August 7, 2009

Sembradores de Cristo August 7, 2009

“Ke-Kwak” from Colotlan, Jalisco. That means “hola” in the Huichol language and I’m sure I spelled it wrong. This newsletter will be our last to be sent out my brothers and sisters from our Zacatecas area this summer 2009. We will be trekking it back to the border on Wednesday.

"Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart." This Psalm has been so true to me so many times in my life and throughout the years of our ministry. Yesterday, we had an unforgettable experience. My wife, Brother Jesse, and myself all had the desire to one day visit the area where the Huichol Native Americans live (La Sierra Madre Occidental). The Lord gave us that experience yesterday when we least expected it. I had promised Diana a trip to Colotlan, Jalisco, a town 2 hrs south of our area. We had heard of some tours to certain waterfalls in the area. It turns out that there are no waterfalls this year due to the lack of rain. The travel agent told us of another place called Bolanos within moderate driving distance with normal Mexican tourism (Catholic cathedrals dating back to the 16th century, great food, and beautiful scenery). When we arrived at the town we saw hundreds of the Huichol people. The Huichol people as a tribe number in the 20,000’s. They are migrating to cities in our area such as Zacatecas city, Jerez , and Colotlan to sell their jewelry, artisans, etc. They are even some who live in our base village, Palmas Altas. It turns out that a local tour guide took us to their village way up in the high mountains-pine trees everywhere. The experience was amazing seeing how and where they live-in individual houses traditionally built of stone or adobe with grass-thatched roofs. There is no electricity, running water. To cook, everyone shares a central fire/kitchen. At the same time, it was also a heartbreaking experience. The great majority of the men are alcoholics. The government has tried to help them out with education, infrastructure. The same men we saw in Bolanos had been waiting for their pay from the government for going back to Junior High School. As soon as they received the check they spent it on booze. Most of the women are ashamed of their culture and will neither smile nor talk to you. Some are not allowed to teach you any words in their language and most will not allow you to take a picture of them. We have heard of a missionary near our area that is working with the Huicholes who has won a few converts for Christ. His convert’s houses were burned for having converted and are now living with him at another location. In their religious beliefs they perform various rituals one including the sacrifice of bulls to their gods. They, as do many cultures, have a flood story which consists of a certain dog saving them from the flood in a particular cave. To learn about the Huichol people go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huichol. Jesus said, “And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” We must pray for these people that the Holy Spirit will open up their hearts to the gospel and that people from their own tribe will be converted and in turn win their own people for Christ. We see these people on a regular basis as I mentioned earlier. Our hearts are broken for them even more now that we’ve seen their origins. The need for the gospel in our area of south Zacatecas is great just as it is in northern Jalisco-whole cities without one single Christian church (Mexican and Huichol). It seems overwhelming at times; therefore, we must continue seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance in our ministry. God has called us not only to evangelize but to disciple, which is exactly what we have attempted to do this summer in the villages. We must obediently seek to fulfill the great commission in our area friends no matter what the cost may be. There are too many lost people dying without hope. We must point them to their one and only Savior, Jesus Christ. Last week we were greatly blessed by the visit from a group from Kentucky who held a conference for Baptist pastors and missionaries/families. It was great to receive spiritually after constantly giving. They have adopted Southern Zacatecas , committing to evangelize the area. It was a blessing to be able to help translate for them and at the same time connect to them and other pastors in the area. They have been holding this conference for a few years now and will continue holding it. They not only gave us great pastoral training but left us with useful material. We thank the Lord for their work and commitment to flooding Zacatecas with the gospel.
Parral de las Huertas
We are continually blessed by the Lord’s work in Parral de las Huertas. Many of the people have opened their hearts to learn more of God’s Word. The people here continue to be simple minded and humble hearted. We now have electricity for our services because a lady who lives next door to the “Huizachito” tree is allowing us to plug in. This past week we played a Jesus film called “La Esperanza” there that the Kentucky group gave us and there were a few decisions for Christ. We are starting to see a group of a few faithful women and one certain man. Not many children have continued but every week different men have been showing up. I presented Pastor Luis from Jerez to the people and they have received him well. We look forward to seeing God’s continued work in this place. Continue surrounding this place in your prayers, that the Lord will not allow the cathecist from entering and snatching up the seeds that have been sown.
Guadalupe Victoria
This past Sunday we had 0 attendance at the volleyball court. There was a rodeo which made me think that that had been the reason for the absence of our people. It was the reason for some but there were others among our faithful group that were out of town that day. It was definitely a hard experience for us because it had never happened before. It made us appreciate those missionaries who experience that on a regular basis. On Wednesday, however, we showed the movie and everyone was back plus a few more who were just passing by. In this particular village, we continue running into family members living in California who visit. We preach the gospel to them as well believing seeds will be sown in the U.S. The Lord is beginning to open my daughter’s heart and eyes to spiritual realities. On Wednesday they were having one of their pilgrimages with the idols-in particular this time because of the lack of rain-and Shalom ran down to Diana saying, “Tengo miedo de la virgen.” I’m scared of the virgen. Praise the Lord! At the age of 4 the Lord is filling her with spiritual discernment. We explained to her afterwards, of course, that she shouldn’t be afraid of the virgen (idol) or any of the other idols because greater is He is who that is in her than who that is in this world.
Monte de los Garcia
I gave a teaching on water Baptism to the three faithful adults in my adult Bible study. They as well as two young adults from Guadalupe Victoria said they were not ready for that, that they needed to learn more. After that, two of the three haven’t came back. They told their husbands about it and were told not to go back-that it was okay for them to go and listen but that Brother Benjamin had gone too far. I had simply explained the basics of the doctrine of Baptism as it pertains to scripture, being an obedient step and identification with Christ and had left them with the scriptures for further study. I gave the invitation to be baptized without any pressure. As a result, however, these two women are not allowed to come back. We must pray brothers and sisters. We must pray for these women and their husbands. Their names are Yolanda and Rosa Maria. We are now down to 5 faithful. There are 3 girls, 1 boy, and Brother Luis. The kids didn’t stay for “La Esperanza” very long on Tuesday and Brother Jesse and I begin to wonder if we should turn it off since Brother Luis wasn’t coming over. He had told me that he had to practice the saxophone with his jamboree band and then he would come over. He still hasn’t made the decision to put Christ first in his life over other things. Just when Jesse and I were about to turn it off, there comes Luis with his two band buddies. Hallelujah! They showed up at right about the crucifixion part. Last week the same thing had happened. Luis showed up late but brought the two men that had been working with him right over to the service. The Lord is using him without him realizing it.
Urgent need/monthly support
I have heard back from one individual concerning our great need for more monthly support not only for Pastor Luis but for our intention in going full-time. We are still way short of where we need to be. I have not heard back from any individual, church, etc concerning visiting their church, home with the purpose of support raising. Please e-mail me if there is such an opportunity. Feel free to share my e-mail address with any brothers/sisters in Christ and/or forward them our newsletters. As far as Pastor Luis goes, he has been explained that at this point we cannot promise him the funds he would need to go to the villages. He has made the decision in faith to go anyways even without the security of the funds being there. He and his wife Delfa have been precious to us not only in their loving service for the king but as spiritual, loving parents to our family. Please e-mail me if you wish to make a donation towards the need to support them through either December ($2,000) or June ($4,000).

Thanks again for all your prayers and support, Sembradores de Cristo family

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