WOMEN'S CONFERENCES
Women ministering to other women is a concept that we take for granted in the US, but it doesn't exist everywhere. We have tried to be very cautious in the work of the Lord in Mexico and weigh out what is truly showing the heart of Christ with others as opposed to what is our own American way of thinking. Several years ago while praying for the people in the country of Mexico, I inquired of the Lord if there was an area of ministry or a group we were not reaching. He clearly showed me the women of Mexico, and I began to see my role in mission's work had only just begun. Charlotte
CONFERENCE IN THE HIGHLANDS
November 5 - Thank God for the four additional laborers from Lafayette, LA to help with the first week of conference.
Terry Jolley, an Evangelist from our home church in LA. It was God ordained for you to be with us. Not only did your messages on Women of Excellence minister to those in the mountains, but your strength and insight in spirituual matters was a constant source of support for us as well. We're so glad God sent you and pray He does so again.
Carmen Nichols, (Dr. Jim's wife) gourmet cook and close friend. You have many gifts and talants, but among them is the ability to make the kitchen a wonderful place to be. Thanks for heading up the week of cooking and cleaning which also included the special luncheon for our pastor's wives.
Jamie Thomas and Hailey Goodman, students who love Christ, Chiapas and didn't mind missing school. You are both such a part of the team, we don't know what we are going to do without you once you start college next year.
November 7 - The arrival of Pastor LaNell and the team from Texarkana, TX. LaNell was an answer to pray several years ago, and God sent her to help birth the concept of women's ministries in the heart of those God has sent us to. The rest of the team - Brittney, Wanda, Crystal, Shirley, Gail, Sharon (who sings like an angel) Vicky, the interpreter (we couldn't do it without you) and Mike, who will have extra jewels in his crown for helping us out all week. Thanks Mike for using your carpentry skills to construct a few needed items around the facility. And thanks for transporting all the luggage around in Rick Halter's red truck that he donated. What a blessing the truck has been!
Much preparation goes into getting everything ready before the first service ever begins. So many from the US gave offerings and items to bless our Indian ladies. We thank everyone who had a part in making that happen. LaNell's team made lots of baskets (loaded with things women like) to give away.
November 9 - Service in Chenalho.
The ladies from Tzabalho joined us. LaNell minstered on "Jehovah the Good". Cards written in caligraphy with this phrase was printed in the Tzotzil language and handed out to each lady as they walked through a tunnel of blessing made by our American team and other leaders of the local churches. We prayed for each lady in the congregation and spoke blessings of God's goodness over each one. The laminated cards, which they took home with them, will remind them for many days to come of the goodness of our Lord. (Ex. 33)
November 10 - Luncheon and special service for the pastor's wives
The women in the mountains of Chiapas work harder than any other group of women we have ever known. They cut their own fire wood, cook their meals on open fires, and work in the fields along side of their husbands. Many make their own clothes by hand from the shearing of the sheep, to the spinning of the thread and weaving of the fabric. So when we have our special day for the leaders and pastor's wives of this region, it will probably be the only day off for them the entire year.
Terry Jolley shared beautifully the message God gave her. We stopped long enough to enjoy a delicious meal together. The sounds of laughter and interacting was so wonderful to our ears, and I know it pleased the heart of God.
It is impossible to even remember, much less report all of the wonderful details of what transpires during such times as these in mission work, but there are countless moments where it is so evident that God is "in the details" of the event at hand. We had no idea of how many would show up and how many to prepare for. Gail had crocheted 18 shawls to give away. The group had prepared 18 identical gift baskets for the pastor's wives and you guessed it, we had exactly 18 leaders present.
God used our American ladies to serve and minister so effectively to them that no one wanted to leave at the end of the day. Even though some of our Indian ladies had very long distances to walk home, their struggle to leave the love and personal minsitry they had received really spoke to Pastor Alex's heart.
A special thanks goes out to Jamie, Hailey, Brittney and Crystal for your additional work with the children all week. If there is a gathering for women, one thing is certain, there will be lots of children present as well. You made it possible for the mom's to enjoy their time so much more by having a few moments in their life to receive instead of giving out. And the children loved it and loved all of you!
Services continued that week in Rancharia Sinai and San Cristobal. The ladies used dance, drama, song and lots of love to reach out to those who attended. We thank all the pastors who have tapped into the vision of allowing the women of their congragations to have these special events. It is most rewarding to see the unity that comes from such gatherings. Our week concluded with Tzoltiles, Chamulas, Zinacantans, Mexican and American women in fellowship together. It was a taste of heaven for sure!
TUXTLA WOMEN'S CONFERENCE
This being our third year of conference with our friends of the Tuxtla - San Fernando area, it was marverlous to see how much the women of Mexico have grown in the Lord. No longer was it just an American team coming in to conduct a conference and have most of the responsibility, but it was a real joint effort by everyone.
Mary Lou, wife of missionary Larry Myers, and one of her dear friends, Shirley Miller, were able to arrive several days prior to the conference and help us with some of the early preparations. It was a great source of strength to have their prayer support as well. Also, they hosted a lovely meal for our US team that arrived on Nov. 17th. It was a perfect way to meet new friends and to spend time with those we already knew.
Just as God had united our hearts with LaNell Miller for women's ministry some time back, He had done the same with Nell Lamury of Word of Life Church from Patterson, LA. The ministy opportunities have grown so extensively that it was necessary to have 2 separate conferences this year (one in the mountains and one in the city) which also requires 2 different US teams. Nell is a multi-gifted person that does a great job with whatever she is doing. As our morning speaker, she shared very timely messages to our women. Not only did she come prepared to minister to our ladies, but Nell has a tremendous anointing in children's ministry. Children everywhere love Sister Nell, and she doesn't even have to speak Spanish to communicate with them. We thank the entire team of ladies from Patterson - Brandy, Judy, Joni, Vickie and Marty. Thank you for sharing your testimonies, working so beautifully with all the ladies and children, and giving of yourselves in countless ways all through the conference.
Sometimes, God brings people into our lives that have a real impact on us at the moment, but we have absolutely no idea as to how much God is setting the stage for something very wonderful in the future. Such was the happenings with my introduction to Billie Hunt of Lakewood Church in Houston, TX. I had met Billie more than 20 years ago and was so inspired by her life and intimate walk with God. It gave me great pleasure when God brought her back into our lives again. His plan of networking His body of believers is so amazing!
November 18
We began our day early with a tour of the Tuxtla Orphanage. We enjoyed seeing the children's special school program in recognition of a national holiday in Mexico. The team did a little touring of Tuxtla followed by a lovely luncheon at the Camino Real Restaurant for our leaders and pastor's wives. The husbands kept the children, and it was a rare but incredibly special mmoment together. After lunch we toured the new and beautiful facility of Iglesia Torre Fuerte and had special prayer for the conference. That evening Nell and the team from Patterson had a wonderful puppet presentation on finishing the race that ministered to adults as well as children. Billie sang in Spanish and shared the anointed Word from God. Her command of the Scriptures and gift to connect with those in attendance made the conference a very effective weekend of ministry. It seemed like so many of our Mexican ladies were mostly burdened for loved ones who needed to find Jesus real in their lives.
Our Interpreter - Angelina was sent by God to help us! You know the saying, "God is never early, but always on time." Arrangements for an interpreter during our services had been made weeks in advance, but due to a death in her family, she and the alternate could not be with us. Yet, God had His hand on a young women who had studied English in the states, but only had interpreted one other time. Through divine intervention, she was located and arrived within moments of our needing her to interpret. God is so faithful, even though He makes us sweat it out to the last minute sometimes! Angie did a marvelous job, and we all fell in love with her.
November 19
The conference continued in nearby San Fernando. Dr. Lulu had prepared various activites that were lots of fun and did so much to unite us. Each activity had its own spiritual interpretation, and we learned from them as well. Nell shared each morning, and we had special prayer for those called to leadership in children's ministy. These ladies were so touched, and it will be wonderful to watch the fruit that comes forth. Billie concluded the evening with a mesage on "Ask, Seek and Knock," followed by a great resource of Scripture references dealing with the needs of the hour.
November 20
Dr. Lulu continued with the activities that provided much interaction between our 2 cultures. God gave Nell a powerful message from the Book of Ruth, and the ladies were so open to the ministry of the Word. We had special prayer for the leaders and pastor's wives. Each were given a beautiful leather Bible and a watch. All the ladies present received a lovely braclet at the door. Thank you US team for all your hard work and the special gifts that you gave!
Each day we enjoyed a meal prepared by our host team from San Fernando or Tuxtla. There was no time to rest, but we had gone to Mexico to serve in whatever capacity we could. Billie was able to pray with 2 more people inbetween services and led them to Christ and asked God to heal their sick bodies.
Sunday evening we had a wonderful time celebrating the goodness of God. Billie ministered a message on worship and the ladies dance team ministry from various churches participated in the service, along with the beautiful music of the Tuxtla church. Only eternity will reveal all that takes place during such events, but we thank God for His presence that was with us throughtout the conference. We laughed, cried and prayed together. We thank God for all that was accomplished in the lives of both the Mexican and the American women. We look forward to next year!
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The lost of a great leader....
Many wonderful events took place during this month, but one event has brought great sadness to our hearts for the family and friends of Pastor Moises Carranza of Nuevo Laredo. On November 21 the Lord called him home. A few days prior to this, he was in an automobile accident, but we thought he would recover. God had a different plan, and we trust Him in this even though there is much sadness in the tremendous loss here on earth. Pastor Moises and Missionary Larry Myers worked together for 27 years, and Larry has lost one of his dearest friends in Mexico. Our beginning days of missions work in Mexico was working with Pastor Moises as well, so he will always have a very special place in our hearts. He was the president of an evangelical association which has many churches registered in that name. Larry raised the funds and built the majority of these churches through Pastor Moises' guidance in dealing with the needs of his people. We are thankful for the years that we knew Pastor Moises and pray for God to continue to watch over his family and all the pastors and churches that were under his leadership.
