Greetings! We share this month a glimpse of current happenings at the two schools that occupy much of our ministry. Also, check out the photos of the May first celebration at the Mexicali Seminary and Tijuana kids gathered around their new school building.

Seminario Bautista "Dios con Nosotros, Mexicali, Mexico .....

May 1 is an important day for much of the world. In most places it's a holiday, celebrating the workers of each country. In Baja California, México, it is also Día del Seminario, or Day of the Seminary, for the Baptist Churches. Each year church folk gather at the Seminary in Mexicali on this holiday, looking to make good use of a day off in order to keep fresh and alive the need for training and theological education in the Borderlands of the Californias. In Mexicali, May also heralds the beginning of a six month period of real summer, in other words, of days in which the highs usually surpass 100 degrees. True to form the mercury topped out at 103 on Monday, May 1. But that didn't dampen the spirit of more than 150 gathered to celebrate. Workshops, worship, games and plenty of food kept everyone busy and happy. It's great to see that God isn't finished yet with a program begun more than a quarter century ago to help meet the needs of churches and new church starts in what has become the fastest growing area of Mexico.

Of course, May 1, 2006 was also a signature day for the immigrant worker in the States. There was not much activity on either side of the Mexico-US border that day. Normally such holidays in Mexico result in even longer lines heading to the States as Mexicans take advantage of their day off by shopping and visiting relatives to the north. Very few ventured north this May 1. It was good to be able to stand with our Mexican and Mexican-American brothers and sisters, celebrating with them in Mexico, at the same time recognizing full well the hard work that occupies their days, both in the United States and in Mexico, long days that yield but the most minimum of pay and few if any benefits.

Centro Pedagogico Didaque, Monte Horeb Baptist Church, Tijuana ....

Classes continue as normal as possible at the Monte Horeb grade school in Tijuana as the school continues to strive to meet the needs of its one year enrollment increase from 80 to 220 students. New construction and improvements on the facility during the last two months have changed the landscape of the church and school. There's a new playground, bathrooms, tiles on classroom floors, enlarged and painted classrooms, and the start of a new two-story building for classroom space. Construction continues as men of the church work little by little. The major improvements have been financed through mission teams from churches to the north. Thanks to churches from Canada and two from California, First Baptist of Ventura and Grace Hills of Aliso Viejo, the campus has markedly changed since March.

Accommodating 220 children continues to be challenging. It has also been taxing on the teachers and staff of the school and church. They personally have brought in children who otherwise would not be in school due to emotional, behavioral and learning problems. They continue to use their own vehicles and funds to pick them up and take them home each day. Most of the children come from very poor families and many suffer differing degrees of abuse. Right now teachers can only be paid half the salary that public school teachers earn or the equivalent of $400 a month. The greatest need at this time is for scholarships in support of the children who cannot afford tuition. We have a program set up called STEP (Student Tuition Expense Program) in which a sponsor can support a child for $250 a year. All sponsors receive a picture and letter from the child. We're thankful for the scholarships that have been given and there's still plenty of need with over 100 childen unable to pay complete tuition. Let us know if you're interested.

Serving in the Borderlands of the Californias,

Tim and Patti Long