Muchas Disculpas!

I know it has been awhile since we updated, let me quickly catch you up on some things.

1) We continue to make calls and visit pastors and send out information packages. This has not produced any immediate support, but that is all up to God. We do what is possible, He alone can do the impossible for us. We went in the hole about $350.00 this month. Our support level is almost covering our insurance premiums (mandatory) and Social Security.

2) I am helping the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Houston, TX understand the Philosophy of Biblical Discipleship that we have used in our ministries in Mexico and in the U.S.

3) We are moving on many fronts in regards to the missions training center in Saltillo Mexico. I am looking for the time now to meet with Phil Brown and other key people in regards to critical decisions that will affect the continued growth of this powerful and far reaching ministry.

- we are adding some key partners to the team right now
- it looks like we may have a plan for staff housing to begin to be built on the property
- I met today with the new missions man @ the MET and Loren Hill who has been instrumental in the first Hogan being built and other advancements at the camp. (Please pray that this becomes a very effective relationship)
- More goats are being added to the herd.
- A deal has been made with Benavides Pharmacy stores in Monterrey to sell our goat candy - this is a huge answer to prayer!
- An English language school is now being developed to be organized and taught under the umbrella of RIBBI using the camp and conference facilities. This too is very big and will give us many in roads to schools, businesses and individual families. Pray for much fruit through this tool.

4) We need someone in the U.S. who can help us get the glorias (goat candy) marketed in the U.S. We have all the studies done; i.e. nutritional value etc. But we need someone to investigate what it will take to be able to sell them in the U.S. So if you are interested in international commerce and business along with missions contact me.

5) Andrea has her learner's permit (I will probably be completely bald by the next time I post)

6) We will be in Florida most of November.

7) Thank you First Baptist Church of Webster TX for the great encouragement - you are awesome!

WHATEVERITTAKES to get to the other side!

Deputation - you just keep at it until God brings you to the other side.

The going has been rather slow the past 2 weeks. It has been really hard to get any bookings, as a matter of fact after 25 information packages sent out, 50-60 telephone calls, 200 miles of travel, and a 1/2 dozen pastoral visits - we were able to secure zero commitments or appointments.

I know of nothing else to do right now but to continue being faithful to my call, as I know that my God is always faithful in His care.

Keep praying for us. (Thanks www.youthgarage.com for the picture.)

-Allen, Åse, Andrea, Alexandra, & Alissa

Mission's Minded Message

Friends & Supporters, I thought I would just pass on some great information to let you know how to keep praying and also to let you know that God is blessing your investment in our lives.

First of all we have added a couple of supporters recently - thank you Blackburn Road Baptist in Alabama & Village East Baptist in Colorado. As of today we are at about 28% of our support level goal. Please continue to pray as we are raising our support.

A vital aspect of our ministry in Mexico is our partnership with RIBBI, you may have seen their logo on our information brochure. This network of interdependent Bible believing Baptist churches is moving forward with the Great Commission. There are now plans that could see 6 more Baptist churches started in Mexico in 2006.

Thank you for helping us to be a part of what God is doing through Latin America.

I have a one-day conference in Splendora, TX tomorrow and then a critical meeting next Thursday with part of the pastoral staff of the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Houston, TX. Please keep these in your prayers.

I also need to make some more bookings in order to encourage others and also to raise our support to be able to minister full-time in Mexico.

Thank you to all those who e-mail, post comments and call in order to encourage us - you are awesome.

-allen

NO CANCER

Praise God! Aase's biopsy came back negative for cancer.

You may not know this, but Aase's mother died of cancer and so she always has a fear in the back of her mind that someday she will have cancer.

She just had a biopsy as result of her minor surgery and we just got the results this morning - everything is okay. Thank you for praying for us, once again it has made the difference.

I just finished a great meeting with Dr. Saberna and now have a follow-up meeting this Thursday. Please continue to pray that I will be sensitive to God's leading in my life and our ministry. Pray also that I will accomplish whatever God needs me to. I desire to be a blessing to this pastor and his church while we are in the area.

Living by faith - is fun, but from the simple man perspective, it can be scary. The strategy and direction that God is taking us in our deputation isn't just the typical approach to deputation that most BBFI missionaries take. That always causes doubt in your mind and you question your sanity. But at the same time, that is exactly what makes it exciting - it has to be God.

I ramble - sorry. Having fun watching God direct our steps. Keep praying we need your support!

-allen

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

Forgive me for the lapse in postings. I will give you a brief update now. I had some photos, but for some reason I am not able to transfer them from the camera, so use your imagination this time :-)

The family is fine - Alissa had a collision on the trampoline with her front teeth and knee. She had to be rushed to the dentist. She will be okay, she only lost a baby tooth.

Aase had minor surgery, and is doing very well. This medical expense was taken care of completely by a third party - praise God. When she came out of the procedure room to settle up the bill, she was told that it had already been paid. God is awesome.

I have been traveling, visiting churches in Texas. It would take me a short novel to relate the many ways that God has been directing in this effort, but suffice it to say, that He has been guiding my steps in truly miraculous ways.

I have 4 excellent contacts that are very promising for future support that came from these latest visits. I have met with some very dynamic pastors and ministry leaders, in Splendora Texas, United Baptist Church, and Mobberly Baptist in Longview Texas among others.

I was sent an e-mail this week from a church that desires to support us and has asked us to fill out their application for support and e-mail it back to them - how cool (archaic term) is that?

We had a meeting a week ago with the designer of the Hogan panels, Phil & Brian Brown, Loren Hill and another business man from Waco, TX. We discussed building staff housing on the camp property. The gentleman from Waco TX is very excited about having a part in this ministry.

We are also working on getting the press for the hogan panels set up on the property in Saltillo. This will allow us to pour our own and greatly reduce the cost of building.

I have a very important meeting tomorrow (Aug. 11, 2005) with Pastor Dr. Sal Saberna of the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Houston Texas. This church has a membership of over 4000. Some incredible things are on the table right now and this could be a major turning point for our deputation and ministry in general. Please pray that I will have wisdom and that God will be in control of that meeting.

Brent & Kelley will be in town and we will spend some time with them. Phil, Brian, Jaidy and Brandon, just left. Scott and Gloria and boys came through for one night on their way to a conference in Dallas.

Please pray for my follow-ups this week and the new contacts that I will be making. I couldn't do it without you all, thank-you!

-allen