July 08 Update

Dear Partners in Missions:
As hard as it is to believe, our family is now preparing for our term of missionary service in Chiapas to come to a close in just a couple of weeks. There remain good and important reasons for us to return to live in NC, and yet the leaving here will be very hard. We see God at work in so many ways, and we all would love to continue to be a part of the ministry here. We are grateful to Lindsey from Minnesota whose sermon last week reminded us that "missionary service is not location dependent....it's not where we are that makes us missionaries, it's what we do - wherever we are!" There's been so much happening here, but I'll try to summarize...

General Mission Activities:

• We've hosted about 150 group members since our last update. They have been a blessing to us and we hope they were blessed by the experience of be here.
  

• Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community (Pittsburgh, PA) helped with construction in the village of Matzam and provided a VBS for local children. Related blog entry: Hot Metal Bridge.
  
• Salem Presbytery's Medical Mission Caravan (NC, IL, WA, VA) provided medical and dental care and medications to over 4,000 patients in our 2 weeks in the village of Yaxoquintela (former home of Wycliff's Jungle Missionary Training Camp). Related blog entry: Guest Author Post
  
• Second Presbyterian (Bloomington, IL) helped with construction of Las Manos de Cristo and provided a VBS for local children.
  
• Salem Presbytery's Village Construction (NC) helped expand the sanctuary of the church in the village of Matzam and provided a VBS for local children. Related blog entry: San Juan Chamula.
  
• Salem Presbytery's Clinic Construction (NC, VA) helped with construction of Las Manos de Cristo and provided a VBS for local children.
• Decatur Presbyterian (GA) helped with construction of Las Manos de Cristo and provided a VBS for local children.
  
• Samples Family Construction (WA) helped with construction of Las Manos de Cristo and provided a VBS for local children.
• River Glen Presbyterian (IL) helped with construction of a house for the pastor in the village of Plan de Ayutla and provided a sports camp for local children.
  

• We were blessed to have 3 summer volunteers with us who helped with the "behind-the-scenes" work of hosting groups. Special thanks to Derek Zanetti (Hot Metal Bridge), Whitney Farrell (Oak Ridge Presbyterian) and Amy Newell (First Pres, Boone). They were a huge help, kept us laughing and definitely became important parts of our lives. We miss them and hope to continue to be a part of their lives.
  
• Our local mission church appears to have identified some property for purchase and is now raising funds to purchase the land so that we can have a larger, more permanent location for worship and youth activities.
  
• Prison ministry sales of purses and other items has gone very well during the group season. As a result, many of the prisoners will be getting much needed funds to help cover their food costs. Related blog entry: My Education About Mexican Prisons
• VBS activities this summer have been a little different in Ocosingo. In the past we have invited different children each week in hopes of introducing more to the Good News. This year, we decided to invite the same children week-after-week in hopes of giving them a richer, more meaningful understanding of some of the basic principles of Christianity. This has been a great experience, but one that has encountered some surprising resistance from the traditional catholics in the neighborhood. Related blog entry: VBS for children in a catholic neighborhood.
  
• A family who has experience persecution from their catholic community has continued to be active in the life of our mission and recently invited us to provide a small, one-day VBS at their home. The results were quite interesting. Related blog entry: Campet Fights the Gospel.
  
• Young Felipe from Ocosingo, the young break-dancer with a club foot, was recently visited by a representative from North Wilkesboro Presbyterian Church to assure him that plans to arrange for his surgery have not been forgotten. Although it appears likely that the original surgeon will not be able to help, John discussed his case with Dr. Mike Berkeley at Mexico Medical Missions in Chihuahua. If we can arrange to get Felipe and his mother to Chihuahua for one month, they will provide the surgery, aftercare and accommodations for his mother all free of charge.
  

Las Manos de Cristo (Medical Clinic):

• Clearly the people are not afraid to come to a make-shift clinic in a church, so let's pray that we can create the same kind of comfort and safety in Las Manos de Cristo so that they are just as comfortable coming there for services in the future.
• Construction is moving fast now that the interior finished floor is poured. Almost all of the interior studs are up, and the walls are going up inside! Look for new pictures on the Clinic Construction Slideshow on Change.org. Double-click on the Photo Timeline found in the video section so you can see larger pictures. While you're there, sign up as a support and consider making a donation for clinic construction.
  
• We continue to be very, very frustrated with the customs situation in Vera Cruz. The container of medical supplies from The Starfish Fund and Samaritan's Purse is still being held. The County of Ocosingo has agreed to receive the goods if released, but customs has not yet done so. Please pray for some progress in this area in the very near future.
  
• John, Pablo and four pastors from the Tzetltal Synod recently traveled to Chihuahua state in Northern Mexico to visit the Mexico Medical Mission Hospital started by Dr. Mike Berkeley. They learned a great deal about legalities, donations, fees, staffing, budgets, etc. from those who have been running a similar operation for several years now. Special thanks to Mike Berkeley, the folks at Second Presbyterian in Bloomington, and Hebron USA for creating the opportunity.
  

Personal

• It doesn't seem possible, but we are now just 15 days and counting until our family begins the journey back to live in NC again. The transition will be harder than we could have ever expected, but we know that this too is part of God's plan. (Related blog entry: You Know What They Say About Assumptions).
  
• We have listened to enough "Plan A" speeches from Pastor Pablo Feliciano to know that God might have a different plan for us, but seems clear that God is paving the way for us to return to NC just has God paved the way for us to come to Mexico 2 years ago. It appears promising for John to join us with fellow free clinic exec and former Mexico Mission traveler, Mark Cruise, to work with the ECHO Foundation in Texas to help establish church-based medical clinics. Ginny will resume counseling at Trinity Center and build a private practice. Holly & Maggie will enroll in high school, and we'll be moving back into our house in Winston-Salem by mid-September. Our corgi, Baxter, will leave the loving care of the Sigler Family in Kernersville and move back in with us after we get settled in. In the wisdom of Pastor Jim Walker, the question is, "Can you move back to NC without getting 'back in the box?'" That, our dear friends, remains to be seen!
  
• Between all the groups and all the packing, I really have not been able to write blog entries for each of the groups. Please have mercy, and if you'd like to volunteer to be a Guest Writer (like Amy Newell did for the Salem Medical Caravan), I'd be most grateful!
  
• We are rejoicing and grateful for our brother in Christ, Randy DuVall, from Virginia Beach, VA who has committed to 5 months of missionary service next summer. We look forward to having Randy and his daughter, Stephanie, with us this week, and we pray for comfort and healing for Randy's wife, Leslie, as she recovers from surgery to repair a badly broken leg.
  
• We remain in prayer for another missionary couple/family/individual to answer the call to serve here in Chiapas after we leave. We will leave behind a house that is essentially fully-equipped for daily living. Thanks to those who funded our support, all the appliances, furniture and kitchen supplies will stay so that the next family is ready to go! Those of you who may have been in prayer to discern if God could be calling YOU, please be sure to check out the blog entry (You Know Who You Are ) and the information on our website Who's Next to Serve?

Prayers

• 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 Randy DuVall and his family as he prepares for his 5 months of missionary service here in Chiapas next summer.
  
• For those who have lost loved ones, including the families of Marshall Hollingsworth and Donna Painter. Marshall was Ginny's mother's cousin and a pillar in their family. Donna was Mexico Mission travelers', Ladd and Noel Painter, wife and mother who was an Associate Pastor at First Baptist in Asheville, NC. May their loved ones know God's peace.
  
• For those who are struggling with illness or distress including Frank Santostephano, Leslie DuVall, Warren Hayes, Megan Paulson & baby, Angela Smith, Billie Bradley, Tom Simms, Frank Splawn, Maverine Jenkins, Mary Wynne Perryman, Carol McClancy, Nancy Lingenfelser, Bonnie Bode, Ben Jones, Katie Yarbrough, Laura Mast, and Louise Holshouser.
  
• And for our Mexican brothers & sisters as well, including the mother of Hermana Antonia in our mission, Baby Petrona in Matzam as she continues to recover, and for Felipe and his mother as they make preparations to travel to Chihuahaua. Special prayers for those believers living in areas of Christian persecution. May God bring them all comfort, peace and assurance.
• Special prayers for Pablo Feliciano as he prepares for his journey as a PCUSA Peacekeeper. That his visa application is processed quickly, that his impact is broad and deep, and that his diabetic management goes well throughout the trip. Likewise, please pray for Jan Feliciano as she travels to Michigan for time with her family and for Josh as he returns to school in Iowa to rejoin his finance, Ana Brito.
  
• Of support and encouragement for other missionaries, including Pablo & Jan Feliciano, Jim & Sharon Heneveld, Mike Berkeley and all those at Mexico Medical Missions in Chihuahua, all the Dye Family missionaries, John & Sandra Wimbish and Julie Alexander and her family in Brazil.
  

Opportunities

• For financial support for our family during our transition back into life in the US (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.
• Reserve your date for next year's mission trips by emailing us (jgmills@att.net). We will continue to handle mission trip scheduling and other communications for the next several months (at least). Dates are already being filled, so reserve your date so your group will be able to come to Chiapas next year. There will be many opportunities to work on Phase II of Las Manos de Cristo, building projects for area churches, and VBS.
  
• Medical professionals interested in volunteering at Las Manos de Cristo should email us (jgmills@att.net) with their areas of expertise, dates of availability for 2009, and preferred length of stay. The date of official opening has not been set but it would be great to know that we will have some medical volunteers ready to go. Lab techs, pharmacists, nurses, dentists and doctors are encouraged to prayerfully consider serving through Las Manos de Cristo.
• If you were on a mission trip to Chiapas this summer, volunteer to write a blog entry as a Guest Author to share the miracles, challenges and opportunities from your group's week in Chiapas. Send your entry via email and we'll post it ASAP (add pictures if you can!).
  

As we go forth from Ocosingo, back to NC, we will leave here as changed people -- changed by the experiences we've had here, changed by those we have come to know and love who live here, changed by those who have come here on mission trips and changed by God's workings in our hearts and our minds. In the words of our friends, the Dixons, "we are so glad we didn't miss it!!!" We also go with the knowledge that our lives as missionaries will continue but in a different culture, a different location and with different opportunities to serve.

We remain grateful to you, our partners in missions, for your love, support, prayers and encouragement. We hope to have the opportunity visit and worship with you sometime in the coming months.

Paz en Cristo (Peace in Christ),
Ginny, John, Holly & Maggie Mills

Campet Fights the Gospel

Some of you may remember the family that came to join our tiny mission after listening to Christian radio in Ocosingo (read the related blog entry: The Paradox of Christian Radio). The family has continued to be active in the life of our mission, even though they were literally put in the community jail by catholic leaders when they refused to pay towards the catholic fiestas held there. Since then, we have been in prayer for them to be strong in their faith and trust in God's protection for them.

These folks never cease to amaze me! Even though they had been jailed for not supporting the traditional catholic church in their village (Campet), they requested that the mission offer a VBS for children in their area. We had a small group coming in last week, so we decided that bringing 5 Americans along with a few Mexicans from our mission would not be too noticeable and that one day of VBS might be a good way to start. So off they went.... Nancy Samples and her group of 4 Americans along with John, Jan, Geyner and several members from our mission church.

Although the family thought there would be 100 children, only a few showed up. They enjoyed puppet shows with Bible stories, songs, games and arts & crafts activities. John noticed that he kept hearing whistles blowing in the distance from different directions but discounted it. Apparently, the whistles represented the village warning sign that something bad was happening.

Before the VBS was over, the community leaders came to apprehend the family (including their children) and questioned them about the activities going on at their home. 3 members of our mission went with them, and John, Jan and the other members of the group waited back at their house and prayed. The end result was that the family was required to sign a document saying that they would not have any future church-related activities in their home and that they accepted the terms of restricted visitation by members of our mission (no visit longer than 15 minutes and no use of the Bible during any visits). They signed reluctantly and were released.
During the VBS, several children and families were deeply touched, and two families from the same community joined Sylvia and Francisco's family at the mission for worship yesterday.

We are humbled by the faithfulness of these new Christians who are willing to risk continued persecution as they stand firm in their belief in Jesus Christ and firm in their commitment to the church. We are bewildered by a catholic community (albeit a traditional catholic community) that sees the Bible as a threat. Please join us in prayer for these families, for the people of Campet and for those who seek to support them and help them grow in their faith.

VBS for children in a catholic neighborhood

In years past, we have offered VBS to different neighborhoods around Chiapas. When we've been in a village, we invite children from that village. When we're in Ocosingo, we've invited kids from different barrios or neighborhoods every week. In the past, hundreds of children got just a taste of Christian education by participating in 2 days of bible school. This year, we decided to do something different in Ocosingo.

All summer long, we've been bringing in children from the same barrio for VBS 2 days a week with different groups from around the country. Instead of getting just a taste, these kids have learned multiple stories from the bible, learned teaching songs about those stories, made crafts, blown bubbles and kicked soccer balls every week. All it takes is a little intro and they know to scream back to us...

Dios creo, a todo el mundo! Te ama a ti, y me ama a mi!!!!
(God created the whole world! He loves you and He loves me!!!)

All I have to do is drive our green Land Cruiser into the neighborhood, and children start running! When I'd drive them home, they'd sing the day´s songs all the way home, making sure to be loud enough to be heard all around the barrio. The next day, their excitement may keep them from being able to wait for my arrival, so they walk to the bible school, knowing that they can play and hang out until the VBS activities start. In short, just like God, they've come to love us and we've come to love them.

Last week, when I drove around to announce the schedule for the week's VBS, we stopped to share with an adult man who was working in his yard. He answered that, although he didn't have children, the barrio had met together and decided that they'd rather teach their own children, so not to expect many kids to come. Hmmm.....

Retired missionaries Jim & Sharon Heneveld have a house in this neighborhood for their 4-month long visits (see, they couldn't leave either!) They had told us that this was a very catholic neighborhood. Apparently, the catholic neighborhood was feeling threatened by our stories, games and songs. Later, we learned that there had been an announcement on the local radio about Americans taking children to some place near the community slaughter house and that, since no one knows what the Americans are doing with them, to please be cautious and keep your children at home. Hmm.....

Fortunately, our friend and sister in Christ, Hermana Luisa, heard the announcement on the radio and called in to make her own announcement, explaining about VBS, encouraging folks to feel safe sending their children and generally discounting the earlier announcement. It´s always nice to have friends in the community.

We proceeded with the VBS for the week, conscious of the fact that some of our "regulars" weren´t there when I went around to pick them up. Nevertheless, many other regulars and lots of newcomers were in attendance....singing, praying and listening attentively to stories about Noah and Joseph. Perhaps the community is keeping kids back but others are coming in their places.

We have to trust that God is at work in this seemingly unfortunate turn of events, but it has certainly reminded us of the subtle ways that discrimination works. We are not encouraging these children to leave their churches and come to ours. We are not teaching them anything that is not in the Holy Bible, presumably the same bible that should be in use in their churches and homes. Apparently, that has become threatening in some way. For us, we are only sharing love, laughter and joy with them in the name of Jesus Christ, and we will continue to do so as long as the kids come running.

You know what they say about assumptions

We've all heard the saying, right? (No need to repeat it here) When we assume, we cheat others out of sharing their own truth. Many folks are making assumptions about our return to NC, while others cry with us.

• Many assume that we can't wait to get back to NC.
• Many assume that the girls can't wait to go to "real" high school.
• Many assume that life in Mexico is harder than in NC
• Many assume that life will be easier back in NC.
  

Those that assume are almost always the ones who have never been on a mission trip to Mexico. Those who have been here with us know ...

• that it will break our hearts in many ways to leave;
• how hard it will be for us to NOT to be there when the final touches are put on the facilities at Las Manos de Cristo medical clinic;
• that there's a kind of teenage safety the girls have here where there is virtually no peer pressure to drink, smoke, try drugs or other kinds of risky teenage behavior;
  
• how hard it will be to do our own laundry again;
• how much we would love to be there for the every day operation of Las Manos de Cristo;
• how much we'll miss $2.45 gas prices, cheap and perfect avacados, mangos and pineapple;
  
• how hard it will be to fight the temptation to fuss about the trappings of traditional church;
• how fun it is to watch someone else get their face slammed in a birthday cake and how much fun it is to sing las mañanitas at midnight;
  
• that teenage romances torn apart by moves are really heartbreaking;
• how much we will miss our brothers and sisters in Christ here in Mexico and
  
• why it will be such a teary ride home --- all 5 days of it.
  

We are grateful for those who know, and we ask that those who assume to try to understand. We know and understand that lots of people can't imagine that we moved here in the first place. They can't imagine moving to southern Mexico, leaving great jobs, leaving family, church and friends, so it's logical to assume that we would be chomping at the bit to get back to all those things.

The assumptions aren't entirely false either. Yes, it's true that we can't wait to...

• Be able to spend regular and more frequent time with Ginny's dad, John's sisters and their families, and other loved ones.
  
• Be able to understand every word in the sermon and to sing every word in the songs
• Be able to rejoin the church choir
• Get a real haircut
• Never again have to climb on the roof to restart the water heater or take cold showers
  
• Never again slam into another topé going 30 mph
  
• Go to family reunions again
  
• To have a community of support with whom we can have deeper discussions without language barriers getting in the way
  
• And to reconnect more frequently with those we know and love in the US
  

We can't wait to get home to NC for some things, but please understand...now we have 2 homes.

A Walk along the Hot Metal Bridge

So this blog really IS about missions in Mexico, but being here has exposed us to many different ways of doing ministry --- some Mexican, some American. So I absolutely must share with you my excitement about the newly-released book from one of the two pastors at the Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community in Pittsburgh. Aptly named because of its home near the Hot Metal Bridge and Hot Metal Bridge St., this church plant is a joint effort of the Presbyterian and United Methodist church in the Pittsburgh area.

Pastor Jim Walker's book, Dirty Word: The Vulgar, Offensive Languages of the Kingdom of God, chonicles the life of faith at Hot Metal Bridge and challenges us all to consider different ways of "doing church" and reminds of the "dirty" places and people with whom Jesus associated. It has just been released, so we don't have a copy yet, but you can better believe that we'll be getting one as soon as possible!

Here in Mexico, we worship in what would be equated with a garage. We have worshiped outside, on rooftops and in buildings that had so much construction going on that they looked like they were being demolished. The folks at Hot Metal Bridge used to worship in the basement of a tattoo parlor, then the Goodwill cafeteria, and are now worshiping in an old taco restaurant. We know in our heads that worship is about praising God, learning about God and glorifying God, and we often see the places that we worship as part of that. And yet, here in Mexico, there are 2 words...one for the building (el templo) and one for the body of people who worship there (la iglesia).

A faith community is indeed a body of people growing in faith and walking in faith together. Hot Metal dedicates itself to providing a safe place to come to know Jesus for those who would NEVER walk into a tradition church building. El templo itself causes them to walk the other way...unless el templo doesn't look like el templo at all! The model of Hot Metal is not for all congregations, but in many ways, it could be a model for implementation in nearly every community. Every town and city has those whose shame & guilt, whose loss of self-esteem, whose woundedness, and whose wandering away from the messages of Jesus cause them to consciously reject the church. They believe that they would never feel comfortable in el templo and that those inside would reject them. And yet, these are the very people that Jesus went out of his way to reach. They are the very people that Jesus thought deserved his attention the most. They were the people that Jesus was referring to when he said,

Matthew 9:12 But when Jesus heard this, He said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.

Matthew 9:13 "But go and learn what this means: 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Luke 5:31 And Jesus answered and said to them, "It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick.

Luke 5:32 "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." (NASB ©1995)

Jesus said in Matthew 9:13...I desire compassion, and not sacrifice. Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community shows compassion and reaches out to embrace those who need the love of Jesus most of all. They show the difference between el templo and la iglesia in word and deed.

Do we?

The Book that Helped Us Understand

Thanks to our friend and brother in Christ, Keith Kaufold, we want to share with you a book that helped us better understand religion, politics and rebellion in Chiapas. Because of some work he did in seminary at PTS following a mission trip to Mexico, Keith found a book that really offered great insight into...

• The history of catholicism and missionaries in Chiapas
  
• Why the Presbyterians distance themselves so much from the catholics in Chiapas
• Why the Presbyterians here do not consider catholics in Chiapas to be Christians
• Why the Presbyterians so adamantly oppose any alcohol consumption
  
• Why many Presbyterians reject Liberation Theology
• Why many Presbyterians were leery of the Zapatista Rebellion
• Why persecution of Protestants in Chiapas is part of their past and part of their present story

The book has alternating chapters...chapters that tell the story of one particular little girl (Pasquala) who experienced persecution....interwoven with chapters of factual information based on the authors' research. And just so you'll know...Pasquala is a real person...alive and well and sharing her story today. John and Keith met her in 2006.

For those of you who are eager to learn and understand more, I strongly encourage you to read The Cross and the Sword: The Rebellion and Revolution in Chiapas, Mexico by Carl Lawrence and Benjamin Rule. The book is apparently out of print but can be bought new or used from one of several Amazon partner book sellers. Thanks for sharing, Keith!