Abundant Life Rayne, LA June 22-27

This team of 8 was led by Pastor Melvin Finley. Three generations of Finley family members were present on this trip. Also, joining them were Gerald and Karla Cormier.

(photos set 1)

The group began their work week by welding a roof on a large church in the village of Tzajaleheh. Due to the size, this project took 2 days. On the 3rd day, the group made 32 benches for the congregation. Pastor Mariano and his wife both of Chenalho had evangelized this village and had the vision for this new building. They had assisted the local people in raising funds to erect the block walls and purchased the materials for the roof. They just needed someone with welding skills to help out. Since Pastor Finley and his son Tod are both welders, this was a perfect match.

A few months after the project had originally began in 2008, Pastor Mariano passed away and the responsibility of this work was left with his wife Maria. She is also a preacher of the Gospel and took on the work of continuing to lead these people. She also had the overwhelming task of completing this building project. We were glad to be able to help her as well as this congregation. Maria expressed her gratitude many times and showed her appreciation by cooking several wonderful meals for our team. She also stated that we were the first Americans that had ever visited this Tzotzil village.

(photos set 2)

On one of the days driving to Tzajalehen, the white van had to be pulled out of the mud. Once again this was due to the combination of the rainy season and the bad road conditions. This always adds adventure to any missions trip.

There were other areas of outreach that week. Mel and Karla, who are both nurses, assisted Dr. Lulu as she worked in the village of Puebla. They were very impressed with the level of care and compassion that Dr. Lulu is able to give under such primitive conditions. Also, the men helped install a new water tank and water pump for the clinic house in Chenalho. This was very much needed due to the fact that the city does not always provide water on a daily bases.

Everyone left with a feeling of satisfaction knowing we were able to help many people in the highlands of Chiapas. Thanks again Abundant Life!

Family Life Sugar Land, TX June 13-19

It was a joy to host the team from Sugar Land and work with Steven and Megan Bowen. We appreciate the following report written by Dale Meek.

In June, I went on my first ever mission trip. Fourteen of us from my local church, Family Life Christian Fellowship (http://www.flcf.com/), traveled to Chiapas, Mexico for one week (June 13-19). Chiapas is the southern-most state in Mexico, which borders Guatemala. It is also the most indigenous state in Mexico, with almost half the population still speaking their native Indian dialect. Our main purpose of the trip was to help build a church for a local congregation. We also attended a local church service, enjoyed fellowship with the locals, and took a trip to a nearby town for a day of lunch and shopping.

(photos set 1)

While there, we stayed in the town of Chenalho, a small town set amongst spectacular mountains (about 6000 feet elevation). Our lodging was in a dorm-type housing complex. We each had separate room facilities and bath, including a large kitchen and meeting area for our group. The Linscombes, a husband and wife who live in Chenalho, were our contacts. They are full-time missionaries who work with Mexico Outreach Ministries (http://www.mxoutreach.org/), and hosted and arranged all our activities during our stay.

On Saturday, June 13 we departed from Houston, flying to Mexico City and then a flight to Tuxtla Gutierrez. After a 2-hour car/van drive, we arrived in Chenalho. The next day, Sunday, we attended a local church service. Our entire group also had a part in the service.

(photos set 2)

During the next three days, Monday thru Wednesday, we helped build the church. The work site was a 45-minute drive each day from our complex. We left early each morning and worked until the afternoon. We had to walk down (and back up) a wet slippery slope/trail to the site each day. The cinder-block walls of the church were already up. On Monday we painted the church inside and out and put up beams for the roof. On Tuesday we mixed cement and laid the cement floor, and finished the tin metal roof. On Wednesday we cut and nailed together 22 wooden benches and also painted them. Many of the locals helped us with the work too, including the pastor and his family. We finished Wednesday afternoon and "dedicated" the church to the locals.

On Thursday, we took a day-trip to a nearby town and enjoyed a day of lunch and shopping. On Friday, June 19 we departed Chenalho, driving to Tuxtla Gutierrez. From there we flew to Mexico City and then a flight back to Houston.

It was a wonderful trip. Lots of hard work, but very rewarding! I hope to have a chance to go on another mission trip in the future!

SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2009

Lacandonia Jungle Trip





Acts 1:8 . . . "and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Pastor Carlos and Russell journeyed into the Lacandonia Jungle this past spring. This area has been on our hearts for some time. We didn't know what to expect or what God was up to. We just knew He was directing our steps. God's favor went before us, and we were able to make connections with a small nucleus of believers. Meeting with our guide and contact in a Tzeltal village prior to the jungle area, we began with an evening church service and prayer time. This was followed by going from house to house praying for the needs of the people of this area just as in Biblical times. The next day we entered the jungle area which has an estimated 750 Lacandonias left. According to our Mexican friends, these are the closest people group that are direct descendants to the original Mayan Indians. Even to this present day, they still hunt with hand made bow and arrows. The women have modernized their way of dress, but the men still wear the white tunics and have long hair. Twelve idols representing their pagan gods are placed in the center of the village to be worshipped. It was a moment of divine destiny for us to connect with these people, and we have an open invitation to return. Their most urgent needs at present are finances for Bibles and medical care. The rains will keep us from returning until this next fall, but a return trip to this area is definitely in the making. We will keep you posted.
We make our plans, but God often rearranges them. Wherever you are in life's journey today, may you be encouraged - God is directing your steps!  There are some days when you know you are exactly where you are suppose to be on this phase of your journey.  Sometimes those are extraordinary experiences and at other times, those moments would go unnoticed by the outside world.  But you and God know it was a moment in destiny.
"A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."
–Proverbs 16:9

Praise Report!





With the help of your support
* shoes were distributed to the needy
* a new commercial kitchen was installed in Chenalho
* 5 new churches were constructed

Medical/Construction Team May 23-30

During the last week of May, a team of 5 men from First Assembly of God Church in Lafayette came to Chiapas to build a block church for the village of Stenejaltic. A beautiful, finished church building was completed and dedicated to the glory of God, and Stenejaltic had their first service in their new building that Wednesday evening. Even with the language barrier, communication was taking place and relationships were formed and 2 different nationalities realized that they are both citizens of God’s kingdom.

On Wednesday, the group was treated to a performance by a Christian mariachi band, and the Americans responded with an impromptu singing by brother Jerry and Russell. This was a small taste of what heaven must be like!!

Also, Dr. Matt Melancon of Lafayette worked alongside Carmen and Jim Nichols and Dr. Lulu, going to 5 different villages in 5 days to provide dental and medical care for the very poorest of Mexico. One unusual occurrence was seeing many more very young children than usual. We extracted teeth on many, many 3, 4, and 5-year old kids, and pulled 4 teeth on a 2-year old girl. The amazing thing was how faithful God was in answering our prayers for fear to be taken away, and God’s peace to calm these little ones. Very few tears, even from the 2-year old!! (I’m sure that some of those kids felt that their prayers might not have been answered—praying to get away from those American dentists!! But that might even be a lesson on how our prayers for relief from a painful circumstance are not answered in the way we want because our loving, compassionate Father wants the very best for us—even if there is initial pain in the process, before the final healing and transformation.)

Many thanks to the brother who paid for the group from Lafayette to come, and for the donation that covered the construction materials, as well as the men who gave so much grueling work to bless these Indians!

Jim