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June 2007
Dear Friends of MMAB,
There is much reason for intercession and praise for so much that is happening in and through Misión Mazahua. Please continue to pray for us and with us for the many ministries, for the team working at the mission, and for the people we are serving.
COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION
During the past year and a half MM has been able to construct at least 15 cisterns, 8 of which have been in schools of the county including all of the high schools. In addition, the forms were loaned to a sister agency for further work.
Intensive classes in computer, English, sewing, embroidery were held in Las Rosas from Sept. 2006 through April 2007. May has been a month of planning and preparation with the projection of re-initiation of classes in Las Rosas in September.
A new program of sewing and embroidery with other opportunities for community transformation has been opened this month in Rioyos Buenavista with a group of 18 women led by Yolanda Blas and Rosaura González. This project is to last a minimum of 3 months at which time it will be evaluated and the decision made whether to continue another 3 months.
These have been wonderful opportunities to proclaim Christ in the many communities while putting the gospel into action. Most of the communities in which MM has been working over the past three years would have remained closed to our efforts had it not been for the voice and authority extended to Norberto through the recent incursions in the political arena. New opportunities are also developing in the communities of Tepetitlan, San Pedro El Alto, Ejido and others.
The second and larger micro-enterprise in production of granola has also been launched with the "graduation" of Belem Villegas from the shop located in Las Rosas to the installation of her own independent shop at her home in San Pablo Tlalchichilpa. In addition to 800 plus pounds of granola, Belem is producing over a ton of mole sauce for the restaurant chain, TOKS.
Misión Mazahua is also proclaiming God's concern for the creation and our well-being in efforts of reforestation this summer as the rains begin. There are over 800 trees (fruit trees, pines, cedars) which have grown to over 8 feet tall over the past two years which are ready for a good home within the communities. Two hundred of the trees have been promised for planting in the communities of El Obraje and Tepetitlán. Also the pastors and Christian workers of Pastoral Ministries have been given the challenge of demonstrating the beauty of the presence of God's kingdom through the reforestation around the churches in which they serve, involving the congregations' children in their care. (The children and members will also hopefully form brigades to keep at least the property of the churches clean and attractive as they learn about stewardship of the creation and recycling.)
SCHOLARSHIP AND DISCIPLESHIP
Nearly all of the funds from S. and D. and the emphasis and attention of this ministry have been refocused in the support of the students of Las Rosas. In September classes for the High School studies via Internet will start again. This is a new national effort designed by Christian friends who have had amazing success in Mexico and also abroad. It is a system which is accessible to any Mexican who desires to complete high school although it does require new self-discipline and motivation on the part of the students. We have not been at all satisfied with our initial efforts with high school students at Las Rosas using this model since September 2006, and for that reason, this September 2007 we will be re-opening the high school classes with a new model which we call "semi-escolarizado" meaning the students will be required to attend classes and training sessions Monday through Saturday at Las Rosas. This will require additional staff as study supervisors as well as additional funds. Dormitories are being prepared for those students who will be living at Las Rosas and at the hacienda.
This summer we hope to find some additional sponsors from Mexican churches and institutions to assist as support in this new high school effort.. Please be praying for these important resources.
In addition to the academic progress to be seen at Las Rosas the idea behind the new model is that every student be involved and responsible for one of the productive areasamaranth products, rabbits, livestock, stained glass, ceramics, oyster mushrooms, greenhouse, sculptured carpet, etc. Among the pieces of good news we can report that the sculptured carpet shop has been revived. Stanley Spencer who originally trained some of our people in this skill back in 1998 came again in March with his whole family and gave another course from which several adults from the surrounding communities and 5 of our own youth benefited.
Additional funds for scholarships will be promoted for the support of training and preparation of future leadership of Mision Mazahua. Falling within this category we have Judith, Evelio, and Lety who have been and will continue to benefit from the support this program allows.
Again the "engines are running" with the goal of sending Judith to Michigan in September. However, with the controversy which arose surrounding Judith's case the funding for this sub-division of the Scholarship and Discipleship Program, will be destined toward the program for university level students and the program's goals of grooming leadership for Mision Mazahua more than toward specific individuals. We will seek to open this ministry to young people who have been closely linked to Mision Mazahua, particularly Mazahua youth.
Over the past months, $350 have been given to Evelio Ibarra who is presently studying Sustainable Development at the Intercultural University in San Felipe del Progreso. It was a special blessing for us to be able help Lety Gómez with over $700 for her stay in Kentucky with ceramists Paul and Patricia Ferrel during two months this winter where she was able to learn many new techniques and to broaden her horizons enormously. This July, Misión Mazahua will be funding up to 10 young people from our MM team and nearby congregations to participate in a training apprenticeship at an excellent Christian camp called Palabra de Vida (Word of Life) in Bernal, Querétaro. This camp has a wonderful ministry for evangelizing and discipling children and young people. Our hope is that those 10 young people might lead a similar children's camp in August at the hacienda or Las Rosas incorporating into the programBible study, music, crafts, sports, English and Mazahua classes, games, movies, and more. Provision International, a sister para-church organization based in Montana will be helping us fund this effort.
PASTORAL MINISTRIES
The students in Pastoral Ministries are now studying an intensive course being taught at the mission by teachers from the Baptist Seminary of the Theological Community in Mexico City. This seminar on the New Testament concept of salvation is what is called a "diplomado" here in Mexicothat is, a serious course of study with official recognition in the academic circles.
We are also seeing the efforts to have reprints of the New Testament, hymnal, and primer for Mazahua moving along. We have been surprised and very pleased by the new interest in the Mazahua language. There is a rebirth of sorts after years of the public policy of eradication of the 'Indian dialects' as these languages have been termed.
The promotion of the Jesus Film in Mazahua has been quite slow. However, we hope and pray that there might be more demand soon. We ask among those who read this if there is the means by which to pass the VHS format of the film to DVD to enable us to show the film with even greater ease.
It is with the students of this ministry that we are developing the camp for children and youth before mentioned.
SPECIAL FRIENDS
There has been rich and intensive activity among the Special Friends especially now that Jovita is back with us full time. The goal in the True Friends sports camp with Richard St. Denis in February was to involve 10 new members. The goal was almost reached. Nine new "Friends" participated in the week of challenging exercise and activities.
Our own Lety Elizalde got married last year and moved back to Dolores Hidalgo with her husband, José Luís. They had both been working at Misión Mazahua. Just recently Lety returned to work at the mission full time and José Luís part time. They have a beautiful little baby girl named Julie.
This past weekend, on June 10, Norberto and I, accompanied by Enrique Ozuna, a new member of the MM team, attended the closing of the first Tennis Tournament, (June 8-10) organized and managed by the True Friends group themselves. This event was held at a private sports club in Atlacomulco, the new manager of which has been quite supportive.
This month there will be a new camp (June 23-26) for Special Friends for which we are expecting a group of 34 American volunteers organized by Pastor Jack Brown. The strategy for this camp is to have up to 20 severely handicapped children and youth who will be under the care and tutelage of some of our "old pros" such as Mario, Lety, Quique, Tere, and others with the assistance of the North American team.
In December of last year 8 of. the "True Friends" (the "old pros") competed in tournaments and sports camps in Mazatlán and Culiacán. Also this winter, Mario and Richard flew to Tucson to participate in competitions from which they returned not only with medals and recognitions but also with renewed enthusiasm. These opportunities were sponsored by Mobility Project.
AGRICULTURE
A ton of organic amaranth was harvested from the parcels belonging to MM with relatively low investment in funds but with intense labor. This should supply the production of granola and amaranth products that will continue at the mission.
There has been good production of organic oyster mushrooms, plums, peaches, tomatillos, at the hacienda and at Las Rosas. We also have 25 rabbits providing us with many, many bunnies. By the end of the summer we anticipate harvesting tomatoes also from 50 plants that are progressing well. Last year the mission purchased a large greenhouse which has been installed at Las Rosas. Brother Juan Pedraza, an agricultural engineer, from Mina Vieja (up in the mountains beyond the Mazahua Ceremonial Center) has taken the challenge of setting up production for tomatoes in the greenhouse with the goal of harvesting at least three tons of tomatoes. All of these are our attempts to care for God's creation and offer more opportunity to declare His grace in practical expressions. The creation itself groans for the manifestation of the sons of God. Romans 8:19.
RECONSTRUCTION
Little reconstruction was done over the past couple of years. However it is becoming urgent to replace the old rotting timbers and tile roofs of Las Rosas. At present three adobe rooms are being reconditioned in order to make a dormitory for male students of the Academic and Productive Enterprise Program to start at Las Rosas in the fall. Las Rosas in particular needs a great deal of reconstruction and equipping. There are more than 2000 square feet of roofs that need to be replaced. With Jack's group we are anticipating the construction of two new cisterns for 8000 gallons of water. With the help of Provision International we will be finishing the new bathrooms that were started four years ago, giving the facilities 4 more toilets, sinks, and showers.
CHRISTIAN CAMP
We were sad to receive the resignation of Israel Pacheco after some 8 years of service at Misión Mazahua. However, Judith had been very well prepared to step up to the responsibilities. Now when she leaves for Michigan for intensive study of English and possibly a degree at Olivet College we will again need to fill this position.
The past year and a half were very, very critical for the camp ministry of Misión Mazahua. Two very generous and unexpected donations at the end of last year enabled us to keep the ship afloat. This year the attendance at the hacienda for camps, events, and retreats is on the rise which will be a great boost to the economy of the camp and the community outreach.
We do ask you to prayerfully consider all the points we have shared with you. Hold us up to the Heavenly Father. The work is often intense, often frustrating and discouraging. The enemy is astute and ever looking for the cracks through which to enter and destroy. Together with this communication we will attach a small biography, courtesy of Judith, which will give you the names and a brief description of most of the Misión Mazahua Team. We hope that the Lord might put it upon your hearts to pray for specific areas and people regularly and intensely.
Thank-you. May God abundantly bless you as you join in this adventure in His kingdom at our side,
Lisa and Norberto
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Here are the majority of the biographies. I will ask Judith to get a bit for Enrique Ozuna and others that are missing.
1.- Agustina Flores, is 45 years old and widow, she has been working with the animals, orchard and now with gardens. She has worked with the Mission for 12 years and she has a girl who is 17 years old in high school.
2.- Efrain Garcia, he is 27 years old, married with one kid, he helps Agustina with all the work; he has been here since two years ago. They are from the same town Santa Cruz Mectepec.
3.- Angeles Segundo, is 27 year old, single and she learned stained glass 7 years ago here at the mission , and now she is working in our shop; she has been working here since 6 years ago. She is studying high school in Santa Ana Nichi.
4.- Rosalba Duran, is 26 years old, single, she arrived here at the mission 10 years ago; she studied her elementary school here and now is working through junior high school; she is in charge of the kitchen, she is head cook for all of the camps.
5.- Lety Elizalde, is in a wheelchair, 27 years old, married to Jose Luis; they met here at the Hacienda and got married last June, and now they have a daughter (July) she helps in housecleaning, and is involved with the project of Special Friends, too.
6.- Jovita Perez, is 35 years old, single and she is in charge of the Special Friends project here at the mission; she has been working here since 5 years ago.
8.- Dolores Gonzalez (Lolita), is 26 years old, single mother, is in charge of the housecleaning of all the rooms, bathrooms; she has been working here for four years.
9.- Margarita Gomez, is 26 years old, a single mother; she is Lolita's helper with the housecleaning; she has been working here for 5 months.
10.- Rosario Urbina (Chayito), is 24 years old, single and has been here since last January; she is Lolita's helper too.
11.- Lety Gomez , she is 27 years old, single, she has been working here since 9 years ago; she is in charge of the ceramic's shop in Las Rosas.
12.- Berenice Tellez, is 20 years old, single; she is working with ceramic and carpets in Las Rosas since last year.
13.- Adelina de Jesus, 18 years old, a single mother; she is working at Las Rosas with ceramics; she has been here for eight months.
14.- Daniel Rodriguez, is 25 years old, single, he is working at Las Rosas since last January helping with maintenance with his father (Don Pepe) .
15.- Jose Rodriguez (Don Pepe), is 45 years old, married; he is in charge of the rabbits, green house, maintenance, gardens and some other works in Las Rosas, he has been working with us since two years ago.
16.- David Canales, is 45 years old, married, is in charge of maintenance here at the hacienda, he has been working here for 20 years.
17.- Moises Canales, is 30 years old, married, has two kids, is in charge of the carpentry here at the mission, has been working for the mission for 13 years.
18.- Ruben Peralta, is 17 years old, single. In charge of the mushrooms, horses, he sometimes helps Agustina and works in maintenance for camps; he is studying junior high school too.
19.- Rosaura Gonzalez, is 38 years old, divorced and has three kids; she is in charge of the projects in the villages, has been working here since two years ago.
20.- Judith Tellez, 24 years old, single and she has been working here since nine years ago, now she is working at the office and helping with the camps.
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