MexicoAG.org

On October 9th, incoming Area director Dave Greco met with Mexico’s A/G leaders regarding partnership in ministry to the indigenous and ethnic groups in Mexico.

The meeting in Chihuahua City with Salvador Salazar- National Missions Director, César Casillas – National Missions Treasurer, and Cruz Velázquez – Home Missions Director and pioneer missionary to the Tarahumara Indians, is expected to be a profitable one.

Let’s pray for our leaders and also over this partnership as it grows and develops:

• wisdom – “But the wisdom that comes from God is first of all pure, then peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help those who are troubled and to do good for others. It is always fair and honest. James 3:17 NIV
• workers – “For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God” I Cor. 3:9 AMP; “He said to them, “There are a great many people to harvest, but there are only a few workers. So pray to God, who owns the harvest, that he will send more workers to help gather his harvest.” Luke 10:2 NCV
• unity – “And that’s about it, friends. Be cheerful. Keep things in good repair. Keep your spirits up. Think in harmony. Be agreeable. Do all that, and the God of love and peace will be with you for sure.” 2 Cor. 13:11 MSG

From January 10th until January 13th the Kazim and the Godzwa Families with assistance from the Mexico Missionary Fellowship and several students and ministers from the Yucatan District took part in a medical brigade to help some of those affected by the November floods in Tabasco. This post, written by David Godzwa, recounts some of what they experienced while they were there:

“Leave if you can!” That is the translated name of Salsipuedes one of the two towns that we visited on our medical relief trip to Tabasco. The village of Salsipuedes is situated on the Grijalva River in the Centla of Tabasco, a wetlands region of the state that’s three hours from the capital, one hour on good roads and two on what many would consider “off-road conditions,” but even more overwhelming than the distance to reach this place was the need that we met when we arrived. Sandy Kazim, the organizer and one of the medical providers of the trip told us that for much of the time she felt as though she was running an ER instead of a medical clinic. Four children in the same home with bronchitis and a woman who had recently miscarried were some of the most difficult cases, but case after case of skin infection and other diseases kept the medical providers working long past sunset, the time that we were told we had to leave for the sake of our personal security. Equally as tragic was the spiritual condition of the site. There were reports of active witchcraft taking place and a general look of hopelessness on the faces of many. “Leave if you can” –the name seemed to fit.

Still, that’s the funny thing about the God that we serve. Of all of the needy places that we could have gone, He sent us to the town of Salsipuedes. I think perhaps it was because, even though others had given up on that “Godforsaken” place, He hadn’t. He sent us there as an extension of His love in a tangible way.

I had the chance to enter into homes with several of the students of the Bible Institute while the medical team treated the sick. And as we passed from house to house, entering into their world, I thought of what Christ did for each one of us. He left His glory to live among us, to experience what we experience and to give us the hope that comes from a relationship with God. We in turn were serving as his representatives, offering the same hope that we now enjoy in a place where hope seemed for many to be a distant memory.

I spoke to many and told them that, although they might not have expected it, God had sent us to them specifically to let them know that He had decided to stay in Salsipuedes and that he was looking for hearts in which he could live. We prayed with many as they wrestled to take those first steps toward a relationship with their Creator.

What will happen is hard to determine. The routine of the life poverty has a grip that is relentless. C.S. Lewis once said it this way:

Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

So is the work in Salsipuedes; the population is run down, too tired to hope, too tired to dream of something better, and perhaps easily placated with the counterfeits that false religions or momentary escapes like drugs and alcohol can provide. Still, I believe that something began in the heart of those that we touched on that Friday. They received a taste of the love of God, and I believe that through the persistence of the pastor and the congregation that is serving that town, together with the regenerative power of the Holy Spirit, the very character of that town can change. In fact, I’m looking forward to the day when they invite us to the official name changing ceremony.

If you have not had the opportunity to see the images of the Mexican state of Tabasco that CNN has been broadcasting, please understand that the inhabitants of this area are dealing with a true disaster. Due to unseasonable heavy and continual rain, several rivers have flooded their banks inundating businesses, homes, schools, and churches. News reports put up to 80% of this low-lying state currently underwater. Calls to church leaders in this district have returned reports of lower lying areas completely underwater, of many homes and churches with more than five feet of water in them, and of flooding so high that even people who live on the second floor of a building have found shelter elsewhere because there is no access to their homes.

They need drinkable water, powdered milk, towels, diapers, canned food, and lots of other basic items. However, what the church leaders have asked for specifically at this time are medical personal with medicines and vitamins to come and offer care. This is extremely important as the floodwaters begin to recede and diseases resulting from contaminated drinking water and inadequate services begin to appear.

For this reason, we are appealing to you to consider sending a one time offering to provide the finances necessary to buy the medical supplies and pay for the trip of several Christian doctors from the Yucatán to Tabasco to provide front-line relief as well as the peace of Christ in this critical situation. An on-line giving form is accessible through this link.

Note: Funds are being channeled though the account of Missionary Paul Kazim. Be sure to enter “Tabasco Relief Class 50″ in the comment section of the contribution form.

To mail in your contribution please address your envelope to:

Assemblies of God World Missions
1445 N Boonville Ave
Springfield MO 65802

Make the check out to:

Assemblies of God World Missions

Enter “Account #243357 Class 50″ on the memo line.

FIRE IN MEXICO

This massive event proclaiming Jesus as King over Mexico will take place this November in Mexico City. It all begins on the 12th in the Zocalo with a massive youth outreach/concert. Then on the 13th there will be a Pastors & Leaders Conference in the morning with the main event later that day for 80,000 people in the Aztec Stadium with guest Darlene Zschech from Hillsong Church, as well as other groups from Latin America.

Joel 3:9
Call out your best warriors.
Let all your fighting men advance for the attack.

CALLING ALL INTERCESSORS

We must pray! Please set aside time this Friday, July 6 to fast and pray over this event. Specific prayer is asked for those organizing this event.

Missionary Ryan Thomas writes,

“Without exaggerating, the six main organizers of this event have gone through more sicknesses, trials and tragedies in a matter of weeks than in years prior. It is very obvious that the enemy does not want this event to happen. For that reason, we covet your prayers more than ever.”