The Mission Diaries

Not all the news that we bring are what one would call “good” news. Our brothers and sisters face sometimes very difficult challenges. Although we cannot always provide direct help to them, we can always go to our Father and pray for them. So please pray for:

Marin and Cristal Perez, ministry leaders of the Oaxaca Church. Although the church there saw 10 people baptized between April and May, the Perez’ are concerned for their daughters, who have had various respiratory illnesses all year long. Please pray for them.

Marcelo and Maria-Gema Carcamo, ministry leaders of the Managua (Nicaragua) Church. Last week thiefs broke into their home and stole several personal and church belongings, including the church’s projector. Fortunately no one was home that could have gotten hurt. Although this is a sadly common thing, it is nevertheless a frightful experience. Please pray for the Carcamos and the Managua Church.

J De Anda

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Last week the church in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, hosted the 11th Central American Conference, entitled “Mi siervo fiel” (My Faithful Servant). Although I was not able to attend due to my wife’s recent surgery, I did my scheduled presentation to the church leaders group via web conference. It was sooo encouraging! The brothers and sisters lined up and “paraded” by the local camera to greet me and send my wife their best wishes for her recovery. Then I shared many thoughts (about 3 hours worth!) about our missions history and some strategies for the future.

If you would like to read a full report on the conference, please go to this link on Bill Ellis’ Central America Missions blog. Enjoy!

J De Anda

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We are now hosting videos in YouTube! Below is a sample video that was used as introduction to the 2006 Mexico Missions Conference in Monterrey. Please bear with us while we learn how to use this technology. Enjoy!

J De Anda

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We are back! My wife had a long and serious surgery a week ago, however she is recovering wonderfully. Thanks for all your prayers, calls, notes, and e-mails. We have felt very loved and comforted. So … it’s great to share some news from the mission field.

On May 20 the Leon (Guanajuato) Church held its yearly Women’s Conference, entitled “Reason for Living“. The guest speaker was Blanca Borbonio, women’s ministry leader of the young Zacatecas Church. Over 40 women visitors took the challenge to begin studying the Bible.

Speaking of Zacatecas, the mission in that city saw a young college student, Gustavo, be baptized on May 27. Gustavo had traveled with the rest of the church to a Regional Conference in Aguascalientes. His baptism was a special treat to other brothers and sisters from the churches in Guadalajara, Tepic, Leon, Queretaro and Aguascalientes who had also come to the conference.

Love blooms in the mission field! Fernando Avila and Claudia Herrera had left their homes, careers, friends and relatives to join the mission team to Zacatecas three months ago. To celebrate Fernando’s birthday and their fourth anniversary as boyfriend/girlfriend, Claudia prepared a special surprise dinner. But it was Fernando who brought the surprise gift: an engagement ring and a proposal! God has totally rewarded their sacrifices, and in a few months the young Zacatecas church will be blessed with its first wedding.

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalms 37:4 (NIV

Reyes Ledesma, minister for the Pachuca, Mexico, Church, has this story to encourage us to believe that God is always at work in people’s hearts: Five years ago, a sister in our church was inviting people to the church’s 1st Anniversary Service, when she met this woman, Esther, and her two teenage daughters, Kenya and Sandra. Kenya and Sandra started visiting the church and teen special events, but after some time stopped coming. A few months ago Kenya, now over 18 years old, was met again. She came back to church, studied the Bible, and is now a disciple of Jesus! Her transformation was so evident that it impacted her family powerfully. Her sister Sandra came back to church with her husband Daniel, and they were also baptized. And just a week ago, their mother Esther was also baptized! Stories like this have inspired us so much, that we have decided to entitle our upcoming 6th Anniversary Celebration, “(Your) History Can Change”.

And that sounds like a great message for all of us!

J De Anda

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