The Mission Diaries

On January 20, the new church in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, had its inaugural service. Here is a note from Peter Garcia, our L.A. based minister who helps us so much with leadership training in Mexico:

They had their inaugural service this past Sunday with extensive support from the North Region of Mexico City.  With 7 members of the mission team they had over 100 (85 local visitors) in attendance.  Many disciples from Mexico City came for a few weeks to share their faith and study the Bible with non-Christians.  It took them about a year to plan and prepare this mission and they are going to support the mission team financially for 2 years (US$100-150k).  Their new conviction is making sure the planting are done with care and preparation along with great faith.

Please continue praying for the church in San Luis Potosi. If you have friends or relatives in the area, have them contact mission team leader Omar Lara at 01-444-8116236.

J De Anda

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This time we bring you great news from the church in Guatemala City!Our great friend and brother Bill Ellis tells us that last year was a year of great financial sacrifices: 70% of the church’s full time staff had to be laid off. In spite of this, the congregation saw 85 people baptized or restored to the fellowship in 2007! The church’s teen ministry continued growing as 19 teens were baptized. For more, please check out Bill’s Central America missions blog.

The church is planning for a great year in 2008. Jose Luis Estrada, who with his wife Elizabeth leads one of the church’s three “regions”, tells us that the church wants to focus on Jesus’ vision of a solidly-built church. The theme for 2008 is “Building on the Rock” (Isaiah 28:16) The goal is that every ministry of the church will be built on the solid foundation of Jesus’ presence.

We also have a message from Edgar Cuellar who oversees the HOPE School for Children:

In this moment here in Hope Guatemala we feel very happy because we started this new year with a new grade (5th grade) Right now we have around 220 children in our school, our goal is to grow every year with a new grade. I was wondering if you can help us with the following request: Right now we have a great education project, we want to improve our teaching methods for the children and their parents. One of that ways is with a projector, giving them many different trainings. Can you donate one to Hope Guatemala? We also need a digital video camera to present on a large scale what HOPE is doing in Guatemala and to obtain in this way more help to continue our humanitarian work. In this year we are receiving a lot of help to our projects from US volunteers, which is a great, and we know that you are one of those who has a very big desire helping too. this is the reason that I have the confidence of asking you for this.

So there it is, a request for help. If you are interested in helping, and you live in the Los Angeles area, please contact Jack Middlebrooks. If you live outside L.A., please contact Edgar Cuellar directly.

Also, if you are planning to travel, remember to check our MCA Missions Calendar. Many things are happening in Mexico and Central America this year. We would love to welcome you at any one of them!

J De Anda

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We begin our new year with news from Villahermosa. As we know, the city was hit with major floods last year. Many disciples lost their homes and possessions. However, with donations from disciples in Mexico and the U.S., and with the grace of God, our brothers and sisters have continued to persevere as they rebuild their lives. Here is a letter from German and Alicia Gutierrez who lead the church in Villahermosa

To our brothers and sisters in the Churches of Christ:

Dear brothers, we are deeply grateful to God and to you for your prayers during this time.

Last Friday, December 28, we had our year end dinner. It was very special for the whole church to be able to meet on that day. Thanks to all your help we were able to have this celebration.

During this time [of rebuilding and recovery after the floods] we have been close to three couples with whom we’ve been studying the Bible. Yesterday, after our Sunday service, one of the women was baptized. Her husband will be baptized soon, and hopefully so will the other two couples!

To God be the honor and glory!

May your church continue reflecting His glory in 2008!
 
Sincerely,

Germán and Alicia Gutiérrez
Church of Christ in Villahermosa

I hope you are inspired

J De Anda

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