Saturday, July 24, 2010

Match-making in Mexico

Ya never know how things will work out when you're trying to Match-Make.


When we first saw these two, somehow we had a hunch they were the right ones. They were new, eager missionaries. They seemed just perfect.

Lirio de Los Valles (Ed and Rosie's orphanage of some 120 kids) receives tribal kids who come from the mountains and are often illiterate. Aaron and Kimberly Knapp were helping with literacy and construction but are moving out of the area. Therefore, Lirio needed someone to continue teaching their kids to read. They were also looking for someone to help communicate with friends and supporters in English.


Enter the new missionary team of Amy Heckman and Crystal Pierce. Amy likes to create promotional material and Crystal has a heart for children. After Spanish language and culture study they plan to be part of a tribal work here in Mexico.


This temporary assignment will give Amy and Crystal experience in teaching literacy (a fundamental part of NTM strategy for church planting), they'll be gaining experience ministering cross-culturally, and they'll be able to practice their Spanish.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Students without pencils???


The summer school vacations here in Mexico are very short. Although the break just began, most of the children will return to school in the middle of August. We went to shop for groceries and were surprised to see back-to-school sales have already begun.

We were reminded that for tribal kids in the mountain schools, it can be very difficult to get even the most basic supplies they need. In the beginning of our work with the Guarijio, we were surprised to see students without paper, pencils and notebooks. The school had no library nor basic teaching supplies. That's when a few friends began helping us bring in the supplies for the school and the children.

We're grateful the school for missionary children here in Mexico, Binimea, has launched a progam to provide supplies and equipment for the tribal schools in areas where our missionaries work. It is called Operation School Pack.


Binimea staff is receiving donations of supplies (or money to buy the supplies here in Chihuahua) to send out to the mountain schools. Binimea students will sort and pack the supplies into backpacks. We are blessed to see our school staff and kids reaching out as examples of "good samaritans."

Friday, July 16, 2010

Mamas and Babies

Not so good news. Some tribal women make the long trip into town to have their babies due to a lack of adequate medical care in the mountains. Most often, these expecting moms arrive with little more than the clothes on their backs. A local state organization offers housing and meals for their stay in town. However, when the baby is born...

Just imagine what it would be like. You have a baby with no clothes, no diapers, no blankets. You're in a big city where the culture is foreign to you and they don't speak your language. It's difficult to get your basic needs met.

Good News! A few of our missionaries have organized an effort to help these expecting moms and their babies. As time allows, they are sewing diapers, blankets, and gathering clothes for the babies as well as providing a few necessities for the new moms (like shampoo, soap, etc.) Thank you to our friends back home who have joined the effort.

If you'd like more information, please let us know.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Lirio de Los Valles


Once in a great while, one has the opportunity of witnessing God's hand moving in great and wonderful ways. We just had the privilege of dining with two great visionaries. Two people who, by the Grace of God, have accomplished so much and yet aspire to do so much more. Ed and Rosie are the directors of one of the most remarkable orphanages in Mexico. They are called mom and dad by some 120 children in ages from infancy to adulthood. They serve with several adults that the children call uncles and aunts.
Lirio de Los Valles purposes to receive children from the worst of circumstances, and with the love of Christ, help them become who God wants them to be. Their success stories go way beyond helping them to survive until they are adults. Amazing. One young lady who came to Lirio at the age of 13 just wanted to be able to complete middle school. She is now studying for her masters in human resources. Four other young ladies have just won scholarships to a university in China. And the list goes on.....
What's next? Ed and Rosie, with the help of New Tribes Mission are building a clinic to be used by visiting dentists and doctors to attend to the children. But not just their children. Their vision is to make the clinic available, free of charge to all of the many orphanages and senior care facilities in the region. The building and the interior walls are complete, but they still lack equipment, supplies and some construction materials. Please pray for God's supply in His time.
There's more. Because of their success with multi-cultural children, the government has asked Ed and Rosie to consider starting another orphanage in the Tarahumara region of the mountains of Chihuahua.
They will be travelling in August to visit sites where land has already been offered. Please pray for wisdom and provision.