories about one person being kidnapped and the other sent to bring ransom money. We were warned not to sit together on the bus. The same day he came in, there was an eight hour shootout on the highway from Reynosa to Monterrey. The violence just continues to escalate and there seems to be no end in sight. Even though heads of the cartels are killed, more just step into their place. There have been nearly 50,000 people killed in this drug war, and it is just not safe to drive the highway from the border to Altamira any longer. Busses are stopped from time to time and everyone robbed. It just makes me sick to heart. I really miss going with Bud and being with the students and their children. They are like family to us, and they, too, are at risk when they have to get out and travel.

Then, there are the natural disasters. You may have heard of the earthquake that hit on the Pacific coast of Mexico, south and east of Acapulco back during the last of March. The center of the earth quake was right near our little church in Tamale, Guerrero. Our dear pastor and his wife there were greatly impacted by the event. Their home was completely destroyed, and they are sleeping in the street. The roof of their church was badly damaged in the initial quake and since then, there have been several severe aftershocks. Each one does more damage to the church. Please keep Brother Simon Nieves, and his wife, in your prayers. His main concern seems to be getting the church building back iin good shape. I am sure his dear wife is wishing she had a roof over her head. And, they are so poor in that area. If the Lord touches your heart to help them out, we will see that any funds get directly to them. The pastor in Pinotepa de Don Luis, Oaxaca, Brother Nicolas Santiago, also suffered damage. They are some 100 or so miles on to the east. He called us to give us the news. He had major damage to the tiles on the roof of the church there, but no damage to his home.

We have been planning this trip for a while to attend Bud’s high school reunion in Healdton, on March 31st then visit my mother, Mrs. Willie Gage, at the Shady Rest Nursing Home in Pryor. A good month or so ago we sent letters to 20 churches in Oklahoma, up the route we would be traveling, asking them to collect gallon cans of vegetables and fruit and a list of other non-perishable items for the Getsemani Children’s home in Morelos, Coahuila. The last time we were there in January, Bud went down to the big kitchen to cook supper for the gang. He loves to fix them something that is not on their daily menu. And they love to see him coming because they know there is going to be something special to eat and it might be accompanied by corn bread and cake.

When he stepped into the food pantry, where he usually finds all kinds of large cans of vegetables and fruit stacked to the ceiling, he only found a few small cans without labels, that turned out to be hot sauce. We had to make a trip into Allende to buy the things he needed for Grand-father’s famous stew. Of course, it was a great success, served with a huge skillet of corn bread. There was only one cup of broth remaining when all of the kiddos had eaten. As we discussed the empty pantry with our son John and his wife Paulina, we all agreed that it is just not safe now for the groups that used to visit them on a regular basis to come. The Zeta cartel has a camp right down the road from them, and according to John, they drive in front of their gate 50 times a day. Unfortunately, since the groups are not coming, they are not sending the support they have always brought with them. So, Bud had this idea that we should have a food drive when we come to Oklahoma.

We are overwhelmed by the response we have received, and will need help getting things hauled back down to Eagle Pass, TX. Fortunately, we have dear friends here who are always ready to make a run to the border to haul whatever needs to be hauled. Bud warned John to clear out his storage unit. We will have to unload things there and then take it all across the border a little at a time. But, it is going to be a great blessing to the home, along with the money that has been donated. That can be used to shop at a new discount store in Piedras Negras Those items, bought in Mexico, avoid the hassle of going across the border and through the revision check point. So, this trip has already been a great blessing.

Besides the Food Drive, we have been privileged to be in several churches. April lst we were at the Iron Chapel FWB Church near Purcell for the morning service, then, met a gang of friends for lunch at a pizza buffet in Norman. We were at the Christ Chapel FWB Church in Blanchard that night. Easter Sunday we returned to Monett, MO. Pastor Fermin Sanchez did not tell the folks at the Palabras de Vida Eterna FWB Church that we were coming. We had a delightful reunion with some dear friends who accepted the Lord while we were getting that church established. Then, we visited Macedonia FWB Church near Purdy, that night and surprised a lot of other friends who have supported us through the years. We will be in several more churches while we are in the area, before we start back with the food on the 26th. And, Mother is delighted to have us drop in for a visit every day.

Bro Mark Cole and Bro. Vaughn Purdle from Blanchard, OK went down to Altamira on the 25th of Feb. to help Bud with the duplex. Brother Ricky Carroll and Brother Frank Maxwell flew in from Alabama to help too. Then Brother Richard Hendrix from AL flew in to teach for a week and lend a hand. Bud said they got a lot of work done. He and Brother Richard made a walking mission trip this time-since it is not safe to drive to the mountains as they have done in the past. They led three people to the Lord, on their walks from the IBLAC campus to Altamira. They all got to visit the work on the island, Cues de Palmas Altas and see the congregation there, and the site where a church will be built next year.

When we get back to the border, Bud will head out again. He will be working by himself again, trying to get everything finished. He still needs to get the tile floors to put down and the bathrooms and kitchens installed.

Please keep Bud in your prayers as he goes back down and works there. And, of course, the trouble is not limited to that one highway. There have been terrible shootouts all up the border, in all of the large cities including some terrible shootouts near Piedras Negras. John said that he has decided it is just not safe to be on the road at all after dark. That seems to be when the worst begins. I have often heard ministers say that the darkness of night is the Devil's favorite time to work. So, fervent, specific prayer is appreciated.

The work there at the Bible Institute goes on. Mexico is a field, white unto harvest, but the laborers are few. Please pray for the young men who the Lord is calling to respond to His call, come to the Bible Institute and prepare, and take up the Banner for the Lord.

God bless you richly. I have often thought that we could not do this without you. It is so true. How we rely on your prayer and support. Please include John and Paulina and the children in your prayer. This past week they received five new children. I believe that brings their total to 29. Our hearts are always with them. They, too, are doing an exciting and rewarding job, and also are in frequent danger. Your fervent prayer for Mexico is greatly appreciated.