Winter 2009 Newsletter

[Daniel White Family]

Spring is now upon us, and we are receiving many calls from groups and
individuals planning Spring and Summer mission trips. Many of the
calls involve questions about security and the situation in Mexico. I
am advising that only adult groups cross the border to work in Mexico,
please do not bring children and youth. There are plenty of mission
opportunities in the U.S. of A. for children and youth to be involved
in, many along the border and many in your own communities. It is not
necessary to travel a great distance to find mission projects, look
down the street and around the corner. Many of the groups I have
spoken with are now planning trips to the border cities. There are
places in Eagle Pass and Del Rio that I can take you and you would
think you were in Mexico. Eagle Pass, Maverick County is 95% Hispanic
decent and 90% Spanish speaking with many who speak no English.
Maverick County is one of the poorest counties in the country and
there are numerous mission opportunities available right here, without
having to cross the border.

At present time, Mexico is unstable and the US Department of State has
declared Mexico to be a failed state. For more information, you may
visit "http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3028.html". The
situation is bad; the violence and danger are a real threat, and the
areas we work with are seeing increased activity. That being said: If
God is calling you to work in Mexico, then by all means come, I am not
trying to discourage groups from coming, but merely to apprise you of
the situation. Mexico still needs the gospel, the drug cartels need
the gospel, the government officials need the gospel, the policemen
and soldiers need the gospel, the precious souls of this battle torn
country need the gospel. But we need people truly called of God to
mission work and who are willing to lay it all on the line for the
sake of the cross. Mexico missions is no longer "Mission Trip 101",
it is a field for veteran missionaries.

Our churches in Mexico are doing well, preaching the gospel, baptizing
new converts, and starting mission works of their own. The orphanages
are growing and continually stand in need of basic supplies, but they
are doing a good work and providing a safe, christian environment for
the children. However please pray for the safety of the churches, the
pastors and their families, and the directors of orphanages and their
families. I will be taking a group in this Friday to visit various
works, so please pray for us and our safety.

God has provided an awesome opportunity for us on the US side of the
border. The US Bureau of Prisons has recently contracted an
immigration prison in Maverick County to house "soon to be released"
offenders (six months or less to serve on their sentence). They just
started accepting prisoners in December and last month allowed
volunteers to offer religious services. There are 600+ inmates in the
detention center, 95% of which speak only Spanish, from numerous
countries in Central and South America and Mexico. Once released,
they will be sent back to their country of citizenship. I am
preaching each Wednesday night in the prison and the services are
going very well. My primary goal is to preach the gospel of salvation
in Jesus Christ, to win as many as possible to the Lord. My secondary
goal is to encourage each and every one of them to be a witness and
testimony for Jesus Christ in their communities when the return home
in six months or less. These men are returning to cities and
countries I will probably never have an opportunity to visit or to
preach and teach. Only God knows the lives that will be affected by
these men returning as believers. Pray for these services, pray for
me, and pray for the men.

Thank you all for your faithful prayers and support.

Daniel White Family