Quechula

The Temple of Santiago

The Temple of Santiago, more commonly known as Quechula, was built in the mid 1500s. The town, by the same name of Quechula, was founded by Bartolomé de las Casas with the assumption that it would be a strategic location to connect the important settlements of central Mexico. The church was large and grandiose in hopes of attracting a large population, but that never came to pass. It's believed that the church never had its own priest, but relied on priests from other dioceses.

The town was all but abandoned after a plague hit the community in the late 18th Century. Then in 1966 the Malpaso Dam was constructed and the church and surrounding area was flooded. Since that time, it's only been recorded to have emerged from the water three times--2002, 2015, and 2019.

We made the three hour trip in 2015 and again last week. It was so much fun to climb and explore. We even swam in the murky water!

The Wounded Soldier

     A lot has been done in recent years to address the invisible battle scars that our military soldiers inevitably acquire during their years of service to our country. I by no means wish to diminish those scars by comparing battle wounds, but as missionaries, we have their own scars too.
   

     What makes it hard for a missionary?

• I am the enemy. As a child we were told, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt." While it may be true that words do not physically harm us, they do take their toll. We are often laughed at simply because we have greeted someone in the street. We are stared at every time we leave our home. Lies are spread about us frequently. It's hard to build friendships in this environment
• Scabies, Salmonella, Brucellosis, Typhoid...the risk of infectious disease is constant. We've encountered all four of these, plus many others that I can't begin to name.                                         One of my children injured his foot to the point that he had intense pain when he put any weight on it. The easy solution in the U.S. is to get an x-ray. Here it's not that easy. We did take him to the hospital that's located an hour away. We were happy that there was actually an x-ray technician there that day. And they had the plates. (Is that what they call them in English?) But they did not have the liquid needed to develop the x-ray.                                                                       On another occasion, my youngest son suffered a severe eye injury. It was a 2.5 hour drive to find an eye specialist. Such a scary day! We prayed the whole way there that he wouldn't lose his eyesight. 
• Diarrhea, headaches, nausea...again, in the U.S., it would be a simple procedure of going to the lab and getting the necessary tests run. The people we live and work among suffer these symptoms frequently. I almost think it's become "normal" for them to have these symptoms. They rarely seek medical attention. And yet, most of the time they are contagious. Because of poverty and isolation, there isn't really a solution for them. They can't afford a trip to the city to get the tests done. And even if they did, they rarely have enough water to keep bathe or mop their floors. We often suffer the same illnesses because we choose to be with the poor, to eat the food that they offer to us, to drink whatever they hand to us. 
• Marriages are damaged. It's hard to find someone that you trust to watch your kids so that you can have a date night with your spouse. For us, in our situation, even if we could find a babysitter, there isn't anywhere that we can go. Sure, there is a taco stand in town, but going there would not make for a date night. It would be ministry as we visited with anyone who wanted to talk. 
• Conversations with my children are difficult. Don't get me wrong. In the long run, these are the kinds of conversations we should all have with our kids, but sometimes I'm not ready. A few years ago, our 12 year-old neighbor died when a tree fell on him. My son, age 7 at the time, took the death very hard. He hid in his bed, under every blanket and pillow he could find. When I finally found him, his first words to me were, "Does this mean that Felipe is in hell?" That's a lot for a child to process. We've had lots of similar conversations that I wasn't ready for--abortion, homosexuality, teenage pregnancy, drug trafficking, and more. 
• Loneliness and Depression. We lose a lot of friends. We say goodbye frequently to the people we love the most. When I say goodbye to a friend, I know that we can stay in touch through social media, but my children don't have that option. Their best friends live in other countries, or even other continents! (Ultimately, that's really awesome, but in the moment, it hurts our hearts.)

I would have despaired unless I had believed

 that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 

Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; 

Yes, wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27:13-14

Beautiful Feet

“And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? 

As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.’”

Romans 10:15

     We have a mission team with us this week from the St. Louis area. They have blessed us in many ways over the last year and a half. They come to work in spreading the Gospel, and while they’re here, they love on us and minister to us.

     The team always brings us goodies from the US that we can’t get here—Peanut Butter M&Ms, Miracle Whip, popcorn flavoring, and smoked almonds to name a few treats. But this time, they blessed our socks off! They brought new shoes for the whole family! It’s hard to find quality shoes without spending a ton of money.

     A special blessing...Levi loves bright colors and recently he had asked for red sandals. Unfortunately for him, they cost significantly more than than the blue sandals. He understood the reason, but he still desired the bright colors.

    Fast forward a week...and Levi now has red tennis shoes! I think he would sleep in them if I let him! He’s so happy with them.

     All that to say, God is so good to take care of us. Even the desires of our heart for red shoes!

Unnecessary Pain and Suffering

Today we had visitors. It was unexpected really. It was a family that we’ve known for awhile and they’ve visited our home a few times. But it was unexpected.

And the news that they brought was also unexpected. Their baby died two days ago. My heart hurts for the mom who lost her baby. But my heart is also frustrated. The baby died, we assume, from dehydration. He had diarrhea. Again, we assume it was caused by drinking contaminated water.

It was so unnecessary.

We have taught this family the importance of clean drinking water. The nurses in the clinic have taught about the necessity of boiling their drinking water. It is maddening!

Too often when we talk to people about the importance of clean drinking water, they tell us that it doesn’t make them sick. They tell us that it makes us sick, as foreigners, because our systems are weak. They have always drank water from the river or from the water pipe and they’re not sick.

The reality lies just below the surface. They are sick! Their systems are fighting illness almost constantly. They frequently suffer from diarrhea, fever, and headaches. And yet, they deny that water could be the cause.

It’s not hard to see the spiritual parallel. Too many have been baptized into a religion that has offered them eternal salvation based on a list of rules—do good, give to the poor, be baptized. Those are the basics. Do more good than bad and be baptized and you might go to heaven. Keep working hard.

We have come to tell them that salvation comes from faith in Jesus Christ alone. We have proclaimed the Truth that Christ died on the cross to forgive them. They just have to accept that Christ’s salvation is sufficient.  The message that we share sounds similar enough to what they are already doing. They believe in Christ, but they pray to Mary or another saint. They believe that Jesus died on the cross, but they light candles and repeat the “Hail Mary” over and over because Jesus is too busy to hear their prayers. Mary will listen and she will answer.

Too many people are dying and going to Hell because they believe that Jesus died for them. But they also believe that Mary forgives their sins. She listens to their prayers. She answers their requests. Jesus’ sacrifice for them was good, but essentially, it isn’t enough. They need more.

It’s so discouraging when I have a remedy that would heal their illness. There are medicines that would have healed that baby. And spiritually, there is a remedy too...faith in Christ, alone.

Community

     I'm not one to choose a "Word of the Year" or any such thing, but this year there is definitely a word that keeps coming to mind...

COMMUNITY:
1. a unified body of individuals: such as
     a. the people with common interests living in a particular area
     b. a group of people with a common characteristic or interest          living together within a larger society
     c. a body of persons of common and especially professional              interests scattered through a larger society

     I've known that I'm part of a community--especially in regards to the body of Christ, but the last six months have been a constant reminder that we are not called to travel this path alone.
     We have friends and family in the US who pray for us regularly and are supportive of what our calling implies. Talking with other missionaries, we realize that not all missionaries have parents and siblings who are supportive; on the contrary, some are very much against the idea of missions, or even Christianity.
     God has give us our mission board, and we are so grateful--the fellowship, the prayer network, personnel who specialize in Member Care and Homeschool consultants, our supervisors (past and present). The list goes on and on.
     Another amazing blessing has come through national churches. Not only have we been invited to worship with nationals, but we have spent time just "being" with fellow Christians. They have also been an amazing blessing when we have had physical needs--finding quality doctors or giving us a place to stay.
     So, as I begin this new year, I am reflecting on how the Lord has blessed me through the community of believers across the globe.

How good and pleasant it is when God's people

 live together in unity!

Psalm 133:1

   

Don Clemente

A donation of First Aid Kits was given to Don Clemente
and his son and daughter-in-law.

                The first time we entered the community of “White Hill,” we met Don Clemente, his face shining with kindness and gentleness. He answered all of our questions and told us a little about himself. As we talked, he sent someone to buy some soda. Before we left, he loaded us up with peaches, a squash, and some corn from his fields.  As we drove away, it was obvious that we had found a man of peace.  Through the years, our focus was on “Pine Hill,” so we didn’t see Don Clemente often. But always when we stopped in to visit, he was kind and generous with both his time and the fruits from his fields.

               One night, our son got sick and we took him to see the doctor in the clinic. To this day, I believe God used our son’s illness to put us in the right place at the right time, because when we got there, the clinic was packed with people. Most of the conversation around us was in ZK, so we didn’t understand much at the time, but we did realize that there had been an accident of some kind. Clay decided to take a closer look and learned that it was Don Clemente who had fallen while out cutting firewood.

After the handrail was installed,
Don Clemente was able to leave his house!

               The terrain all around “White Hill” is steep hillsides. Don Clemente had slipped and he fell many feet down the side of the hill. (I can’t be sure, but I’m thinking it was 300 feet.) He had hit his head and twisted his back. He was paralyzed from the fall, which for many in this area is like a death sentence, but he refused to go the hospital.

               A few weeks later while we were in the city, we were introduced to a man who was a homeopathic chiropractor. He traveled all over Mexico, giving treatments. Surprisingly, he had been to “Pine Hill” before and he assured us he would come to help Don Clemente. For the next few months, this man came every other week. Little by little, Don Clemente began to regain his strength until he could walk on flat ground.

               A year ago, a mission team from Ohio helped put in a handrail outside of Don Clemente’s house to help him have more freedom. And last summer a mission team from Idaho helped us hold a VBS for the children in the community. Since the VBS we have been visiting Don Clemente every Tuesday. We sing praises with him and the children who gather, and we tell a Bible story.

               Yesterday, being Tuesday, we visited again. After the story, Clay and Don Clemente chatted for a bit. Don Clemente is trying to encourage his sons to study the Bible with him, which we are excited to see. Because of this reason, we have been asked to give them time as a family. To be honest, I’m not sure how to take it. We’ve been kindly asked not to keep coming to the house for Bible Study.

               So, we ask that you pray for Don Clemente and his sons. Don Clemente’s plan is for the family to read the Bible together for 10-15 minutes a day. Our prayer is that God will reveal Himself to this family through His Word!

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17           

It's What We Do

         People often ask what we do on the mission field.  Sometimes that's a hard question to answer because often no two days are the same. One thing that never changes...we are always ready to tell a Bible story.

          Recently, Clay had the opportunity to visit a man who was dying. While in the small community, Clay had the chance to share the Gospel and to pray with the man. We may never know what was in the heart of that man, but we know that we were faithful in what God calls us to do.

          After the man died, we continued to visit this community. We've shared many stories of God's forgiveness, and his plan for our lives.

         Often, we are asked for medical advice. We fully acknowledge that we are not experts in the medical field, but the "common sense" that we have acquired from growing up in the US has given us great opportunities to help others. Sometimes it's as simple as checking a child's ears to determine if they have an ear infection or not. Other times, it was to share some eye drops to help an eye irritation.

       

        The kids are sometimes quite curious. I like to take selfies with them. When they see their picture, it makes them smile and giggle! Others tend to be shy and don't want to get too close.





               I wouldn't trade this life for anything! It's definitely not glamorous, and sometimes it's not even comfortable. (The photos don't show the bugs that are crawling on us...or the filth that surrounds us.) But the privilege of sharing the Gospel...of explaining God's great love...the joy in praying with someone who wants to honor God with their life...there's nothing quite like it in all the world!