During the Easter holidays I was pleased to take some of my own kids, NACL team members and some inner city folks to Guadalajara's "central park" (Parque Colomos) for a picnic, riding horses, feeding squirrels, exploring and playing together.  I was especially glad to have both of my god-daughters with us.  They were born to drug addict, prostitute mothers who each asked me to be their children's godfather. One of the mothers, Lucy, was killed last year and the other, Mari, is still serving time in prison where we visit her often. One little girl, Andrea, 4, is still living in the inner city. Though legally we have not been able to get her out of there, we do have a regular and positive influence in her life. My other godchild, Enkerlin, 1, lives at a local Christian orphanage, but spends lots of time at our house too. It was great to spend the day with them at the park, something we hope to do on a more regular basis as they grow up. Please pray for these precious little girls.

The day I left to go the US in February, my dear friend Adriana died from AIDS.  Moved to try to help others like her, we have been inviting Rosita, another dear friend to go to hospice care, but she consistently refuses. She would rather die, filthy in the gutter, where she is comfortable and safe among people she knows and loves.  Her body is covered with open, infected sores, and all I can do for her is clean her wounds, change her bandages and pray with her and for her.  She has yet to make a profession of faith, but she has heard the Gospel and God knows her heart. Please pray for Rosita during her final days on earth on the streets of the inner city and for many others like her who are afflicted with this deadly disease, that God would have mercy on them and forgive their sins by His grace. Pray that the NACL team would be faithful in our witness and intervention in the lives of these, our friends who we love so much.  

      

Last week when we arrived downtown, we were met by a young couple, Benjamin and Lupe who invited us into their home on Aldama St. in the inner city.  They had been to many of our soup kitchens before, but this was the first time that we actually sat down with them to talk.  We know their four children very well, because the kids are always with us out on the streets at night when we minister to the homeless addicts, prostitutes and other street kids. What a precious family. The parents are very humble and sincere, though both crack addicts themselves. They are very concerned for the future of their children, who are 12, 10, 8 and 4 years 

Please pray for this dear family that God would open the doors for their deliverance from the vices of the inner city and give them hope and a future as their Savior.

The same night we worked downtown, we also learned that our dear friend Enrique had passed away, probably from an overdose. Enrique was a local homeless man who had lost a leg in an accident years ago.  He was an alcoholic and drug addict who we took to rehab many times, but who always ended up back on the street where he was often victimized as easy prey due to his disability. The good news is that Enrique was trusting in Christ as his Savior and was very confident that his sins were forgiven because of Christ's sacrifice on his behalf.  In spite of his vices, he was quite know-ledgeable of the Scriptures and he often joined us for worship.  He never missed a soup kitchen and we spent many moments in conversation and in prayer together over the years. We will miss him, but rejoice that he is in a better place, in the very presence of the Lord.      

The violence continues here in Mexico due primarily to the ongoing drug cartel warfare.  Sadly it has affected friends and loved ones.  Our close friend (and family dentist) Magda called a few days ago, crying to tell us that her brother's body was just found behind the wheel of his taxi, with a gunshot to his head.  Many of our family joined her at the funeral service. Please pray for Magda and her family.  Another family from our own church was devastated as their father was gunned down last week with 12 gunshot wounds. 

  A few weeks ago, other family friends were grieved to have located the charred remains of their teenage son who had been kidnapped, in the trunk of his own car which had been set ablaze with him inside. These are just a few of the horrific stories that seem to be more and more common here in Mexico. Please pray for the safety of our family, that God would protect and use us to further His Kingdom.  Pray for the families of the victims of violence and for peace for the nation of Mexico. 

  I realize that many of our updates seem to report similar stories, of friends that have died from disease, violence or overdose, stories of kidnappings, acts of terrorism, and I wish I could say that things are improving here in Mexico, but sadly that does not appear to be the case. This is the world in which we live and where we are called to serve as a light in the darkness. And there is no place else we would rather be. We are grateful for your prayers and your partnership with us. 

growth can be attributed primarily to a number of large families from a strong, Pentecostal background who have joined our fellowship. My family and I love Biker church and everyone there, but have gradually found ourselves in the minority with regard to defending the supremacy and authority of the Scriptures over extra-biblical revelations and charismatic gifts such as tongues, prophecies, dreams, signs and wonders. I have preached fervently in favor of the Scriptures, but others have done likewise in favor of personal spiritual revelation and experience, creating tension and division. 

Tonight I will make one final appeal to the other leaders to return to the Gospel and to the Scriptures as our only rule of faith and practice, as the church was originally founded. Perhaps it is not too late.  However, if things continue in the direction they are going, it is quite likely that we will soon no longer be able to participate in the church, which I helped to plant less than 3 years ago, because of these doctrinal differences.  I grieve at the situation, but trust that God is in control and will use the church for His glory and to accomplish His purpose as Christ and the Gospel will still be preached.   

Our Christian biker club, "DISCIPULOS" will hopefully continue to ride together in harmony and share the Gospel at every opportunity. I will also personally continue to reach out to the biker community with God's love and His truth, as revealed in His Word and who knows?  Maybe God will raise up a new Reformed Biker Movement in Mexico!  Sola Scriptura!  Soli Deo Gloria! Please pray for the the future of our biker ministry in Mexico, whatever it looks like. Please pray for God's Word to triumph in the hearts of many and Christ be exalted as head over all.  

By God's abundant grace and goodness, the family is doing well.  We celebrated the resurrection of our Savior with our traditional family Easter egg hunt. Our daughter, Amanda's pregnancy is progressing normally and Dawn and I should be grandparents in late September or October!  Dawn's gym is doing well and continues to generate contacts in the local community, especially among young people who train there. 

   It is peak dry season here in Guadalajara with out-of-control forest fires blazing in the mountains around the city, destroying thousands of acres of forest and filling the air with irritating ash, smoke and soot. (cough!) We try to stay inside as much as possible and keep all the windows closed. We also go for days with no water due to the drought, making it quite challenging to bathe, do laundry or wash dishes. Rainy season starts in mid-June. Pray that we can cope with this minor inconvenience til then!  

   Life on the mission field is always an adventure, with occasional trials and challenges, but God is faithful and reminds us that our labor is not in vain as His Word accomplishes His purposes. We rejoice to see the fruit of our labor in the lives of those God has chosen to be His children. Great is His faithfulness! 

There is so much more I would like to share with you: stories, needs, prayer requests and praises, but I will leave you with this much for now so I can get back to the business at hand. I hope to bring you more news very soon. Until then, please pray for the items mentioned above and especially for wisdom for my family and the NACL team as we try to make the most of our life here in Mexico for the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus.  Thanks for taking the time to read this.  We love you and look forward to hearing from you soon!  Grace and greetings to all.

Paul & Dawn Fisher

for the family

MTW/NaCl

Guadalajara, Mexico