November Update

Dear Partners in Missions:

We hope that Thanksgiving Day offered an opportunity for you and yours to reflect on and appreciate all the many reasons for gratitude. We are especially grateful for your participation in missionary service in Mexico. Even though we're the hands and the feet, each of you is involved as missionaries through your prayers, support and encouragement. Here's an effort to summarize the ways God has been at work through us in recent weeks:

General Mission Update:

• Southern Mexico was recently hit by one of the worst floods in the country's history. Millions have been in shelters, even now there are major areas underwater. Our little mission was joined by many in Chiapas to help collect much-needed supplies, and we made 2 trips to deliver canned food, medicines, diapers, toilet paper, soap, clothing and nearly 500 gallons of water. Spirits are good though, and folks there just seem so grateful for all the support, love and prayers from brothers & sisters in Christ from Mexico and the US. Their smiling faces are a reminder to us all about what really matters in life. Communities outside of Villahermosa were also hit by the flooding, so future flood relief efforts will focus on those areas that are not getting the attention of the military, government and other relief organizations.
• Those who read last month's update about tight scheduling for next year's mission trips really responded! We now have 16 groups scheduled for next year! We realize that we may need to get creative to find ways for groups who have not yet reserved their date to still be able to come, but we'll do everything possible to receive all interested groups!
• Upon the request of several young adults here in Ocosingo, Ginny's been teaching Driver's Education. Eight students have completed the classroom part and will be completing their behind-the-wheel training one at a time. Special thanks to Holly who has translated for all the classes and driving lessons thus far!
• Taking a small part in a miracle involving a church in No. Wilkesboro, NC and a little boy handicapped by a club foot, Jan Feliciano and I assisted the family in getting preliminary x-rays as the next steps towards getting orthopedic surgery for Felipe in January. This is an amazing story & one that we'll continue to update you on through the blog.
• John and Pablo have been traveling across the US telling the story of the ministry here and the medical clinic. They began by attending the PCUSA mission conference in Louisville, KY and then built new relationships in Oregon and Washington and strengthened existing relationships in Pennsylvania and Virginia. Their contacts included meeting with 65 individuals and over 30 churches.

Manos de Cristo Update (Medical Clinic):

• One of the cultural realities in Mexico is that families and organizations do not go into debt to complete construction projects. With donation dollars not yet in hand, construction has ground to a snail's pace with only a skeleton crew working each day. We hope to have some funds available soon to resume full-fledged construction efforts. But...most of the wood is down from the framing for the cement roof pour, which helps us be able to envision the clinic in operation.
• Additional funds are still needed if the May, 2008 target opening date for Phase I (Outpatient Primary Medical, Dental, Lab and Pharmacy) is to be met. Please prayerfully consider making a donation through Hebron USA to help cover these additional costs.

Family Update:

• All in all, life is good. We really missed having John with us but we knew his travels built the relationships that help make this truly a cross-cultural ministry.
• We are grateful to have broadened our base of support to include an expanded relationship with Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church. We retain a close relationship with our home church in Mt. Airy, and Oak Ridge has offered to assist by receiving some donations to handle some additional financial needs.
• Special thanks to all those who hosted Pablo and John on their travels across the US. Your hospitality was such a blessing to them!

Prayers:

• For all those in Tabasco and Chiapas affected by the floods. May they know the love of Christ through outreach efforts from churches in Mexico and the US.
• For God to call a new missionary family/couple to continue this ministry after our term of service is concluded next August. "Could it be you?" (see blog entry by that name)
• For the willingness of Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church to step out in faith with us to be sure that we can complete our 2 1/2 year commitment here in Mexico
• Of comfort for those experiencing loss, including the families of Hal Newell, Edna Wilson, and Richard Bergland
• Of support and encouragement for those coping with illness, including Frank Splawn, Donna Painter, Carol McClancy, Tenney Dean, Nancy Lingenfelser, Jim Scott, Mary Wynne Perryman, Bonnie Bode, Katie Yarbrough, Marshall Hollingsworth, Louise Holshouser, and the family of our dear friend Cecelia. As always, please let us know of your prayer needs and whether it's ok to share them with others.
• Of support and encouragement for fellow missionaries and their families around the world, including Pablo & Jan Feliciano, all the Dye Family Missionaries around the world, David Meacham, John and Sandra Wimbish and Julie Alexander and her family who have finally made it to Brazil!

Opportunities:

• Donate to HebronUSA for Phase I and Phase II of the Manos de Cristo Medical Clinic in Ocosingo (http://www.hebronusa.org/8.html)
• Mission Tip of the Month: For Christmas this year, consider giving a different kind of gift that keeps on giving! Kiva.Org is a micro-lending program that takes your $25 and loans it to those trying to get on their feet with small businesses around the world. When your $25 is paid back, you can either get it back or allow it to be loaned out again! www.kiva.org has a cool website that explains how it all works, including their gift certificate program. Consider this alternative Christmas gift for those of your Christmas list who already having everything they need! While we definitely hope that you continue to support this ministry here through Hebron USA, we thought you'd be interested in another way to reach out to make a difference in the world.

Thank you for your prayers, encouragement and support. Please keep in touch and follow along the daily walk by reading our blog.

Paz en Cristo,

Ginny, John, Holly & Maggie

Villahermosa Status Report

My last entry was really more about the experience of helping than about the status of flood victims in Villahermosa. Thanks for letting me vent. It was therapeutic for me and hopefully gave you a taste of one of the challenges of missionary service. But...it didn't tell you much at all about how things are in Villahermosa!

In short, things are improving and that the city is definitely able to function. There are definitely still many parts of the city that are still under water (as much as 2 meters in some places) but on Friday it seemed to be about 1/2 of what it was the previous Sunday and completely gone in
some places that had been under about 1 meter of water before. There are definitely places of refuge and ways to get assistance, but to some degree, it depends on those in need. If they stay on their roofs and refuse to come in to dry land where there are shelters, food services being provided by the military and nonprofit groups, etc., then they suffer more. There are pumper trucks pumping water out of the streets, fumigation efforts to keep down mosquitos and subsequent disease, and evidence of some kind of powder on smaller areas of standing water that I think is supposed to prevent bacterial growth and mosquito infestations. Electrical, phone, television and internet services are all operable in most, if not all, parts of the city. There are still lots of closed roads, which makes traffic horrendous but folks are definitely able to use their cars, and public transportation is active and busy. This report is all based on my own first hand observation, not just hearsay. All in all, it appears that the situation is improving considerably.

There are definitely some things in favor of recovery in Villa that are different from the Gulf areas. Since most homes are built with cement walls, roofs and floors, a good scrubbing with bleach and water is usually enough to get homes habitable again once the waters recede. There's no insulation or sheetrock to pull out, no carpet or laminate flooring to pull up, and no siding to replace. Most folks will have to replace appliances, furniture and personal belongings, so it will definitely take a long time to get their homes totally back to normal. Some folks, though, may have been able to get things elevated enough that they mitigated their losses. Many businesses have been hard-hit, and recovery for them will have a dramatic effect on the economy of the city. Those with equipment and inventory that were damaged will be having to start over completely. We know of an optometrist who lost all the equipment for 4 eye clinics. On the other hand, there are many of the very poor who lived in shanties along the rivers who certainly lost everything. Ironically, they are back in the shanties, living alongside the same river! I don't know if they rebuilt the shanties or if the shanties just weren't washed away or what, but
there are many shanties being occupied along the river banks. So even those folks are at least back in some sort of home.

One of the other things that I think seems different is the attitude of the people of Villahermosa. I'm sure there are others who are not this way, but I've yet to encounter anyone on either trip that wasn't smiling! When describing the situation, their facial expressions become more serious, of course, but they seem to be able to find joy despite the devastation and loss. The joyful Mexican spirit is alive and well in the midst of the disaster.

We have been able to confirm that Ana Janeth Morales and her family are safe. We still do not know anything about Betsy Casola or Karina Gonzales Coronel's family in Tabasco.

What's also true is that the flooding has become a major problem in northern Chiapas as well as in the state of Tabasco. Because we can see that there is so much attention being given to Villahermosa, all future efforts for assistance will likely be directed towards the people in small villages in northern Chiapas. These folks are likely to have been completely ignored by most of the relief agencies and military assistance efforts.

So yes, things are getting better in Villahermosa, but there are still major problems in northern Chiapas. There are still many needs to pray about, pay for and be ready to pitch in to help with in the coming months. Bill Herring and Penny Musson have offered to bring a medical team down, and at least one group has volunteered to come to Villahermosa for clean-up and restoration efforts in early 2008. It would be great if we could get at least one group to come do the same in northern Chiapas! Any way you can help would be most appreciated.

The Price of Partnership (AKA 2nd Trip to Villahermosa After Flood

The current vision for missions by PCUSA is that missionaries are "partners" with the nationals in the country where they serve. We have heard the stories about why all the missionaries from the Presbyterian churches were asked to leave in the '70's and have chosen to approach our ministry with the partnership model instead of the patriarchal model of the past. This has benefits in relationship building and demonstrates our belief that we are able and willing to be servants to those who know their own land, customs, culture and paths to success better than we do. This commitment to partnership bring challenges too.

Yesterday I left on my second caravan with flood relief supplies for Villahermosa. I traveled without the benefit of an interpreter and with 5 other people who didn't know how to get around the city of Villahermosa any better than I do. Hindsight's always 20/20, y'know?!

Since my first visit to Mexico in 1999, I have heard Pablo's orientation about Plan A being Man's Plan and Plan B, C, G or Z being God's Plan.

Plan A: Leave Ocosingo by 7AM with 2 vehicles with supplies to meet Lorena Valesquz (Exec Dir of Hebron Foundation) who would be there with another truck at a bridge on the outskirts of Villahermosa. Lorena would then take the supplies to boats distributing supplies in the areas of Villahermosa where families are still stranded on roofs and without access to the resources available to those in shelters. Lorena would get supplies to those who needed them the most, and we would be able to drop supplies without having to go all the way into the city and get back to Ocosingo by nightfall.

Plan B: Late departure from Ocosingo, so by the time we arrived, there was no truck and no Lorena at the bridge. My traveling companions spent lots of time talking, making cell calls, etc. Finally it was agreed that I should lead us to the new seminary. Unfortunately, we had already passed the turn to the new seminary, but of course I didn't know that! So, after realizing that I wasn't going to be able to get us to the new seminary, I managed to get us to the old seminary where the shelter is set up (a miracle in itself that I got us there!). Pastor Joel identified someone to lead us to the new seminary in his car. That's when all control was clearly out of my hands!

Plan C-Z: We followed this guy through back streets to his own business where he had us deposit about 1/2 our load. Then we resumed travel through the center of Villahermosa along with about 10 million other cars! Villa traffic is pretty bad when all the roads are open, so when more than 50% of the roads are closed, it's horrific! Trying not to exaggerate, I'll estimate that during most of this part of our wild-goose-chase, there were cars within 6 inches of me on all sides of my car! We finally exited the city, following the man, only to find that the road to the seminary was still closed. So we began the second part of the wild-goose-chase, following the man as he took us miles and miles away from Villahermosa. He was trying to find another way to the seminary, but it truly seemed like the blind leading the blind! To make a long story short, he eventually called for help, and we were met by someone who led us to his home.

In fine Mexican fashion, we were invited in with lots of hugs and kisses, served a very generous and tasty meal while we all talked about what a shame it was that there were people not getting help....all while our trucks sat loaded with supplies in front of their home. Finally, we unloaded the remaining supplies into the family's back bedroom, prayed together, and began the 3rd part of the wild-goose-chase - again following the same man, back through the same 10 million cars and finally exiting the city about dusk. I deposited my passengers at their homes and finally fell into my bed about 11:15.

Last Sunday, I was so concerned for the people of Villahermosa that I didn't care if we ended up giving our supplies to perfect strangers...at least someone would benefit. As I gave up all control yesterday about what I thought we should be doing, I just had to keep reminding myself that God must have another plan. But it was very hard because, no matter what I did, I had to sacrifice something....we couldn't honor both efficiency in helping AND honor the culture!

Efficiency in helping....Get the supplies to Lorena or insist on leaving them at the presbytery's shelter. This would require me to insist to those traveling with me that we do it my way instead of their way. Had I objected when we deposited the supplies with the individuals, it would have appeared that I did not trust them, even though my traveling companions did. Not exactly partnership, huh?

OR...

Honor the culture....Graciously accept and enjoy the meal that was offered to us, receive the hospitality in the spirit it was given, and leave the supplies with this family who promised to get the supplies distributed appropriately. This required accepting a good meal that could have been given to someone directly affected by the flood and leaving the supplies with an individual (which Pablo didn't want to happen). Although the family lived in a small community that may need help, it clearly was not under water or anywhere close to the living on rooftops or those who are the most desperate. Not exactly an efficient way of helping, huh?

It was a long, hard day. It was not possible to honor partnership, servanthood, efficiency in helping and cultural norms all at the same time. I can only fall back on Pablo's lesson about God's Plan and trust that God is working it all out. I can know that I demonstrated our commitment to partnership and servanthood....but not without paying the price of letting go.

Our 1st Trip into Villahermosa After the Flood

After making our first successful trip into Villahermosa, Tabasco since last week's floods and getting additional information from other sources, we can report the following. For those of you who got my email, there are a few additions and corrections.

The Bad News
...The flooded areas are truly awful, and there are many of them. Water has receded some but remains as deep as 8-12 feet in many places around the city.
...Clearly Lorena Valesquez' email reflects the degree of fatigue by volunteers. Since this is basically Day 5 of a major natural disaster that will take months/years to recover from, it would make sense that they are exhausted.
...The flooding has now expanded into numerous parts of northern Chiapas as well. Those outside of the inner city of Villahermosa are surely at greater risk of not receiving assistance. This has become a greater problem within the last 48 hours, and these communities are so far removed from the relief efforts, that we are likely to shift our future assistance efforts to them.
...The area in which we deposited 3 large loads of medicine, clothes, food,
diapers, necessities and 50 large containers of water did NOT appear to have received many other donations of supplies.
...There are neighbors in Pablo & Jan's old and current neighborhoods who refuse to leave their homes and who are receiving aid from volunteers by boat.
...Pastor Joel's wife, Miriam, has a serious foot ulcer that has been
exacerbated by the flood conditions.
...We still have no current information about Betsy Casola or Ana Moralez or the family of Karina Gonzalez Coronel.

The Good News
...We were able to drive all the way to the old seminary, which is well into the city and the site of the Presbytery offices and the shelter operated by the Presbyterian churches and Hebron Foundation. Although we had to drive through 2 very deep areas of water, we were never in danger. The picture you see taken from inside my car was one of those 2 places.
...Where it is bad, it is very, very bad. But there are many places where it's not so bad. That means that there are places for people to escape to and places where they can find shelter and assistance.
...At the seminary there was a very well-organized operation ready to receive contributions and that was actively providing food, medical attention, housing and the provision of basic needs to about 850 people.
...We saw Pastors Joel & Pancho, their wives and Joel's son. All are safe, in
good spirits and able to answer important questions. Lorena and Pancho's son, Paco, were out delivering to those in Bosque who had refused to leave their homes.
...Pancho thinks that PCUSA/PDA is there with at least 2 representatives. He reported that Lorena is aware of the $20K in relief money and trying to tap into it.
...We learned from Huascar, the seminary director, through Ed Jennings, that an American teacher at the new seminary was able to be evacuated to Merida and was probably able to fly home from there.
...Also from Ed, we learned that the woman from Coastal Carolina Presbytery that was supposed to meet up with the folks from White Memorial Presbyterian (who were evacuated last Tuesday) is still in the Villahermosa area, staying with the seminary director's brother. We hope to help get her out this week.
...Also from Ed, we learned that the new seminary is in relatively good shape with not too much water damage. The director's house is surrounded by water, but otherwise the other buildings are more elevated.
...Pablo and Jan's house and the area near the new seminary are likely okay with far less water than most other places. Ezras is okay and likely staying at the house.
...It was a beautiful day with no rain and no rain in the immediate forecast.
...Now that we've been able to go in and out safely, we know that we can return in a few days with more supplies and volunteer assistance.

More information to follow. For now, any contributions should go through Hebron USA and be marked for Villahermosa Flood Relief, 6080 Old Brickstore Road, Greensboro, NC 27455.

Alarming Email Speaks Volumes

I received the following email from Betsy Casola, a volunteer who traveled with mission groups for one summer several years ago. I loved working with Betsy because she loved practicing her English with me! In this picture, she's the one on the far right (along with Sali, Dina, Bani and Yolanda). Anyway, she and her family live in the state of Tabasco, and she sent out the following email message tonight....

HELLO EVERYBODY, I ASSUME THAT YOU ALREADY KNOWABOUT THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING HERE IN TABASCO. I just want to tell you that me and my family are Ok, but the situation here is terrible, I don't really know if we will survive becuause the water of the rivers are still going up. People are desperate and cry for the lack of food and for the people that have no been rescued. health problems finally appeared. I am writing to you from home, there is no water here in my town, but we cannot comunicate by cellphones and tv sometimes does not work. I do not know if I will be able to be in touch with you. we are helping people from around, now my town is an island and there is no food at the supermarkets, we have some and we hope we can be comunicated again. if the water reach us, this will be the end, because my town is one if the highest. I just wanted to tell you that I remember you with love and if we do not meet here on earth, we will meet in heaven. Betsy.

Wow. It speaks volumes about the degree of fear people have for their very survival. I hope to be able to drive to Tabasco soon to start delivering supplies, but at this point, helicopters are needed to really get supplies into the areas in need. I promise that I won't do anything foolish, but it feels awful to sit at home, so close to such tragedy, and do nothing. Please pray, share the story in your prayer circles and churches, and send funds through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance if you're able. Details about how to send money are below in the post about the email from PCUSA.

I emailed Betsy to say that help would be there soon and that I have faith that God will keep them safe until then. Pray that's right.

PCUSA Trying to Help

FYI...We received the following email from Dave Thomas, Stan DeVoog and Marissa Winslow with PCUSA regarding the situation in Tabasco...

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

We are writing to inform you of a disaster in Mexico that is not
receiving much news coverage in the U.S., but one that has already
had greater impact than the recent landfall of Hurricane Dean.
Several days ago, there was a weather phenomenon that caused large
waves to inundate the coastline of the state of Tabasco,
accompanied by heavy rains in the area of two major rivers...the
Grijalva and the Usumacinta...which both pass through the state
in the city of Villahermosa.  The resulting flooding has affected
an estimated 70% of the state´s residents.  The situation in
Tabasco is severe and extremely critical for thousands of Tabasco
residents.  The presbytery office in Villahermosa has been converted
into a major shelter, and the Tabasco Synod office there is
completely flooded.

Earlier this week, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance sent $10,000
as a rapid response fund, but the magnitude of this situation --
which is beyond the control and capability of the local and state
government -- demands a comprehensive effort.  The good news is that
the Mexican government is allowing and facilitating aid from a variety
of church-related agencies including the Presbyterians.  PDA needs
funds right now to deal with this situation.  What is desperately
needed is canned food, bottled water, blankets, floor mattresses,
first aid medicines, equipment and materials for purifying water,
and clothing...but because of the limited access to the region, it's
preferable that financial aid be sent.  It's still possible to buy
needed supplies in the local marketplace, which is the best way to
meet the needs of the people.

If your U.S. presbytery or local church can help, please send
contributions to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, using the following
account code:  DR000014 for Mexico.  You can do this on the PC(USA)
website at:
http://www.pcusa.org/pda/response/latinamerica/mexico-index.htm

PDA is working closely with the leadership of our partner denomination,
the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico, helping to coordinate
the disaster response with the local Synod and local Presbyteries
in Tabasco.  Yesterday afternoon there was a meeting with 8 presbytery
representatives from the Tabasco Synod, but many others did not attend
because they couldn't get there. The Mexican Presbyterian leaders who
are coordinating the recovery in Tabasco have undergone special training
that was conducted cooperatively by PDA and other disaster agencies.

As someone who is involved in a partnership with a Mexican church or
presbytery, we urge you to consider making a financial contribution
to PDA so that immediate assistance can be rendered in the state of
Tabasco.

Que Dios le bendiga,

Dave Thomas, Regional Liaison with Mexico Stan DeVoogd,
Area Coordinator for Mexico and Central America

Marisa Winslow
Administrative Assistant for Central America/Mexico
General Assembly Council
PCUSA World Mission

We'd recommend that anyone who is able to contribute financially do so through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance rather than through Hebron USA. PDA is much more likely to be able to get funds to those in need promptly. Please join us in continuing to pray for all those affected by this situation including a woman from the Coastal Carolina Presbytery who could not be evacuated with the group from White Memorial Presbyterian in Raleigh, NC there for a work group this week.

I'm not going to burden folks with frequent emails about this situation, but I'll be trying to post to this blog regularly as I have new information. There's much to be grateful for too. To the best of my knowledge, there's been only one death. Join us in prayer for his family and in gratitude for the safety of literally over one million others affected by this flood.

Su hermana en Cristo,
Ginny

Flooding is serious, but we're not affected

The state of Tabasco is in a state of crisis, as is a small part of the state of Chiapas. Our family is completely safe, but we are quite worried about many that we know and love who live near Villahermosa. About 85% of the state of Tabasco is under water, and the effects will be felt for months and possibly years to come. Please keep those in Tabasco in your prayers, especially Ana, Pastors Joel and Pancho, and Don Fernando. We hope to begin helping with relief efforts next week when the waters go down enough for trucks to get in and out, and for now we're just praying and collecting supplies. More details to come.