Chiles en Nogadas and a Major Prayer Request . . . .

Yesterday afternoon, I met with a couple of missionary ladies and some Mexican ladies to learn to make Chiles en Nogadas a very traditional Mexican dish. I enjoyed the time so much cooking alongside these ladies , laughing, and having a great time. It was a lot of hard work but the finished product was beautiful and tasty.







We have a huge prayer request – Today, Travis and I went to the areas we will be working with our team next week. All the areas we will be working in have a very strong Catholic influence and stronghold. One area in particular is especially Catholic – the pastor has told us that if the people of this small town find out about Christians living there they will cut off their water, not allow them to buy things from the local stores, and not allow their children to attend school in the town. There are very very few Christians in the town and only this one small church. When the people of the town found out that next week we are coming to do VBS and a worship service for the adults, they planned children’s events for the same evenings to deter people from coming to this small church. We know that God wants to do something very powerful in this community and that the evil one is doing everything he can to prevent that from happening. Please pray for this group as they are coming next week, pray for the community we will be working in, and the work that will be done there.

We appreciate you all so very much!

The end of a great week . . . .

Well, the team from Eagle Heights Baptist Church in Harrison, Arkansas left today after a wonderful week. They came SO FAR on their construction project and we are so thankful that they were here working with us. Next week is our week "off" ( filled with a women's Bible Study, University ministery project, preparation for the upcoming group, car tag renewal - which could be an all day event, and looking for an apartment for a new collegue - we will still be very busy.) Next Saturday, the group from Brainerd Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN is coming - our home church and town! We are so excited that they are headed this way - we cannot wait to see what God is going to do in San Luis Ayucan where we will be working. Please pray for us as we getting ready for the team to come next weekend. Pray that we will get much needed rest before they get here and will be ready with fresh hearts to serve the Lord.

We appreciate you all so very much and would love to hear from you. Remember you can always email us at: travisanddaniellemexico@gmail.com and we also have Skype - just look up Travis Rann in Mexico City.

Con amor,

Travis y Daniella

Victories oh, Victories

The guys here from Arkansas, Travis, David, and the Mexican gentlemen have been working hard this week and have made a TON of progress. What a victory to be almost ready to pour the concrete for the roof! Travis has enjoyed his time working alongside these guys and I have enjoyed helping with their food for the week. We are so thankful that they are here and are so pleased with the progress they have made.

Small victories for myself this week - I have now made several journey's by car around town all on my lonesome. I have now successfully made it by myself to school and back several times, to Walmart and back several times, and to Sam's and back several times. Today, I felt that I made a tremendous victory in my driving endeavors. I decided I was going to go out during lunch hour traffic and make my way to a craft store similar ( but not really ) to Michael's. I just wanted to check it out and see what they had ( fake flowers and beads - nothing terribly exciting.) Anyway, off the side of a busy street, I began to pull into the parking garage for the store ( very common here). As I was about to pull in, I noticed that there was no way that my giant twelve passenger van was going to make it into this garage without completely scraping the top. So, I backed out and pulled back out into crazy traffic and made my way to another parking garage, got my ticket, walked down the road, went inside, returned, payed for my ticket, attempted to leave the parking garage, got stuck in the "Salir" line when a lady apparently didn't know you had to pay BEFORE leaving, had to back my big van up in a long line of traffic, left the lot, and began another adventure on the way to Sam's. I wish you could see the traffic here and the way the roads are set up and then you would understand why this is a huge deal. Thankfully, I am somewhat getting accustomed. I can now play the game - "Blinker? What's that?!" " Red light?Oh, optional." "Taking one turn lane and making it into 6- normal." I have included a picture for your viewing pleasure today - this is just a mere sample of this mornings traffic on the way to our job site. You can't tell a whole lot but one day I am going to take video - until then, enjoy.

End of group one, Beginning of group two, and the Preacher man . . . .

Well, we had a wonderful week last week with the group from West Conroe Baptist Church in Conroe, Texas. We passed out gospels, shared the gospel message, fed the homeless, did a mini VBS with two groups of Tarasco's, gave a little help with a construction project, painted, did a mini VBS for a Children's home, and cleaned up a park. Wow - a lot was accomplished. We had a sharing time and dinner at our home on Friday night and then the group left Saturday morning. We appreciate so much their willingness to come and serve with us for a week.

Saturday, after Group One left, Group Two came in. These are a group of guys from Eagle Heights Baptist Church in Harrison, Arkansas. These gentlemen are here to help add on to a local missionary school. They have been working hard every day to give these kids a better place to learn. We are so thankful that they are here!

Several weeks ago, Travis was asked by a local pastor friend if he would be willing to preach this past Sunday at his church. Travis' first reply was that he didn't preach. However, in the end he gave in and did a wonderful job. I was so proud to see my sweet husband preaching the word of the Lord in front of a congregation for the first time - and in Spanish nonetheless! This church that he preached at is absolutely amazing! They meet in a home and there are few members but every week they have over 25 kids show up! They are working hard to reach their community and we are praying for a group to come down from the States to partner with them for a week!

We appreciate so much all your prayers and support. Keep praying for this group that is here with us now and pray also for the group that is to come the week after next. We love you and appreciate you!

Ciao chicos!

Travis y Daniella

More from the group this week . . . .

More from the group this week . . . .
Wednesday of this week, the group went to hand out gospels with a local church in the neighborhood where the church was located. We had several wonderful contacts and one family even asked the pastor to come teach the Bible to them in their home! Hallelujah!

My group encountered a young man who desperately needs the Lord. This young man told me that he really didn’t know what he believed.

He said he wasn’t sure if God existed because he didn’t have proof and that he thought he might believe in reincarnation because he heard some about it in a class once. He was really searching. Our group was able to give him the gospel of John and share with him the gospel message.

He left still confused about his true beliefs but I pray we planted a seed that day in his heart.

That afternoon, the men in our group went to work on a construction project with the missionary school while the ladies went out to do a mini vacation Bible School with an indigenous group called the “Tarascos.” We were not able to take any pictures of these people but were able to sing songs, tell Bible Stories and do crafts with the children. These groups come from the state of Michocan in Mexico and make furniture for a living. They live in the same tents they make furniture in with no running water and nothing over their heads but a tarp and under their feet . They typically marry at about 13 or 14 and then work in their groups “business” for the rest of their lives. Spanish is this groups second language with their indigenous language being their first. It was such a pleasure to be able to go do VBS with two of these groups .

Thursday morning, we

went to a local children’s home where we were able to paint a room that the children play in, have another mini VBS, and deliver coats to each child that the groups church donated and brought with them.
Travis spent the day with another gentleman from a group coming Saturday, working on a construction project at the school.

It has been a great couple of days and we are looking forward to tomorrow!

Equipo Numero Uno

Our first team came in on Saturday from West Conroe Baptist Church in Conroe, Texas. It is a very small group - just three people - but they are doing a great work!
Yesterday, about twelve nationals came out to help and we were able to distribute almost 3,000 gospels in downtown Mexico City! Seven prayed to receive Christ and several great contacts were made for this small house church to follow up with.

Today the group went to the Homeless Ministry to serve lunch where Travis and I try to help with each Tuesday and then afterwards went out for a little sightseeing.

Tomorrow, the group will do more gospel distribution and then a bible school in the evening with an indigenous group.

Please pray for the group this week as they are serving in different communities in Mexico City. Pray for their continued health and strength. Pray also that God would be able to break past language and cultural barriers to use them in these communities.

Please also pray for Travis and I this week as we continue to struggle with where God is leading in several areas of our lives. Also pray for Travis as he is giving his first sermon ever this Sunday - and it is in Spanish!