A Visit to Santos' House

I met Santos on my trip here in December. He accompanied us to the mountains, Tlachi. He is not married, but as custom here, chose a ‘wife’ and is waiting to get enough money for the wedding. The two along with their baby boy were thrown out of their home multiple times because his father did not agree on Santos’ decision to follow Christ. He requested our visit last night ‘so our words convince his father’. Although his father did not attend prayer service we were next door to his room, we believe the Word was planted in faith.

Romans 10:17
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Santos agreed to have prayer service every week rotating one week at his house and another at a friend’s house.

This is where Santos lives and some pictures during prayer service.

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Conocí a Santos en mi viaje aquí en diciembre. El nos acompañó a las montañas, Tlachi. El no es casado, pero como costumbre aquí, escogió a una mujer y espera para conseguir suficiente dinero para la boda. Ellos dos junto con su nene fueron echados de su casa muchas veces porque su padre no esta de acuerdo en la decisión de Santos de seguir a Cristo. El solicitó nuestra visita anoche 'esperando que nuestras palabras convencen a su padre'. Aunque su padre no asistió al servicio de oración estábamos al lado de su cuarto, nosotros creemos que la Palabra fue plantada en la fe.

Romanos 10:17
Así que la fe es por el oír, y el oír, por la palabra de Dios.

Santos concordó en tener servicio de oración cada semana que gira una semana en su casa y otro en la casa de un amigo.

Esto es donde Santos vive y algunas imágenes durante servicio de oración.

It’s really another ballgame here

My fourth day in Tlacotlapilco. Our trip and arrival here was a wonderful expression of God’s protection and blessing over us:

• We’ve had no car trouble
• Our trip money stretched
• The Customs patrol did not check our luggage or asked for a ‘bite’ (mordida- is a term used by police/military officials requesting money instead of giving you a fine)

We stayed in Houston for a day and a half to visit mi mama. She was so happy for our visit; she cooked and even did some laundry for us! She took us to her friend’s house to visit; to make it short, let’s just say it was a God-appointment, a moment to share his love and truth. We also visited with Ms. Paula, what a joy! I’m so thankful for the time God allowed.

The Garcia family has been so kind to us here. They prepared a room upstairs with a bed, a small dresser and have also prepared meals for us.

We were invited to a youth service last night. The Word was prophetic and the presence of the Lord confirmed it. I understood during service that I need to get in touch spiritually with what’s going on in this country. It’s really another ballgame here. Intercession time will be fundamental.

Sunday we visited the Tlaco church. This is really where it all began. Wilson visited this church when their pastor passed away, who was also the father of a member from CRC (Hispanic Ministry in US). There is a tremendous need for discipleship and a biblical foundation here. I was given the privilege of imparting the Word during morning service. This wasn’t planned and I didn’t prepare with notes but I had done some studying during the trip and God did the rest. Sometimes we need to be sensitive with the Spirit and trust he will use us as he pleases with no perceptions of our own.

Monday is marketplace day (la plaza). I have to learn to buy and calculate with the metric system. I also have to learn the Spanish names for certain vegetables and fruits that are from here, and shop for internet service (praying there is an option for residence service). The town we live in is very small; everything is through satellite. In the meantime, I’m online only for the necessary at an internet café.

In Christ’s love,
Diana

At that time you will say, "I thank you, LORD! You were angry with me, but you stopped being angry and gave me comfort. 2 I trust you to save me, LORD God, and I won't be afraid. My power and my strength come from you, and you have saved me." 3 With great joy, you people will get water from the well of victory. 4 At that time you will say, "Our LORD, we are thankful, and we worship only you. We will tell the nations how glorious you are and what you have done. 5 Because of your wonderful deeds we will sing your praises everywhere on earth." 6 Sing, people of Zion! Celebrate the greatness of the holy LORD of Israel. God is here to help you. Isaiah 12

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Mi cuarto día en Tlacotlapilco. Nuestro viaje y llegada aquí fue una expresión maravillosa de la protección de Dios y bendiciendo sobre nosotros:

• Hemos tenido no problema de coche
• Nuestro dinero de viaje estiró
• Los de la Aduana no verificó nuestro equipaje ni pidió una "mordida"

Permanecimos en Houston por un día y una mitad para visitar a mamá. ¡Ella fue tan feliz para por la visita; ella cocinó e incluso lavo alguna ropa sucia por nosotros! Ella llevo a casa de su amiga para visitar; para hacerlo corto, permita quenos acabemos de decir que fue una cita de Dios, un momento de compartir su amor y la verdad. ¡Nosotros también visitamos con Sra. Paula, lo que fue una alegría! Estoy tan agradecida para el tiempo Dios permitió.

La familia Garcia ha sido tan amable a nosotros aquí. Ellos prepararon un cuarto arriba con una cama, un pequeño tocador y también han preparado comidas para nosotros.

Fuimos invitados a un servicio de jóvenes el sabado. La Palabra fue profética y la presencia del Señor confirmó. Comprendí durante el servicio que necesito estar en enfoque espiritualmente con lo que pasa en este país. Es realmente otro partido aquí. El tiempo de la intercesión será fundamental.

El domingo nosotros visitamos la iglesia de Tlaco. Esto es realmente donde todo empezó. Wilson visitó esta iglesia cuando su pastor se murió, que fue también el padre de un miembro de CRC (el Ministerio hispano en EEUU). Hay una necesidad tremenda para el discipulado y una base bíblica aquí. Fui dada el privilegio de impartir la Palabra durante servicio. Esto no fue planeado y yo no preparé con notas pero había hecho algún estudo durante el viaje y Dios hizo los demás. A veces nosotros necesitamos ser sensible con el Espíritu y fiarse de él nos utilizará como él complace con ningunas percepciones propias.

El lunes es día de mercado (plaza). Tengo que aprender a comprar y calcular con el sistema métrico. Yo también tengo que aprender los nombres en español para ciertas verduras y frutas que son de aquí, y buscar servicio de internet (orar que haya una opción para el servicio de residencial). El pueblo que vivimos en es muy pequeño; todo está por satélite. Mientras tanto, estoy en línea sólo para el necesario en un cibercafé.

En el amor de Cristo,

Diana

1Y dirás en aquel día: A ti doy gracias, oh SEÑOR, porque aunque estabas airado conmigo, se ha apartado tu ira, y me has consolado. 2He aquí, Dios es mi salvador, confiaré y no temeré; porque mi fortaleza y mi canción es el SEÑOR DIOS, El ha sido mi salvación. 3Con gozo sacarás agua de los manantiales de salvación. 4Y aquel día dirás: Dad gracias al SEÑOR, invocad su nombre, haced conocer entre los pueblos sus obras, haced recordar que su nombre es enaltecido. 5Cantad alabanzas al SEÑOR, porque ha hecho cosas maravillosas; sea conocido esto por toda la tierra. 6Clama y grita de júbilo, habitante de Sion, porque grande es en medio de ti el Santo de Israel. Isaías 12

1 Week Away Update

One week away from today we leave to Mexico. This is just a quick update on my progress:

• House Transferred
• Garage Sale Done
• Furniture Sold
• Vehicle in Good Maintenance for Trip
• Blog is Live

Still in the To Do List:

• Sort all documentation for storage
• Organize anything left for storage
• Sort Clothes – have enough for 1 week of traveling
• Pack the rest of the clothes and personal items
• Clean out all cabinets from the kitchen
• Clean Kitchen/Fridge/Bathrooms for people to move in

And I am READY!

Love,
Diana

Exodus 12:25-27

When you enter the land that the LORD will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. And when your children ask you, 'What does this ceremony mean to you?' then tell them, 'It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.' “Then the people bowed down and worshiped."

Praise the Lord! We are going to Mexico!

Hola and welcome to the Planting of the Lord, the place to visit for updates, testimonies, videos/pictures, stories, culture, and an all-access pass to the ministry of Wilson and Diana Gomez in Hidalgo and Veracruz, Mexico.

Let me start by answering the first question people ask me, “When are you moving?” We have been preparing for months, praying and asking God for guidance on many important details and decisions; that is why I’m so hesitant to give a definite answer; we want to be obedient to His timing. I can say May 18th. Next, I would like to explain our mission work in Mexico.

There 2 locations where we will serve. First, Tlacotlapilco, in the state of Hidalgo, this is also the place where we will be staying. Tlaco, as we like to call it for short, is a valley, surround by many more small towns (approximately a few hundred residents). We have formed relationships with local pastors and community leaders to establish biblical teachings. We see a great need for discipleship and religion-free relationship with God the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit. I’m excited about this part of ministry because I can let the teacher side of me loose! :) It’s also a great opportunity to testify how God has freed me from religion even in the church.

Now onto Tlachichilco (Tlachi- for short) in the state of Veracruz; this place is the closest on the map to where we will travel. It’s within a 2 hour ride to the house we will visit. All together from Tlaco to the families we will minister is 7 hours away, 6 by car, 1 hour by donkey (if I’m lucky) or walking (if I’m not :p). (See Map)

Let me explain the situation with Tlachi. The natives do not allow for anyone to live there other than those born or married to those born there. Our key contact to this place is a brother in Christ who now lives in Tlaco (where we’re staying). Our trips to Tlachi will be every 10 days or so. We will stay at the brother’s mother’s house. We are welcomed there. We will stay there for a few days to minister and have service. This is also the place Wilson visited while on the mission trip (August 2008) and 42 souls were saved. There is practically no electricity here except one light bulb outside the house. The women cook by fire, the fire also provides light when cooking if it’s night. Water is brought from a well, boiled, and stored in about 5 gallon plastic tubs. The closest ‘grocery store’ is a 2 hour ride on a rocky road. I will miss Walgreens.

Those who know me personally know I am Americanized. I can’t deny. However, this city girl serves a powerful life-changing God. I know this – I don’t ever, ever, want to be out of God’s perfect will and not follow his plan for my life. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jer. 29:11. If you believe this, believe also “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” 2Ti 1:7. I am certain I WILL be challenged and tested in Mexico. Expect posts about that too;) . I will trust in God because serving him is a daily walk not a destination.

We thank you for your prayers for us and for the people we will be touching. We believe in the ministry of intercession and we understand that there is victory in the spiritual and the natural. We give God all the glory:

“More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-- but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom 5:3-8 (ESV)