[About the photos: Covid-19 is impacting Mexico just like it is the rest of the world. But that does not stop God’s people from being His hands extended to those in need. Here is a series of photos of Barbara, the wife of Pastor Carlos, leading a caregiving ministry in Chiapas.]
Dear friends of Mexico Ministries:
“Can you help?” I received a call a few weeks ago from a mother in Mexico asking for help with her daughter’s medical needs. Today, I received a call from a pastor explaining how difficult it is in his church and city because of the coronavirus, and wanting to know if I could help with a couple of hundred dollars. I immediately thought of what the Bible teaches: “If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?” (James 2.15f). I then read 1 John 3.17: “But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?”
I wept and thought how miserable my life would be without God’s abiding love. My prayer is, Lord let me never be like the man “dressed in purple and fine linen” who lived in splendor every day and never once considered or had compassion on Lazarus, who laid at the gate longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table (Luke 16). I am moved with compassion for our brothers and sisters in Mexico, whom I carry in my heart, but cannot embrace in my arms.
The Bible tells of more than once when Jesus wept. He cried at the death of his friend Lazarus. He sat on a hill and looked down upon Jerusalem and wept over the city’s coming doom. I wonder in those times when he went alone to the mountain to pray, how often those prayers were accompanied by tears.
Today I am hurting and weeping as well. Because of the travel restrictions and the rampage of the virus I cannot yet be in Mexico. I am praying that God open doors for me to be there again very soon (by faith I have purchased tickets to return to Chiapas in the middle of October). Until then I continue to do what I can from here at home. I am constantly in communication with the pastors and people in Mexico, sharing pastoral counsel, planning new works, and overseeing the ministries there. And we continue supplying finances for new church buildings and ministry projects and caring for those in need. But there will be tears until I can plant my feet on the soil of Mexico once again, and then I’m sure there will be tears of joy.
Know how thankful to God I am for your continued faithfulness to this ministry during this season. But it is just that - a season - and it shall pass. So rejoice in hope with me that, “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm 30.5)
God bless you,
Larry