Pastors, Church Families, Friends & Family:

Jeremiah said in Lamentations 3:51 “Mine eye affecteth mine heart…” We just returned a few weeks ago from our survey mission trip in Mexico City and I agree with this prophet that my heart has been affected by what I have seen. It says of Jesus in Matthew 9:36-38 “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” I must say that I too was moved at the multitudes in this harvest and saddened by the lack of laborers.

Many ask what we saw while we were there. This is hard to answer but I respond and sum our experience up in one word – “Extremes”. We saw extreme numbers of people, multitudes, headed for Hell. We also saw an extreme shortage of missionaries in this harvest. Please pray for us and more laborers in this area and other needy areas around the world.

Mexico City is densely populated with 33 million people. The population of Mexico grows by about 1,000 per day by those who move there mainly looking for work. This does not include the birth rate. Of course the death rate is a large number as well. There is now a new rule for public cemeteries. Dead bodies can only remain in the ground for seven years and must then be dug up and boxed up to make room for the many others who die.

We heard that there are now at least one million homeless street children in Mexico City due to death of parents, or a runaway child, or kids abandoned by their parents. One blessing is that while staying with our missionary, he had noticed a local street kid was no longer in the neighborhood. When he asked around, he found out that the boy was adopted by a local Catholic orphanage. He contacted the head nun who operates the orphanage and asked if the boy could come back and visit the church. The head nun said only if another nun comes too to supervise. Actually many orphans came to church with the boy and the supervising nun. As a result, several got saved including the nun supervisor. Now the born-again nun has agreed to try to get more orphans and nuns to visit the missionary’s church.

While surveying the area, we found four suburbs (La Loma, Rio Hondo, Huixilucan and Alcapilco) each with about one million people, but no gospel witness. There was no protestant church in these areas, nor an evangelical church, nor a Baptist church, much less an independent Baptist church. We are praying for which of these places to start. Thanks to all of you who made our trip possible by special gifts, monthly support, prayers, etc.

Driving in Mexico City was quite an experience, too. I don’t think any ride at Cedar Point Amusement Park could compare. There are relatively few traffic lights or signs and they are generally not observed anyway. There are often not enough lanes or width on a road so we and others occasionally used the sidewalk curb to make room. The driving reminds me of the verse in Judges 21:25 that says, “…every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”

I am thankful to the churches who recently have taken us on for support and/or who have allowed us to present our ministry. We have had many good meetings over the last two months. I appreciate all those who help, encourage and pray for us.

Mary had another stroke-like episode recently but is doing fine now. Please continue to pray for her health, our support and travel safety, etc. We continue to see souls saved in and out of churches. We are excited about the Lord’s eminent return but until then we must stay focused on the main thing and that being getting the gospel out for God’s glory.

Bro. Mike Wallace & Family