So, you may have noticed that I have not updated this blog for a while. So it is time to catch up!
Since returning to Cofradía we have had the opportunity to visit a number of key Cora communities; Santa Teresa, La Mesa del Nayar, Cangrejo, Gavilanes, Mojocuautla, and Huajicori. Follow this link to a map of these towns.
Santa Teresa
I went to Santa Teresa back in September for a gathering of Cora believers. It was hosted by an American family that has been working with the Cora since the 60’s and though they mainly work over on the Baja with a Maranatha ministry they fly their small plane over periodically to support and encourage the pastors and churches that they have planted here. It was a great experience meeting them and hearing their story. It turns out the mother wrote a book about their experiences called His Treasure in Earthen Vessels. It is a pretty good book. I also met Miguel Torres who was organizing the 4 day event. At breakfast he informed me that I would be preaching that afternoon, which was a bit of a surprise to me! While in Santa Teresa I connected with believers from numerous other communities throughout the mountains. One of the guys there was a guy named Pascual from Gavilanes. I had previously met Pascual about 5 years ago and it was exciting to reconnect with him. He is pastoring a small congregation in Gavilanes consisting mainly of his family. My time in Santa Teresa help me to see that there are quite a few people spread throughout the mountains that are believers and are working to extend the kingdom of God. These people are usually very isolated and daily experience real rejection and persecution on account of their faith. So we began thinking about how we can come alongside people like Pascual and encourage them and train them in any way we can. Just for someone to spend the time, money and discomfort to go there and spend time with them is a big encouragement for them. As for Santa Teresa we are planning to take the youth from Cofradía to Santa Teresa for a missions trip sometime this year.
So here are a few of the ideas we have;
Gavilanes
Faith and I along with my in-laws Eddie and Leeann went to Gavilanes for a short visit in November. I wanted to go there before the Christmas party just to see what it was like and meet the rest of the believers. You can only get to Gavilanes by walking or flying in. For a number of good reasons we chose to fly in. One of the challenges we faced in Gavilanes was lack of bathrooms. Everyone and I mean everyone simply walks out sight and finds a place to squat. The girls especially would have appreciated a bathroom. Then in December Josh Peters, Cheche, and I visited Gavilanes with the project of installing a bathroom (2 actually) in Pascual’s house. We were able to get the plumbing done and the floor poured but could not get it full functioning in the time we had. Then our whole family and Josh returned for the Christmas celebration. They killed a cow and we had a big meal of what seemed to be mainly melted cow fat. In the afternoon of the 24th we had a church service at Pascual’s house that lasted more than 6 hours. It was the first time that I ever preached twice in one service. For part of it I asked the locals to share testimonies of what God has done and I was amazed at the stories they shared.
So here are some of my thoughts for future ministry in Gavilanes; They really like doing worship. Pascual plays the guitar pretty well for the style of songs that they do. Some big song sheets might be useful since there are only 2 hymnals I think. I have talked to Pascual about doing some pastoral training with him and his wife Lina and possible some of the other leaders. We could train them to use the Firm Foundations materials. During our extended visit we would want to get out to visit all the Christian families in Gavilanes to get to know them. We would spend time each day to study Cora with them. Even though you can’t drive a vehicle there I suspect that I could ride a motorcycle there. For the most part we would focus on the current believers and equipping them in order for them to reach out to their own community. We would find ways to evangelize there but only in a supporting role.
Cangrejo
Cangrejo is a community that has really drawn me in. I have visited there maybe 8 times in the last few years and each time I go there I see so much opportunity. If I could pick up and move to a Cora community without a doubt I would go to Cangrejo, though Faith might not be so quick to agree. The community has about 30-35 families and is located across the canyon for La Mesa del Nayar. So far we have spent time meeting people, talking with the community about their most pressing needs and sharing God’s blessings with them. In 2008 we took homemade blankets and soap as well as basic food items. In January of this year we distributed over 50 Operation Christmas Child gift boxes as part of a big Christmas celebration. In May we will be returning with a group of pastors and leaders from Sinaloa to show the Jesus movie and distribute dispensas (a box with basic food items such as tortilla mix, beans, rice, oil, chilies, etc.) I would like to plan an extended visit to Cangrejo during which we would show movies, organize listening groups to listen through the New Testament in Cora with the Proclaimer, organize groups to study through the Firm Foundations study. We would also spend as much time as possible working on the Cora language.
Miguel Torres
Miguel is a Mexican pastor that has worked for many years with the Cora. I have had the opportunity to spend time with him and have been impressed with his vision and experience. I would like to cultivate a working relationship with him and find ways that we can network with him and the Cora believers that he works with. Recently we met Miguel in Huajicori for training on the Proclaimer and a day of teaching. Again, Miguel informed me that I would be preaching that morning! Since my similar experience with him in Santa Teresa I had come prepared to preach this time. In April we will be going to the community of El Arrayan, about 2-3 hours past Huajicori, for a couple of days of teaching.
Beyers
The Beyers family has worked with the Cora for a couple of decades now and has planted a number of churches and trained many leaders. Though they live in La Paz they still visit often to encourage the believers. In view of their extensive investment in towns like Gavilanes, Santa Teresa and Huajicori I feel compelled to communicate with them and make sure they give us an open door to work in these areas. It has been a blessing to get to know them and spend time with them. There is a lot we can learn from their experience with the Cora people.
Mojocuautla
Since Faith and I went to Washington for a furlough we have not done any planned ministry in Mojocuautla. We have taken a step back to reevaluate where we are at with that ministry and where we should go. One of the conclusions that we have come to is that we should hand the leadership over to someone from the Cofradía church. With someone like Horacio or Juan Luis leading that ministry we will be able to come alongside them and support their ministry and still be free to spend time in places like Gavilanes and Cangrejo without starting and stopping all the time in Mojocuautla. We are looking at continuing with the Firm Foundations studies as well as establishing listening groups with the Proclaimer.
Martin Garzon
Martin is the son of Horacio and Maria from Arrayanes. For a couple of years now he has expressed interest in working with the Cora. He has attended 1 year of Bible school in Oaxaca and plans to return this August to complete his second and final year. After that his desire is to work with the Cora. For this reason he went with us to Huajicori and will accompany us as we minister in other Cora communities.
For this year our plan is to live in Cofradía and make trips into the mountains to minister and study the language. We think that this is the best plan in light of our family’s needs. We are still praying that someone will want to partner with us and move with us to a Cora community with the purpose of raising up leaders and planting a church.
Prayer requests:
• WISDOM!! There are a lot of things we can do, a lot of places we can go, and a lot of approaches we can take. To know what, where and how we need God’s wisdom and guidance.
• Finances. Traveling by plane to inaccessible places like Gavilanes is quite expensive.
• Protection. The physical and spiritual dangers are very real. Please pray for the Cora believers and for us.
Thing I would like to get;
Video Projector with a portable movie screen.
Portable Sound setup
2004-2006 Honda CRF 250x motorcycle
