Gringo-landia

It's been a week of GRINGOS! This week my teammates Ron and Zina had a small group of high school students from Zina's home church in Chattanooga, TN down here to Mexico. It's been a crazy, but fun and exciting week with them. I've enjoyed the times of getting to know them, chat, and just see things again from the "gringo" or American perspective.

The week's been filled with events I never wished to have happen, but God does know why they happened. From the car accident, to all the surprising and not so great health reports, to several on the team getting sick, to protests downtown today preventing them from doing sight-seeing! Even amidst all that, we've had a great week with them.

I have had a lot of fun getting to know one of their teachers, who also came, Amy, who grew up as an MK in Germany. I've learned a little German:) along the way and we've had fun making fun of how she tries to pronounce Spanish words with a german accent....today she saw the Wal-Mart sign and ready it "Silllemplllle" (instead of "siempre" which means "always" like Wal-Mart back home). And we like how she says "Mulllchas Gllllacias" rather than "Muchas Gracias". ...the "r" seems to come out as more a throat/gutteral "l" with the german accent. Anyhow, she's been my car partner all week as I had to drive a lot and she always rode with me, and it was just a lot of fun to talk with a Christian female, my own age, who has also experienced the missionary life. I'm glad God let our paths cross!

We had a great day of ministry on Saturday at the Guacamaya. The gringos went with us and we also had some exciting things happen with the people we've been visiting there! Remember, this is a completely UNREACHED area. There are no churches, most do not have Bibles, nor do they know to read. When asked who created the world, one woman replied, "Maria?" (the virgin Mary). This was only because just recently the Catholic church has arrived to try and indoctrinate them. We showed the DVD "The Hope" (in spanish, "la esperanza") which is a 12-chapter discipleship tool, which presents the Bible chronologically from creation to Christ. We watched chapter one on the creation twice with each group, asking questions, and then reading Genesis 1 together. Seven attended this class, including the man and his wife who are the government officials over this community! Doors are opening and the gospel is going forward. It's so exciting. Later, we visited a new couple, older, in their seventies, in dire straits, and bad health situation. The old man showed us a huge, bleeding goiter on his neck and they only had 1/2 of a tortilla in a small pot on the wooden floor next to their fire. My heart broke at their physical state and extreme need. We gave them a simple "dispensa" or bag of groceries, including rice and beans and tuna...not much, but they began to cry and thank us because they had not eaten a real meal in days. We read through some Psalms with them and told them God is their creator and provider. They were open to listening and I had the chance to pray with both of them before leaving. I can't wait to get to see them again in two weeks when we next go. Please pray for this couple, Don Pablo and his wife. The gringos also did a kid's program.

On Sunday I had to play two special music songs, which went over well. Monday and Tuesday (today) we took the gringos to see the tourist attractions around the area. We weren't able to go downtown today because when we arrived, we found there were major political protests and rallies over the entire downtown center, still over the presidential election which now happened two years ago. They are still protesting that Lopez Obrador should have won. The police had the entire downtown roped off and noone could go through!

Well this is "holy week" here and many leave for vacation. Tomorrow I'll be heading out of town for four days with a small group of young people from church. We're heading south to Morelos, Mexico, where one family has a house. Pray for safety and a chance for a little relaxation.

That's all for now....hope you all have a very blessed Easter Sunday! Make sure to sing some good Easter hymns for me, as that is something I really miss this Easter!

Bethany