The Duenos-Landlord

Landlord’s dog....Paloma (little dove).   We call him Peanut (Cacajuate).


We told you when we chose the fourth place and moved into our house (room), we would be worming the dog. You need to see a “before” picture or you will never believe the “after”. Of course, you will need to wait some time for the after. This pup’s name is Paloma (meaning, Dove) and although he looks totally pathetic, he thinks he is something pretty big. He races out to the dusty road and puts up his biggest squeak until they disdainfully pass on by. Then, he trots back to his house with a cocky jaunt and twitch of his tail. There are three cats that live there and they are now being wormed as well. We’ll skip on worming the chickens and turkeys but we are thankful for them since they effectively keep the bug population down. We have the really big ones here, you know. There was a baby tarantula a the door the other night. Scorpions are more normal than rare. Roaches, monster beetles, mosquitos, you name it, they have it in Mexico! So, we appreciate the bird population around our place and the good care the landlord’s take of not allowing them on our doorsteps.



Landlord couple

We have the sweetest landlord couple. They are proud parents of twelve children, some of which visit from time to time. They are very helpful and resourceful. There is plenty to be learned from them. The uncle climbs to the roof every morning to check the amount of water then hooks up the portable pump to whichever tank (tinaco) that needs to be filled. The aunty makes yummy tamales and brings to all of us…that is five at the Anderson house and two at ours. The best tamales were corn and they were a bit sweetened. The outside shell is ground corn but they were also filled with corn. Hm! Good. We are introducing them to all the American sweeties we bake and sometime, it will be interesting to introduce them to Indian food. Now, that’s a thought for sure.

All her food is still made over an open fire. Recently, during our Halloween, they celebrated the Day of the Dead (good name, huh?). Aunty and a daughter or two baked an enormous amount of little bread loaves, some shaped like people or animals. They were all baked in the huge bee-hive , stone oven. Wonder how some pizzas would taste baked in it too?


We took their gas cylinder into town to be filled. That is why they weren’t using their little gas stove. Now, she is proud that John has worked the rust and crude off it and it is firing up nicely. Can you please fix our truck too, John? Grin Thankfully it just seems to need a recharge on the battery so it should be running soon. Some things are easy. Some are not.

Growing Mascots & Marriage Conference 2

Several of you have asked about the German Shepherd puppies. They are growing a lot. They now have a pen with their portable cage still in it to help them transition. We are in the process this week of finding a couple of boys to help feed and care for them. They will be able to continue the care when we are on outreach trips or busy as we were during the recent marriage conference. Here is a picture of them at 15 weeks.

This was the second marriage conference on the Base. We had six pastor and wife couples. They arrived looking tired and rather apprehensive. I heard one almost backed out because they weren’t sure what would be expected or put on them. However, their many comments were nothing but appreciation and gratefulness as they were leaving. The marriage conference sprang from the heart of Charles and Eli Norton.

It is a new teaching to the pastors and it amazes them what God has to say to them about the importance of their marriage. Topics included: priorities, what a man/woman needs, importance of the marriage covenant, communication, etc. Free times are given daily that involve homework with questions they need to ask one another. Many gifts are given: the book, The Five Love Languages, flowers, fruits, tortillas clothes, and a larger home gift. Wonderful meals and coffee times are arranged at the lovely hotel on the Base and the pastors are each given a gorgeous room to enjoy for the weekend. Class also includes a renewal of vows and promises, and communion between each couple. At the last meal, they cut a large wedding cake and have pictures taken. Every small detail is lovingly arranged by the Nortons.

We, and the Olsons, help out where we can with baking, room arrangement, giving out gifts, and supporting in prayer. Another newly married couple, Lalo and Lesli, led the worship times. It was a fun, uplifting weekend and so thrilling to see those dear pastor couples renewed, refreshed, and invigorated with the Good News they were carrying back to their people that marriages are important; that the Church will only be as strong as the marriages of the families within it.

New Roca Blanca Mascots

I have recently had the fun of participating in the purchase oftwo German Shepherd puppies to take to Mexico. Our watch dog on the Roca Blanca base, is getting old and is not quite doing the job any more so James Olsen and I were praying about getting new watch dogs. The monies came in and some pups were advertised. We went to look and found the answer to our prayers. Duke and King will be making the long travel back to Roca Blanca with us. King will remain on the campus while Duke will go to the home of the Kershners in the mountains.  Thank you for your support given in many ways to fill many needs.    John

Supporters of all kinds...

Workday supporters…

What a huge encouragement we received recently from some of our supporters. They gave us a workday here at the home place. With John unable to do anything the first two months we were home, it seemed the summer was spent and chaos still reigned in the barn. A big white van drove up with the Richards family and they piled out with happy faces and helping hands. Everyone unloaded the barn and then the men constructed a loft for storage on which many heavy building materials were piled. The ladies and children raked and piled leaves, burned old wood, made concrete to set a new clothesline, and kept us running to find more things to do. Mom & Papa Spohn came the same day and a new workbench and clothesline pole were cut and welded and a wonderful big family meal was prepared for everyone to eat with cold drinks served all day as needed. Mom spent extra time repairing the trim on the patio table umbrella. (Behind, you can see the tent set up that we are taking to Mexico.) In all, tt was a lot of hard work so that after two days, John & I were sore and tired but happy and encouraged. Thank you dear family and friends for your uplifting fellowship, food, and work. You have lifted our hopes and strengthened our feeble knees.

Prayer supporters….

We are being so encouraged by the number of people that have been responding and making a commitment to pray for us while we are away in south Mexico. There have been 13 so far, but several include others in a larger prayer group. We found an old list of prayer supporters when we were in India and were so surprised to find we had several for every day of the month; at least 40. We need that kind of prayer coverage to minister effectively in Mexico. We need people who can’t be there in body but are willing to be there in the Spirit, in prayer. We hope to hear from more of you that you will join us in partnership through prayer.

Giving supporters…..

We have giving supporters who have donated various items. One self-inflating mattress had been given for our camping trips in the mountainous medical outreaches. We're still looking for a second one.

We are excited about the possibility of surprising our dear Sister Laura, director of the Victory Missions  medical clinic upon our return. We have had someone donate money toward a portable canopy for the outreach clinics where there are no buildings to use.

Chain saws and tools have been donated for the building projects that are ongoing.

Four new tires were purchased for the truck from offerings given by two different families wanting to advance the kingdom work. Still need an oil change and air-conditioner repair. John isn’t thrilled about the air changing intermittently from cold to hot on his side.

Several have faithfully and consistently given their financial support for the time we were at home resting and preparing to return to Mexico. How we praise the Lord for those who believe in us and what we are...called of God to go wherever He needs us, for as long as He needs us. Looking back over the years, we can see He has not called us to remain in any one place as He has some, but has called us to go different places to accomplish a specific job and when that is finished, He leads us onward. What a privilege to be part of the Body of Christ, advancing the Kingdom of God to every tongue, tribe, and nation at such a day as this.

We head for Mexico October 3rd or 4th with our dear friends James and Cassie Olsen also of Springfield, Mo. We are slightly delayed in our return there because our church family has blessed us with a free registration to the Ladies’ Conference September 29th-October 2nd. Thank you JRA! We plan to go to Mexico fired up, refueled by the Lord Almighty to do great and wonderful things.

Home for the summer!

We arrived home safely, June 22nd, excited to see our place again. It was overgrown with six foot weeds in the enriched soil of the flower bed that hugs the front wall of the house; the front yard was a wild meadow full of pretty flowers. Only the garden seemed to remain bare and open. A neighbor had cut a path with his weed-eater to the front door, allowing a narrow passage way. The chopped weeds had pasted themselves to the door and dried there. We looked inside cautiously and were wonderfully surprised how lovely everything was, just as we had remembered it. Our daughter had cleaned and swept. We felt fully welcomed. We unloaded, unpacked, and dropped into bed to sleep…for two days. Seriously, we could hardly do anything before we would be dropping off to sleep again. We were more exhausted than we even knew.
John had developed a blister on his leg the day we left Mexico to return home. Three days of hard travel caused his leg to be swollen and feverish just below the knee. The previous flesh-eating bacteria had erupted again. He fought it with everything he knew and cried out to the Lord; He sent forth His word and healed him (Ps 107:20). It was three weeks before he could walk on it again, and several more weeks before his strength was returned but it was healed to return no more. While he could do no work, and little else, he was blessed to be able to visit all his family on his birthday. A week later, we spent a day with my family, celebrating my brother’s short two week rest period at home from Afganistan.

There are three weddings of nieces and nephews to attend during the summer: two in our home town and another in Kansas City. We have some pics to share of those. There was a joyful reuniting with our church Life Group and other friends at the Sunday services.

Then, there was work, sweat, and tears…that is as in old clothes tearing from the strain of it all. The yard has to be divested of stumps so others can help us keep it mowed after we were gone. There must be twenty-plus stumps in the yard. We have dug, chopped, burned, and cut them with a chain saw; whatever seemed appropriate for the size and hardness of the wood. We borrowed a swisher, a big weed-eating machine to hack down the meadow that was our front yard and prepared it for mowing. We had construction materials and tables to move, or remove. Welcome home? They are not yet conquered but definitely diminished.

Spanish books were brought home for studying through the summer but they don’t seem to be getting opened too often. Too many people to see, places to go, and things to do.

We attended a wonderful missions conference with the people of Mexico and Roca Blanca in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the Victory Christian Center the first of Aug. We were encouraged and inspired by the experienced missions teachers, and enveloped in the fellowship of missionaries from around the world. Sharon Honeyman, Joyce’s cousin, opened her home to us while we were there and we had a lovely visit together.

This is August and we plan to head south again the end of Sept. Please keep us in prayer that we will complete those things that are necessary for our return to Mexico. Please pray for us to know how to prepare for our return. We are in question as to our housing there which brings up more questions about what to or what not to take with us. Please pray for John’s health that he will return to full strength. Please pray for us to receive the Spanish language as a gift from God. Please pray we can be a blessing to the people we work with (missionaries and base staff). Please pray for the harvest of many precious people among the Indian tribes there. As you read the Word daily, when you find a scripture that reminds you of us, please pray it over us. And please, send us your prayer requests so we can pray and help bear your burdens.

Graduation day and homeward bound

Graduation day…was on a Friday morning but the whole week was busy with preparations for it along with many extra chores. A number of cakes were ordered for last meetings together so Joyce was baking up a storm, and then made some cookies for the travel home. Our truck was in big demand to haul something almost daily. We hauled two mattresses: one for the hotel, one for a affianced couple preparing their new home. We hauled a new air-conditioner and washing machine for the hotel plus the hotel cook and her weekly groceries for the next incoming team. In between all the hauling, we were opening the coffee shop early mornings for our guest speaker of the week, packing to leave, cleaning up the space we lived in, washing clothes, and trying to attend as many meetings as possible. Our speaker was named Moses. He was 78, an eighth grade graduate with an honorary doctorate from a teachers’ university in China. He had traveled 98 countries of the world teaching and preaching, and was full of love and life and plenty of stories. He was such a joy to be around and gave some sound teachings along with encouraging prophetic words from the Lord for each student that was graduating from the Bible school. Friday, we had to have our suitcases and picnic stuff packed in the truck in preparation to leave from town after the graduation. We transported a few people into the graduation ceremony and left in good order. It was a terrific graduation service full of worship, prayer, and rejoicing. On our way out, John was stopped and hugged by a number of the fellows he had worked with. We left feeling blessed to have been a part of their lives for these short five months and with hopes to see many of them again.

Our trip home was full of experiences. We set out to travel 140 miles the first night to Oaxaca City. It took us six hours to reach there as we traveled round and round, up and down the mountains, usually at about 20mph. We were thankful to arrive and unwind. We had rooms booked in a 17th century building that had originally been a convent and then a prison. It had thick stone walls and a big inner courtyard but was beautifully remodeled to make a world class hotel. The people flowing in and out were very Caucasian looking but spoke Spanish as though it were their mother tongue. That was very confusing till we realized these were mostly people of the original Spaniard descent. We had been living and working mostly among the Indian people with their tribal dialects, some villages of which have been integrated with shipwrecked Haitian slaves several generations ago. There was a very sharp contrast and it gave us a bit of culture shock that first night. The surrounding area was cobblestone streets and quaint old buildings and cathedrals of Spanish architect. It would take a camera to adequately show the beauty of the setting. One of the Bible school students had family there and had traveled with us. Her family blessed us with a delicious seafood meal at their restaurant the next day before our leaving. So, we got a late start and a late ending to the second day.

At our second destination, we stayed in a hotel next to a Sirloin Stockade. We wanted someone to pinch us and make sure we were still in Mexico. The following morning, we wanted to pinch someone else for the highway robbery prices they charged for the morning buffet. It was an elaborate buffet, complete with a chef that would make fresh omelets to your liking, but help us, $15 a plate for breakfast?

The third day we had two exciting ventures. John had often prayed, asking the Lord to keep air in our tires until we reached home again. We heard a big explosive sound and slowly made our way to the side of the highway. We were moving at 80mph now, along good toll road highways that cut through mountains, bridging large gaps rather than winding around and around them, and they also bypass several large cities. We slowed down to pull off on the side and saw that our tire had blown off the outer tread but still was holding air. PTL!!! John was taking out the spare when another truck pulled up behind us. Out hopped three orange angels and took over the entire job while we watched in happy amazement. They were a highway assistance crew dressed in orange jumpsuits. With all the hundreds of miles for them to cover, how they came to be right there, at that exact time, seemed very amazing to us. He was so glad for the help. We happily shared our homemade cookies with them and exchanged big smiles and handshakes before we were on our way once again.

We made it to the border on Sunday afternoon and we saw overhead that there were long lines waiting to go across. It was 106 dgs and the air conditioner froze up while we were idling and waiting. We were looking for Bridge #2. A policeman pulled up alongside us on his motorcycle and reminded us to buckle up. We had just left the vehicle inspection office and in our getting separated from the Olsons, we had forgotten about buckling up. The police began to ask for John’s license when we explained our confusion and apologized for our lack in buckling. He forgave us, went into the intersection, and detained all traffic while he motioned us to do a U-turn and head back the way we came. Wow! That was a big surprise. So, we found the right direction but we crept along every block trying to find which one turned onto the second bridge. A man behind us honked at us. We motioned him to go ahead but he stopped alongside and asked if we needed help then preceded to lead us straight to the bridge we needed. Two more angels sent to aid us along our way. We felt truly guided by the Lord and made our crossing without complications to find the Olsons on the other side in Laredo…at a Wal-Mart parking lot. We pushed on to Austin, Texas for the night and arrived in Springfld, Mo. on Monday afternoon with grateful, happy hearts. Its always good to be on the field where God sends you, but there’s never anywhere to compare with home. Thank you dear supporters who prayed and payed for our safe return. We have plans to be home a couple months before heading south once again. Hope we see many of you in our short stay here. God bless you each and every one.

Weekend to Amuzgos

Can you imagine what it would be like to be visiting in the only Christian church in a town of 20,000, and with it being only seven years in existence? Can you imagine such a church being of 200 members, many of them people over sixty-five years of age, and so thrilled to finally know the One true God and His Son, Jesus Christ before they know Him in eternity? Can you imagine being the daughter of a man who was a drunkard for many years but who now, knowing Jesus for four years, is a loving, godly father? Can you imagine how her life has been transformed in just a few short years from a struggling young lady, hoping to make a decent life for herself with her Business Adm. degree, one among many, many youth, to now being a believer and an assistant administrator of a growing missions base? All these are realities; dreams come true because God reigns!




We visited the Amuzgos village with an excitement in our hearts because when we first met Socorro, (Soco to us) the newly appointed assistant to the administrator of Roca Blanca missions base, we connected in the Spirit, with a great love for one another. As we grew to know one another, we realized that our hearts and visions were the same and we could benefit one another and the Kingdom of God by helping and encouraging one another in those visions and dreams. Socorro (which means “helper”) is from a farming community that lies nestled in a high mountain valley where they grow corn (maiz) as a primary crop along with other vegs and fruits and raise the typical farming animals such as cows, pigs, and chickens. The majority of their women embroider for many hours a day making the most beautiful dresses of bright colors mostly on white or cream fabric. They are made with intricate designs of flowers, animals, and people and often include strips of ribbon or ric-rac. It is amazing to see them laboring over dirty fires and sweeping dirt floors and streets in these gorgeous, light fabrics. How they stay so clean shows many hours of care for their clothes. The men commonly are wearing the western clothes but still often carrying their machete throughout the day as it is their weapon and tool for all things. Who needs a shovel, a pick, a chain saw, a fruit peeler, or scissors? A man with a machete can do many, many things, and they work hard every day with it to carve out a living for their families. However, alcoholism, hopelessness, and godlessness has many of them in bondage; slaves to sin and destruction.



The church of Amuzgo is a growing light to the people of this small tribe that are found in a few villages along the coastal mountains. It all began about ten years ago when a man from their tribe, working in the USA, found Jesus and heard the call to go back to his own people and share the Good News. Bro. Alex and his friend, Bro. Luis, returned from good businesses and good lives in the States to birth a new hope, a new dream, a new life in Christ. We were blessed to meet them, spend time in English conversation with them and their families, and to rejoice in spiritual fellowship together this past weekend of June 4-6th. We carried Soco and her sister Vero back to their village where we received an open-hearted, loving welcome from her family, her friends, and her people. We walked many dusty roads and mountain fields with her and her father, listening to their dreams that were being revived from years of loss through alcoholism and defeat. We walked the streets of the town meeting and greeting people everywhere we went. We enjoyed the best Mexican home cooking we’ve had since coming here in January. Sunday, we went to their new church body and were received with great kindness and respect as farmers and as missionaries. John gave a testimony and message on the bigness of our God. The pastor interpreted in both Spanish and the native Indian dialect which was tonal and fascinatingly different than anything you would expect to hear in Mexico. The older generation still communicate only in their old tongue so it was necessary for him from time to time to speak in both languages to the people. Some of those from the older generation were so enthralled with the testimony and Word of the Lord that they stood the entire time John was speaking. Imagine such hunger, imagine such eagerness to hear the Word of God, imagine standing for an hour of worship and another forty-five minutes of someone speaking about answering the “call” of Matt. 28:18-20!!! When the pastor gave invitation to “go forth”, it wasn’t only the young people who came but the oldest, shortest people of the church. Many of these older ones had stunted growth. Their hands had short stubby fingers from hard labor; their feet had toes splayed apart and with little or no arch from years of walking barefoot or in hard, leather sandals. They were the most amazing and responsive people, boldly willing to be anointed for preaching the Good News to others with the signs and wonders of miracles and healings to follow them. Out of the sixty some people in attendance that Sunday, there were about twenty people who came forward and they touched our hearts deeply as they gathered to be prayed over and again later as they surrounded us to pray over us and send us forth with the prayer that we would come again. How astonishing to realize there are still people who have never heard about the wonderful salvation of Jesus. What a joy to know God is still at work to reach all people, all tongues, all nations for His glory and His Kingdom. To God be all the praise.



We regret that we are unable to provide pictures of this trip and these people as our camera has been missing for about three weeks. We will make effort to post pictures of the Amuzgos during a later visit this year.