[About the photos: the village of Santa Cruz, Oaxaca, where we will soon build a place of worship for these dear people.}
Dear friends of Mexico Ministries:
Greetings, and Happy New Year! In a few days I will be back in Tuxtepec, Oaxaca, and on the 22nd of January we will have a celebration to mark the completion of the stadium there. A special thank you goes out to all of you who helped make this dream a reality. The following day I will join a crew of Mexicans and head into the mountains of Santa Cruz where we will remain until we have completed two new churches we began in October. Upon our return we will meet together and strategize for the new year that lays before us.
Isaiah prophesied, “the people will say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us concerning his ways, that we may walk in his paths.” (Isaiah 2.3) Isaiah knew what he was talking about. He saw the Lord sitting on his throne. He heard the voice of the Lord asking, “Whom shall I send and who will go for us.” He heard God’s directive, “Go, tell the people.” Isaiah encountered the living God and understood his will, purpose, and plan. He prophesied a coming Messiah whose Spirit-anointed mission would be, “to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn.” (Isaiah 61.1,2).
Of course, you know that these are the very words Jesus used that Sabbath morning when he read in the synagogue and began his earthly ministry. “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing,” he told the people after he finished the reading. (Luke 4.21) This was what Jesus was called to do.
And this is precisely what God has called Mexico Ministries to do. It is the very reason for our existence: to keep doing what Jesus did, all throughout Mexico, from the bustling cities to the primitive villages. Our theme for 2022 is, “Together We Can, Together We Will!” That “Together” includes all the teams with boots on the ground throughout Mexico, and all the wonderful supporters in the U.S. who join the effort through their prayers, giving, and spiritual support. It also includes all the heavenly hosts - the angels who minister with us, and the people of God who have gone before us. We are ALL in this together. And we will continue this labor of love until we hear those beautiful words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” (Matthew 25.21)
God bless you in this new year,
Larry