April-May 2011
Randy and Donna Denton * PO Box 2635 * Mission, TX 78573-0044
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There’s an old saying: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Many, many steps ago we started raising funds to rebuild the main STM church in the state of Tamaulipas. It was a necessary move because the old building was continually flooded by even small rains. The wooden structure was in shambles from all the floodwater. |
Why all the Fighting?
A brief look at the drug war in our area and who’s fighting who
From time to time I am asked the question above. I’ll try to give a brief explanation:
In December 2006 incoming Mexican President Felipe Calderón declared war on all the drug cartels operating in Mexico. There are several. The Mexican army launched its attack that month. In late February 2010, the powerful Gulf Cartel and its former enforcement wing, the Zetas, (highly trained Mexican Army Special Forces deserters) began a bloody struggle against each other in northern Tamaulipas (the state in which we minister.) The Zetas had broken ties with their former employers/partners some years before. The Gulf Cartel and the Zetas are now battling for the lucrative drug trafficking routes into South Texas.
For the past year there have been numerous gun battles in the streets of the cities in which we work: cartel against cartel, Mexican troops fighting against both of them. Often the cartels will hijack passenger busses and semi-trucks and use them to block highways so they can carry out their operations. Sometimes the two cartels will simply be waging a battle against each other between the blockade. The blockade is to keep the military and emergency vehicles from getting through.
Cartel checkpoints are frequently incurred by civilian travelers as each organization tries to “flush out” their rival cartel. Gun battles often break out at these checkpoints. Innocent victims can be caught in the crossfire. Sometimes at these checkpoints the cartel will see someone driving a vehicle they want and they simply take it and leave the passengers on the side of the road. Those are the fortunate ones; some have been killed for their vehicle.
At the present time travel in Mexico is discouraged by the U.S. government for obvious reasons. We are being very cautious in our movements and visibility. Our staff in Mexico is also keeping a low profile during these volatile times.
Please pray for our safety. Thank you.
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Donations Being Accepted to Complete Feeding Center
If you would like to make a donation to help us finish the feeding center click here or on the Donate button at the top of this newsletter. We need about $5000 to complete the facility. You can contribute by credit card, debit card or checking account. You do not need a PayPal account. Or if you prefer to send your gift by mail, you may mail it to: STM * PO Box 2635 * Mission, TX 78573-0044. Thank you and may the Lord richly bless you!
We're Going to be Visiting Churches in the United States With all the unrest that is going on in our area of ministry in Mexico, we feel that it would be a good time to travel in the U.S. and visit churches. We're not able to travel freely in the villages and the Mexican pastors have requested that we stay "out of sight" for now. This is a golden opportunity to come to churches in the States and share about what we're doing in missions. We also minister in the Word and in song. If you would like to have us visit your church please get in contact with us and we will work out a date. We would love to see you!  To send a contribution by mail please print and complete the donation form and send it with your check to: STM * PO Box 2635 * Mission, TX 78573-0044 |
Changing lives, seeing the world through Jesus' eyes.