July/August 2011 “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

July/August 2011 

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”  Psalm 90:12

These past 2 months have flown by reinforcing the biblical concept of the brevity of life and the value of numbering our days, applying our hearts unto wisdom. The following are some highlights:

Pastor Martin, Erén and I travelled to Monterrey, Mexico, to attend Marisol’s graduation from UCLA (Universidad Cristiana Las Americas). For the past 4 years, Marisol has been the recipient of the Kirt Mellberg Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship fund donated by interested sponsors is a living investment awarded in Kirt’s memory for the purpose of recognizing and encouraging students who have distinguished themselves as leaders, who exemplify the servant qualities of our Lord Jesus Christ, and who are actively preparing themselves for ministry in missions or in a local church. Marisol moved to Tepic nine years ago with her mother and 2 older brothers. Her father had just been murdered mafia-style in the state north of ours in a drug-related vendetta, and her mother determined to leave that region so her children would not be further entangled in the lifestyle. Marisol, a tiny 12-year-old girl who in her short lifetime had been exposed to way too many of the world’s activities and snares, was invited to AWANA club at the Tepic church, and soon gave her heart to Jesus. She was faithful to attend church and obedient in memorizing and applying God’s Word. She became a prized AWANA club leader and a Sunday school preschool teacher. In addition, Kirt challenged her to use her musical abilities to learn to play the violin, and she is now an accomplished church violinist. When Marisol graduated high school, she felt God was leading her to attend a Christian college in Monterrey, Mexico. That was made possible partially by funds from the scholarship offered in Kirt’s memory.  With much discipline Marisol has numbered her days and applied her heart unto wisdom and earned her degree in elementary education and music. What could be more fulfilling than to attend the graduation of one of Kirt’s little people? Marisol is now teaching in church and in a Christian grade school in Monterrey. It is a beautiful city, but not a nice place to live…LOTS of unrest and violence.

The 2011-2012 recipient of the Kirt Mellberg Memorial Scholarship is Drew Davis, son of Kevin and Kim Davis, missionaries in Llanfairfechan, Wales. He is attending Baptist Bible College in Springfield, MO. Please pray with me that Drew will dedicate each day to applying his heart unto wisdom as he also prepares for Christian service. For more information on the scholarship see the May 1, 2006 archived post at: www.mexicoministry.com

Jacob, Kiki and Elianna welcomed baby David Owen into our family on August 6. He weighed in at 8 lbs. 1 oz., 20 inches long. He’s another healthy blessing from heaven and has already brought immeasurable joy to our family. I pray that as the days fly by, Jacob and Kiki will apply their hearts unto wisdom as humble stewards, not anxious owners, in shepherding the heart of this beautiful gift from our Father. That’s 7 Mellberg grandkids now! 
Pastor Martín knows first-hand the eternal value of world missions. As a boy, he made the choice to follow Jesus. For a long time he says he has dreamed of one day traveling to another part of the world to see for himself in what way he and the IBBM-Tepic church can expand our vision in fulfilling the mandate to go beyond.  He has prepared himself with sound doctrine, he has been obedient to his call, and he has been faithful; now God has opened a door for him to travel, leaving September 5, to Madrid, Spain, where he will join with 4 other Latino pastors for Phase 2 to Morocco in northwest Africa where they will make contact with the Jebala. The trip is designed to involve Latino pastors and churches in participating personally in the Commission to make disciples of Jesus Christ in all the world. Martín has much valuable experience having worked diligently, hand-in-hand with our Huichol brothers.

Very few of the Jebala of Morocco have heard a clear presentation of the Gospel; they don’t have the Bible in their native language. Even among the very few who have heard, a profession of faith in Jesus may cost them their families, honor, jobs, and sometimes their lives. Evangelization among them will be challenging due to the nature of the Arabs' lifestyle and belief system. Prayer remains key to seeing them reached. Martín is asking for 100 prayer partners who will commit to pray every day of his mission trip from September 5-25 for his safety, vision, wisdom, faithfulness, and his family back home in Tepic. If you would like to be one of his prayer partners, please notify me at debbiemellberg@gmail.com and I will relay the good news to him.

Honestly, it does not make sense, humanly speaking, for the Tepic church, IBBM, to add one more task to the already endless list of “things to do” in our “own back yard”.  It’s not reasonable to invest funds we don’t really have given the austerity mode we are already in with the current property project, existing church operating expenses, and constant Huichol ministries. It’s not logical to get involved in a mission project on the other side of the world, and to reach out to a people we’ve never met; but it’s right, and it’s a divine mandate that the Church be about numbering our days, and apply our hearts unto wisdom as we go about fulfilling the Great Commission as He leads.  This “answer to the Divine call” reminds me of one made some 35 years ago, illogical, costly, and not reasonable, but right, when Kirt and I left for Mexico asking God for one biblical, autonomous, indigenous Mexican church that would ultimately take on the responsibility of propagating itself for God’s glory. This is not and has never been something we’ve done alone, but instead with an entire army of collaborators who have prayed, given and sent. I thank you for your faithfulness, Martín and IBBM thank you for your faithfulness, and the Jebala of Morocco will thank you.

May we number our days… and apply our hearts unto wisdom.

July/August 2010 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty

July/August 2010 “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy...” Zephaniah 3:17a 

 Pastor José López is finally scheduled for surgery on September 13. It helps a lot if you agree to go to the surgeon’s private office and pay through the nose for examinations rather than jump through the hoops at the indigenous hospital. The surgery entails cutting through the bone below the knee and readjusting it, then reinforcing the whole works with an exploded sputnik-looking erector set (rented from the orthopedic supply company...owned by the doctor, of course) until it heals straight. The problem is that all his bow-legged life he has been abusing the cartilage in the knee to the point that there is no more...he’s pounding bone against bone with each excruciating step. The only reasonable solution for him (based on 4 different opinions) is to straighten the leg and replace the missing cushion with who knows what substance. That’s the job in a layperson’s nutshell. The recovery time will be about 2 months before they can remove the pins and external stainless steel brace from his leg, but according to the doc, he will be able to walk carefully, out of the hospital the day after the surgery. The brothers at Loma Alta (Puga) have said they would consider it a privilege to care for him there; they even offered to buy him a bed, since he’s used to his in his home village, Carlos Alatorre. That’s a sacrifice, for sure. It is no small surgery, and the orthopedic surgeon (who has also operated on both, Ben and Jeremy) said that when that’s done...it won’t be long before the other leg will need the same procedure. José is not a candidate for knee replacement because that’s only good, at the very longest, for 8-10 years for people who are basically sedentary...not for 65-year-old country boys who spend their lives trekking to every remote corner of the Sierra Madre Mountains spreading the Gospel of Peace. Please keep praying with us for wisdom and compassion for the surgeon, patience, provision, and complete healing for José, who is a valuable member on the team for Huichol Old Testament translation and the lead pastor among the Huichols. “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy...” Zephaniah 3:17a Marisol Rojo is the worthy recipient of the 5th annual Kirt Mellberg Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship fund, donated by interested sponsors, is a living investment awarded in Kirt’s memory for the purpose of recognizing and encouraging students who have distinguished themselves as leaders, who exemplify the servant qualities of our Lord Jesus Christ, and who are actively preparing themselves for ministry in missions or in a local church. Marisol gave her life to Jesus under Kirt’s ministry, and in spite of many obstacles, she has been faithful to her calling. This is her final year at the Universidad Cristiana de Las Americas (UCLA) :) in Monterrey, Mexico. It’s official! The ½ acre plot of land directly adjacent to the Tepic church about which Kirt and I sent a letter 10 years ago requesting special prayer has been placed up for public auction again...“legitimately”! The federal government had confiscated it for back taxes nearly 5 years prior. We were told that Hacienda (the Mexican equivalent of IRS) would be auctioning the land to the highest bidder within the month, and many of you prayed with us and got involved financially in that project. After nearly two years of litigation, it became obvious that the “month” that was originally promised, for some reason we have yet to discover, was thwarted. We opted to return funds that had been designated for that auction, though many of you requested that we use your contributions for other work-related needs or save it in the property fund account, which I have done. One friend of this ministry, who is now in Heaven, responded with the following encouraging note: “We believe with you that the Lord will provide that property next to the church, and we are also sure that His timing is perfect. He will overrule even the cleverest schemes of men to interfere with His will.” We have clung to that truth as we prayed and waited for this day. Suddenly this week, with no previous notice, the property appeared on the government site to be auctioned on September 16. The existing Tepic church campus is not only attractive, but also has been very practical and mostly adequate for our needs; however, the children’s classes are meeting in the Aldaco’s garage, and adult Bible studies meet in my living room (Thankfully, we both live next to the church.). That’s not bad, but we are landlocked, and as you can see in Kirt’s hand-drawn plan, this is a marvelous opportunity to make room for more! Please pray with me for our church leaders as they offer in the silent auction whatever God has provided. The property has been assessed with an exorbitant “suggested value” for bidding (about 5 times the suggested price 10 years ago) as property prices ironically have skyrocketed in this plummeting economy. Nevertheless, we know from personal experience that God delights in using the ridiculous to confound the mighty. Pray that the auction will be carried out without fraud, but most of all, that the Church, which is not the building and property, will continue to serve God joyfully and in unity regardless of the outcome.

March/April 2009

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58

Yesterday, May 1, was Labor Day in Mexico, and it was a perfect opportunity to reflect on the past 2 months that have fulfilled every biblical aspect of the term: labor was designed by the Creator; we are co-workers with Him by His grace through faith; the jobs He gives are distinguished by love and sacrifice, done with much prayer, and often disrupted by the enemy. And finally, rewards are plentiful for jobs well done.

On March 23, we commemorated 4 years since Kirt’s physical labor on earth came to an end, and he was promoted to Heaven. We remembered the contagion of his curiosity, energy, resourcefulness and excitement as he labored to help unfold the limitless possibilities that lay before us. He proved with his life that no dream was beyond reach if we were willing to trust God and work for it. He taught us the value of determination and hard work by his unforgettable example; and he has now, personally, experienced the truth that our labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Pastor Gregg Cantelmo and 6 members of his church came on a short-term “labor of love and sacrifice” trip to Tepic. Pastor Gregg did an excellent job teaching a series on The Beatitudes, and Tim did an excellent job serving as interpreter for him. See pictures here.

That our Father has a task for every member of His church is clear in the jobs He has given Emilia. At last, the all-male team of Huichol Old Testament translators agreed at the 7th translation workshop last month that “just maybe” God could use a “girl” to help out with the translation job. Emilia, a well-prepared, single young lady from the village of Zapote, has taken her God-given ministerial opportunities very seriously. She translates materials from Spanish to Huichol as she teaches 3 ladies' classes, the young people, and 2 children's classes a week in the village; and she loves it, but it comes with a measure of difficulty. She is a Huichol woman, and in the unspoken but obvious opinion of the men of the village, "she is working way out of character for her category." Emilia is a first for them. The Huichol pastors in charge of selecting the translation team have come to realize that the Bible is full of all kinds of women who served in support capacities, and Emilia is just like that. She's a willing and valuable co-laborer.

Easter week was filled with rewards for the well-done labor of evangelism and discipleship in baptismal services held in 2 Huichol villages, Loma Alta and La Bendición. The Tepic church will be baptizing several new believers on May 17. Please pray for continued growth and perseverance.

After praying and assessing details of the H1N1 (Swine) Flu issue, we came to a consensus that holding the 8th Huichol Old Testament translation workshop, due to begin in 2 weeks, involved, as Dr. Grimes said, “higher than normal risks in bringing people into a crowded city, partly on public transportation, to spend two weeks in face to face contact... So better to wait.” The next 2-week workshop is now scheduled for after the rainy season and after the corn harvest, in late November. Please pray that key people in the project, with little resistance to any of the bugs of civilization, will be kept safe and that this labor will not be disrupted by the enemy as the translators continue their work in their respective villages.

The day before the H1N1 (Swine) Flu propaganda hit the press, we held the annual OANSA/AWANA Kid’s Day celebration at the Tepic church with 100 kids who played organized games, hit piñatas, ate delicious goodies, took home a bagful of surprises, and best of all, heard the story of Every Kid’s Very BEST Friend. See digital pictures here. Please pray for wisdom regarding the holding of further public church meetings during the next few weeks.

Marisol Rojo, this year’s recipient of the 3rd annual Kirt Mellberg Memorial Scholarship, was home for Easter. She is studying elementary education and music at a Bible college in Monterey, Mexico. Her attitude is uplifting, and the knowledge and wisdom she has gained thus far as a result of this opportunity that was made possible by the scholarship has been a very worthwhile investment. When she returned to classes, she sent me a letter with the following encouraging words, “During this past semester, in addition to violin and orchestra, I especially enjoyed my class on Corinthians. It made me think a lot about Martín, and you and Kirt…and God’s purpose for me in this life. …I have had many opportunities for evangelism and teaching,…and God has provided for my needs in ways I never expected.”

The scholarship fund, donated by interested sponsors, is a living investment awarded in Kirt’s memory for the purpose of recognizing and encouraging students who have distinguished themselves as leaders, who exemplify the servant qualities of our Lord Jesus Christ, and who are actively preparing themselves for ministry in missions or in a local church. A big “THANK YOU” to all who have had a part in this labor of love and sacrifice. Any student interested in applying can find the criteria and application materials here.

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. John 9:4

Quick Reference – May-June Prayer Requests:

· H1N1 (Swine) Flu – potential pandemic
· Huichol OT translation project – 8th workshop after harvest in November
· Huichol NT - MegaVoice Mp3 player distribution to Huichol villages
· Iglesia Bíblica Bautista de Tepic – baptisms on May 17
· OANSA children’s Bible clubs