My wife and I visited Puerto Vallarta October 5th through the 13th and during our visit we had the opportunity to visit a couple of mission schools, Casa Maranatha and Pan de Vida at the invitation of Dennis and Faye Janson. What a blessing. The staff and volunteers at these schools are doing a wonderful work with the next generation of Puerto Vallarta.

The children are being instructed in personal hygiene. Many of the children have never known what it is to have running water in their homes and do not understand the importance of simple hand washing. The children are receiving meals. For some children this is the only meal that they receive each day. Many children are assisted in entering public school. Often the children are born at home and do not have the proper papers necessary to enter into public school. Children are assisted with their homework. Children receive instruction in speaking English. With an education and second language skills these children will have an opportunity to break the poverty cycle that their parents could not escape. Most important the children are introduced to the word of God.

If you are planning to travel to Puerto Vallarta contact Dennis and Faye and see for yourself first hand the work being done.

David & Luann
Colorado Springs, Colorado

This time, God showed me his redeeming power by that young boy with glasses at the PAN DE VIDA Mission.  As you may recall, we told you of our remembrance this boy on other trips and how he was completely strung out on inhaling paint fumes from aerosol cans.  He was always on the outskirts of any activity.  A real loser, well, until someone cared enough to give him eyeglasses, invite him to the mission school, and taught him some basics, how to write the alphabet.  I do not know his entire story, nor do I know the silent heroes who helped him, but I do know the God who passionately seeks to redeem this boy’s life to wholeness.  For that, I bow my head in thankfulness that all I had to do was to show up South of the Border to see God’s redemption in action.

Karen & Clayton
Des Moines, Iowa