January Newsletter: Amanda in Mexico

Hola! I want to say a huge thank you for all your prayers and support. Praise God, It’s been a wonderful start to a new year. I hope this month has been a good one for you as well.

On January 1st, I returned to the mountains to start up school again. The children were very excited to be back; Ana’s sister and I resumed our reading classes; and Ana Cristina and I began the 4th book of our Discipleship. I am truly grateful for the discipleship, as I am learning to discipline myself with memorizing verses, doing the homework, and being more aware of people around me who haven’t heard the gospel.

On January 8th, Ana and I decided to make the 3 hour trek to church. We learned that the pastor of the church was no longer there, so the other Christian couple in church had stepped up to take their place. We were invited for lunch, where the couple shared with us their needs in the church. Ana and I decided to start helping with the worship, as well as start a class for the youth and translate the service into the Tarahumara language. I began to pray about what I could teach the youth, and God placed it on my heart that it wasn’t about trying to be ‘super cool’ or modern, rather to teach them God’s Word and love them wholeheartedly. That following Sunday, I wasn’t quite sure how the class would go, especially when I was asked if the 3 children in church could join too, as there is no class for them. We began our class, and it was fun to see the youth and children interested in this ‘new activity.’ Unfortunately, there are no Christian activities in the community. I soon realized I had planned much too short of a class, so we decided to act out the story of the Good Samaritan. I loved seeing the kids and youth having so much fun acting… it was apparent they hadn’t done that before as even the 17 year old boy was completely enjoying himself!

Currently, I am in Cuauhtemoc with my sister Amelia, as God blessed us with a mission team from Mazatlan, Sinaloa who came to serve here at the school and in the community for 2 weeks. We were also so blessed to have visitors from Canada and Monterrey this same week. We’ve had the opportunity to evangelize, do a VBS program, and work together with 3 churches and 1 new ministry that started up this past fall. It has truly been a joy to work together with so many brothers and sisters in Christ from all over the world and such an encouragement for us! Please pray for all the people who have been touched by the events, as well as those who received Christ this past week!

Lastly, I want to share a story with you that once again confirmed for me that I was right where God wanted me to be. Ana Cristina and I have been visiting an elderly gentleman, just to show God’s love as he is alone and really appreciates visitors. I found it interesting that, since the beginning, he was not shy about his lifestyle. He made it clear that alcohol and parties were an important part of his life. Ana and I never criticized him, rather we’d listen to him and change the subject. On our last visit, I began to feel a strong need to somehow bring up God with this gentleman… I just wasn’t quite sure how. So I asked him if he knew how to read, hoping it would somehow open a door to talk about the Bible. God opened the door wide, as he eagerly told me about this book of prayers to Maria that he was reading. So, I told him I had a Bible that he might like to read, and that brought up a conversation of different Bible stories he was familiar with. The following day, he came by the house to pick up the Bible. I had a Bible, as well as several Christian books. He chose to take a thick, Christian book that explains key Bible stories and how they point to Jesus. I was shocked when, exactly a week later, he came back with the book, saying he read it all. I began to ask him about different stories in the book, to see if he had actually read it all… and he had! He shared the part of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins had made him cry, and he really enjoyed it. That opened the doors for a wonderful conversation, as we sat there for an hour and he asked question after question. Ana did a wonderful job explaining the meaning of Jesus’ death on the cross in the Tarahumara language. He ended up taking a children’s Bible, as well as another Christian book to read. Praise God for what He’s doing in this gentleman’s life! Please pray with me that the Holy Spirit would open his mind to understand his need for a Savior.

I want to share a verse with you that spoke powerfully to me this past month during a time I was feeling anxious about some uncertainties. Isaiah 41:10 “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” What a wonderful reminder that God is in control, and He already knows how things will turn out!

Please continue to pray for both ministries, the one in the mountains I am serving in, as well as the school Amelia is running. Pray for the youth and the people of Rosanachi, that they would come to know Jesus personally. Also, pray for the group, that they could finish strong, and for a safe trip to the mountains this Thursday. Thank you so much for your prayers. We couldn’t be here without you! God bless!