Enter as a Stranger, Leave as a Friend

Welcome to the Padilla’s Prayer Request

Tito, Kim Padilla, and family

Padilla Prayer Update

El Paso/ Ciudad Juarez, MX

October, 2011

Dear Friend and Fellow Partner in the Gospel,

We are so grateful to the Lord for your partnership with us. As the Lord takes us through valleys and deep waters, we do not despair nor lose heart…though it is often tempting. When we least expect it his grace surprises us…

About three weeks ago, an 18 year guy stopped by the school where we have our worship services. He approached me after the service and asked to talk. I asked how I could help him, and with tears in his eyes he said, “I want to be saved.” Now, it is obvious that this is not normal, so I asked what he meant. He looked at me, but no words came from his lips. I invited him to move inside a classroom in the school. For the next 45 minutes we talked, read the Scriptures and prayed. Clearly, circumstances in his life have driven him to the point of despair and depression. He has a superficial knowledge of the Scriptures and of the person of Christ, but there are things in his life that enslave him. Please pray for Gabriel. We have not seen each other since that meeting although he said he would come to church. Pray for the Lord to deliver him from his sin and for God to open the eyes of his heart to see that salvation is in Christ alone.

1. Officer training

This month we are finishing church officer training for several prospective elder and deacon candidates. We have been praying that God would use this training to call the men of his choosing. Please pray with us that God would call and equip the men he wants to serve his people at Las Tierras Church. Pray for the Las Tierras church members who will eventually have opportunity to confirm the calling of these men.

As God provides elders for Las Tierras Church, we will be moving from “mission” status to a “particular/organized” church in the Presbyterian Church in America. Please ask the Lord to guide us through this process.

2.  Block Party

Last month we organized and celebrated our 6th Annual Block Party. God blessed our time with good weather and enjoyable conversations with neighbors. Please pray that God would use this as a bridge for building relationships with our neighbors so that we might serve and love them in the power of the gospel.

3. Family News

For the last couple of years Kim has been serving as a substitute teacher in local schools. God surprised her recently in providing her a full-time position teaching English as a Second Language to middle school children. Praise and thank God for his kindness to her in the provision of this job, and ask the Lord to enable her to love and teach the kids with the wisdom of the Lord.

4. BEAMM Financial needs

Several fellow BEAMM missionaries that serve here on the border are experiencing financial struggles. Please pray for the Lord to encourage them and for him to provide the needed resources. Prayerfully consider a one-time gift or monthly gifts for these servants of the Lord. I have listed their names and links so that you can obtain more information about them.

Charlie Davidson- www.beamm.org/davidson.html
Josue Mayo- www.beamm.org/mayo.html

Thank you for loving us and the people here on the US/Mexico border!

Grace and Peace,
Manuel “Tito”