Island Ministry
For many years now, our churches here have received unmeasurable benefits of the “missions” programs in the American church. Missionary teams, both short and long-term have been essential to the growth of the Mexican Church. All of us are so grateful for the building and ministry resources that have been shared, the biblical teaching and preaching that is brought and of course the lasting friendships that form. With all of that… we have wanted our church here to have the blessing of giving in missions also! This last week Nueva Creación went on it’s first ever missions trip!
Thirteen of us here in Guadalajara left early in the morning on a 14 hour drive to the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. We spent a week in Soyaltepec, where our friend Roger Tomlinson, fellow EMF missionary, brought the gospel a few years ago to the Mazateco people. They live on a rustic and isolated island in the middle of Lake Miguel Alemán. Most of the things that we enjoy in our modern world are hard to come by on the island… building materials, clothing, food, clean water and even more important… the gospel. Before we arrived we were told, “There are no mature Christians”. That gave us even more motivation to go and to pray and ask God to use us in any way that He would choose. Our hope was that in some way we would be able to help and encourage this new church.
There were some really great things that came from this trip! Although most of our group had a to make a big sacrifice to pay for this mission, we were able to leave behind some much needed chairs for the church, a guitar, a few teachings and friendships with local believers that will last a long time. It was clear in the tears and hugs from the island people that God had used us to bless them. We will always treasure those memories. God also did His work in us. Our team, in their first missions experience on the giving end, was able to see the joy in spending, sacrificing and giving to those who will not be able to pay it back. Jorge discovered that in addition to being a baker and usher in his local church, he’s a gifted preacher. Mauricio learned to value patience, Christy overcame fears and Pastor Toño was able to use the grief he experienced recently to minister to families in grief. Many were reminded that we are amazingly blessed by God and have so much to give.
We were definitely helped along our way by some of our American partners. I want to express very genuine gratitud for that. You have helped us take steps forward in our faith, calling and understanding of what it means to serve God. We believe this trip was a catalyst in helping us become mission-minded churches that participate in the Great Commission.
