Hello from Mexico!

It is hard to believe summer vacation is ending as we jump back into back-to- school preparations. Summer flew by and I would like to share a few highlights of this summer vacation.

The Bethel youth group missions team arrived here in Mexico on June 29. We had a blast getting to know the youth and the leaders and serving alongside them! They were a team of 25 people and joined us here for 6 days.  The week passed by incredibly fast as we ran from one activity to the next. We had the opportunity to do a street evangelism outreach; five VBS’ in different work camps, an orphanage; an outreach in the mountain village; and a basketball youth night with Amelia’s youth group. We were overjoyed and greatly encouraged to have the team here! One of my favorite things was watching our young Tarahumara teachers building relationships with the Canadian team. The teachers had the opportunity to part-take in all the activities the team was involved in. I loved watching these young girls step out of their comfort zone! The Canadian team did an incredible job in all the events and our Tarahumara community will not soon forget them. We were so blessed!

After the team left, I joined my parents on their trip to Canada. It was a nice change of scenery for 3 weeks. It was very nice to see friends and family again, to meet with some of our supporters and visit the church families that stand behind the ministry! I feel overwhelmed with the way God has blessed the ministry with people who pray for and love on the people we work with. Thank you! It is honestly through your prayers and support that we can be here. I am reminded of Paul in Romans 15:30-32, “I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorable received by the Lord’s people there, so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed.” Although our circumstances and struggles are very different, the need for your prayers is the same. Thank you for all the encouragement while up in Canada. I feel refreshed and excited to see what God has in store for this next school year!

After returning from Canada, Amelia and I had the opportunity to go up to Corarayvo, the mountain village we go to for the annual VBS. We went up the end of July and we invited all the children to a 4 day VBS. About eight children showed up. We were able to use the same material the Canadian team had left us at the beginning of July. The kids absolutely LOVED the airplanes donated from a business in Canada. We had a lot of fun with the skits, face paint, balloon animals, the memory verse, water games and bracelets. It was exciting to see a youth from the community jump in to help with the skits and the games. In addition, a few women showed up to every VBS. The last day they shared how blessed they had been by the VBS, and asked us to continue returning. These women have been at many of the VBS’ over the years. Please pray for the village of Corarayvo, that hearts would open to the gospel and one day a church could open there.

We are getting excited as the school year is drawing closer. We continue to receive calls of children wanting to attend the school, but unfortunately have had to put them on a waiting list, as we are still looking for a bigger building for the school for this next year. There is a growing need for a permanent school building, as every year we are asking around for empty buildings where we could teach the students. Please pray with us for a building to open up so all the students could be together in one building. In addition, we are beginning to pray for a future building project for a permanent school. We ask you would join us in prayer for that project as well.  

We are very excited to share that we have nine staff for this upcoming school year:

Nathan & Rosemarie FriesenLetizia Unruh

Joel ChávezCande Palma

Sandra PalmaCarolina Caraveo

Amelia and myself

Please pray for the Friesen family and Letizia as they will be making their way down from Canada to Mexico in the next few weeks. Pray for safe travels, as well as smooth transition as they settle in to a new culture and home. Please pray for Joel and Carolina, as this will be their first time teaching in school. Pray for peace, wisdom and joy as they get to know the children and prepare for their subjects. Please pray for Cande and Sandra, as this will be their second year teaching. Pray that they can continue to build meaningful relationships with their students and they would continue to learn as they teach. Amelia and I would also love your prayers, as we are excited to work alongside with these wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray for wisdom and unity for this ministry and for the staff. Pray for the school, that it would be God-honoring environment. Also, pray for each student God is sending!

Staff

Nathan & Rosemarie Friesen and family

Sandra Palma

Cande Palma

Carolina Caraveo

Letizia Unruh

Joel Chavez

Lastly, I would like to share with you that we will be needing support for Sandra, Cande and Carolina, so that they can cover their living expenses. Each of them will need $350 USD monthly. If you are interested in hearing more about one of these three teachers, or all three, feel free to message me. They have written support letters and their testimonies and I would gladly share them with you!

Once again, thank you so much for your interest and support in the ministry! God bless!