Dear Friends,
I am writing from Lajas and we’re glad the satellite dish and
modem are running well. Things are going well out here with lots of visitors. The weather has been cold, the nights especially, but the wood stove is hot and there’s plenty of firewood. We’re happy for good health and praise the Lord that we’ve managed to avoid any flus or viruses floating around. Today is Sunday and so we do a small church time with Barry and Candy. The kids are all doing well, Sophia managed to borrow a small puppy from Irene, and so everybody’s happy taking care of it. The poor thing’s feet barely touch the ground. By the time he makes it back to Irene’s house, he should have mastered the triple backward flip with a double twist, and be judged on a good landing to boot.
Sophia with “pooch” and her friends Alicia and Alfreda.
Our church in Durango has been holding a medical clinic in Milpillas as a part of their outreach in the town. A group of up to 50 people from our church and a medical mission worked there for 3 days, including up to 30 doctors and dentists. They had raised funds to be able to provide all the medicine free, as well as clothing and food for the needy. It worked out that I was able to take a truckload of sick people from Lajas. Marselo’s daughter Alma has been sick for a long time as well as Sylvana, Marselo’s mother. Placido and two of his wives, including some of his kids, also have been sick, and so they came along. All of them were able to be checked by doctors and received the medication needed. For Marselo and Emiteria, this was the first time they had taken their daughter to a doctor; in the past they have only gone to witchdoctors. She has been diagnosed with malnutrition. Pray that Emiteria will be consistent with giving Alma the medicine. Two days ago she took her to the witchdoctor again. They have done this countless times and can see that it’s not working. Pray that in spite of their tendency to see every sickness as spiritual, that they will come to understand that their daughter will be helped more by taking the medicine.
Lorenza (closest) one of Placido’s wives, Sylvana (yellow dress),
Alma (sitting beside Sylvana), Emiteria is in the back row.
To the far right is Marselo sitting beside Placido’s son in the black shirt. They’re waiting for their turn in the clinic.
Emiteria (middle of pic) waiting to see the pediatrician.
At the clinic in Milpillas, our church was also running evangelistic programs for the children. Anyone that attended the clinic was also invited to what is called the “soul clinic”. Here people were able to be given a clear presentation of the gospel which included pictures and diagrams for those who were illiterate. They also gave out Bibles with instructions on how to read the Bible and learn from it. Most of our group only speak Tepehuan, but Placido and some of his kids were interested as they speak Spanish to a degree. They received Bibles and so we pray the Lord will use the opportunity to open their eyes to Jesus.
After everyone had gone through the clinic, our pastor Leo gathered the town leaders and lead a short prayer time for the town of Milpillas and the surrounding mountain area. A number of us who were present were also asked to pray for our own parts of the world in our own language. This way people could get a glimpse that the message of the gospel is a message for all and has gone into many countries all over the world in different languages. I prayed in English for Australia, an American prayed for the North American continent, a Chilean prayed for South America, and Wolfgang (our German pilot) prayed for Europe in German. While obviously no one would be able to understand these prayers, they did grasp that there is much more going on than just in their tiny part of the Sierra Madre. Leo officially presented the Governor of Milpillas with a Bible, with a commitment as a church to continue to provide for the town both spiritually and with physical needs. Their desire is to begin a church in Milpillas.
Leo our pastor (left with checkered shirt)
and Isidrio the town governor (middle) receiving the Bible.
The clinic had a profound effect on Isidrio (the governor) as his son had been murdered a week ago in the city of Monterrey and he and Leo have become good friends. We’re praying that this time of sadness will be an opportune time for Isidrio to come to Christ.
After the prayer time, it was meal time. The governor invited our group to eat along with the church group. The church had been provided with a professional chef by a lady that loans her banquet hall to our church for Sunday meetings. This chef cooked up a pretty mean meal and our Tepehuan friends are still talking about it. This I might add was the highlight of the trip for them. With stomachs loaded, we made our sleepy way back to Lajas.
Thanks for praying for us. We hope this email encourages you as we see God working in many different ways and through different people. Pray for salvation to arrive in Lajas.
For Jesus,
Andrew and Anne Marie
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January 2008 letter
