Dear Pastors, Churches and Friends,

June 1, 2020 (Apr. – May ‘20)

Things have changed since we last wrote. We had planned to start our furlough in May, but because of the coronavirus and the possibility of international travel restrictions, we found ourselves confronted with a decision. Flights were being canceled, and there were rumors of border closures. We received calls from many asking of our plans, so we decided to leave that very day. Boy was it chaotic. We opened our suitcases, threw stuff in, bought the plane tickets, and left for the airport. Our deacons hired a local mover to take our things to the church, and I told our landlord we were leaving. My head is still spinning, and I am still looking for things that were probably left in Mexico. The only move that will be faster than that is the Rapture. We arrived in the U.S. with no transportation for furlough, so we prayed and went to look for a car. At a car dealership, we found a good used one that was listed “accidentally” (or providentially?) at the trade-in price instead of the retail price, so they had to honor the price. We plan to turn around and sell that next year to help buy another 15-passenger extended van for the next church plant (though these hold almost triple that in Mexico). We need to always be soul-conscious, so when we spent two separate days with the young salesman named Matthew, we witnessed a lot him. As the deal was finalized I said, “Matthew, you have done all you have to do for me to have this vehicle. Now, I have to decide whether to accept it or not. Matthew, Jesus did everything needed to pay for your sins, so you don’t have to go to Hell and pay for them yourself. But the decision is yours; what will you do with Jesus?” Matthew said, “I want to accept Him as my Savior,” and he did; right there in that Texas car lot. We arrived at the local Post Office to pick up masks mailed to us only to find in the news that very next day that one of the postal clerks there had the coronavirus, and all employees and many customers like us were exposed, “…but safety is of the Lord.” Proverbs 21:31

Back in Mexico things are bad with Covid. Sanitation and hygiene practices are bad there to begin with. The government isn’t testing much and the people are going on with life with hardly any safety precautions. The hospitals are over full, many laying in the halls and the basements full of bagged dead, un-embalmed bodies. The crematory has bodies stacked high and can’t keep up with the demand. How glad we are to have an effective gospel witness and “hope” in Mexico City through our church – Hope Baptist Church. Thanks for your prayers, support, help, and encouragement that makes this possible. Most businesses have been shut down there, but the cartel still requires their “protection tax.” And those that don’t pay the cartel, pay with their lives as the cartel remain in business. Though “stay at home” orders exist, people ignore it, and the last two months have had a record number of murders. Most all of our church people have lost their jobs, so we have sent money for the deacons to buy and distribute basics like beans, rice, etc. When our church is able to re-open, our teachers and preachers are ready, but for technological reasons, I currently do three services by video weekly and send it to them to watch in their houses. Some larger families that live together additionally have “mini-church” and some of the young teens are getting experience preaching.

Along with regular ministry things, I have been writing and helping to write some gospel tracts in Spanish. I also plan to begin writing again for a national teen devotion book. I have my master’s degree in Bible, but I intend on using my furlough to prepare myself more with an advanced local church program. Like in Mexico, here in the U.S. we pass out tracts wherever we go often taking time to canvas parking lots at stores. Our son, Stephen, graduated in May from Christian college. Pray for my mom, as she recently had surgery for breast cancer and will begin chemotherapy and radiation. Please also pray for my father-in-law’s health. Thanks again, for everything. We are praying for you too. We are “…your servants for Jesus’ sake.” 2 Corinthians 4:5

Bro. Mike Wallace & Family