Dear Friends,
Thank you for praying for this latest trip. We were able to get allot
of work done. I was able to find three Tepehuan guys willing to work and so allot was achieved. We were able to get the whole interior of the new extension completely rendered. The next major job is to install some floor plumbing and pour what I can of the floors. It takes along time to get gravel and sand built up in Lajas, so I plan to do a section at a time. If we can get the laundry and bathroom floor poured, I can set about putting up the walls.
February 2nd is the day of the virgin of Candelaria, who in essence is another form of the virgin Mary. In Lajas four bulls are killed from which a beef soup is made. Chosen dancers dance and everyone gathers to feast on the soup. It pretty much is the epitome of the syncretism of catholic teaching and Indian animism. At this sort of celebration while there was minimal drinking at the fiesta, those who are inclined, drink quite heavy which can result in violence. While the fiesta itself was a joyous occasion, some 800 yards away at one of the houses, two drunks got involved in a fight and it seems one may have killed the other. Un fortunately this wasn't the only death. One of the men in charge of supplying one of the bulls for the fiesta, was gored to death by the bull he was trying to kill. These events were solemn reminders that the Tepehuan need to hear the good news of the Gospel. Life for many is cheap and far to short in the mountains. Thankfully the Lord protected us, and while there were drunks around, we didn't have any encounters.
Having barely gotten over this trip, I will be leaving again for Lajas on Thursday. There is a tribal wide meeting to be held on Friday, and we will be running a dental clinic in the village next week. I hope to be able to speak at the meeting and advertise the clinic. John and I will be heading out Thursday, and the dentists and Linda will be heading out Sunday with Barry. John and I will be able to get the equipment setup ahead of time, plus we can get a few things done on the house. We are praying that this clinic will be a blessing and each person that we treat will sense the love of God. We hope that as the Tepehuan contemplate the reasons why we would offer such services free, that they would begin to want to know why we are different, and why we care about them. Each person we help we hope that one day will come to know Jesus personally. We'd appreciate your prayers for a good turnout, and that the Tepehuan will take advantage of this clinic.
Anne Marie will have a difficult week in that she'll be left without a vehicle and will have to rely on taxis. Pray that she'll have the energy to be able to keep up with all the running around with the kids school and their activities through the week.
For Jesus,
Andrew and Anne Marie
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Feb. 2006 report & photos #1
