The Lord is working through Alonso's death

More details of the accident keep coming in. Below is the translated testimony of one of the young cyclists, Pablo who is on the Chihuahua University cycling team and is a Christian, and how it has affected his life. He uses the cycling term, “on your wheel” which means that the lead rider is choosing the best path for both safety and victory and is pulling the follower by his draft which saves the following rider’s energy. The energy savings is so great that a weaker rider can stay with a strong one by staying in his draft, close to his rear wheel.

On your wheel, Alonso

Last Tuesday along with my bicycling companions I was rammed by a truck which was speeding over 60 miles per hour. But, that wasn’t the real trauma. The true shock which has devastated me and has transformed my life is the death of a hero. The truck entered our lane on a diagonal, principally smashing into Alonso who moved out to cushion my collision with the truck and thus saved my life.

An aunt of mine said, “Sometimes God allows us to meet our guardian angels.” And, thus was the case. Alonso was one who always watched out for me and took me under his wing like a little brother. I thank God for the life of Alonso and all that I learned from him.

I’ll never forget his words to me before one of our races. “Stay on my wheel, Pablo,” which means that I was to draft him and follow him to victory through the whole length of the race. I only hope that in this race which we call life, God gives me the strength to follow in his steps.

This will be my goal in life, to follow in the steps of him who gave his life for me so I could be here, alive and writing this today. Thank you, Alonso, because even in the moment of your departure you gave me a testimony of how true Christians leave this life. You gave me a testimony of how heroes say good-bye. In fact, heroes never die, but rather they live in the lives of those they have impacted. Thank you Alonso! I will live my life honoring you, living for God as you lived. On your wheel, forever….

by

Pablo Montaño

1Cor. 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

We can't know all that God is doing through Alonso's death, but we know He is at work and He's allowed us to see some small glimpses of it. Please continue in prayer for Alonso's family members. Many of them are very sensitive to the Lord at this time. Thank you for praying for Natalie and the children. There is no doubt that it is your prayers that are holding them up in the midst of deep sorrow and grief.

Thank you,

Marsh & Joy (parents of Natalie - wife of Alonso)

With the Lord

I ask you to pray for the field of Mexico & for the Cano/Millikan family. We have just lost a co-worker & friend.

Yesterday evening at about 6:30PM Alonso Cano was struck by a truck driven by a drunk driver. Alonso was riding with his bicycle team when the driver of the truck swerved around the trail vehicle and hit Alonso and seven other cyclists. All eight were taken to Cima Hospital, where five were treated and released. Alonso and two others were pronounced in critical condition. Surgery was performed on Alonso to try to stop the massive internal bleeding. Alonso passed away on the operating table around 2:30AM Wednesday morning. This comes as a huge shock to all of us. We know that your love and prayers will be with the family.

Alonso was married to Natalie Millikan Cano. (Her parents are Marshal & Joy Millikan - missionaries here in Mexico.) They have three children - Sofia 7 -her birthday is the 25th, Joshua 4, and Iban 2. Please pray for the family - that the Lord would uphold them, strengthen them & comfort them.

Many of Alonso's family are unsaved, but a few have just recently accepted Christ! Please pray for the new believers to grow through this & for the unsaved ones to be sensitive to the Gospel.

Alonso was one of the main teachers at the Spanish Course. Please pray for all of us in the continuing days.

You know you're in Mexico when...

at stoplights members of the Tarahumara tribe come down the row of cars for "Korima." (KO-ree-mah) They are not begging: they believe that they are the children of God, and as children of God they are able to keep God alive. They believe the "white men" (non-Tarahumara Mexicans) owe them money for this "service." They keep God alive by drinking corn beer & getting drunk. They have festivals where everyone must get drunk & this is what allows God to keep living.

...But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth & sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities- his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

Yes, they know God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark & confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshipping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshipped and served the things God created instead of the Creator Himself who is worthy of eternal praise! Rm 1:18-24

You know you're in Mexico when...

You know you're in Mexico when...

--OXXO is not hugs & kisses - it's a convenience store on every other corner.

--everyone decorates with red & green in September - Mexico's independence month

--you go to a restaurant between 12-1pm and you're about the only one there - lunch is between 2-4

--you don't get out of church until about 2pm - Sunday school starts at 10:30, church "starts" at 11:30- usually maybe 11:45 - 1:30, then after talking after the service, you don't get out until 2!

--you walk out your door and see a man driving a donkey & cart down the road in a residential area of the city!

--you can buy basically anything at the little corner store 3 houses away - homemade fresh tortillas, homemade refried beans, cheese, potatoes, rice, one stick of margarine, one bandaid, a few eggs, even lowfat lactose-free milk!

--you hear a vehicle coming down your street playing a cheery little tune - it's NOT an icecream truck; it's the propane truck selling gas tanks!

--there are 40+ tribal groups that have not heard the gospel in their language!