April 2023 Andrew & Melissa Schellenberg Update
Everyone look! Come and see the breathtaking wonders of our God. For he brings both ruin and revival. He’s the one who makes conflicts end throughout the earth, breaking and burning
every weapon of war. Surrender your anxiety! Be silent and stop your striving and you will see that I am God. I am the God above all the nations, and I will be exalted throughout the whole
earth. Psalm 46:8-10 (TPT)
It has been eight months since we arrived in Reynosa, Mexico. It has been a wild ride, and we are excited to share it with you. Writing updates always cause reflection, and as we were
reflecting on these past eight months the scripture that kept coming to mind was from Psalm 46:8-10 - Come and see what the Lord has done! The Lord is a consuming fire. He is the
revival fire that sets aflame our hearts with his passion for the lost and compassion for those in bondage.
We started our journey in Reynosa by attending a short 3-week Leadership School where the Lord did a wonderful healing in our hearts and taught us a lot about leading others from a place
of a healed heart. All that God longs to accomplish through us, He must first transform within us. So we praise God for that work.
After finishing leadership school, our base hosted a big Family gathering for our Iris-affiliated organization in Reynosa. All the bases from around the world gathered and we shared testimonies of how God is moving in people's lives. During this three-day event, we had two evenings where we hosted 'Nights of Fire' for the community and our churches in Reynosa, and we even bused in the Refugees from our shelter. We had over 400 people attend, and we saw God move through supernatural healings, people being set free from sins and bondage, the Gospel message being preached and received as people were led into repentance, and many baptisms! God moved - and it was awesome!
We have been busy at the Refugee Centre that opened last spring. Our team has helped the refugees by providing a place of safety where their basic needs are met, and where they hear the gospel, experience Christ’s love, and are refreshed and encouraged in their faith. It is a work in progress, and there is lots to do, but we have so many testimonies of how God has been working in and for our shelter and the people we care for. Andrew has been busy doing building projects at the centre, and Melissa enjoys spending time with the children keeping them busy with different activities. The centre is receiving lots of donations, and church teams come in to help our team here. It's a joy to see all that the Lord is doing.
At Christmas, we were able to do many kids' events around the city where Kids got to enjoy the season, and hear the gospel message along with a meal, crafts, gifts, and lots of fun!
Andrew and I (along with a few others from our team) have recently started doing weekly young adult life groups. We have seen a great need for this age group to connect and re-engage in their walk with the Lord. It has been fruitful with new people attending and hearts being transformed. Pray God continues to raise this generation to walk in the ways of the Lord and not be transformed by the culture around them. He is restoring their joy and hope!
e are so thankful that the Lord has brought us to work here in Reynosa. We have been learning and growing in so many ways, and as we reflect on all we have seen and been part of these past months all we can say is come and see what the Lord has done, the amazing things he has done on the earth.
Blessings,
Andrew and Melissa, Iliana, Norah, Enoch, Oakley