Services
Short term housing for missionaries
working in Mexico and along the Frontera
Many missionaries use Laredo as their access into the States. They come
to the border to resupply, pick up mail, go to doctor’s appointments,
go in and out for furlough or itineration, etc. We provide a
comfortable setting for them to rest and relax during the few days they
may need to be here. Some also come for short sabbaticals to rest and
renew before jumping back into ministry. Right now we have 2 of our
rooms set up for this purpose. Short term future plans, dependent on
funding, are to build 5 missionary duplex bungalows separate from the
main building, providing more privacy and peace and quiet.
Lodging for short term mission teams
We provide teams coming to the border or going into Mexico for short
term trips lodging and meals. We’re available for overnight stays or as
a “base camp” for longer stays at reasonable rates. You can be assured
of carefree, comfortable, hospitable and secure stay. It’s our goal to
keep our prices affordable so that as many people as possible can
experience the mission field. Low rates, however, does NOT mean shoddy
service! It’s our intent to minister to you and your group, providing
you with good rest, good food, good care and good fellowship. We’ve
seen and been to too many places providing substandard accommodations
and meals at inflated prices leaving you tired, hungry and on edge. To
do what the Lord sent you here to do, you need to be well fed, well
rested, feel encouraged and have the energy you need. Overnight stays
include breakfast in the morning and lodging. For longer stays, your
fee includes your lodging and all 3 meals, leaving you free to
concentrate on your group and your purpose. We’re also available to
help should problems arise. Our staff live here at the facility, so we
know the area and have connections and resources on BOTH sides of the
border. So whether you have a team of young people, adults or both
doing a work project or evangelism, we’re here to help you minister and
complete whatever task the Lord has impressed on you to do. We’d be
honored to be a part of it.
Completely planned short term mission trips
Mex Quest Int., a ministry run by Rick and Kim Hall, is in partnership
with LSS. We provide completely planned trips for your group. Groups
are housed here at LSS, as above, but all your venues, services and
activities are set up and planned to your preferences by MQI. There are
lots of opportunities available for your group to use their talents in
spreading the Good News of the gospel on both sides of the Frontera.
Click on the ministry opportunity tab to see what’s available.
Food Bank Ministry
LSS sponsors a food bank (Dispensa) here on site the 1st and 3rd Friday
of every month for the needy in our own area. We also have a bread bank
every Friday, along with fruits, produce, etc. when available from the
Webb County Food Bank. Currently we’re providing food to an average of
120 families every food bank. For those living here in Laredo, we’re
always looking for volunteers. For others who desire to have a part,
we’re looking for financial sponsors. $10.00/month feeds two families
well for the month.
Food and Clothing Distribution
The clothing ministry distributes gently used (in good repair!) and new
clothing to the people in our area and to missionaries for personal use
or to be distributed in their areas of ministry. We are also in the
process of constructing a network where we can accept large quantities
of donated food able to go over the border and within a short period of
time, send it back out to churches, missionaries and ministries working
the Frontera and into Mexico. We desire to be a conduit for supplies, a
distribution point. We’re currently in partnership on the distribution
end with The Chihuahua Connection run by Rick Haywood and Power
Ministries from California. On the receiving side, we have ministries
on this side of the border from Laredo to the Rio Grande Valley and in
Mexico from as far away as San Louis Potosi, Saltillo, Monterrey and
Ciudad Victoria. God is opening up new avenues in this part of the
ministry rapidly, with many more available that we can’t take advantage
of at present due to lack of covered storage space and staff. Pray with
us that we’ll be able to construct our 2 story warehouse soon and the
Lord of the harvest will send us workers with a heart for this type of
ministry. (We do accept clothing donations. Please follow this rule in
donating clothing. If you wouldn’t wear it or put it on your family,
don’t give it to ours! Make sure there are no rips, stains, broken
zippers, missing buttons, etc. We desire to be a good testimony to
those we give these items to, as we are giving them in the Savior’s
name!)
*
We strongly believe in the food and clothing part of the ministry!
Providing for people’s physical needs makes them willing to open their
spiritual ears to the message God has sent us to share. It has opened
many doors for us, especially here in Peñitas, for us to witness. Even
Jesus understood that the physical needed ministered to before they’re
able to hear the spiritual (ie. the feeding of the 5,000) and used it
in His ministry as well. We greatly believe in Isaiah 59:6-12!
Providing supplies to missionaries and national pastors
Food, clothing, medical supplies, schooling supplies, tracts, Bibles,
hygiene supplies and other items when available are provided to the
missionaries. Most supplies we have are donated, so we don’t have all
these at all times, but what is freely given, is freely distributed! If
you have items you’d like to donate or desire to give funds to go
toward their purchase, click our Get Involved! tab to see what’s needed
and how to send it.
Storage Facilities
Missionaries sometimes have things donated to them in large amounts
they can’t cross over the border all at one time. The officials either
refuse to let it over or charge and exorbitant amount to let it pass
that missionaries can’t afford. We’ll store it here at the center and
the missionaries can take in small amounts at a time each time they
come in and out of the country for other purposes. Vehicles are also
stored for short periods of time as needed for the missionaries or
those people or groups working with them. At present, we have 40 acres
and the 20 beside us is for sale if the chance presents itself, but
once again, our “covered” space is limited, so storage times on
vehicles are short for the most part and unprotected from the elements.
Please consider this if contemplating this service.
Facilities for church/ministry banquets,
conferences, training camps, get aways, etc.
If your church or group needs a place away from distractions in a
comfortable, beautiful surrounding, we may be able to help! Please
contact us for dates available and rates, but be advised summer time
and spring break fill up quickly, so best times are fall and early
spring for this type of activity, as well as holidays. Early December
is available, but we’re closed Christmas week through New Years Day.
God is constantly changing the vision here and bringing us new things
to do, helping in what we feel is the heartbeat of God, so this list of
services is liable to expand! Even we have no idea how much and in what
area He’s liable to expand our territory in next!
If we can be of service to you in any of these areas as a missionary,
mission team, church or family, please contact us. For our pricing
sheet, click on our Missions Coordinator’s and Youth Pastor’s info
where all our files can be downloaded.
If God has spoken to you through reading this about helping us provide
any of these services, please click on the Get Involved! tab to view
our current needs. Most of all, we covet your prayers for us and the
ministry we’re called to. For what’s happening now at LSS and current
prayer needs, click on our newsletter tab. If you’d like to have the
newsletter sent to you on a regular basis instead of having to come to
the site, you can sign up to receive it by email as well.
Whether or not you choose to use our facilities, please know you’re in
our prayers. We pray God blesses your endeavor for the kingdom of God
and that His will be accomplished.
Dios Le Bendiga!