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| Well, the week has passed and we've made consistent progress. I guess I'll begin today with an update on the fair follow-up. Saturday I had the opportunity to go and try and visit with several of the individuals. Unfortunately, any were not home. I did reach one lady and her children, but they are already attending an Baptist church. I reached another man by phone (I couldn't find his house). He is very interested in visiting with us, but was going out of town Sunday morning for a week. He wants me to call him next week to talk more. I also sent out emails to everyone that gave me an email address at the fair and had 1 response from a 15-year old that is interested in going to summer camp this summer. He also is going to try and get his friends/family to go. He is too far away to come to services (about 1 hour, but still in Starr County), but at least we can be of some help to him. We are staying in touch by email. In terms of the property issue, we moved forward on that too. Basically, two things: 1.) We are pursuing using "Texas Legal Aid", which is free legal representation for low-income families. That will save us thousands in lawyers fees. 2.) We discovered that the property may be sold at auction in the coming months due to being 2-years delinquent in taxes. The back taxes are only about $140, and the appraisal is only $5,000, so it should go cheap. And, we don't expect bidding competition since it's only 15-feet wide, making it too narrow for anyone else to build on. So, that may be our best solution! We also had a visit Saturday afternoon from a man named William Parks. It was interesting. He had been speaking with a pastor who told him we were starting a work here and he got excited and wanted to meet us. He told me that he started a work here in Roma and then worked in Mexico for a number of years. In fact, now he is a pastor in Miguel Aleman, Mexico, right across the border from us. However, what's more interesting is what he did not tell me. For, you see, I already knew who he was. He is the pastor that started the church in Roma that we were attending, the same pastor that due to infidelity caused the church split and the basic destruction of that church. He didn't tell me about all that though. Interesting. Anyways, we will not be having anything to do with this man. And, I guess I'll leave you with copies of a few news reports from the local news here. Things are definitely interesting at the moment:
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Last Update: 3/13 6:46 pm
(2009) MEXICO - New reports show that the violence in Mexico is not decreasing; in fact, it's increasing at an alarming rate.
U.S. and Mexican officials say gunfire has been heard almost daily from Matamoros to Nuevo Laredo.
At least 49 people have been killed in drug war related violence in the past six weeks. Eight journalists were kidnapped in Reynosa between February 18 and March 3. One was found dead with signs of torture. Two were released alive and five are still missing.
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Last Update: 6:50 am
MCALLEN - Police are searching for the gunmen who shot and kidnapped two men from Walmart.
It happened Sunday night at the store located on Jackson Road near Expressway 83.
McAllen police tell CHANNEL 5 NEWS that two men where taken at gun point and forced into a truck. One of the victim's was shot in the stomach and the other was shot in the leg. The man who was shot in the leg was able to jump out of the truck and escape from the kidnappers. Police say he ran to a nearby med care office for help.
About an hour later the kidnappers dumped the second wounded victim into a canal off El Rancho Road. The man walked for about 30 minutes until he was picked up and driven back to the Walmart area.
Both men are recovering in the hospital from their wounds, however the extent of the injuries is unknown at this hour.
The gunmen were last seen driving a 2005 or 2006 dark Blue Chevy Silverado and a white Chevy Tahoe.
Police are investigating what the motive was behind the kidnapping and the shooting.
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Last Update: 12:23 am
CIUDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO - This past week, the mayor of Juarez received a pig's head with a note attached to it.
Experts say cartels use psychological tactics, but political figures are not usually targets until now.
U.S. officials worry that the violence could spill over into the U.S. since the mayor's family lives in El Paso, TX.
Experts also say the pig head indicates that the mayor may have broken some sort of agreement, which is why he may now be a target.
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Last Update: 12:28 am
CIUDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO - Three people with ties to the American consulate were killed in a shooting.
A couple was found shot to death in their car near the Santa Fe International Bridge in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. A baby was found unharmed in the back seat. The woman had credentials identifying her as a consulate employee. The man had a document identifying him as a U.S. citizen.
The White House says the husband of a Mexican citizen consulate employee was also killed yesterday in a separate shooting.
Today, the mayor of Juarez talked about the attack and what he thinks it means for the U.S. and Mexico.
"Well, I think what is very important about this whole thing is that the U.S., in a statement by President Obama, consider this a joint problem. This is something that needs to be solved by both countries. This is a problem right along the border. It's not just a Mexican problem. It's a U.S.-Mexico problem," Mayor Jose Reyes Ferriz said during a phone interview.
Mexican President, Felipe Calderon promised a swift investigation into the murders.
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Just a photo of the Mexican Flag to have something on our homepage with this update.
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