Morrisville, MO A/G Church March28-April 4

Our dear friends Terry and Patsy Jett returned to Chiapas with 8 other members of their congregation from the Morrisville, Missouri Assembly of God Church. Sunday morning we attended a moving service in Chenalho. Later that evening we visited the church in Tzabalho where the local ladies sang beautifully in both Spanish and the Tzotzil dialect. This was followed by a time of special prayer for the needs of those present - from Chiapas and the US. It was a time that touch all of our hearts in so many ways. Prior to the trip, Bro. Terry had a real desire for the team to bring in several hundred pairs of clogs to give away. Their home church responded marvelously to this request. While the team was in Tzabalho, they distributed several dozen pairs to the children. What a joy it was to see the excitement in their eyes as they received their new shoes!

(group 1 photos)

On Monday we began our work week with a short drive to the village of Majunsenentic. The team had sent funds to build a block church for the people of this village. Throughout that week the team hand mixed the cement with shovels and poured the cement floor, welded the beams for the roof, screwed down the metal roofing, painted both the interior and exterior of the church, ran electrical lighting and made 22 benches.

(group 2 photos)

We also were able to do a children's program directed by the Chenalho children's minister, Olga Hernandez. One of the team members, Bruce, is the children's pastor at the Morrisville Assembly. He was a real asset to the ministry and really knows how to relate to children of all ages and cultures. It was the first children's service of its kind in Majunsenentic, but with all the children of this village, it is only the beginning. Following the children's service, the team distributed more shoes and blankets. It was a privilege to put shoes on one particular women. She was 58 years old and had never had a pair of shoes before.

(group 3 photos)

Later that week we drove to the village of Las Ollas and painted a new church building that had been constructed earlier this year. What was so special about this location is that it is the Chamula church that was built through much prayer and determination by the Christians of that area. Prior to this one, two other church buildings had been erected (by other ministries) in Las Ollas and knocked down by the nonbelievers of that area. Pastor Carlos and the other leaders felt God speaking to them to try again. We did not bring in an American team to do the construction, but we were given the approval to go to the village and paint the church. While some were painting, others conducted another children's program. Later blankets, clothing and shoes were distributed here in Las Ollas as well. We concluded our time with a season of prayer for the pastor and congregation.

(group 4 photos)

On our last work day we returned for a prayer of dedication for the new building in Majunsenentic. That time also included prayer for the pastor and his wife. An invitation was given to those who were sick and needed prayer for healing in their physical bodies to come forward. Great things were accomplised and great friendships were made. We had the privilege of eating a meal in the home of the pastor and got to know his family even better. This allowed our team to see just exactly how the Tzotzil people live. What a great privilege! Also the remaining clothing, blankets and shoes were distributed to the local church members.

(group 5 photos)

During the week prior to the teams arrival, the men from North Texas poured a new balcony area over looking the stadium in Chenalho. Railings were needed along the new veranda. God is so good in the way He provides for each detail of the work. Several of the men on this week's team were welders. We were able to purchase the necessary materials, and they fabricated and welded the railings for the new stairs and reused some of the old railings for the balcony.

(group 6 photos)

At the end of the trip, the group enjoyed a fun day shopping at the market in San Cristobal, the boatride through the Sumidero Canyon and concluded the evening with a wonderful dinner in Tuxtla. It was a delight hosting this team! Special thanks to Terry and Patsy Jett, their son in law Gary, Pastor Bruce, Ethan, Wendell, Teri and Dan, Glenda and Rod.

North TX Men/Medical Team March 2009

27 men from Covenant Church in McKinney, TX came to Chenalho during the fourth week of March. The team was led by Paul Pogue, a long time friend of Missionary Larry Myers and friend to the missions work in Mexico. The week's work for this group of men involved many different facets of accomplishment. In a recent newsletter, we had mentioned about the desire to convert the small kitchen in the mission's headquarters into a large commercial kitchen. The second part of this was to turn the large patio area into a dining room. So you can imagine our delight when we found out that one of the group's projects was going to be to work on the dining room. They were able to weld the beams and screw down the roofing over the dining area. They made 8 new benches for the church in Chenalho since they have completely run out of seating. They scraped, cleaned and spray painted the entire metal stadium. Also, they poured a new large balcony that will be over looking the stadium area so more people can attend the general convention that is held there in Chenalho. An unbelievable amount of work was accomplished in 3 days. We salute the men of Covenant Church and their pastor, Michael Gamble! As the work week concluded, the group spent the last day shopping in San Cristobal, touring the Sumidero Canyon by boat and visiting the Casa Hogar Alegre orphanage in Tuxtla.


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Simultaneously, Dr. Jim Nichols, his wife Carmen and Dr. Ken Morgan conducted a medical campaign that same week. Arriving a few days prior to the rest of the team, they were of great assistance with the multitude of necessary task to be done before a team's arrival. The medical team worked in Chenalho for 2 days early in the week. On the third morning the medical team left for an overnight stay in the village of Santa Marta. Accompanying Drs. Nichols and Morgan was a member of Covenant Church Dr. Ralph, our own local physician, Dr. Lulu, and a team of interpreters. The overnight stay required tent camping but this always gives a wonderful opportunity to connect with the people of that village and be more involved with their personal needs and lives. After their return Drs. Nichols and Morgan also went to the village of Batchen located on the mountain peak above Chenalho.


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Our last evening together concluded with all the teams meeting together in Tuxtla at Pastor Carlos' church, Torre Fuerte. Larry and a team of workers hosted a lovely meal that evening inside the gymnasium behind the church. The food was delicious and the facility was decorated and prepared beautifully for the team. Pine needles were placed throughout the dining area which is a gesture done by the people of the highlands to show honor and respect to their guest. It was a delightful way to conclude a fantastic week!

MARCH-APRIL 2009 NEWSLETTER

PSALM 34:8 "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!"

In the mountains of Chiapas, Mexico, the Chamula Indians were among some of first converts in the late 1900's. In spite of that fact, the non-Christian Chamulas have remained true to their resistant and aggressive behavior. They continue to make it extremely difficult for their own people who "dare to be different" and have given their hearts and lives to Christ. After 2 other failed attempts by other groups to establish a church in Ollas, Chamula, we are so delighted to report that because of your support, a block building now has been built and still stands to the Glory of God is this area. Please keep Pastor Diego in your prayers as he preaches and disciples new believers who are making a stand for Christ against all odds. These block churches are not built until a body of believers have been established, but with the completion of each new church comes many new believers that are added to the Kingdom of God.



Things have been going well in the state of Chiapas and several other new churches have been built this year. We enjoyed hosting a team from Branch, LA last month who experienced a tent camp out in Maravillas. This church is in a great location right next to the school's soccer field surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery. It was challenging but a moving endeavor. And our hearts were filled with gratitude for all the shoes, blankets and Tzotzil Bibles that were given out in various villages to those who so desperately needed them.

Also, the recent workshops in Tuxtla and Chenalho for leaders of Children's Ministry was a great success. We are trying to expand this vision of ministry to all the churches in the area. There is great interest, and we will also be able to continue utilizing children's ministry in different villages when US groups come to Chiapas. A very special thank you goes out to Nell Lamury and her team from Patterson, LA for making this possible! Last year Olga was set apart to work in this arena of ministry in the mountains. She now has 20 churches under her leadership.



Praise report from Chenalho! Growth brings new challenges, so we are expanding the facility! We are adding a new dining room which will better accommodate large groups from the US and other gatherings hosted here throughout the year. Also, we are taking the existing standard kitchen and dining room area and turning it into a large commercial kitchen. The funds have begun to come in, and we thank you for your generous help.

Spring will be very busy, and you have probably heard a lot about the US warnings for travel into Mexico. We thank God that at this time the state of Chiapas is peaceful, and we have not had any problems in Tuxtla or the mountain areas. We do ask that you continue to pray for our safety and the safety of all of our teams traveling in and out of the country. Also, Russell and Pastor Carlos will be journeying this month into the jungles of Lacondonia to explore the reception to the Gospel and need for building churches in this unreached area of Chiapas. Pray for our protection and the mind of the Lord concerning reaching these people. We will keep you posted!

MARCH TEAMS
*Fort Bend Baptist Academy-
Sugar Land, TX
*North Texas Men's Group
Medical - Drs. Nichols & Morgan
*A/G Team-Morrisville, MO
APRIL TEAMS
*Life Church - Lafayette, LA
*Detroit, MI Men's Group

PSALM 34: 9,10 "Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him...those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing."

Trip to Lacadonia Jungle

For many years the work of the Lord has grown in an area surrounding the ministry headquarters in Chenalho. Many churches have been built and the work of the Lord is strong in this area. For some time I have been praying about an expanded area that God may want to direct us to minister to in Chiapas. During the third week of March, Pastor Carlos and I drove from Tuxtla for a 7 hour drive into the far eastern jungle area of Chiapas. There we met a young pastor (and former student from Atoyac) by the name of Marcelino in Ococingo. We continued our journey to the village of Monte Libano where he has been ministering to the Tzeltal Indians. That evening we met a local family and had a short church service with them. Later we walked throughout the village from home to home praying for the sick and encouraging others in Christ. That night reminded me of my first night in Chiapas in 1989 when we had a similar evening in the village of Puebla. It brought back good memories!


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After a good night's rest sleeping in the back of my truck, we began a short drive into the Lacandonia area to the village of Naha'. Our plans were to meet a young Lacandonia Christian by the name of Kinsol, which means "Big Sun" in the Mayan language. Lacandonias are some of the closest descendents of the original Mayans. These are the only Indians of Chiapas that to this day still hunt for wildlife with bow and arrows in the jungle. I learned upon arriving that there are only somewhere around 750 of them in existence. In their Mayan culture, they have 12 gods that are still placed in the center of the village where their people go to pray.

I had never been to the Jungle of Lacandonia, but I had a strong urging by God that I needed to go. Prior to our arrival my prayer was, "God, how do you want us to reach the people of this area? Are you going to use the young man Kinsol to reach his people? Are we going to have the opportunity to build a church in this area. What needs to be done and what is our part?"

As we drove into the city, we saw the men of the village all wearing their traditional white tunics. Their long straight hair reached down to the middle of their back. As we stopped to speak to the group of men, the first person we met was the leader of the village. God had already opened up the door for us to meet their most important village official. He directed us to a large lake that was near Naha'. We parked the truck nearby and began walking on a path through the jungle. As we proceeded they showed us different plants that they would use for various medicinal purposes.


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One of the Lacadonia Indians by the name of Pepe invited us to go by his house if we were interested in purchasing hand made bow and arrows. He still personally makes these and collects rocks by the Guatemaula border to make the arrows. After looking at his collection, a young women stuck her head through the window and told Pepe that we could go by her home to see some necklaces that she had made to sell. We asked her to bring them to us. We were told they were made of different seeds and dried berries from the jungle. After she didn't return for some time, we decided to walk and locate her house. As we approached her one room home, there was a young man in the back yard hand carving a 6 foot boat paddle with a machete. As we were looking at the necklaces, young Pastor Marcelino asked her if the music in the back ground was Christian. She said," Yes, and we are Christians, but Christians are the minority in the village." Immediately, Pastor Carlos and I made eye contact, and we knew in that moment that meeting this young couple was why we had driven to Naha'.

We immediately introduced ourselves. The young man making the paddle was named Chochkin. He began telling us of the wooden church that had been built in their community. Pastor Carlos commented later how you could see something in his eyes - how they were dancing with the excitement of the Lord. He told us about the young pastor that had evangelized their community and lived in another nearby village called Lacandonia. We immediately asked him if it would be possible to ride together and be introduced to his pastor. Upon our arrival at the pastor's home, we first met his wife. She said that he should be back shortly. As he drove up, we introduced ourselves and explained about how we felt like God had directed us to this area to help the Mayan Indians of Lacadonia. We immediately knew that since there was already a small church building in existence that God wanted us to help and support the work that was already established. We explained to him about our ministry of helping to build churches, of the distribution of Bibles, and about our medical teams of doctors and dentists that go into the villages to bring healing to the people. We asked him what was the most important needs of his area. He told us he needed Bibles and tracts to distribute. He would also love to have our medical teams come into the area to help the people. He offered the use of the local church to set up the day clinics. Before leaving I asked if we could have prayer. As we prayed the local pastor wept in appreciation to God because he needed someone to help lift his hands and encourage him in the work of the Lord. As we drove away from the village of Lacondonia, we all felt that our prayers had been answered. We knew why God had sent us. We are looking forward to the next opportunity to return to this area.


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As we were driving back to Naha', I was thinking about one additional problem. We would have to have an interpreter in the Lacandonia dialect when we returned. Since he spoke both languages perfectly, I turned and asked the young Lacandonia man that had accompanied us if he would be our interpreter. He was excited and said "Yes, he would!" Once we returned to Naha', we said our good-byes to our new friends. We drove to finally met our original contact, Kinsol. Immediately upon meeting him, he realized he was extremely ill and very emotionally unstable. We had the opportunity to pray with him and his family before we left. As we drove away, we knew God had answered our prayers, but it had been done through a completely different direction than what we had thought originally. We are planning on returning to this area, first of all to bring the requested Bibles. In the near future we hope to also bring in medical groups. The rainy season will make for great challenges in our return, but we know God has a plan. My experience in this area was life changing, and I will never forget the opportunity I had to visit with the Lacadonia Indians.

Russell