Guasima del Caiman

Guásima del Caimán

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Gal 6:9

He was just a young man in his twenties. From the day of this birth in the mountain village of Guásima del Caimán, along with his family and village neighbors, he had adhered to the traditional polytheistic religion to which his ancestors had been sincerely devoted for centuries before. It left him empty and searching for meaning in life. His misdirected pursuit led him to a stint in the Tepic penitentiary.


When Román, the first Huichol to give his heart to Cacáüyári, the one true God, shared the truth with José Lopez, he repented of his past, asked forgiveness for his sins, and accepted the gift of salvation for which he had been fruitlessly hunting. José’s life changed dramatically, and he could hardly wait to share the “Good News” with his family and friends in Guáisma del Caimán. He hiked the long trip through the mountains back to his natal village. How disappointed he was when everybody who heard his message mocked him, rejected his pleas, and insisted that he leave the village never to return.

José conceded, but he never ceased to pray for his village.
He studied God’s Word diligently, and eventually he became the pastor of the little group of believers in his new village of Salvador Allende. He made many mission expeditions to villages throughout the Sierra Madre leading hundreds of his Huichol brothers to Christ, and though he started many new churches at great personal expense, he never lost hope for Guásima del Caimán.

Last month, two messengers from the village arrived at his home reporting from some of the villagers that they were ready to listen to him. For the first time in 25 years, José returned to Guásima del Caimán and found many villagers waiting to hear the “Good News” from which José has not deviated since the day he accepted. Thirty-six Huichols received Christ during his visit, and others are considering the Truth. Around half of them made the long journey on foot to the village of Zapote de Picachos for the dedication celebration of their new building two weeks ago.

Placing their faith in Cacáüyári and His provision for their forgiveness is not without cost. The village shaman is furious and went directly to the municipal judge to stir up trouble for them. The newborn believers were brought before the judge and his council who threatened to take their fields and crops from them and to banish them from the village.

Click here to see pictures of José's trip to Guásima del Caimán.

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Gal 6:9

… it’s WHO ya know that counts …

Pastors José and Manuel and six companions just returned from a two-week trek to various villages in the magnificent Sierra Madre Mountains. It sounds like a promo line from Vacations Magazine, but don’t let the mental image fool you. It was no holiday, and the pleasure they derived from the trip was not due to the change of routine, nonetheless they returned home invigorated and with strengthened faith, renewed vision and increased determination to continue pursuit of their divine call to evangelize and disciple their Huichol brothers and sisters.

They left before dawn on the first day of their missionary journey. After 15 hours on a rural transport which stops at what seems to us like the “end of the world,” they set out on foot for another 5 or 6 hours for their first stop, the village of Los Aires, where they taught and encouraged their brothers and sisters for two days until they left for the village of Mojarras. The people from Mojarras had heard by way of the proverbial “grapevine” about “Cacáüyári,” the One True God Who sent His Son to forgive their sins, and their need to place their faith in Him. Not long ago, they sent a group to Los Aires, 5 hours away, to investigate. Several Mojarras villagers accepted the gift of salvation, and they returned to their village with the Good News.

The eight Huichol missionaries spent three days explaining, teaching and discipling in Mojarras, then they set off for another week of the same in Guásima del Caimán, the village that recently has been the site of much persecution. The Guásima believers, proving their love through great personal sacrifice, butchered a “fatted calf” in true Christian style, to share with the missionaries during their week-long stay/celebration in the village. Nearly as soon as the missionaries arrived in the village, Professor Clemente, the teacher of the village school who several months ago had deprived the children of the believers their right to attend classes and had refused to give the Christians the food staples that the government of the state of Nayarit allots through him to each tribal family, arrived on the scene. Clemente went directly to Pastor José Lopez (the main pastor/leader of the Huichol believers with whom we minister) and virtually begged him to convince the Christians to send their children to the village school. It appears that Timmy’s childhood friend, Roberto, from the Department of Human Rights followed through on their July meeting and summoned Clemente along with the municipal judges to give them an "applied civics lesson" issuing them formal reprimands and to remind Professor Clemente that the Mexican Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and the right to an education for all. Clemente left Tepic with the clear understanding that his job might be at stake!

… it’s who ya know … and it helps to be a child of the King!

The new believers of Guásima, to whom 8 more have been added during this last mission trip, are grateful for this answer to their prayers. They are still sad, however, and are praying for those of their village who continue to reject the Truth and continue to mistreat their Christian neighbors.




To see more digital pictures of the Aires/Mojarras segment of the trip, click here.
To see more digital pictures of the Guásima del Caimán segment of the trip, click here.

September/October2012 “For we are laborers together with God…”

September/October2012

 

“For we are laborers together with God…” I Corinthians 3:9

We who belong to God’s family work together as partners.  Collectively, we are His field in which He brings about growth, His building of which Jesus Christ is the foundation, and His body where His Spirit dwells. Aristotle philosophized this biblical concept: “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” These past two months have been a graphic example of the synergism of that class of teamwork in action in which the combined effort of many brothers and sisters has effectively produced a product for the cause of the Kingdom far greater than the sum of individual efforts.

The month of September started off with a quick trip to the States where I was invited to share the work in Tepic with people in two churches. Ladies from both churches lovingly used their time and energy to make toys and beautifully knitted gifts for Huichol children and babies in the villages of La Bendición and Zapote de Picachos. Pictures here:

             

Then “Grandma from Mexico” got to welcome Ben and Karley’s beautiful baby, Brynley Diane, into the Mellberg family on September 10. She’s grandkid #8, an exquisite gift from our Father, and we share our middle name!

The same week, the Mellberg kids and their spouses organized a big surprise FIESTA at my parents’ house to celebrate my birthday. An enormous thank you to friends and family close to home and around the world for your much appreciated birthday greetings! I thank God for the life He has given me and for the army of people who have surrounded and loved me during these 6 decades that have seemed “but a vapor.” May we continue to labor together this year to share His love, truth and joy with all we meet.

The Iglesia Biblica Bautista Misericordia-Tepic celebrated her 21 anniversary the first Sunday of October. Pastor Luis Medrano from New Life-Scottsdale, sponsored by friends who love him and love this ministry, shared his personal testimony and a timely, unforgettable message entitled “Kaleo-The Call,” encouraging us to continue the task of reaching out together, not only in Tepic, but in all the world.

Pastor Phil McKeown and 3 men from North Village Baptist celebrated with IBBM as well. Then on Monday, they headed to the remote village of Zapote de Picachos to labor together with Huichol brothers and sisters to install a cement OANSA game court. It was a titanic task that started a year ago with NVBC working together to raise funds to cover the cost of materials and transportation and with the Huichols hauling 1000, 5-gallon buckets of sand and 775 of gravel from the river a half-hour hike away from the village. The 150, 110-lb. bags of cement, rebar, lumber, and a cement mixer had to be transported to the Agua Milpa dam, then up-river by boat, then carried on backs and by burro uphill to the village. After the cement work was completed, David Wolf of UIM, who was here to fly selected Huichol teachers to their respective isolated mountain destinations for teaching the next installments of Theological Education by Extension (TEE), airlifted the Phoenix workers from Tepic to Guadalajara for their flight back home. The following week  a team from Lifehouse Church in Rocklin, CA, led by UIM missionary friends, Don and Janie Nellis, came to labor together in the village of La Bendición building wood-saving stoves that emit reduced smoke and installing 10 much-needed latrines at strategic homes in the village. They set apart one workday to travel to Zapote de Picachos to trace and help paint the lines on the new court. Praise God, even for the abundant obstacles we knew we could expect because the enemy really didn't want the jobs done.  He never does. Praise God for the final product that in terms of relationships and lasting outcome was far greater than the sum of individual factors.  

For nearly a year, the Sunday school children from IBBM-Tepic have been saving their money and contributing to a special fund to help pay off the church property. Last week they chose four representatives to hand over their $1000-peso offering. The children are learning the importance of taking responsibility and laboring together for the cause of the Kingdom. Please help me pray that the IBBM family members who are making unbelievable sacrifices to pay off the property will continue to be faithful and will see God’s hand of blessing for their faithfulness. We are a little past the half-way mark on reaching this enormous goal.

Eleven Huichol brothers from La Bendición took it upon themselves to give up a week of work in the fields to travel back to their home village of Guásima del Caimán. Remember, the Bendición villagers left Guásima 5 years ago because of severe persecution from their neighbors brought about by the wise decision of the believers to accept forgiveness of their sin and the gift of salvation that Kakaɨyari, the one, true God offers. Since then, their amazing testimony of God’s love and provision for them has made its way throughout the Sierra Madre Mountains, and many have come to Christ following their example; including many of the ex-persecutors back home in Guásima. So significant has been their witness, that all of the village shaman’s adult children, except for one who is in prison, are now believers. The guys from La Bendición went back to Guásima del Caimán to help the new followers of Christ there erect their new church building! 

At every level, these past two months have abounded with examples of synergism; the effort of believers from every imaginable social strata, from distinct countries, villages and homes, speaking a variety of languages, all having in common hearts changed by God’s Word and His enabling power and a willingness to labor together to achieve what individually we could not, bringing about a product far greater than the sum of its parts.  Thank you for your vital share as team participants.

“For we are laborers together with God…” I Corinthians 3:9 

November 2005

November 2005

José Lopez was in his early thirties when Kirt and I met him the first year we were in Tepic. Román, the first Huichol to give his heart to Cacáüyári, the one true God, had shared the truth with José, who had been fruitlessly searching, and he repented of his past, asked forgiveness for his sins, and accepted the gift of salvation. Life for José was never again the same.  He became obsessed with sharing the Good News with the people of his tribe scattered throughout the rugged mountains of Nayarit. His single-minded, unwavering focus resulted in rejection, persecution and great personal loss, but hundreds have come to Christ through his witness. The villagers of Guásima del Caimán, where José was born and raised, expelled him from the village, but he never gave up praying for his family and friends there.

He studied God’s Word diligently, and eventually he became the pastor of the little group of believers in his new village of Salvador Allende. Last month, a messenger from Guásima del Caimán arrived at his home with a message from some of the villagers that they were ready to listen to him. For the first time in 25 years, José returned to his natal village and found many villagers waiting to hear the “Good News” from which José has not deviated since the day he accepted. Thirty-six Huichols received Christ during his visit, and others are considering the Truth. Around half of them made the long journey on foot to the sister village of Zapote de Picachos for the dedication celebration of their new building the first week of November.

Placing their faith in Cacáüyári and His provision for their forgiveness is not without cost. The village shaman is furious and went directly to the municipal judge to stir up trouble for them. The newborn believers were brought before the judge and his council who threatened to take their fields and crops from them and to banish them from the village.

Mauricio, one of those infant believers, came to my house this week along with Pastor Manuel and Pastor José to discuss “what the Bible says about enduring persecution.”  In the course of the conversation, he shared that he has determined that no matter what happens, he will not waiver in his decision to accept Christ. He has burned all of the trappings from his “old ways”; he has resolved with God’s help to never again touch the tequila and corn liquor that he and his neighbors continuously drank until they passed out; he has determined not to participate in the religious ceremonies in honor of the many gods of his old religion, and he has resolved no longer to beat his wife and children, but to lead them in the Truth. Then came the clincher:  Mauricio is the son of the shaman. In the short time since he believed, he has been stoned, his children have been refused admission to the rural school, and the municipal judge has declined his signature on the application for schooling in Tepic of Mauricio’s oldest son, who is nearing completion of secondary school. Please pray with me that Mauricio and the band of believers in Guásima del Caimán will stand firm and continue to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever.”  II Peter 3:18

As always, I am forever grateful for your love and care that allows me to be here sharing God’s love in Tepic.

July-August 2006

Lots of activities and their associated blessingsand complexities have filled the past 2 months. Thank you so much for joining me in prayer for God’s wisdom and provision in every aspect of this ministry. The following are highlights, some motives for praise and others for continued prayer.

The month of July began with a visit from Pastor Gregg Cantelmo and 5 members of his church and Tom Angstead, from Kiki and Jacob’s church in Phoenix. Pastor Gregg did an excellent job teaching a series on The Emotions: God’s Energizers, and Timmy did an excellent job serving as official interpreter for him.

In the previous prayer update, I mentioned the pressing need to remember the new Huichol believers in Guásima del Caimán as they are facing severe persecution from unbelieving villagers and the rural, government-appointed officials. Thank you for your prayers for them. Tim’s best childhood friend, Roberto, just graduated from the University of Nayarit with a degree in law. Roberto’s dad is a right-hand man to the state governor; and Roberto “just happened” to land a top administrative job at the State Department of Human Rights. We have submitted a formal written complaint regarding the Guásima situation, and Tim had an appointment with Roberto and his dad regarding the current misinterpretation of the Mexican Constitution that “guarantees” freedom of religion and the right to an education for all. In addition to relational persecution, the rainy season this year has been delayed by over a month and consequently, so has the planting of corn crops, the chief Huichol food source …and that’s another issue. If the believers insist on staying in the village, the municipal despots threatened to charge them $1000 pesos per family to plant their corn…on their own land! The believers have considered relocating, but one issue is finding another place to call “home,” and another issue is, “Who will serve as the carriers of ‘Light’ among those who remain in Guásima?” Baby Christians, but what maturity! Please continue to pray for God’s wisdom in resolving this ongoing dilemma.

The race to the finish in digitally recording the entire Huichol New Testament before Jacob and Kiki had to leave Mexico on July 18 was accomplished. In spite of lots of “technical” difficulties that slowed the process, including the “frying” of firewire ports on 2 laptops, the mission was completed on course, and the product is astoundingly clear. Jacob is equalizing, normalizing, and compressing files, whatever all that means, and the effort is underway to raise funds for the purchase of the Mega Voice Ambassador players. To cut costs and expedite the delivery, Jacob has elected to personally transfer the recorded text into each memory chip. The final estimate is $30 U.S. per device, and our goal is to raise the needed finances to place an order for 1000 by November 1. Several churches and friends have already had a part in contributing to this extraordinary project. We have set a ridiculously humanly-impossible goal, and we can hardly wait for God to make the dream a reality!

Benita came to Tepic the final week of recording to work on spot check editing. She was more excited than I've ever seen her, like being in Disneyland. She listened to CD after CD without stopping. In fact, one of my favorite pictures of the NT recording project is one of her sitting on my front porch, wearing a spare pair of Pastor José's glasses, reading every word and listening for glitches on the trial CDs. She isn't a very colorful member of the team, but she's quite significant. She's the one who got José started on learning to read...AFTER she convinced him to talk to Román about coming to Christ over 25 years ago!

Pastor Jeff Adams and a group from the Kansas City Baptist Temple, along with Greg Morris of The Seed Company, also came to Tepic. They were an enormous encouragement to our Huichol family, to our Mexican family, to my immediate family, and to me. Their visit marked the tangible commencement of God's miraculous way of answering prayers in which often we have had no earthly idea how our petitions could possibly be carried out. Honestly, in looking back over the details that have come together to initiate the team project of translating the Old Testament into Huichol, it is obvious that no human intellect could have orchestrated the plan. How awesome it is to be witnessing it before our very eyes! Dr. and Mrs. Joe Grimes (Wycliffe translation consultants for the Huichol New Testament) and Elizabeth Willet (Wycliffe translation consultant for the upcoming Old Testament project) will be in Tepic in late January to begin the translation tutorial. Dr. Grimes shared the following observations about the Huichol believers and this very labor-intense, but vital, project: “In reflecting on the conversation (his chat with Huichol pastors José and Manuel) …, I realized that the Huichol church is showcasing something that I hadn't quite put together. Most of the churches are intense about using the New Testament constantly. When I talk to some of the pastors, it sounds more like I'm talking to Peter and Paul because they're so soaked in Scripture. That's why they take seriously the instructions in the New Testament about using the Old. They've become accustomed to obeying the New Testament after 39 years, and that's behind their quest for Moses and the Prophets. Their attitude isn't colored by being around churches that are accustomed to giving short shrift to three quarters of the Word of God. They really want the whole thing.” Our Huichol brothers realize that when it comes to handling God’s Word, no effort that is worth performing comes easy, and only our very best is acceptable. Certainly their life is hard, and they have many physical needs; but they would tell you that their primary necessity is a genuine relationship with the one true God Who promises to supply all their needs according to His riches. For the Huichol believers, God's Word IS their life.

July 16 was a very significant date in the history of God’s work in the Tepic church. Jonatán García, the 10-year-old son of Pastor Martín and Erén, was among the seven believers who, in the horse trough on the lot adjacent to our church, followed Jesus’ example in baptism. Jonatán is the first to be baptized of the second generation of believers in Tepic. As a young person, his father accepted Christ in the early years of our ministry in Tepic, and he and his wife have now had the privilege of leading their son to Jesus. Pastor Martín baptized his son under the banner which reads, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17 Please remember to pray that the first generation will continue to be faithful to commit themselves wholeheartedly to God’s commands, and not fail to repeat them again and again to their children. Deuteronomy 6:6, 7

This month, I was privileged to present at North Village Baptist Church, the 1st annual Kirt Mellberg Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship fund, donated by interested sponsors, is a living investment 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 vocation. The scholarship awarded in Kirt’s memory this year was granted to Michael Holtgrewe, a junior at Kirt's alma mater, Southwestern College. As God provides funding for this worthy cause, future scholarships will be offered to deserving students who meet the criteria. (See May 1, 2006 blog entry)

I am grateful for the opportunity God has given me to participate in His work surrounded by the most humble, generous, loving, caring, and hard-working brothers and sisters from both sides of the border, on the face of the earth! Thank you for your part in making it all possible.

Quick Reference Version of July-August Prayer Requests:

1. Guásima del Caimán persecution dilemma
2. Huichol corn crops
3. Funding for Huichol New Testament Mega Voice Ambassadors
4. Completion of New Testament Mega Voice Ambassador Project
5. Huichol Old Testament Translation Project
6. Faithfulness of 1st and 2nd generation believers in Tepic
7. Kirt Mellberg Memorial Scholarship

October - November 2023 - exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Ephesians 3:20, 21 

Who on earth ever would have imagined? Two dream-filled, very young, determined, energetic, and expectant followers of their Heavenly Leader, who began praying almost a half-century ago for that exceedingly abundant answer to their petitions, very “naïvely” assumed He really meant that “exceeding” part of His promise, but they had no idea the extent of that magnanimous abundance. Living an “ordinary” life was never an option! Divine power at work in the details saw to that! And His “exceedingly abundant” promise far surpassed their expectation as well as that of those who have cared enough to share and send them to Mexico 48 years ago this month. The past two months in Tepic were filled with God’s excessive abundance, His setting up of divine matchups, and His power to bring glory to Himself throughout all ages positioning people in His kingdom to accomplish that end. Following are a few examples…exceeding abundantly above all that we asked or thought! God is still in the process of calling, equipping, and providing for His recruits and His children.

First, what a shock that He would have chosen to use two 23- and 27-year-old kids who trusted Him completely but were just learning to speak Spanish, who knew no one, who were uninvited, who carried the Message that was also unexpected and unwanted, to make random friends, and share that treasure in Tepic with all who would listen. Second, how astonishing that only through His power, some of those friends began to listen and were convinced of their need to accept payment and forgiveness of their sins offering them the gift of eternal life. And how amazing that over the years, that little band of “friends” became part of the discipled family of believers who love God, love His Word, love sharing it with others, and have committed themselves to fulfill that same Great Commission with which Jesus Himself charged those two kids and all who would believe. 

Who on earth ever would imagine that another couple, from Cuba, of all places, would believe, love God’s Word, love sharing it with others, and through an incredible display of power that works in them, would have committed themselves to participate in the Commission, in Mexico! Hector and Mirelis, that Cuban couple, answered God’s call to come to Tepic as missionaries, work as apprentices alongside the family of believers led by Pastor Martín, who, just a few decades ago was, himself, a newly-believing young boy who has become the pastor of the IBBM-Tepic. Hector and Mirelis are absorbing the culture, learning to speak Mexican Spanish, working in the Tepic and Huichol churches, and asking God for wisdom as to where He, specifically, would have them serve in Mexico…and the cycle repeats itself according to power that worketh in us. 

Meanwhile, He Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think is busy adding Huichol believers to the family of churches in villages all over the Sierra Madre mountains. The latest project is in the village of Guásima del Caimán, Pastor José López’ natal village that for 25 years rejected the Gospel he carried to them just after he believed. At long last, the persecutors of believers from that once fledgling church, have themselves been marvelously transformed by the Gospel, and they have just completed the church building in their village. The following is yet another of the many crazy parts of the Guásima story, but here goes: A missionary friend from a sister church in Durango (Mexico) contacted Pastor Martín to see if there “happened to be a building project” that he and some of the very-skilled and generous brothers from his church could participate in, along with some German-speaking, ex-Mennonite believers whose families have emigrated to Durango. You can’t make this up! There are way too many details to share here, but a dozen of them (Mexicans and Germans) traveled to

Tepic from Durango, drove to the Agua Milpa dam, and “hopped” onto boats that took them up-river an hour to Huaynamota. From the landing, they trekked five hours with their equipment along treacherous trails through the mountains that only very-experienced mountain goats qualify to hike and arrived at the village of Guásima. After three days of working together, the Huichol, Mexican, Cuban, German, and ex-Mennonite believers had the roof on, held the first prayer and praise meeting in the brand-new church building, and the mission was accomplished. Who on earth ever would have imagined? Only the Master Designer. This activity of His, calling, equipping, and providing for His recruits (the least likely!) is certainly not exclusive to Tepic, but it is proof positive that with the most diverse team of rescuers, including an army of friends who are reading this letter, God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” Romans 11:33

I am so thankful to send this report of God’s abundant blessings during the past two months; and at the same time, I want to ask you to join with me in prayer for some current needs.

The first Saturday in September, marked the beginning of another exciting year of AWANA (OANSA) activities in Tepic, as well as in the Huichol Indian village of Zapote de Picachos. Though Hurricane John threatened to hit us hard, 52 Tepic clubbers and an army of workers refused to be dissuaded, choosing to ignore the possible storm in order to attend the first meeting!


God continues to work miracles as He provides on a daily basis. The HUGE project of building a "ramada" over the multi-purpose game court at the Tepic church was completed in mid-September. The covering makes the court much more usable during the rainy season, during the days of extreme sun, and for the many church-wide dinners and activities for which we have previously had to rent a canopy to shelter the guests. We contracted the job (long story) with Pedro Rios, an old friend of Kirt's, who finally, after 25 years of inviting, has begun coming to church on Sundays. They did an indescribable job of positioning the immense metal struts for which they had to invent and weld together a special pulley assembly since no crane could get back to the area. Since the installation of the structure, we've weathered the effects of 2 hurricanes, John and Lane, and the covering held up perfectly. The ramada will be used this coming Sunday for an additional “classroom” for our junior high-aged kids. Please pray for Humberto, José Luis, Jr., and Aarón (All three of the exemplary young men are graduates of and now leaders in OANSA, as well.) who have taken on the responsibility of team-teaching the new class.

The ridiculously humanly-impossible goal we had set for placing an order for 1000 MegaVoice Ambassador Mp3 players for the audio Huichol New Testament is nearly a reality. Many churches and friends, and some people we have never even met, have had a part in contributing to this extraordinary project. We expect to have delivery of the players by mid-January, and Jacob will get them loaded up and ready for distribution shortly thereafter. We are convinced that this will be an effective tool for evangelism, personal growth and teaching among the Huichols. Thank you so much for your prayers and sacrificial involvement in this unique opportunity.

In the previous prayer update, I mentioned the meeting that Timmy had with his good friend, Roberto, an administrator at the State Department of Human Rights, regarding the persecution of the new believers at Guásima del Caimán. Roberto followed through on their July meeting and summoned Professor Clemente along with the municipal judges to give them an "applied civics lesson" issuing them formal reprimands and to remind Clemente that the Mexican Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and the right to an education for all. Clemente left Tepic with the clear understanding that his job might be at stake; and the judges conveniently decided they would allow the believers to plant their corn after all. This is another example of “… it’s WHO ya know that counts… and it helps to be a child of the King!” For more details see: http://mexicoministry.blogspot.com/2006/09/its-who-ya-know-that-counts-pastors.html

And speaking of the believers at Guásima del Caimán, they celebrated the one-year anniversary of their acceptance of the Gospel message and their entrance in the "family" on October 15 with a big corn harvest festival to which they invited all the believers from “nearby” (within a day’s walk, or so) villages to share with them. They are growing like weeds and hungry for more. They have officially “organized” their local church with Refugio (plain white shirt) as their lay-pastor, Mauricio (son of the village shaman, brightly embroidered shirt) as his assistant, and Gregorio (navy blue shirt) as secretary-treasurer. Santiago and Gabriela (from the remote village of Santa Catarina - Read more about them here: http://mexicoministry.blogspot.com/2006/04/march-april-2006-but-jesus-said-suffer.html) were also there with a list of eight names of people from their village who have “signed up” that they want to receive Christ as soon as someone can take them the message. (Hint, hint!) Please pray that the opportunity for Catarina, Faustino, Geronimo, Angelica, Miguel, María Lupita, Lucia and Rosa will be realized soon.


It’s nearly impossible to believe that the first week of October we celebrated fifteen years since the foundation of the Iglesia Bíblica Bautista de Tepic. Our theme for this year’s commemoration was, “15 Years of God’s Amazing Grace.” Pastor Phil McKeown and two members from the North Village Baptist Church and Mike Blythe from Florida came to Tepic to share in the celebration. Pastor McKeown spoke about four lost things, the 100th sheep, the coin, the prodigal, and his brother; and he closed the message saying, "God wants you to know that no matter why you are lost, He loves you. God wants you to know that He will stop at nothing to find you." What amazing grace! Check out the included follow-up story, “Peace in the Midst of the Storm,” and see some digital pictures from the celebration here: http://flickr.com/photos/debbiemellberg/sets/72157594360741050/show/

And thank you for praying with and for me in this enormous, but rewarding task. Again, as Kirt always concluded our prayer updates, “We are forever grateful for your love and care that allows us to be here sharing God’s love.”

All because of Jesus,

Debbie Mellberg
debbiemellberg@gmail.com
http://mexicoministry.blogspot.com


Quick Reference Version of September-October Prayer Requests:

1. Tepic and Zapote Awana/Oansa clubs
2. Humberto, José Luis, Aarón – new junior high class
3. Huichol New Testament MegaVoice Ambassador project
4. Infant church at Guásima del Caimán (leaders: Refugio, Mauricio, Gregorio)
5. Santiago and Gabriela and their friends from Santa Catarina who want to join the “family”
6. Huichol Old Testament Translation project to begin in January 2007
7. Faithfulness and continued growth of 1st and 2nd generation believers in the Tepic church

July-August 2007

Jeremiah 33:3 “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

For my first "real” missions trip ever, I was honored to be invited to go to Hungary during the first two weeks of July! When Kirt was promoted to heaven, and I told the Lord that I would walk through any door He opened, I never imagined how many unlikely doors that would include! North Village Baptist Church (NVBC), my sending church, is earnestly involved in training and equipping all of its members to be effective in “Crossing Streets, Crossing Cultures and Crossing the World” to share God’s love and light. One of NVBC’s objectives is to establish a greater grassroots personal relationship with believers around the world by adopting and networking with specific sister churches that can mutually and effectively join efforts in fulfilling the Great Commission. I was invited to go along for the purpose of serving as a liaison for my sending church in Phoenix, NVBC, my home church in Tepic, IBBT, and our new "sister" church in Szolnok, Hungary. If you are interested in some personal highlights of this unforgettable trip, read the following Szolnok, Hungary, trip summary, and click here to watch the corresponding slideshow.

Back in Tepic, the month of August began with a visit from Pastor Gregg Cantelmo and seven members of his church in Phoenix. Pastor Gregg did an excellent job teaching a series on The Emotions: God's Motivators, and Timmy did an excellent job serving as interpreter for him. The team played a big part in acting as "God's Couriers" of 5 large suitcases full of blankets made by the VBS children of the Tri-City Baptist Temple in Oregon and a large box of Huichol New Testament Mp3 players that we are steadily getting in place for distribution to the Huichol villages. The blankets will be presented to the Huichol children of Zapote de Picachos on November 2, the third anniversary of that village church. The team’s servant's hearts and willingness to roll up their sleeves, tromping through the tropical mud, and contributing to the max the gifts God has plentifully given them for reaching out to the needs of other people will pay off eternally in the lives of the recipients of their vision. Pastor Gregg's statement that “God loves us just as we are, but He loves too much to let us stay the way we are” is the key to all Christian service. May none of us ever forget it, and may we be prepared for the commitment that it requires. See a slideshow of some of the Bridgeway team’s Tepic activities click here.

Still another privilege this month was the presentation of the 2nd annual Kirt Mellberg Memorial Scholarship to Marisol Rojo. 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 seven 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 church and obedient in memorizing and applying God’s Word, and after graduating from AWANA, Marisol became a prized AWANA club leader and a Sunday school preschool teacher. Kirt challenged her to use her musical abilities to learn to play the violin. He offered to loan her a violin and to pay for her classes, and he told her that after one year, if she would play a special song in church, she could keep the violin. She worked hard to follow through on her commitment, and she played Silent Night at the annual community Christmas celebration. In time she learned to play along with the congregational singing every Sunday morning, and she motivated 3 younger children in the church, David, Shadai, and Erika, to follow in her footsteps. They can’t wait to master the violin enough to be asked to accompany on Sunday mornings. When Marisol graduated from high school last June, she announced that she felt God was leading her to attend a Christian college in Monterrey, Mexico, to become better prepared to serve. She will be studying elementary education and music. What could be more fulfilling than for one of Kirt’s little people to be this year’s recipient of a scholarship offered in his memory? To see some pictures of Marisol’s faithful involvement in the Tepic church click here.

In previous prayer updates, I have mentioned the pressing need to remember the newest Huichol believers from the village of Guásima del Caimán as they have faced severe persecution from unbelieving villagers and rural, government-appointed officials. Thank you for your prayers for them. The little family of believers has decided to relocate on the outskirts of the village of Puga, about 40 minutes from Tepic, where Pastor Valentín leads his growing flock. They have pooled their meager resources and the sweat of their brows to build temporary housing on a section of land that Pancho, a believer from Puga, owns. As a priority, they have joined ranks and are buying a plot of land for their “new church building.” As always, after the rainy season has passed, getting water will be another issue. It has been a very difficult decision for them to uproot from the place many of them were born, but the advantages of solidarity with other more mature believers, increased access to medical treatment, and better schooling opportunities for their children convinced them to move. In spite of those advantages, the new believers recognize and are very concerned about the dangers of closer ties with “civilization” and its corresponding temptations. They are thirsty for God’s Word, and their pastor, Refugio, is determined to learn to be a worthy shepherd. This is all still in the very beginning stages of "what to do," and it is important that they be directed by the same God that directs us in "what to do" when the need arises. It is also the stage that is very tempting for the "great white fathers" to intervene and tell them what is best for them. It is best for us to pray our heads off for them and be supportive of the decisions God lays on their hearts. Please continue to pray for God's wisdom as they work out the spiritual and physical combining of the two churches, Guásima del Caimán and Puga.

I am grateful for the unanticipated opportunity God has given me to participate in His great and mighty things surrounded by the most humble, generous, loving, caring, and hard-working brothers and sisters from both sides of the border, on the face of the earth! Thank you for your part in making it all possible.


Quick Reference Version of July-August Prayer Requests:

· Bible Baptist Church of Szolnok, Hungary
· Marisol Rojo – Bible college student
· Guásima del Caimán/Puga - transition, faithfulness, growth
· OANSA – club begins September 1
· Huichol Old Testament translation project
· Huichol New Testament Mp3 project

September/October 2019 - Search the scriptures for … they are they which testify of me. John 5:39

September/October 2019

Search the scriptures for … they are they which testify of me. John 5:39

Jesus is the living Word of God. He is the Spirit of Prophecy -- God Who became flesh because God is holy, sin is serious, and people need a Redeemer. The entire sacrificial system of the Old Testament points to His death, burial, and resurrection, and everything in the Old Testament drives lost people to Jesus. What the Living Word had to say about the written Word of God and how to read it was and is important; it is the foundation of the Church.

More than fifteen years ago, José López came to this startling conclusion. From a thoughtful reading of his much-loved Huichol New Testament, “the Book” from which he learned to read more than 40 years ago, he realized that what he held in his hands was incomplete in his people’s heart language -- missing those significant words to which Jesus repeatedly made reference, “the Scriptures”. His classic statement to Kirt was: “It was important to Jesus, it’s important to us. We want the Old Testament in Huichol!” Shortly after that divinely-ignited encounter, Kirt was in Heaven, but José’s heartfelt petition that would require incredible investment, participation, collaboration, and 12 years of persistent discipline, hard work, and sacrifice - a “long obedience in the same direction” - from the Mother-Tongue-Translators (MTTs) and their support team, was about to be granted.

MTTs with final OT draft - last lap around the track!

This month, the MTTs received their preliminary copies (two weighty volumes) of the final draft of the fruit of their labor. Along with an updated version of the New Testament, as well, it is now in the hands of the Scripture Publications typesetters, and it is being posted to scritpureearth.org making it available for download to cell phones and other devices. After typesetting and obtaining the needed funding, it will be sent to South Korea for the final printing of the entire Huichol Bible in a single volume.

This final picture, worth multiple thousands of words, says it all. This man is José López. He had left his village, abandoned his family, was in big trouble with the law, heard the message in his own language, and acknowledged the truth that his serious sin absolutely separated him from the one true and supremely holy God. “Kakaɨyari” loved him to such a degree that He would give His only Son to die for him and buy him back, just as he was, lost, unclean, and immensely unlovable. That Kakaɨyari gave José the faith to believe, and he was a transformed man who never once looked back to his old life. He learned to read from the only book printed in his native language, the New Testament, and was discipled by Román, the first Huichol believer who came to Christ during the NT translation process, and by Kirt, the man God sent to follow-up walking alongside José to help him fulfill his divine calling. José sits on my front porch two days after the completion of the last word of audio and textual versions of the Huichol Bible. He is awaiting his UIM airlift to Tutuyekuamama, an airstrip a “relatively-close” hiking distance to his natal village of Guásima del Caimán. The people of José’s natal village, that nearly 40 years ago unyieldingly rejected him and the Good News that José carried back to them, now are a church full of believers. They hosted a Bible conference for all the Huichol church leaders throughout the Sierra Madre who could come on foot, by boat, in beds of trucks, by UIM airlift, however they could. José, wearing the uniform from the recent Huichol youth camp (Jesus, Take the Reins of My Life), attended by over 200, is listening to the audio version of Psalm 23 being read on his smartphone by Refugio. He’s a young man from Guásima del Caimán, the first from his village to believe after 25 years of praying for the people who had rejected the Truth. Refugio is now the pastor of the church at La Bendición, and he became a vital part of the MTT team, though he was not even a believer when we began the process of the translation of the Old Testament to Huichol 12 years ago. What a massive accumulation of miracles, nearly impossible to imagine and to share! José decided to follow Jesus, and he never turned back; the Lord is his Shepherd; and even in times of great oppression, his Good Shepherd has cared for him and never has left or forsaken His follower. God has been faithful to His promises in both testaments of His Word, and José is being rewarded for his “long obedience in the same direction.” That’s how it works. During the last Old Testament audio workshop, the MTTs decided to make a list of the villages throughout the Sierra Madre in which there is a body of believers that meets regularly with its own pastor or leader to study the Word and follow its teachings and mandate to travel to present the Gospel to the unreached and teach new believers. The total came to 71! Imagine that!

Search the scriptures for … they are they which testify of me. John 5:39

Check out albums of lots of September/October 2019 Tepic activity pictures here.

Missionary, Frank Arrellanes, and 8 young people from the Gracia y Paz Church in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, arrived in Tepic Saturday afternoon. They have been preparing themselves and the tools necessary for their first mission trip to share God’s love and provide clean water for Huichol families in 4 Huichol villages, Puga, La Bendición (the believers who have moved from Guásima del Caimán), Zapote de Picachos, and La Mesa (the central hub for the Zapote de Picachos community). The filters are specially designed to strain out 100% of the parasites and 90% of harmful bacteria from impure water that the villages currently receive. The addition of a few calibrated drops of chlorine to the filtered water destroys the remaining 10% of bacteria. Each filter that Frank and his youth group fabricated themselves, weighs over 250 lbs. Our friends from Puerto Vallarta spent the afternoon and evening in Tepic fellowshipping and ministering with the Iglesia Bíblica Bautista de Tepic youth group. Sunday, right after church, a busload from IBBT caravanned along with them to the first two villages, Puga and La Bendición, to install the first 2 of 4 water filters they fabricated and transported.

The logistics for transportation, transfer, and delivery of the units because of their weight and the inaccessibility by vehicle to various villages is nearly inconceivable.
The first 3 ½ hours from Puerto Vallarta to Tepic and then to the nearest point accessible by vehicle to each village were made in the back of Frank’s pickup truck. Then delivery to each village presented its own unique challenge. Frank engineered a clever system of 3-meter-long, 4-inch tubes complete with foam padding, straps, and wooden pallets used to lug the horrendously heavy filters, one-at-a-time on the shoulders of 8-10 strong volunteer carriers. The first filter, delivered to Puga, had to be heaved up the mountain, around the obstacle course of several tight corners, between several low-hanging obstructing huts, and into the common area where the village believers, led by pastor Valentín, meet. Delivery of the second filter met with fewer physical barriers but a much longer hike down a long, rocky slope into the brand new village of La Bendición (The Blessing, the name given the new village of the newly relocated believers from Guásima del Caimán), where Refugio is pastor. When Pastor Refugio realized that in order to get the job done before dark on Sunday after church, we all left without lunch, he mobilized the ladies in his wonderful little flock, and they prepared us a delicious banquet of hand-flapped tortillas, beans, eggs and potatoes. As usual, the sacrifice and effort made to reach out and be a blessing to our Huichol brothers and sisters, was dimmed by their love and generosity toward us. Click here to see some shots of the filter deliveries to Puga and La Bendición.

We left early Monday morning to drive to the Agua Milpa hydro-electric plant where the remaining 500+ lbs. of filters and 18 volunteer delivery people from Gracia y Paz and the Iglesia Bíblica Bautista de Tepic were loaded onto 2 motor boats for the 25-minute trip up river. The final 40-minute hike to the village was not for novices. Thankfully, 10 of us, our friends from Gracia y Paz, must not have believed that the final 40-minute hike to the villages was as rigorous as we had told them, especially with a 250 lb. filter hoisted on their shoulders! After the 3rd of the filters was delivered, installed, and instructions for its operation were given clearly by Frank, the last filter was destined for delivery to a central family in the village of La Mesa which is actually a part of the Zapote de Picachos community. La Mesa, a 20-minute hike from Zapote, is populated by all unbelievers. The goal of the installation of this filter is to show underserved and unconditional love to a prominent family of the village in hopes of earning the privilege of sharing the truth of the greatest gift of all. Pastor Manuel will be making periodic trips to share the Good News while maintaining and checking the purity of the water from the filter they received unexpectedly and “with no strings attached.” The missionary team from Puerto Vallarta brought care packages of basic staples such as beans, rice, and corn flour to leave as an added gift in each of the 4 villages where they installed filters. They headed back to Puerto Vallarta, exhausted after 2 days of backbreaking service, but exhilarated by the opportunity to serve as God led them. Click here to see some shots of Monday’s delivery to Zapote and La Mesa.

This weekend is proof-positive, again, of God’s incredible plan for each doing his or her share individually, for the purpose of combining efforts as a team and producing an effect for the Kingdom far greater than the sum of all the parts.