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A letter from Todd and Tricia Reinschmidt
on the U.S.-Mexico border |
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January 31, 2005
A great ending to 2004
We finished 2004 with our trip to four states and seven churches
to spread the news of our the ministry we’re a part of in
at Pasos de Fe. God reconfirmed our work here by answering our
prayers, sometimes even before we asked Him. Two of the blessings
of the trip were overwhelming to us. First, while in Arlington
Heights, Illinois, we were asked if we needed a new car. (We had
listed that issue as a prayer concern in our last newsletter.)
Well, God put it in a loving couple’s heart to donate their
car, and we are the blessed recipients! So, we now have a much
needed second car and have already put over 5,000 miles on it!
Another blessing involves a generous pastor and our daughter
Katelyn’s dream to meet the Disney princesses. Katelyn had
wanted to go to Disney World while we were in Florida, and thanks
to a local pastor (now a friend) there, we were able to go. For
two days, we did little other than visit with Cinderella, Snow
White, Sleeping Beauty, and Belle (Beauty from Beauty and the
Beast). Did you know that Cinderella speaks Spanish too? |
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The “Mighty Rio Grande” forms the boder between Mexico
and the United States. It’s not so “mighty” here
in the area of El Paso and Juarez. No water! |
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A renewed vision
After spending two weeks in Louisville, Kentucky, at PC(USA)’s
missionary training, we have returned to our “brand new
house,” as Katelyn calls it, in El Paso, Texas. We have
a renewed sense of calling here and a new understanding of how
we can best assist the ministry and the local churches. We hope
to take a few small steps backwards to redefine the vision and
mission of Pasos de Fe and then be able to really succeed in this,
God’s mission. |
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Todd will be in Acuna, Mexico,
during the first week of February at the annual Presbyterian Border
Ministry meeting. There, he will present our proposed budget and
goals for 2005 along with some problems that arose in 2004 and
their solutions. Katelyn and I are not attending this year and
will devote the week to Mommy and daughter time apart from the
Pasos de Fe office work.
Pasos de Fe
We are currently planning mission trips for 19 churches, from
as far away as New Jersey and Michigan, which will each be here
for about a week. The teams may participate in construction, vacation
Bible schools, teaching classes, but the focus will be on building
relationships between Presbyterians of two different countries
and learning about the border culture. Most mission teams will
visit the “Mighty Rio Grande” (which has no water
in it in El Paso), the poorest residential areas, including Anapra
and Colonia Carlos Chavira , and the wealthy areas of Juarez.
After learning about the wages in Juarez, they’ll have to
plan a meal for their family and go buy the ingredients at the
grocery market. (The amount varies, as does the number of family
members, but an average salary for a factory worker is $50 per
week.) Most people then understand why tortillas and beans are
staples. |
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Business
We are now officially long-term volunteers with PC(USA) (Last
year, we were short-term volunteers.) We will be here until December
2006. Our job description is still basically the same as it was
last year, though Adam Walke is no longer working with Pasos de
Fe, so we have taken over his office responsibilities as well.
We are still asked to raise our financial support, but this year
it will be sent through PC(USA) instead of First Presbyterian
Church, Cartersville, Georgia. (Thank you so much to FPC for doing
all of that work last year!)
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“Princess Katelyn” loved meeting Cinderella and Sleeping
Beauty at Disney World. She spoke Spanish with Cinderella and even
taught the princesses how to dance her “Hawaii Dance”
that she learned in Juarez. |
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If you would like to send a regular
monthly donation to help support us, please send it to The Presbyterian
Church (USA), Individual Remittance Processing, P.O. Box 643700,
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700. Please be sure to write ECO number
074502 and the name Reinschmidt on your check.
Prayers
- For the local churches in Juarez and El Paso—that they
continue to realize the needs in their congregations and communities.
- For the Presbyteries of Chihuahua (Mexico), Sierra Blanca,
and Tres Rios—that they continue to be a blessing and
a support to their churches.
- For the service for the missing and murdered women being held
in Juarez on April 3—that it be a meaningful time for
all involved and a beginning to a resolution.
- For the churches that will be sending mission teams this year—that
they prepare their team members for the blessings and difficulties
that they will encounter.
- For the board and coordinators of Pasos de Fe—that we
will continue to search for God’s purpose in His ministry
through Pasos de Fe.
- That our new missionary friends from training who will soon
be all over the world serving God and His ministry—that
God will hold them close, keep them safe, and uplift them constantly.
With Christ’s love,
Todd, Tricia, and Katelyn Reinschmidt |
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