March/April 2010

Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27

March 25 marked the 5th year anniversary of the first Internet interchange between Dr. Jeff Adams (KCBT-translation project sponsor) and Dr. Joe Grimes (translation consultant) and me about the possibility of a Huichol Old Testament translation project…and exactly 5 years since Kirt “celebrated the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” He’s “been held by His nail-scarred hands, he’s seen the Father and His glorious throne, and he’s calling heaven home.” But I miss him.

The 12th 2-week Huichol Old Testament translation workshop will begin May 22. Please help me pray for transportation safety, clarity of thought, good health and hardware/software cooperation for the team that is making great strides as the enemy is presenting constant obstacles.



Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27

José Lopez, the main Huichol Christian pastor/leader/evangelist and an important member of the Old Testament translation team has had 3 visits to an orthopedic surgeon for severe pain in his left knee. The hospital offers free health care to indigenous people, but there is little on hand for treatment other than generic pain killers and antibiotics. José may be facing knee surgery. He is facing surgery for cataracts. He turned 66 last month; time for an overhaul, I guess. We are amazed at God’s perfectly timed intervention in providing UIM air transportation for José and other key Huichol leaders to remote mountain airstrips and villages begging for Bible training.

Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27


UIM Pilot David Wolf invited me to fly along to the Tierra Blanca landing strip then hike to the village of Los Aires where 5 years ago, Pastor Martín from the Tepic church lead a group of men to finish the roof that Kirt started on the church building in the village. I never expected it, but I loved having the opportunity to visit with Pastor Hiliario (also a translator for the Huichol Old Testament project) and the brothers and sisters from his village, flying 25 minutes from Tepic over the rough mountain terrain instead of having to 4-wheel it for 13 hours then hike another 6 or 7 hours to the isolated mountain village. The village school teacher gave the kids time off from classes to come hear Bible stories from the Wordless Book presentation and make matching bracelets. Enjoy videos and pictures here.


Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27

José Lopez baptized 20 Huichol believers from the village of Guásima del Caimán on Good Friday. They were among those who 4 years ago mercilessly persecuted fellow villagers who were the first from the village to choose to follow Christ. The persecution was so intense that the little band of new believers fled from their natal village and relocated in the village they named La Bendición (the Blessing). Their testimony, growth and example of forgiveness convinced their estranged relatives that Jesus is “the Way, the Truth and the Life.” The day spent in La Bendición sharing in the welcoming of 20 brand new babies into the “family” was a pretty graphic portrayal of the heart of the Resurrection. See these new believers here.


Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27

There never seems to be enough time during our regular Saturday afternoon OANSA (AWANA) club hours to really get into the most important reason for OANSA. So, I invited my little group of 4th graders (the Flames) to spend a whole day with me. We visited all of the kids’ parents in their homes, went on a 3-kilometer nature hike, did some required knot-tying (really!?!), and cooked hot dogs over an open fire. Then, we got down to the business of preparing our group’s skit for “Drama Day.” We called our skit Deep Cleaning. Of course we talked about what God considers deep cleaning and our desperate need for it. Before our big day was over, Litzy, Fredy and Carlos had given their hearts to Jesus for the ultimate deep cleaning, asking Him to forgive them for their sin and accepting His undeserved, but free gift of life everlasting. See some of our fun here.

Ah Lord God! behold, ...there is nothing too hard for thee. Jeremiah 32:17