January Update

The lyrics to the song, The Dance, go something like, “whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens. Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance....” Indeed we have struggled some lately. Well, doors are closing, but we're faithful that other doors will open because we believe that God is continually opening the right doors at just the right time.

General Missions Update:

• Paperwork hiccups resulted in the need to cancel the Rotary Well-Drilling team scheduled for last week. A grant has been awarded by Rotary International to buy the portable equipment, but some snags resulted in a delay of distribution. Pray that everything works out for the funds to be released and the trip to be rescheduled soon.

• North Wilkesboro Presbyterian's fateful “5 Minutes and a Ball Cap” story of linking a young Tzeltal boy, Felipe, with a surgical mission team is going to have a wait a bit longer for the miracle to happen. The lead surgeon experienced some medical problems of his own, and the trip and subsequent surgery to repair Felipe's club foot have been postponed. Pray for the health and safety of the surgeon, the rescheduling of the mission team, and patience for all.

• But there are definitely some bright spots! Our local mission church is thriving! We have outgrown our second venue since beginning just a little over 2 years ago, and many people have come to know Christ and have found a church home there. We've outgrown the space for the 2^nd time and are seeking land to begin building a larger facility.

• Likewise, relief efforts for flood victims in Tabasco and northern Chiapas have been very effective. Funds for replacements of household goods are still needed, most of the clean-up and recovery efforts for homeowners are complete. The simplicity of concrete can, at times, be a beautiful thing! (read blog entry: Villahermosa Status Report)

• The classroom aspect of Driver's Ed was completed before Christmas, but behind-the-wheel activities will continue throughout the spring.

• Many contacts have been made with both new and faithful returning mission groups and individuals across the US for this year. We anticipate having 15 or more groups.

• Additionally, we will welcome and collaborate with a spring intern from George Washington University (Ben Jones) and anticipate having summer volunteers from Boone, NC (Amy Newell), Pittsburgh, PA (Derek Zanetti) and Oak Ridge, NC (Whitney Farrell).

• We welcomed a small group from First Presbyterian in Virginia Beach last week. They helped with clinic construction efforts in Ocosingo.
  

Las Manos de Cristo:

• Again, doors have closed in some areas, while others open. Our “government connection” got fired for exposing financial misconduct on some projects, so she's not going to be able to help us with increased state government assistance with the effort to get medical equipment across the border, etc. But, she's also built relationships with a Mexican grant giving organization that could be quite fruitful.

• Samaritan's Purse has agreed to provide some medical equipment and, more importantly, facilitate the shipping of a 20' container of all the medical equipment that has been collected. Special thanks to Glenn Pierce for handling storage up to this point and for helping with the inventory for customs and to both Glenn and Dr. Bill Herring for their help getting everything to Samaritan's Purse for shipping in February. Any of you engineering types out there who have any ideas for low-tech solutions for how we can get this full 20' container off a truck here in Ocosingo, please share your ideas!!!! This one may even stump Santiago!

• Construction progress on the clinic is focused on wall finishing and floor finishing. Next we will need to install windows and doors and begin with framing for the interior walls.

• Last week's group, together with the regular work crew, succeeded in stuccoing the interior of the exterior walls. (read blog entry: Small Group First to Work on Clinic Interior)

• Unless we're able to get significant funding, construction efforts are likely to slow again until the 2 groups arrive in March.

Family Update:

• We enjoyed the holidays in NC and had some great experiences on our return journey to Mexico in early January (read blog entries: Treasuring the Journey and D'Iberville Energizes)

• Holly & Maggie are both doing great in school and on schedule.

• Since our term here will be complete in August of this year, some of us are struggling with the reality of leaving, while others of us are struggling to keep focused on our work here and fight the temptation to worry about the future. All in all, we're all happy living and serving here and can't believe that our transition back to NC is just a few months away (read blog entry: Staying in the Present).

Prayers

• For God to reveal opportunities for us to serve here and for us to recognize and respond to each one whenever we can.

• For another family, couple or individual to hear and answer God's call to continue the work here in Ocosingo. There is so much yet to be done, and we specifically ask that you pray for Team Two to begin preparing their hearts and minds for service here in Ocosingo (read blog entries: You Know Who You Are and the 2007 entry, Could it Be You?)

• Of comfort for those who have lost friends and family, including the family of John Brown and the entire Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community, the family of Jim Scott, the family of Pastor Andres here in Chiapas.

• Of support and encouragement for those coping with illness and/or injury, including Tom Simms, Billie Bradley, Edna Faye Cobb, Tenney Dean, Frank Splawn, Donna Painter, Mary Wynne Perryman, Carol McClancy, Nancy Lingenfelser, Ana Janeth Morales, Don Fernando, Bonnie Bode, Katie Yarbrough, Marshall Hollingsworth, Louise Holshouser, Laura Mast, Cecelia's parents, and Angela Smith. As always, please let us know of your prayer needs and whether or not you're comfortable with us sharing them with others.

• Of support and encouragement for other missionaries, including Pablo & Jan Feliciano, Jim & Sharon Heneveld (who are back in Chiapas for 4 months), all the Dye Family missionaries (especially Mark & his family living in the chaos in Kenya), John & Sandra Wimbish and Julie Alexander and her family in Brazil.

Opportunities

• For financial support for Las Manos de Cristo clinic construction (through Hebron USA, 6080 Old Brickstore Rd., Greensboro, NC 27455). Be sure to check out the new website at www.hebronusa.org
  

• For financial support for our family for the remaining months of our ministry this year (Through 1^st Presbyterian Church, PO Box 1286, Mt. Airy, NC 27030 or Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church, 2614 Oak Ridge Rd., Oak Ridge, NC 27310).

• Come down with a mission trip this summer and see for yourself how God is at work here in Chiapas. Salem Presbytery groups from NC are generally open to most anyone, so let us know if you'd like to come down. Deadline for registration for the Medical Caravans is this Friday, Feb. 1, while the deadline for construction trips is March 1^st. For more information, go to www.salempresbytery.org and click on the Mexico Missions link in the middle of the homepage. Dates of all currently scheduled groups for this year can be found online on our website at www.millsfamilymission.org/13.html

• Mission Tip of the Month: Learn more about 2 other NC outreach organizations of interest: Sandra's House Mayan Ministry (www.mayanministry.org). and Kybele Worldwide (www.kybeleworldwide.org). While the clinic in Ocosingo is unlikely to be able to provide obstetical services for many years to come, Kybele sounds like a wonderful organization and one that helps create better opportunities for healthy births. Sandra's House is based in Boone, NC, and Dr. Bill Herring (Hebron USA) volunteered with them in December. Kybele is based in Winston-Salem, NC, and their lead physician is Dr. Medge Owen of WFU Baptist Medical Center.

As God continues to lead us and others here in Chiapas, we are grateful for you, our Partners in Ministry. Join us in praying for funds and open doors for the clinic to progress so that we can begin serving patients later this year!

Paz en Cristo,
John, Ginny, Holly & Maggie

Kenya Needs Our Prayers

Ginny's dad's family has a long history of faithful missionary service all over the world. One of his first cousins has lived in central Mexico for over 30 years, while many others are scattered all over the world. Mark Dye and his family are living and serving in Kenya and have been reporting on the status there since the conflicts began in response to the controversial presidential race. Please note today's update from Mark & his wife:

Hello Friends,
 
Following the initial upheaval and violence that rocked the country after the
election dispute, which made headlines around the world, there's probably been a
lull in news from Kenya.  I would guess Kofi Annan's arrival made the news, with a
lot of people in the country pinning their emotional hopes on the ability of his
team to work out an agreement between the two main parties. 
 
What we had feared would happen, but did not see initially, was the Kikuyus rising
up to avenge the deaths and destructions brought against them.  This weekend
Kikuyus in Nakuru and Naivasha, places that were relatively unaffected by the
initial violence, erupted in reprisals against Luos, Luhyas and Kalenjins.  More
than 60 have died in the hostilities.  What was initially seen as a response to
the disputed elections, albeit targeted towards one ethnic group, has now moved 
into a new level of hostility.  It could begin a cycle of fresh violence of one
side retaliating towards the other, perpetuating the cycle. 
 
Please pray that a spirit of rationality would replace the one of irrationality;
that a spirit of acceptance and love would replace one of anger and hate; that the
spirit of revenge would be replaced by the Spirit of peace. Yesterday I attended a
Rally for Peace sponsored by one of the key church leaders I work with. Over 100
pastors attended, with several hundred others also there.  There were men and
women representing the tribes in the center of the upheaval, worshipping and
praying together, asking forgiveness of one another, weeping and even dancing
together.  The Spirit of the Lord was there, and it demonstrated what the love of
God can do in the hearts of people.  A special guest was the pastor of the church
that was burned in early January, in which 35 people died, mostly women and
children.  The pastor was beaten outside the church and left for dead. He had a
difficult time speaking, as his jaw had been broken and he lost 8 teeth. But it
was moving when a key Kalenjin church leader, in front of the entire congregation,
begged forgiveness on behalf of his people. Later, I had supper w/ the pastor and
heard him recount his story first hand.  I'm still reeling a bit from the account.
 
Pray for the top leaders to have the humbleness and humility required to reach an
agreement that could hopefully bring peace to this nation.  It's not the top
leaders who are suffering - it's the average Kenyan.  And pray earnestly that the
cycle of revenge will be stopped, and people can view one another as fellow 
Kenyans, not according to tribe.
 
We continue to feel safe, but also sense the spirit of unease pervading the land.
We receive regular updates from the US Embassy and monitor radio and TV reports.
Thank you for your prayers on behalf of this nation.  Please continue. 
 
In His peace,
Mark and Annemarie

Please join us in praying for peace and reconciliation in Kenya.

You Know Who You Are

Someone mentions going on a mission trip, and the first thing you think of is, “Oh, please don't ask me to go!” Even though you know others who've thoroughly enjoyed the experience, something about it just overwhelms you. Maybe it's as basic as being afraid to fly, or maybe it's stories you've heard about seatless toilets, unusual foods or sleeping in hammocks. Regardless, you just know it's not for you.

Or maybe you've been on a short-term mission trip, only to find yourself thinking, “I can survive this for a week, but I could never live like this!” You get yourself through the week reminding yourself how good it will feel to return to your own bed, flush your toilet paper and be back in your own world. You genuinely enjoy and are enriched by the mission trip experience, but you just know you're not cut out for staying more than a week or two.

Others of you have a different experience. The mission experience invigorates you and helps you feel like you're really doing God's work, and you find yourself thinking, “You know...I could do this! I would love to be able to stay longer and do more.” You look around and see that all that you really need is available. You get home and look around and ask yourself, “why do I need all this STUFF!?!” You hear about an opportunity to serve (like replacing the Mills Family, hint, hint, hint) and you think, “You know...I'd love to! I can really see myself being there and working there for a longer period. I'm just not sure this is the right time. If only....."

As we are seeking a family, couple or individual to replace us here and to continue God's work in Chiapas, those of you who are the most likely candidates know who you are. You know if you're game to even consider it. We'll tell you that, from our own experience, there's never a perfect time (see Luke 9:56-62). There are always going to be obstacles that you can choose to be encumbered by or you can choose to work around. We were fortunate enough to have some great spiritual mentors in our own discernment process. They were people who gave us some great advice that we'd like to share with you for your own discernment. If you feel that you could be good candidates to live on the mission field for 2-5 years, please let us know. You know who you are, so please let us join with you in discerning if God is, indeed, calling you to serve in Chiapas.

Small Group first to work on Clinic Interior

With the postponement of the Rotary Well-Drilling Team, travelers from 1st Presbyterian in Virginia Beach, VA decided to come on down and do what they could this week. Randy DuVall (of broken arm-fame) was joined by his buddy, Colin Herbertson, for a week in Chiapas. With short village trips at the beginning and end of their week, Randy & Colin joined John, Santiago and the regular work crew to begin interior finishing of the clinic. Wow!

Stuccoing of the interior of the exterior clinic walls was completed this week, along with polishing/squaring up a few interior columns. Since nearly 50% of the exterior walls will be windows, this was a job that could be completed by a small crew in just 5 days. Being under-roof and having all the roof framing wood down now, it's beginning to really feel like a building in there!

Special thanks to Randy & Colin for being such good sports this week and to those donors who have helped fund a small full-time construction crew so that work can continue. It'll be March before we welcome 2 more groups, but we'll be eager to have the help to make strides with clinic construction by then and hopefully have more funds to pay a larger construction crew. For now though, enjoy the pics of this week's work!

Staying in the present

Let's face it....we're Americans. We may live in Chiapas, but we are and always will be Americans. That means that we think like Americans, which means that we have a future-oriented worldview. Most Latin Americans have a present-oriented worldview. It's part of how they stay sane, I think. If they worried too much about how they're going to get by in the future, they'd worry all the time. Instead, our Mexican brothers & sisters live in the present - grateful for the ways God has blessed them today, confident that God will provide for them tomorrow, and more comfortable with accepting a degree of powerlessness over their lives. But we're Americans. We know that in less than 8 months, we'll be moving back to NC without jobs, without a place to live and without a certainty that everything will fall into place. And yet....

If we focus our energies on returning to NC, we will, quite literally, miss out on opportunities of a lifetime. Even if John & Ginny return to live in Chiapas later, it will be without Holly & Maggie. These are truly unique days to be savored and enjoyed. For if we look too far ahead, we're sure to one day look back and say, "gee, how I wish we'd taken the opportunity to _________!" or "I can't believe that we were there for 2 1/2 years and never got around to ______________!" These are truly once in a lifetime opportunities.

It's interesting to recall that, when God was providing for Moses and his people, God provided enough food for every day in the form of manna. Now I can't imagine that manna was very tasty, but it apparently was nourishing enough, and God provided enough for each to be nourished for the day. But he also instructed them NOT to store up more than they needed except on the 6th day. This story reminds us of 2 things....that we do not live by bread alone, and that we can and must trust that God will provide enough to meet our needs.

God provided a double portion for the people on the 6th day, with the encouragement for them to rest on the 7th. Some people were afraid when no manna fell on the 7th day, afraid that God had stopped providing. But of course, on the next day, enough manna fell to feed them that day as well...and the next day....and the next day.

And so it is that we try to live like Mexicans and the people who were faithful enough to follow Moses....trusting that God will provide for us today but also that God will provide for us tomorrow .... and in August, September and October too. With God's assurance of provision, we are now free to focus our energies on service, on living out the Kingdom of God in the present, on fulfilling God's calling for us to be in Chiapas.

Sounds easy, right? ;-)

Stumbling blocks build endurance

The country music lyrics go something like,“whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens. Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance....” Well, doors are closing, but we're faithful that other doors will open because we believe that God is continually opening the right doors at just the right time. Since we've gotten back to Chiapas, we've learned the following:

• A surgical team canceled their trip to Chiapas that would have opened up a whole new world for a young Tzeltal boy born with a club foot.
  
• A church who had pledged $20,000 for clinic construction and help for a student's tuition has not been able to do so despite their strong commitment and desires to help.
  
• A paperwork snag with Rotary International required the postponement of the well-drilling team trip to drill the well for the medical clinic.
  
• And the young woman who was building relationships within state government that could have yielded financial aid from the government to help finish the medical clinic was fired for uncovering specific incidents of corruption.
  

Yes, there have been several complications in our work in Chiapas lately, and yet facing and overcoming obstacles are aspects of life in any setting. We're reminded in James 1:2-4 that we grow mature and complete as endure: “My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and the let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”

These are indeed trying times, and yet we are faithful that God does offer comfort, bring relief and accomplish God's plans in the end. Please join us in praying for deliverance from some of these complications, wisdom to find solutions, confidence in God's ultimate authority, and patience in the meantime.

Villahermosa Status Report

We've learned that Villahermosa has recovered amazingly quickly from the floods of early November. Thanks to the beauty of the ever-present concrete with which most buildings are constructed in southern Mexico, clean up was much easier than in hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast states following Katrina. There was no "mucking out," no insulation or sheetrock to pull out....just lots and lots of bleach! Once the waters receded, clean up was a matter of drying out and disinfecting home. For some small wooden structures that had simply washed away, reconstruction (like the original construction) was small and simple. The challenges today revolve around helping with replacement costs for appliances, furniture and clothing that have to be replaced. The Mexican has been passing out vouchers to buy basics and are trying to help businesses recover, many of whom lost their entire inventories.

We did eventually hear back from most of our friends in Tabasco to know that they are all okay. That includes Ana and her family, Pastors Pancho & Joel and their families, Betsy Casola and her family, Karina and her family, and Don Fernando and his family. Thank you for all the ways your churches responded with prayers, contributions and concerns about both those you know and those you simply care about as people affected by the floods. For those of you who know Don Fernando, please continue to keep him in your prayers. He lost all of his inventory in all his stores, recently lost his home in Comoalcalco to a government building project, and is experiencing fairly significant health problems.

For the resiliency of the Tabascaneans and for God's protection over them, we are grateful.

Treasuring the Journey

I remember several years ago when my friend, Kathryn, was explaining why it was important to her to drive to her planned spiritual retreat experience at a desert monastery in the southwest. She explained that taking a plane would negate the sense of distance that she was going to retreat and that by driving she would have a more complete experience of separation from NC. I thought she was crazy then, and I suspect that many people have thought we were crazy when hearing how our family drives back and forth between Chiapas and North Carolina. But I get it now....

I get it that there's more than simply reaching one's destination and that there are important joys to be experienced along the way. On this most recent journey back to Ocosingo, we had a chance to reconnect with friends and family that we hadn't seen in a long time, spent some time at the D'Iberville Volunteer Camp, enjoyed a stop at the Melody Lane Spiritual Renewal Center in Mission, TX, and sampled some Northern Mexico cuisine. Had we flown, we would have missed hearing a toddler talk about his new baby brother who's due to be born in April. We would have missed a coffee house visit that I wouldn't trade for anything, and we would never have met the lady doing the documentary on Katrina recovery efforts in Mississippi. I can't say I'd be sad to have missed the topes and the elephant traps along the terrible Veracruz highways or the sore fanny from so many hours in the car, but I'd trade those minor inconveniences any day for the experiences of the journey.

D'Iberville Energizes

It's kind of ironic that one of our stops on our journey back to Mexico was at the volunteer camp for the D'Iberville Volunteer Foundation in D'Iberville, Mississippi. We were invited to stop along our journey to stay at the volunteer camp by Dr. Bill Herring, Dean Gropper and Harless "The Beast" Wright from Boone, NC who were back in D'Iberville yet again. These guys have given tirelessly of themselves to the people of D'Iberville ever since Hurricane Katrina devastated the whole Gulf Coast region.

After several weeks in the US, this stop along the journey back to Mexico really energized us. We met people who have served 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year since August, 2005. Despite this, their energy, determination to serve the people, determination to serve the volunteer teams, and faithfulness that they would have enough to get through the remaining months of their ministry was truly inspiring.

The stop also gave us a chance to tell our own story. Dr. Bill was quick to corral Holly & Maggie to let them know that he wanted them to tell their story of being teenagers on the mission field. There were several college groups volunteering that week, and the crowd numbered about 75 even if 2 groups out to dinner that night. As first Holly then Maggie each took the microphone to share of their own experiences, the lights glowed in the eyes of several college students. After their talk, several of those same college students came running up to say, "you know I've really been feeling called to do missions!" You can tell that they were thinking, "well, if these two kids can do it, then I could too!"

Our accommodations were great, the organization of the volunteer camp amazing, and the fellowship with both old and new friends was even better. We're grateful for this 24 hour stop along the way. Thanks guys!