August 5, 2005

Dear Friends:

I recently had to make a tough decision on whether to drive an 11 year old car down from Phoenix to Cuernavaca (about 3000 miles) or not. After checking with a mechanic, the Lord providing a friend to fix the car and the Lord providing my friend Teresa to drive down with me I decided to take the risk to drive my car through Mexico City.

My girlfriend and I had no idea what we were in for! Phoenix, AZ to Laredo, TX on Days 1 and 2 were uneventful except for some confusion in downtown Laredo on which road led where.

Day 3 from Laredo, TX to Querretaro, MX was hilarious! I had no clue Monterrey (Mexico´s 3rd largest city) had circular roads with unclear signs and traffic lanes full of cars! We prayed before, during and after each day´s drive. How we found Route 47 to get to Interstate 57 in downtown Monterrey was only by Divine Guidance. I was driving that day and Teresa asked, ¨How did we get here?¨ I said, ¨By much prayer!¨

Day 4 driving through Mexico City was the most exciting day! Mexico City has 24 million people and it seemed like each space had people and cars in them. The road signs have graffiti on them. The roads like in Monterrey are circular. The road signs that we could read ended with no further direction. The streets have big holes and big bumps. Not only were we watching for cars, people and road signs but also how not to have a flat tire avoiding the big potholes. I asked five times how to get to Route 95 D, the route we needed for Cuernavaca, and each time I got a different answer. We got lost for one hour! We finally decided to pay a cab driver to lead us out of the mess. PTL, I had enough Spanish to communicate!

Sunday July 31, 2005 was a memorable day for Teresa and me! We both knew that only by God´s Divine guidance and Intervention did we make it safely to Cuernavaca. We were amazed that the car did not break down! We were amazed that we managed to get out of the crazy routes of the circular traffic of Monterrey and Mexico City!

Some days when I doubt, ¨Did God really open the door for me in Cuernavaca?¨´ All I have to do is look up on my kitchen wall with the highlighted map route from Phoenix to Cuernavaca. I have no doubt God led me, provided for me and carried me through Monterrey and Mexico City. He will not leave me now. I praise HIS name!

Thank you for your love, prayers and support! Don´t stop now.