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.
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