This is a paraphrase from the automated English translation that Raciel sent out... (tkb)

Dear beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,

On Saturday, May 23rd we had the opportunity to bless the marriage union of Eric and Dulce (Eric is the son of Eva and Teo - Ofelia's brother). Thanks to God the ceremonywas pretty and touching. Later we went to the wedding celebration (reception) - there were almost 200 people in attendance.

Sunday there were 15 people in the worship. Sadly, some are waiting and others are looking for work in other cities. I ask your prayers that the church will again grow in number and in faithfulness. Thank you so much for your prayers are for your financial support.

God Bless
Raciel

Queridos hermanos en Cristo.
Este es el reporte del 17 de mayo.
Fuimos 20 personas en el servicio y 10 personas mas en la comida de las mujeres en el parque Encino.
Gracias a Dios la gente ya esta viniendo a los servicios, esto es resultado de las oarciones y ademas tambien por que la alarma de la epidemia ya esta pasando, como resultdo de esto la gente esta mas confiada.
lamentablemente la economia esta muy mal en Gto, algunos han perdido el trabajo y las cosas estan cada ves mas caras.
Sin embargo estamos confiados en que pronto sera solo un recuerdo desagradable.
les mando algunas fotos y espero que pronto podamos vernos.
Dios los bendiga siempre.
Raciel.

Dear brothers in Christ, this is the report of May 17th. We were 20 people in the worship service and 10 more at the luncheon that the ladies put on at Encino park. Thanks be to God that people are still coming to the services.. this is the result of prayers also additionally because the alarm of the epidemic is passing. The result of this is that the people are more confident (to come out).
Sadly, the economy is very bad in Guanajuato, some have ost there jobs and things are getting more expensive every day. Nevertheless, we are confident that this will all soon be a bad memory. I send you some photos and hope that we will soon be able to see one another. God bless you forever.

Queridos hermanos en Cristo.
Este es el reporte del servicio del domingo 10 de mayo del 2009
Fuimos 22 personas y en este momento algunas personas no han podido (o no quieren) venir a la iglesia, la familia de ofelia esta compitiendo para ser candidatos a la presidencia de Gto y ellos estan muy ocupados haciendo campañas y muchas cosas más, por lo tanto no se reunen con nosotros por el momento.
Pero oramos porque pronto nuestro Dios mande personas que quieran conocer y obedecer su palabra.

Dear brothers in Christ. This is the report of the service on May 10, 2009. We were 22 in attendance and at this time some people haven't been able to (or don't want to) come to the church. Ofelia's family is competing to be candidates to the presidency of Guanajuato (this is some sort of significant political involvement that I don't fully understand - tkb) and they are very busy campaigning and doing a lot of oher things, therefore they are not meeting with us at the moment. But we pray so that God will soon send more people who want to understand and obey his word.

Las mujeres que verdaderamente estan comprometidas, estan creciendo espiritualmente y cada vez se les nota mas; Les mando algunas de las fotos de las clases que estan tomando los dias sabados (este sabado pasado fueron 10 personas)
Por mi parte sigo dando clases del ILEB los dias viernes a las 6:00 y tengo a 7 estudiantes, ademas de las clases de evangelismo, y los estudios personales de todos los dias.
Muchas gracias por sus oraciones y tambien por su ayuda economica
Dios los bendiga siempre
Raciel

The women that are truly committed are growing spiritually and every time it is noted more about them. I send you some photos of the classes they (the women) are having Saturdays (this past Saturday they were 10 persons). For my part, I cotinue giving the ILEB classes on Fridays at 6pm and I have 7 students. Furthermore we have the evangelism classes and personal Bible studies every day.

Thank you so much for your prayers and also for your financial assistance. God bless you forever.

Queridos hermanos en Cristo Esperamos que se encuentren cada dia mejor de salud.
La iglesia en Gto esta orando por tu salud de la iglesia en NC.y por los ancianos y hermanos (as)
Damos gracias a Dios de que la gripe solo esta en algunos lugares y oramos por que la ciudad de ustedes este libre de la enfermedad.

Dear brothers in Christ. We hope that each day finds you in better health. The church in Guanajuato is praying for the health of the church in North Carolina and for the elders and the brothers and sisters. We give thanks to God that the "flu"is only in some places and we pray that your city is free from this sickness.

Nosotros tenemos (como sabes) el problema de la gripe y eso nos tiene un poco preocupados pero confiamos en nuestro poderoso Dios y sabemos que pronto esto pasará.En la iglesia en Gto hay algunos enfermos de gripa (pero NO DE LA INFLUENZA) y muchos no vinieron a los servicios del domingo solo 13 personas y algunos niños (enfermos de gripa) asi que les pido de sus oraciones.

We have (as you know) the problem of the flu and this makes us a little worried, be we trust in our powerful God and we know that this shall soon pass. In the church in Guanajuato there are some sick with colds (but not the flu) and many didn't come to the Sunday services. Only 13 adults and some children (sick with the cold), so we ask for your prayers.

La semana pasada se suspendieron todas las actividades en la iglesia (celulas, estudios, clases, reuniones ect..) y casi estuvimos encerrados muchos dias. (la verdad me senti impotente y como leon encerrado) porque el gobierno dijo que asi tendria que ser hasta el 6 de mayo y NO creo poder aguantar tanto tiempo sin "ver" a los hermanos y amigos de la iglesia, asi que her decidido salir desde mañana a cuidar a las "corderos" y enterarme de su situacion (desde luego hemos estado en contacto por telefono con todos pero no es lo mismo aun cuando algunos han venido a nuestra casa) asi que les pido de sus oraciones por nosotros y por la iglesia.
Dios los bendiga y fortalesca siempre
Su amigo y hermano en Cristo

Las week almost all of the normal church activities (groups, studies, classes, meetings, etc) we cancelled... and we we practically imprisoned many days (the truth is that I felt powerless and like a caged lion) because the government said that we should do it until May 6th and I don't think I can stand going so long without seeing the brothers and sisters of the church... so I have decided to go out starting tomorrow to care for the "sheep"and to put myself in their situation (up to this point we have been in contact by phone with everyone, but it's just not the same even though some of them have come to our house). Because of this I ask for your prayers for us and for the church.

God bless you and strengthen you forever. Your friend and brother in Christ. Raciel

Raciel