Finally! An update...August 2023

 

It´s been a busy year, so here is the latest.

 

 

We are surviving the intense heat of South Texas and are extremely grateful for air conditioning. We traveled for one week to visit family in Iowa, and when we returned, we were glad to be HOME in the Rio Grande Valley.

 

David´s sister Tina and Mom Virginia

 

 

Shelley´s Mom and Stepdad and two brothers in Iowa.
 

Our work with the church is coming along well, with a congregation of around 50 people from newborn to 97 years of age.  Our building is in poor shape, so a new building is in the planning process, and we are very close to having all we need to start construction. It is our hope and prayer to pour the foundation in late September. Here are few photos of the congregation.

 

                                The newest addition to the church family: Baby Elijah

                                                Prayer over the birthday boy Josiah.

                                                    Some of the men of the church.
 

If you are wondering how you can help, we could really use your prayers for the construction process. We have some good sub-contractors lined up, but we need prayers for all to go smoothly. 

 

We also will need help with interior labor (dry wall, flooring, etc.) once we get to that stage, which we think will be in early 2024. Let us know if you want to break from the cold weather and come to the warmth of South Texas this winter. This is an official project for the Church of the Nazarene under the name Rio Grande Valley Initiative.

 

Although God is providing in many ways for this building to become a reality, we still need more finances to complete the work. We are short at least $50,000 but we know God can do all things, so by faith our little church is moving forward.

 

Our family is doing well with Kayley living in New York working as an Occupational Therapist and Joshua in Columbus, Ohio working with a marketing company for non-profits. We are very proud of them both.  

 

 

Kayley and her boyfriend Matt at Niagara Falls.

                                                 Joshua and David at Wrigley field.

 

Connect with us by email: sheljwebb@gmail.com and davidwebb413@gmail.com

Or by phone: 956 376 1375 (Shelley) and 956 246 3523 (David).

 

We´d love to hear from you!

David and Shelley

 

 

 

 

Making Progress

 

The Webbs Page Update                   January 28, 2023

 

It has been a few months since an update because the process for the construction of a new building here at Mid-Valley Nazarene has been up one day and down the next.  From moments of thinking this is not going to happen, to once again saying, “Whatever you want to do here, God, go for it. It´s all yours.” 

God´s timing is His, and I don´t know anyone who has patience as their top strength, and that includes us.  But praying, waiting, learning, and leaning on Him are good things to do.  And now, we can see the fruit of God´s timing.

During the waiting, the congregation has grown. From about 20 people to a regular attendance of just under 50, we feel God´s leading in it all. We have over 40 people attending monthly discipleship groups, and God is growing us all deeper in the faith. So, as we have waiting, we´ve stayed BUSY! 

Mid-Valley Naz Children´s Christmas program

Christmas caroling at the nursing home.  Most had never been caroling before!

So finally, the City of Weslaco, the architect, and the structural engineers are all on board, and we are ready to begin to see this train move forward!  Here are the next steps:

Step 1:  Wait (yes, once again, patience) for all plans to be completed. Estimated wait is 4-6 weeks, but we are praying for a quicker response.

Step 2:  Request permits with the City and cost out all materials and labor.

Step 3:  Begin construction, starting with the foundation.

Step 4:  Order and receive Fastblocs so that walls can be constructed.  (ICF blocks for form with rebar and concrete for strength).

There are more steps, but our minds can only process so much at a time, so let´s stop there for now. 

Some of you have talked with us about wanting to help construct when the time comes.  We are getting close!  If things go as planned, we should be ready for help with ceilings, interior walls, restrooms, flooring, kitchen, etc and etc…by June.  If you know of workers who have experience in these areas and would be able to come help us complete the project, please share this info. This is an approved Work and Witness project under the name Rio Grande Valley Initiative.

We are working in conjunction with Lazarian World Homes who are supplying funds for part of the construction, but we are still lacking funds to complete the building. If you are interested in sending an offering to the building fund, we would be very appreciative. Every little bit helps!

Mid-Valley Church of the Nazarene

PO Box 902

Weslaco, TX 78599

Blessings to all of you!  Keep in touch even if the miles separate us.

At the church construction site with our missionary friends, Carlos and Ana Salazar. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mid-Valley Update

 

A Quick Ministry Update from Mid-Valley Church of the Nazarene

and David and Shelley Webb

 

Church growth:  God continues to bring new people to the church.  The congregation was hit once again with Covid but thankfully everyone is ok. School just started (August 22^nd) and a routine will be good for our kids. We had 13 kids (little ones through middle school) in our Sunday classes recently.  Yah!

 

Building Construction Update:  We haven´t had much rain, but the little we have had has entered our building!  Proof: One of our rooms with trash cans to collect the water.

 

We can´t wait for a new kitchen!

We are moving forward each day with plans for a new building. We have a great architect who is working on the basic plans to petition the city for 8 additional feet beyond what is normally allowed. This meeting should happen in mid-September. The new building would be 100 x 34 feet with a small extension on the front of 30 x 15 feet for an office/foyer.  We have formed a building committee of four gentlemen who have a background in construction to help make all the decisions that must be made. 

 

Our new friends, Steve (architect) and Lilly

 

A white board drawing of the plans. Architectural plans coming soon.

 

God has supplied some of the funding for the building to get started, and the best-case scenario would be to begin foundation construction in January or February 2023. We plan on using Lazarian World Homes block system (concrete is poured into the Styrofoam-like blocks). This provides a quicker construction and better insulation.  See more about Lazarian World Homes here: lazarianworldhomes.com

We are seeking volunteers to help construct when the time comes. If you would enjoy being in the warmth of South Texas during the cold winter (estimate: January-April 2023) and like getting your hands dirty, let us know.  We can use all the help we can get!  We already have a few churches who have asked about bringing work teams, so we look forward to partnering with these groups when the time comes.

 

Prayer Requests:

1-    Continued growth of the church as we do all we can to reach our community

2-    A favorable response from the City of Weslaco for the variance of 100 feet

3-    The funding needed to complete the building in a timely fashion

4-    A project supervisor who can help us day to day as the construction is underway

5-    Wisdom in all the decision-making

 

On a personal note, our family is doing well. 

 

Joshua (left) and friends

Joshua just turned 28 this week and Kayley finished her first field work assignment for her master´s in OT.  Our Moms, living in Iowa, are doing well although there are the challenges of aging.  Virginia, David´s Mom is 91 and Shelley´s Mom, Beverly, is 86.  We plan to visit Iowa in October!

THANKS for reading this and taking an interest in the ministry of Mid-Valley Church on the border!

 

 

Mid-Valley Naz Update July 2022

 

Dear friends,

 

We have now been living in Texas for a little more than one year!  It has gone by quickly, but so much happened in a short time.  We already love this most southern part of Texas (well, maybe not the continual summer heat), and we especially love the people and culture of the area.  Whereas some parts of Texas are Tex-Mex, I would say this area is more Mex-Tex!  The Mexican heritage and Spanish language is daily life. We feel at home.

 

We officially started with the Mid-Valley Church of the Nazarene on June 23, 2021.  If we remember correctly, there were 18 or 20 people in attendance that day.  We began bilingual services on that first Sunday, and we have continued that ever since.  Worship songs are a mixture of the two languages, and the sermon is in Spanish (David) with translation to English (Shelley). We have weekly Discipleship in English (Sunday AM) and in Spanish (Monday PM), as well as a weekly bilingual prayer time (Thursday AM).  The children´s church is growing too with 7-9 kids per week in preschool and elementary groups.

 

The small congregation has grown in this first year. God has brought some folks back to the church who had not yet returned after Covid, as well as new families. In June, we had two Sundays with more than 50 people!  The worship band is made up of youth from 9-19 years of age. They are learning as they go. The church has been faithful to give to missions, and when it is time to greet each other during the service, it takes 5 minutes to get everyone to sit back down again. It´s a good problem to have. Slowly but surely, God is building the family of God of Mid-Valley Naz.

 

The Fun in the Park VBS Outreach activity was a big hit. The congregation served between 20 and 30 kids at each of the four events, with snowcones, games, lessons, crafts, etc.  We are thankful for two Work and Witness teams who came to help with the events and to serve in the Rio Grande Valley.

 

As many of you know, the current church building is in poor condition. Along with the church leaders, we are considering options for new construction in the next year, if God continues to open doors. God has supplied some of the funds needed through the local congregation and from donors from across the USA, including some of you.  Thank you!

 

 

 

As I write this, we are in the process of asking the city to allow us to build a 100-foot building, which is a bit longer than the city codes normally allow based on our lot, but we pray it will be approved.  With a 100 x 34-foot building, we feel we can have a good place for worship services as well as some classroom and meeting space.  The plan is to tear down the existing building and use the space for a parking lot.  We are thankful the land is paid for free and clear!

 

We ask for your prayers as we make plans.  We hope to have a better idea within two months, with best case scenario, beginning to build in late December or early January. And if God´s plans are different than that, we are happy to follow His lead.

 

We invite you to be a part of this mission of God. Your prayers are greatly appreciated and needed.  We already have some individuals and churches that are interested in coming to help with the construction when the time comes through the ministry of Work and Witness. You can find the listing on the work and witness website under this title: Rio Grande Valley Initiative.  Let us know if you are interested in participating.

 

On a personal note, our kids are both doing very well.  Joshua has a new job in Columbus, Ohio.  Kayley is in her clinical fieldwork for her master´s in Occupational Therapy at UTEP in El Paso, Texas.  We are blessed to have such great kids.

 

  

Thanks again and may the Lord bless you richly,

Shelley and David Webb

 

Contact info:

David: davidwebb413@gmail.com

Shelley: sheljwebb@gmail.com

Website: www.midvalleynaz.org.

Email: midvalleynaz@gmail.com

Facebook: Mid-Valley Church of the Nazarene

Some have been asking what´s up with the Webbs?  So, here you go….

  

On May 5-We entered the USA from Mexico at Mission, Texas.

Then waited for our shipment of books and pots/pans.

 

 

Rest of May-visited family in Iowa.  Yah!

 

 

June-returned to South Texas (Weslaco) and received from San Antonio Church donations of furniture and a bed.  Much needed. THANK YOU!

 

June 23-First day of work with the South Texas District, Church of the Nazarene and with the Mid-Valley Church of the Nazarene (midvalleynaz.org)

 

We also enjoyed our time with these three college students this summer.  Felix, Yari and Sarah were a joy to be with and minister alongside.

 

 

July-Hosted an Encuentro Work and Witness team at Mid-Valley Church.  They were such a huge help to us and the Mid-Valley church.  Thank you to the Michigan team!

 

 

August-September.  Enjoyed getting to know the Mid-Valley COTN congregation.  They are a wonderful group of people.  Most speak both English and Spanish, but a few only English, a few others only Spanish.  David preached in Spanish and Shelley translates to English.

We are also speaking at various missions events, generally once per month.  We´ve been in Iowa for a Faith Promise event, Houston for Faith Promise, and Waco Texas Zoo for a missions event.  

 

 

Oh, and a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at our home for our church family.  Great food, fun fellowship.

 

What keeps David busy these days?

Preparing sermons, visiting people, planning worship services, working at the food bank, lots of vision prayers, and keeping up with the district responsibilities in the Rio Grande Valley. 

What keeps Shelley busy these days?
Preparing lessons for kids, worship music for Sunday services, food bank ministry, immigration ministry teaching English at an immigration center, and taking a legal course concerning immigration law.  On a personal level, refinishing furniture for our home.

Our new emails:

David: davidwebb413@gmail.com

Shelley: sheljwebb@gmail.com

Mid-Valley COTN website: midvalleynaz.org

If you would like to know more about our ministry here, just let us know.  Although we are no longer serving with Global Mission, we are still ON MISSION!  

 

If you are reading this, then we are thankful for you!  Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas.

David and Shelley