Zapata, TX

We arrived in Zapata a couple of days ago looking for Pastor Raul and the new Baptist church he and his congregation are building. We had met him at a Baptist meeting while we were in Kingsville. The new church is a large metal building nearing completion. We had initially planned to help with the painting, but Pastor Raul had rented a special sprayer and the most of the painting was completed by the time we arrived. Wearing his jeans and checked shirt, he was laboring to get the church completed beside two other visiting pastors and a couple of volunteers. He gave us directions to our campground said that he and his wife, Amelia, would pick us up for dinner.

That evening, we drove across the border to a small town, Nueva Ciudad Guerrero, to a delightful restaurant. The food was delicious, plentiful, and inexpensive. We had time to get to know each other and learn more about the Christian work, not only in Zapata, but in the mission in Mier, Mexico. After dinner, we met the missionary caring for the Mier church. He gave us a tour of the church’s sanctuary, Sunday school rooms, nursery (see photo) and fellowship area. We felt blessed being with Pastor Raul and Amelia, and with the gentle missionary. After leaving Mier, it was late, and the gate we had driven through to cross the border was now closed. We drove farther east to Ciudad Miguel Aleman and crossed to Roma, Texas. We bid our hosts good night at our trailer and tumbled into bed with thanksgiving for a wonderful evening.