Mexico Trip, March 2005     (July, 2005 Trip Below)

At the request of Mexican government leaders, IBLP has been serving the people of Mexico. Seminars and Children’s Institutes have been held and work with orphans is growing.  A team of ATI young people will serve in Chiapas, Mexico this spring.

 

mexico

Maps are from www.worldatlas.com

Chiapas is the southernmost state in Mexico. It borders Guatemala and the Pacific coast. Over 4.2 million people live in Chiapas. About a third of the people are of Mayan decent, and in the rural areas, many do not speak Spanish. Catholicism is the primary religion, but it is practiced as a “traditionalist religion”, a semi-pagan mix of Roman Catholic beliefs and ancient Mayan religion.

During this trip, a week long Children’s Institute, construction work, and meetings with Mexican youth are scheduled.  Young people who serve as teachers will also learn about Mexican culture and the Spanish language.

“He who is greatest among you, let him be servant of all” --

Ministry in a foreign country often transforms those who serve as much as those who are being ministered to. Teamwork is required, along with a gracious and forbearing spirit. Language differences reinforce the truth that effective communication and kindness are often more conveyed, than merely spoken. The spiritual rewards, eternal perspectives, and genuine love developed for those being served often exceed the sense of adventure and the fun of going somewhere far from home.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”   --Matthew 28:19-20

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Jeremy & Jordan Will Be Serving On This Ministry Trip.   

                               

  Email Jeremy                               Email Jordan

Having Served In China, Both Jeremy & Jordan Would Like To Serve Again In A Different Venue, A Different Place, And Among A Different People.

Trip Information

Dates: March 19-April 2, 2005

Team Size: 18 ATI Young People, Age 16 and Above

Cost: $1050, Which Covers Airfare From Memphis To Houston, TX And  Mexico, Lodging, Food, Transportation, and Materials

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Updates & Info

From The Trip Coordinator...

Where We'll Be

The seminar will be held in a town called Las Margaritas. The second week, we will be working in the mountains in San Cristobal.  Here is a link to a map of Chiapas: http://www.travelchiapas.com/map/map-2.php
 
Who We'll Be Working With
Ken and Susana Phariss and their daughter currently serve in Mexico with IBLP. They will be our hosts. During the second week we will be serving the Terrell Family who run a "translation center" in San Cristobal. There will also be other families and young people from other parts of Mexico who will join us.
 
Schedule
March 19 - Depart for Villahermosa. Upon arrival, drive to Las Margaritas (about a five hour drive).
March 20 - To be determined
March 21 - 26 - Children's Institute. We'll have training in the morning and afternoon Monday - Thursday. The seminar will be held Monday - Friday about 7 - 10 pm in the evening and all day on Saturday.
March 27 - Outing to a lake and Mayan pyramids. This will be an exciting treat. We'll do some boating and hiking and enjoying the scenery. In the evening we will drive to San Cristobal.
March 28-April 1 - Working in San Cristobal with a multitude of projects - outreach ministries, Bible Clubs, Character First, construction, computer work, meal prep, landscaping, etc.
April 2 - Depart for the USA
 
In San Cristobal 
We will be staying at a "translation center" run by the Terrell family and other faithful servants of the Lord in Chiapas. At this center, they translate many different materials into Spanish and other Indian dialects. To name a few, they work on the Jesus Film, classic Christian literature, IBLP seminars, Character First, Wisdom Booklets, and numerous other materials that are benefiting all of Mexico! The people that serve in this center are all volunteers who work tirelessly to bring Biblical materials to the people that need to hear the truth. In fact, many are ATI students who work very hard to translate the Wisdom Booklets! Can you imagine not only doing ATI, but also having to translate your books?
 
At the center there are many different needs. There is a need for completion of a studio-building for the translation work. This building is in progress already, but because of the overwhelming nature of the translation work, the team there hasn't been able to complete it. Landscaping the grounds is also a need. They is also a need for people who know graphic design (Quark) or have data entry skills or typing skills.
 
Just near the center is a family that is looking to start an orphanage. They have 10 children currently and are excited about us taking some time to work with them during the week. (This is where the orphan work comes in.)

 
Additionally, the area around the center is prime for outreach to the local people. We will have opportunity to reach out to children and adults by presenting the Gospel through Bible Clubs in the parks. Even if we just sang or played instruments and shared a story or skit on the street we would draw a large, very attentive crowd. This is an AWESOME opportunity to share Jesus with people. Most of these people are indigenous people, Indian not Spanish. 
 
In the past, I've seen that the most blessed thing is to walk in the way of the Master, trusting Him to guide His ministry to His people. As servants of Jesus, we can rest in the fact that He will establish the steps of our feet as we yield ourselves to Him. God is going to do mighty and awesome things!!! And, don't be surprised if the awesome work is in your own heart.

 

Tuesday, March 22

Buenos dias,
I don't have a whole lot of time to write so this will be short. I am keeping notes of all the happenings.  We arrived in Villahermosa about 9:15 pm Saturday. Mr.Terrell was there to pick us up. We left Villahermosa about 10. Plans were changed, so instead of going to Las Margaritas, we went San Cristobal. It was supposed to be a 5 hr drive...it was a 7 hr drive. We got to the missionary's at 5 a.m. We slept till about 8 Sunday and had breakfast of fruit and bran muffins. After breakfast, we unloaded all the luggage out of the trailer and went through it taking out the stuff we brought down for the missionaries. Then we loaded up some kayaks and all the luggage and headed for Las Margaritas. I rode with Reece Terrell, the Terrell's son. He drove a beetle bug. It was a blast. We got all settled into the hotel and went to a house for supper before we had a meeting. Yesterday we had training in the morning and afternoon, then the CI started at 5 and went till 9. Today we had training in the morning and this afternoon we have some free time, so I brought a group to the cafe. My time is running out so I need to close out now. As you probably can imagine, I'm having a ball. Jeremy's been really funny and talkative. I'll e-mail again as soon as possible. Thinking of ya'll!!
 
XOXO,
Hoss

Wednesday, March 23

Just a quick note to let you know that things are going well. I have so much to tell!! I have to be ready for the CI in 40 minutes and I need to get cleaned up. JR seems to be enjoying himself. Right now I'm watching them at the internet cafe. It's been an amazing three days so far!!! So much has happened. I love ya'll!!! I'm hoping to be able to send a longer e-mail soon.
 
Hoss

Thursday, March 24

Hi folks,
Another short one to add to the list. We did a street presentation this morning! We had been given permission to do something in the main plaza. Jerry and I stayed up till 3 a.m. Tuesday night planning things out for it. JR and  I played several songs. Orange Blossom, Ashokan Farewell, Power in the Blood, and Jerusalem Ridge. Then Heather played on the piano that Jerry and I brought out. After she played, Aaron and Jerry did the "Egg skit", one of the skits used in the CI. After the skit Jerry gave his testimony, then Heather played and JR and I closed out with some more songs. Then we had teacher training till 1. We had some time to do different things until about 2:30 when we had lunch. SO far things are going really well and I'm am enjoying myself so much and I think I'm behaving. Let's put it this way, JR hasn't told me silencio yet. Missing ya'll!!! Happy Birthday twins!!!
 
Hoss

Friday, March 25

Hi folks,
It's hard to believe that the CI is almost over. Tonight and tomorrow and we'll be through. I only have a couple of minutes because I need to get ready for tonight and it's already after 4. The weather has been nice and fairly cool. It rained really hard last night for about 40 minutes. Today has been cloudy and warm. So far everyone has been getting along and getting a lot accomplished. There is so much to tell, but so little time to tell it in. I know ya'll don't like short e-mails, but we don't have much time on the internet.
 
Lots of love,
Hoss

Wednesday, March 30

We have been working so hard since we got back to the Terrell's house! The CI finished nicely. Sunday we had a Easter service on the roof of the hotel then went to a lake one the border of Mexico and Guatemala. The Terrell's had 5 Kayaks so we took turns going out on the water. The guys took the last ride and we went all the way to Guatemala. We beached the boats and walked into Guatemala. It was so neat! We got back to the Terrell's Monday night. Yesterday we worked long and very hard. Then last night we went to a museum about the peoples here in Chiapas. It was really neat. Today I've been smoothing flooring boards down for the new studio. I need to get back to work now so I'll say adios! I hope to send some e-mails later or tomorrow, but I doubt that'll happen. Take care and looking forward to seeing ya'll this weekend.
 
Hoss 

Saturday, April 2, 2005

Jeremy & Jordan arrived safely home from an uplifting and fruitful ministry trip!

 

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Mexico Trip, July 2005    

Johanna is participating in a ministry trip sponsored by First Baptist Church, Senatobia, MS to Matamoros, Mexico from July 9-16, 2005.  Over fifty people are serving, conducting Bible School, construction projects, youth events and sharing times.  Johanna will be working with  several college students from FBC and the Northwest Community College BSU. The City of Matamoros, Mexico  is in the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico. The closest US border cities are Brownsville, Texas and Harlingen, Texas.

 

Email Johanna 

Sunday, July 10

Buenos Dias!!!! So far I am having a great time! This morning went to breakfast at Cafe Aroma and had eggs, potatoes, beans, tortillas, salsa, sweet rolls, and
fresh squeezed OJ. It was fantastic!!!! The cafe is so neat. Ya´ll would love our hotel. My door opens to a balcony which overlooks the courtyard. I am on the
third floor. The room is very nice and clean. After breakfast we had a church service and then separated into team groups to have team meetings. After, I went exploring a bit with some of the others. JR and Hoss--I got some of that apple soda. It was great!!! This afternoon we have a bit of free time, then we will go and see our work sights, go prayer walking, attend a Mexican church service, (they are giving us an authentic Mexican supper), then we will come back to finish preparing for tomorrow. JR, you would love it here!!! And your fiddle would have added a lot. Tonight Mary and I are going to do some music for the church service. I am excited!!! Hope you have a great week and remember me in your prayers!
Johanna

Monday, July 11

AM--Hey, we are about to leave for our first day of work. It should be interesting. Yesterday we went prayer walking and the ´neighborhood´ we went walking in would break your heart. The church service last night was really neat. We sang Lord I Lift Your Name On High, Open The Eyes of My Heart Lord, and several others in Spanish. I sang He Leadeth Me with another lady while Mary accompanied on the guitar. The pastor and the other Christians in that church are so radiant and their countenances are so full of joy. It is something to see how little they have, yet how happy they are. Certainly they are laying up treasures in heaven, not on earth.
Well, we are about to leave soon,
Lots of love!!!
Me

PM--Hey!!! This morning went great. My interpreter is a young man named Moses. We had two girls act as our guides. Their names were Carmon and Silvia. We stopped at five places. The first person we talked to was a Catholic lady. She accepted Christ into her life!!!!! She was crying when we left her. Her name was also Silvia. That was very touching. The next place we stopped at, we talked to the lady but when we asked her if she would like to pray, she said she was too busy. My little team prayed for her after we left, though. Another lady was a Mormon and she was sure she was saved and on her way to heaven. Daddy, how do you talk to a Mormon about Christ? Another place, the boy we talked to was already a Christian. You could tell by looking into his face. Next, on our way back to the church, we came across a poor man who had difficulty walking and could not really talk. He reminded me of some of the poor lame beggars that Christ healed. Well, he accepted Christ too!!! All together, our team helped lead 5 people to the Lord.
This afternoon we went walking around town. During lunch it started to rain and did not just rain but poured!!!! The streets were all under water so we almost had to hire a boat to get back! Things dried up pretty quickly, though.
Well, we are about to leave again to talk to more people.
Adios Amigos!
Me

Tuesday, July 12

AM--We had a eventful afternoon yesterday when we went out to evangelize again! We were supposed to pick up our interpreters at the church, but Mr. Mickey our team leader and driver got lost and could not find the church! We ended up driving around the city for an hour and a half! And we only had two hours to work! Well, our team has done the most sight-seeing so far!
When we got the the church we picked up our interpreters and they showed us the correct way to the hotel and back. Then we took them out to a seafood restaurant for dinner. It was really good! Yesterday out of all our teams, 25 people accepted Christ. We are about to leave for our second day out on the sites.
Adios Amigos!!!
Me

PM--Hey! This morning went great! I helped lead three people to the Lord! Their names were Louise, Funny, and Agatha. I also talked to one lady named Luce who was already a Christian, and to a lady named Silvia who had been thinking about becoming a Christian but was not quite ready to. My interpreter Moses is great. He loves the Lord! We also had four other Mexican teens go with us, but they do not really speak English. Today Mr. Mickey followed us to take pictures. Zack and Lindsey are teamed together, and Ryan and Megan are teamed together. (With interpreters). Moses and I make the other team. I think it has been good for me because otherwise I am afraid that I would sit back and let the other person do the talking. This way it forces me to open up the conversation and talk. We hadn't planned the teams ahead of time, but they just happened to form the way they did.  I think the Lord knew what He was doing too, because speaking about Him publicly or with no other Christians was an area I needed to develop in. And it has been nice not having any of the others (Americans) standing  right with me while I talked with the people. 


After lunch Zack, Ryan, Lindsey, Megan, and I went to an elegant place called Cafe Paris to get a milkshake- and boy was it a milk shake! We went in not knowing what to expect and could not read the menu and did not have an interpreter. We managed to order strawberry milkshakes and they were the biggest ones we have ever seen! They were in pedestal cups-bowls, which were almost as big as our blue bowls. They were the best tasting ones we have ever eaten, too!!! And they cost only 25 pesos! After, we went walking around the sq went into a gorgeous Catholic church, talked to a guy who had lived in Atlanta and Chattanooga, and then came back to the hotel. The others are taking a siesta and I am about to type the words 'WHAT A DAY'.
This trip is so much more lenient and slower paced than the ATI trips. I think I am a bit partial to ATI missionaries, but so far this group is not bad!
I am kinda dozy so maybe I´ll catch a few winks in the courtyard before we go again.
Have a great week!
Me


Wednesday, July 13

AM--Hey, yesterday afternoon went great! We went to a new
neighborhood and I was able to lead three teen boys to the Lord! I talked with tow other guys and one of them was very receptive, but he felt uncomfortable praying in fro of a crowd of girls. I'll tell you more in detail when I get home. I had a different interpreter because Moses did not feel well and had some other things that he had to do. The girl Dalia who took his place did very well. 

We hit it off and had a great time together. Both times yesterday a 13 yr old boy named Joshua accompany us. He reminds me so much of Joseph. I told him about you, Joseph. We exchanged email addresses too.
Dios de bendiga!!!
Your sweet Senorita

P.S. Jordan, if you were here, we'd make you stand under our balcony and serenade us. Mary is just not the same!
P.S.S. Mom, I've had so many people tell me I look like you. What more could I ask???

PM--Today is going great. Tonight we have the fiesta at the church. I am excited. This morning I was able to help two people come to know the Lord. I can hardly wait to tell you about this week in detail! The Lord has been showing me some areas in my life that I need to work on. Also, Mom you probably know more about this because I have talked with you about it before, but one thing I have realized about myself recently is that I often felt awkward talking about Christ and spiritual things to other people especially those who do not know Christ. I was not ashamed, it was just that until I began college, I never really 'had' to speak about such things to 'outsiders' or 'strangers.' But you know what? It has become so much easier, and I find myself enjoying talking about Christ and His great blessings.  Monday, Tuesday, and today I took the chair from our room  out on the balcony at six in the morning and spent about an hour praying, reading my Bible, writing in my journal, and just being still. I don't know if I have ever spent that much time in one sitting - only Me, Myself, and I-  with God. I am always aware of His nearness, and I constantly pray throughout the day, but I don't know if I have ever just sat meditating on Scripture, praying, and listening, for that length of time in one sitting by myself.
Anyway, we are about to leave for our last evangelizing mission, together. I am excited.
Dios te bendiga!!!  (This might not be correct, but at least it is more accurate - I just cannot remember exactly how it goes. It means 'God Bless You'!!!?)
Me

P.S. You'll just LOVE your gifts!!!!

Johanna & The Team Arrived Safely Home. The Mexico Missionary Team Report Was Presented On July 17. Johanna Was Asked To Give A Testimony Of Her Experiences In Mexico Before The Congregation.