April Update

Since our last update, there's been so much going on that this is really the first time we've had to share an update. Between the high activity levels and the need to help with virtually foreign challenges like helping Holly with Algebra II, life has been full. God continues to sustain us, inspire us and challenge us here, but we are constantly reminded of the opportunities to serve and to share the Good News.

General Mission Activities:

• Holly & Maggie had their first opportunity to volunteer independently from us. They provided translation services for American doctors and students working at a Tsotsil Eye Clinic in San Cristobal for a week. With the gift of vision, those served in this ministry will be able to read their bibles, complete their handwork and experience life more fully.
  
• Holly & Maggie helped train volunteers in Matzam in VBS-like activities to do with children participating in a Christian education program there.
  
• We've hosted groups from Illinois (2nd Presbyterian in Bloomington for clinic construction) and Arkansas (Arkansas Presbytery for village construction in Santo Domingo).
• We participated in the Concentración de Jóvenes (youth conference) along with 700+ other folks all here at the school for bible memory contests, soccer & volleyball tournaments, dramatic and choral performances...all very competitive but with the joy and power of God's love oozing into every nook and cranny on the campus. Our tiny mission's youth participated for the first time and secured 1st place in Girls Volleyball, 1st place in the Dramatic Performances, and 2nd place Overall! Hurray!
  
• Speaking of our tiny mission church, we're growing and not so tiny anymore! Be sure to read the stories on the blog (re: Christian Radio in Mexico and Bursting at the Seams) and see how God is bringing more people into the life of our church, Nuevo Vida.
  
• John continues to travel with Pastor Pablo to work with churches across the synod territory in between everything else, and Ginny continues with drivers' ed training for bible school students.
  
• Ginny is building a series of orientation videos for mission groups to view in anticipation of traveling to Chiapas. When completed, the videos will be available online at YouTube and by electronic files that can be shared with group leaders and members. She also created a video thank you to be sent by Hebron USA to those donors whose contributions support the ministry of Pablo & Jan Feliciano here in Chiapas.
  

Las Manos de Cristo (Medical Clinic):

• A matching gift opportunity has been offered up by a member at First Presbyterian in Boone, NC. This gift will match $1 for $1 up to $25000. These funds are desperately needed to keep construction moving so that the clinic can be opened later this year.
  
• 90% of the windows have been installed and prep work to install the remaining section of the roof is nearly complete.
• A 20' container filled with donated medical equipment shipped by Samaritan's Purse has been held up by customs at the border for the past few weeks. This also means that we are being charged daily for storage until it's released. Pablo is in Mexico City now trying to work with government officials to orchestrate its release and delivery to Ocosingo. Please pray that his efforts are successful.
  
• Hebron USA is in the midst of launching a major fund-raising effort to secure the necessary funds to complete the clinic. Watch your US mail or email for more information, or just proceed with sending your contribution to Hebron USA, 6080 Old Brickstore Rd., Greensboro, NC 27455. If you prefer to give by credit card, check out our site online at Hebron USA's site on Change.Org. You have to set up your own profile to be able to give online but it is quick and easy. There's even a link here on the left.
  
• Representatives of the synod and the Council for the Holistic Development of Our Communities were filmed expressing their thanks to those who have made donations towards Las Manos de Cristo. From this, Ginny built a video thank you that can be sent to donors. The video is also available on our Change.Org site and on YouTube.

Personal

• Our biggest prayer for months now has been related to the future of the ministry here as our family transitions back to NC in August of this year. We continue to pray for another couple/family/individual to answer God's call to serve here in Chiapas. To help those discerning if they are called, we have added new information to our website. See the new link "Next to Serve" and the related FAQs and "Cultural Musts." We have some definite prospects and one firm commitment for service next year (more on this later). Please continue to pray for new missionaries to serve here in Ocosingo. Soon the position will be listed on the One Door network of the Presbyterian Church USA as well with the listing as "Tzeltal Synod Partnership Facilitator."
  
• As we nearing the end of our 2 1/2 year commitment, our financial support has been strong but is beginning to wane. We really need an infusion of donations towards our personal missionary support here in the final months. If you can help out, please follow directions on our website (www.millsfamilymission.org/5.html). Any contributions remaining after expenses will be used to help fund Las Manos de Cristo.
  
• We were able to secure new visas and a new car permit on a recent trip to Belize last month. Enjoyed a brief stay at (and I'm not kidding) The Copa Banana guest house just across the border in Belize.
  
• We celebrated Holly's Sweet 16 with lots of fanfare. Special thanks to Maggie who put it all together and to so many wonderful Mexican friends in attendance.
  
• As fate would have it, our house is up for rent again. Hope to get it rented this weekend.
  

Prayers

• Oh my...this could be an incredibly long list, but we know that God is with us and attentive to all things, so...
• Pray that God works in the hearts and minds of those considering missionary service here in Chiapas so that the work here can continue and grow.
  
• Pray for the new families in our mission and that we are able to find new space for worship and youth activities.
• For those who have lost loved ones, including the family of Vivian Early, Tenney Dean, Louise Turner and Craven Carlisle. Vivian was the mother of our dear friend, Cecelia Belk. Tenney was both a long-time friend of Ginny's political family AND a former Mexico mission traveler from his years at White Memorial. Ginny's dad's cousin, Louise Turner, and her daughter, Cam, have been faithful supporters of our ministry here from the start. Craven was a 9 year old who died unexpectly this week. She was a close friend of Teri & Keith Clark and their daughter, Katherine.
  
• For those who are struggling with illness or distress including Karen Plonk, Billie Bradley, Tom Simms, Edna Faye Cobb, Frank Splawn, Donna Painter, Mary Wynne Perryman, Carol McClancy, Nancy Lingenfelser, Bonnie Bode, Ben Jones, Katie Yarbrough, Laura Mast, Marshall Hollingsworth, and Louise Holshouser. Also, please pray for Ginny's longtime friend, Angela Smith, who has been on life support in ICU for the past 3 weeks. May God bring them all comfort, peace and assurance.
  
• Of support and encouragement for other missionaries, including Pablo & Jan Feliciano, Jim & Sharon Heneveld, all the Dye Family missionaries, John & Sandra Wimbish and Julie Alexander and her family in Brazil.

Opportunities

• 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). Be sure to list "Mills Family Mission" on the memo line.
  

• 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.
• As your church prepares for VBS, consider collecting vitamins (adult, pre-natal, children and infant) to send down for distribution by Las Manos de Cristo. Nutritional health problems are significant here, and the medical caravans distribute thousands each week. When Las Manos de Cristo is open and serving patients, we will need a large supply of vitamins for regular distribution. Please contact us by email to arrange for delivery with one of the mission trips coming down this summer.
  

As we go forth in missions, we are reminded of the ways in which Jesus revealed the heart of God -- through compassion, love, and touch and how he embraced all who would receive him. We are called to walk that same walk, to live with that same gentle spirit, and to reach out in love to all God's children. The indigenous people of Chiapas rebelled more than a decade ago because they felt abandoned and forgotten by their own government. Let us, the "hands of Christ" reach out in Christian love so that they are reminded of what we already know...God has not forgotten or abandoned them, just as God has not forgotten any of God's children (Luke 15: 1-7).

We remain grateful to you, our partners in missions, for your love, support, prayers and encouragement. Drop us an email with your own updates and know that you are in our prayers.

Junto contigo en Cristo (Together with you in Christ),
Ginny, John, Holly & Maggie Mills

www.millsfamilymission.org