Report from Jim Nichols, D.D.S.
We had a construction group and a medical/dental group in Chiapas from April 11-20, and God had a wonderful 9 days!! The first two days were spent celebrating with over 5000 Indians, Mexicans, and Americans at the biannual convention in the outdoor amphitheater. Rain came on Saturday, but it dampened bodies only, no spirits were dampened! On Sunday morning, as part of the convention, a baptism service was held at the river, and 205 people were baptized! Brother Larry had told me years ago after one of these baptism services, “Don’t think that any of these baptisms were spontaneous. Every one who was baptized has been counseled by their pastor for a couple of months so that they fully understand the significance of this.”
On Monday and Tuesday, the construction team painted one church, and built wooden pews (benches) for another church, while the medical/dental team went to two other villages. Thank God we were able to see all patients at each village each day.
On Wednesday, we went to a new area, about 2 hours east of San Cristobal in a Tzeltal village for a combined church construction and medical/dental visit, and camped out in the mountains (very cool!!) that night. This was the first evangelical church for miles in any direction in this area, and this village had been heavily involved in the uprising in the mid-1990’s (which has since died down, all sides are now very peaceful). One of the church leaders in this village had been a commander in the uprising, but received the Lord last year, and has an obvious Spirit-filled joy and peace about him now. After the fact, I was reflecting on this man, and was reminded of Simon the zealot—another young man who had been fighting violently in the natural for what he felt was a just cause, then came to the Lord and changed tactics, joined the Lord’s “army” and began fighting in the spiritual (“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” 2 Cor. 10:4).
On Thursday, we went to Palestina, a suburb of San Cristobal, and the home church of Pastor César, the young man who evangelized the village we were in on Wednesday, and is also the young man who is reaching out to another dangerous area. This is a powerful, yet humble, man of God, who is being powerfully used by God for His kingdom, and is only 25 years old!! Please continue to lift him up in your prayers—for protection, guidance, and wisdom.
Friday, we all went to Oxinam, a Chamula and Tzotzil village very high in the mountains. The long, rough ride was rewarded with warm, gracious people and spectacular scenery. On the way back to Chenalho, we were able to sit on the side of a mountain, looking down over 2000 feet below into a valley, and watch the sun set on the other side of the mountains. A beautiful finish to a wonderful week!
Saturday, we returned to Tuxtla-Gutierrez, and then went to the church dedication for the big, beautiful, new church in San Fernando. They had placed 560 seats in the sanctuary, and they were all filled, and people were standing outside! The service went over three hours, but people were still as energetic at the end as at the beginning!
A special awareness of the power and the beauty of prayer was given to us this week. On Wednesday morning in the Tzeltal village, the first patient that I prayed for was an elderly lady. Her husband joined us in prayer, and all I can say is that heaven came down. This was one of those “goose-bumps and tears” moments that is a sign of a special sense of God’s presence and favor. All who were nearby felt the same power and joy.
On Friday night, at the Bible school, our group had a devotion based on Colossians 1:3-12, with applications for using these verses to apply to our praying for Russell and Charlotte. Then we had about 30 minutes of group prayer for them. Charlotte told me the next morning, “I don’t know what to say except that God really answers prayers. I woke up this morning feeling better than I’ve felt in months—no fatigue, no stress, just relaxed and happy. Thank God for answered prayers!”
Then, on Saturday night in San Fernando, we were singing a chorus in Spanish about God being our healer. Standing 2 rows in front of me, lifting his hands with exuberance was Xavier, a Mexican brother who has worked with us for years when we need a welder. He went through a difficult year last year battling prostate cancer, and for a while the prognosis did not look good. But God has healed him and he was praising God. Standing one row in front of me was Dr. Lulu, the Mexican physician who has worked with us regularly for over 12 years, and is a dear sister in the Lord. She was raising her hands and praising God for His healing power, as she was facing major surgery on the upcoming Tuesday. Thank God her surgery also went well, and she is feeling God’s answers to prayer also!
I may sound trite and redundant, but this ministry truly needs your prayers, more than any other kind of support. If you feel connected with this work, please meditate on Colossians 1:3-12, and pray for Russell and Charlotte. Thanks!!
On Monday and Tuesday, the construction team painted one church, and built wooden pews (benches) for another church, while the medical/dental team went to two other villages. Thank God we were able to see all patients at each village each day.
On Wednesday, we went to a new area, about 2 hours east of San Cristobal in a Tzeltal village for a combined church construction and medical/dental visit, and camped out in the mountains (very cool!!) that night. This was the first evangelical church for miles in any direction in this area, and this village had been heavily involved in the uprising in the mid-1990’s (which has since died down, all sides are now very peaceful). One of the church leaders in this village had been a commander in the uprising, but received the Lord last year, and has an obvious Spirit-filled joy and peace about him now. After the fact, I was reflecting on this man, and was reminded of Simon the zealot—another young man who had been fighting violently in the natural for what he felt was a just cause, then came to the Lord and changed tactics, joined the Lord’s “army” and began fighting in the spiritual (“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” 2 Cor. 10:4).
On Thursday, we went to Palestina, a suburb of San Cristobal, and the home church of Pastor César, the young man who evangelized the village we were in on Wednesday, and is also the young man who is reaching out to another dangerous area. This is a powerful, yet humble, man of God, who is being powerfully used by God for His kingdom, and is only 25 years old!! Please continue to lift him up in your prayers—for protection, guidance, and wisdom.
Friday, we all went to Oxinam, a Chamula and Tzotzil village very high in the mountains. The long, rough ride was rewarded with warm, gracious people and spectacular scenery. On the way back to Chenalho, we were able to sit on the side of a mountain, looking down over 2000 feet below into a valley, and watch the sun set on the other side of the mountains. A beautiful finish to a wonderful week!
Saturday, we returned to Tuxtla-Gutierrez, and then went to the church dedication for the big, beautiful, new church in San Fernando. They had placed 560 seats in the sanctuary, and they were all filled, and people were standing outside! The service went over three hours, but people were still as energetic at the end as at the beginning!
A special awareness of the power and the beauty of prayer was given to us this week. On Wednesday morning in the Tzeltal village, the first patient that I prayed for was an elderly lady. Her husband joined us in prayer, and all I can say is that heaven came down. This was one of those “goose-bumps and tears” moments that is a sign of a special sense of God’s presence and favor. All who were nearby felt the same power and joy.
On Friday night, at the Bible school, our group had a devotion based on Colossians 1:3-12, with applications for using these verses to apply to our praying for Russell and Charlotte. Then we had about 30 minutes of group prayer for them. Charlotte told me the next morning, “I don’t know what to say except that God really answers prayers. I woke up this morning feeling better than I’ve felt in months—no fatigue, no stress, just relaxed and happy. Thank God for answered prayers!”
Then, on Saturday night in San Fernando, we were singing a chorus in Spanish about God being our healer. Standing 2 rows in front of me, lifting his hands with exuberance was Xavier, a Mexican brother who has worked with us for years when we need a welder. He went through a difficult year last year battling prostate cancer, and for a while the prognosis did not look good. But God has healed him and he was praising God. Standing one row in front of me was Dr. Lulu, the Mexican physician who has worked with us regularly for over 12 years, and is a dear sister in the Lord. She was raising her hands and praising God for His healing power, as she was facing major surgery on the upcoming Tuesday. Thank God her surgery also went well, and she is feeling God’s answers to prayer also!
I may sound trite and redundant, but this ministry truly needs your prayers, more than any other kind of support. If you feel connected with this work, please meditate on Colossians 1:3-12, and pray for Russell and Charlotte. Thanks!!
posted by Russell & Charlotte at 11:32 AM
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