Happy New Year 2010!

Dear Friends and Family,

I am still spinning from Christmas but trying my best to get back into a routine. I was hoping to have a complete report on the Bible Clubs and other Christmas projects before sending a letter but if I wait much longer you might think I forgot about you or that I am ungrateful. Far from it! The response this year was overwhelming! I can’t thank you enough!

The week before the Bible Clubs I was hoping to be able to complete 3,000 gift bags in time for the clubs knowing that even that many bags was not going to be enough. God blessed and we finished with 4,900 on Friday night before the clubs on Saturday morning. I had also been able to get 750 filled stockings from a lady at the border which we used for the bus promotion at church on Sunday morning. In addition to those, I had 250 new stuffed animals to use as gifts and I purchased gifts for 62 children of our staff and students. The total number of gifts this year was a little over 6,000 making it the biggest year since my husband and I started the Christmas project in 1988 with gifts for 14 children. One of the Bible club captains reported that there were so many adults present that they arranged for one of the helpers to take them aside for a class of their own! Amen!

The leftover foodstuffs and candies from making the children’s gift bags were used to brighten the Christmas season for a number of homeless people who had the opportunity to hear the true message of Christmas. I also had soap, washcloths and other toiletry items donated that were made into little gift packages and distributed in the women’s Sunday school class at the local prison. A good number from these groups accepted the Lord. My, how this Christmas project is growing!

And now….. the number you have all been waiting for…… the total number of professions of faith from all of these Christmas projects now stands at just over 3,500! Someone asked me, “How many do you think really got saved?” I don’t know but over 3,500 claimed they did! These were not “big group raise your hand if you want to go to Heaven” professions of faith. Each person was given the Gospel by a soul-winner and each prayed on an individual basis. Even if only one out of those 3,500 was saved, I consider it worthwhile! To God be all the glory and praise!

I had the joy of spending time during the Christmas and New Year holidays with my children, grandchildren and my brother. I also visited my doctor who told me my arthritis was spreading and to just do what I could and whatever made me happy so I visited my family and came back to Mexico… doctor’s orders!

In closing, I ask you to pray for Mt. Hebron Baptist Church and Bible Institute here in Mexico. A property dispute has come to light that could adversely affect the ministries and homes located here, including mine. Pray also for our pastor, Dr. Tommy Ashcraft as he leads us through this difficult time and the Christian lawyers who will be working on our behalf. 

May God Bless you greatly in 2010!
Missionary Barbara Davis

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.