Young girls receive a gift of school supplies from the Hidden Manna Children’s ministry. Even in these little squatter villages the fear of the Covid-19 virus keeps even little children masked.
As we enter into November 2020 I do so with a certain amount of ambivalence and uncertainty concerning the impending future. Surely any sane person can see that the world has gone berserk and is flying apart at the seams.
“Justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey”. (Isaiah 59: 14, 15a).
The book of Habakkuk has become increasingly relevant to me over the recent weeks. Habakkuk, the prophet of the Lord was also bewildered that wickedness, strife and oppression were rampant in Judah while God seemingly did nothing. Justice had essentially disappeared from the Land; violence and wickedness were pervasive, existing unchecked.
In the midst of these dark days, the prophet cried out for divine intervention:
“How long, LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted”. (1:2-4)
Shockingly God’s response to Habakkuk was that he was sending the Chaldeans, a wicked, “ruthless and impetuous nation” to judge Judah for their sin.
This reply created an even greater theological dilemma for Habakkuk: Why didn’t God purge His people and restore their righteousness? How could God use the Chaldeans, that wicked and cruel nation to judge Judah?
These young orphaned children are the recipients of school supplies through Cristina’s ministry to the poor. Schools are not offering in-class instruction due to Covid-19 and classes must be taken via televised coursework. However these children (and many others) have no electricity or television.
Throughout the book, as the prophet argues with God he achieved a deeper understanding of God’s sovereign character, and a firmer faith in him. Ultimately, Habakkuk realized that God was not to be worshiped merely because of the temporal blessings that he bestows, but rather for his own sake:
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights”. (3:17–19).
It is the very sovereignty of God himself that we question when we doubt him. He remains squarely upon this throne, Sovereign and Lord irrespective of what appears around us, or what storms beset us as individuals or as a nation.
“The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him”. (Hab. 2:20)
So, even though my eyes see evil all around me. Even though truth and justice stagger in the street like drunkards. Even amid the uncertainties of the upcoming U.S. election and all that it entails. Even though the economies of the world continue to collapse; while nations writhe and Covid-driven fear continues to paralyze the globe. Though hostilities increase around the world and nations rattle sabers one against another. Even though God may very well choose to judge us by giving us the just deserts of our unrighteousness and godlessness as nations – Canada and the United States, as well as the whole universal race of sinful humanity. Even then will I rejoice in my Lord, knowing that he is sovereign and that NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING can or will happen outside of his express will and plan; even apparent evil!
A happy little boy receives kindergarten supplies.
“The Lord of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand”. (Is. 14:24)
“All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’” (Dan. 4:35)
Amen. Amen.
The LORD reigns!
Throughout these difficult times, even while the whole world has been stood on its head, the work of the ministry has continued strong in Mexico. However, as you will remember from the August blog it has been a very difficult year in many ways.
Hit first of all with a hard and devastating drought the Huasteca region was then slammed with the sucker punch of Covid-19. Most of the sugarcane, the almost sole crop in the region was completely lost to the drought. Then as the beginning of the year progressed into the ongoing devastation of the fear of the new world-domineering virus (fears both real and illusory) what little financial hope that remained for many of the poor completely evaporated. Those depending upon day-labor for their income were especially hard hit as business closed and normal work ended due to enforced lock-downs, and whole families teetered at the brink of extreme crisis.
This also meant that churches and mission outreaches were forced to close. The Bible School and other teaching centers could no longer continue. The work among the children in the poor squatter villages needed to be changed as the children were no longer able to congregate together for meals or teaching and activity times. The sewing school also needed to become extremely creative in continuing its work among the women and girls whom it served.
All of this was recorded in the August blog and I encourage you to reread it in order to refresh your memory.
When it became impossible for the children to come to Cristina she went to them. This orphaned child (being raised by her great grandmother) receives a food care-package through the ministry of Hidden Manna.
Since then things have taken a cyclic turn. For a number of months things began to open again and some of the restrictions were slowly lifted. The children’s ministry, Hidden Manna was able to open its doors again to the needy children, providing them with nutritious meals and Bible instruction and training. The sewing school once again was able to become increasingly open in its work and more of the women and girls were able to meet together at a time. The churches were able to open their doors, and the ministry into the villages in the form of the missional church-plants was able to continue unrestricted for a brief period. Javier and the mission team again went into the western mountains to minister to the indigenous Pame Christian brothers and sisters – briefly.
Now that door has once again closed for them for the time being. Only God knows how long the new restrictions will last this time.
In the fall, government schooling again began for the children, but no in-class teaching is being offered. All of the lessons are only accessible via televised classes. This is very problematic for the poor children because many of them not only do not have electricity in their hovels, but much less a television on which to attend their lessons. The government does offer some sort of a written study guide for the children, however realistically, for many of them this whole school year will be educationally lost, as was last spring.
Cristina and Alicia have moved their sewing school and workshop to a new location. It is smaller than the last building but more economical and centrally located for easy access for the girls and women that it serves. This school and workshop has become a place of vital healing and ministry to the women, both young and old that it serves. It has not only become a place for spiritual ministry, but also a center where work contracts are taken on and finances earned by the women involved. One of the big needs in the very near future is for a donor to come forward upon whose heart God has laid the burden to assist this particular ministry to the girls and women by enabling them to continue to rent their building. Although the sewing center does generate some funds it is never much, and is always used in other needs and ministries, and they are really not able to pay their rent without help. Last year we were blessed when a church in Canada took on the full amount of the rental for the 2020 year. However, we are now nearing the end of the year and are praying that the Lord will again lay this need on someone’s heart for the upcoming year so that this critical ministry to girls and women can continue.
Many of those who depend on day-labor jobs to sustain their families (like this Christian brother) found the lock-downs resulting from the Corona virus to be devastating.
The work of the children’s program, Hidden Manna has been critically important for many of the poor children of Buenos Aires, a poor squatter’s village over these past difficult months as well. Although Cristina could not open the doors of the children’s work itself she was unstoppable. Knowing that basic food was often scarce and unavailable to many of the poor children that normally were being served by Hidden Manna she decided that if they could not come to her she would go to them instead. Making up “dispensas” of food and household needs such as soap and other sanitary supplies she went home to home among the poor to distribute care packages to them. The love of Jesus was in this way expressed in a very hands-on and practical way even if the children were unable to attend the normal meals served at the center or attend the Bible lessons and training times.
Another urgent financial need is for an individual or a church to take on the funding of the children’s ministry, Hidden Manna for another year as well. The pledge for the finances to fund this work will also be ending at the end of the year and we pray that God will lay this critical ministry on someone’s heart as well so that these children will be able to continue to receive food for their growing bodies as well as for their awakening spirits, and that this vital ministry can continue unimpeded by finances.
Javier and Cristina’s new house is almost ready for them to move into. As you will recall from the last blog, the funds for them to build were given by friends of the ministry, many of them who have never met either Javier or Cristina but upon whose heart God laid a burden to bless these faithful servants. Javier hopes to have the family moved in by the end of the year. Praise God for his faithfulness.
The training center farm, Casa del Obrero continues to be used by God. In August I wrote that Javier was planning to step down as director of the Training Center at the end of the year. This was a misunderstanding on my part, and I reported it to you in error. In actuality he is planning to step down from his role as president of the Board of Directors of OUpC, the Mexican nonprofit that covers the various aspects of the work. However, he will continue to serve in his ministry as the director of the Training Center farm.
The elderly poor are also very vulnerable. The Hidden Manna ministry also sought to care for their needs where possible.
Armando is now almost 100% in charge of the complete work of the farm itself, thus relieving Javier of much of the physical work of the farm. Armando is also growing steadily in leadership and is becoming a right arm for Javier in many ways within his ministry.
The Casa del Obrero Training Center is opening a new chapter and is now offering on-line Bible training, taking on five new students, one from Matamoros, Mexico and one from the United States; but I will let Javier tell you more about that in his own words in a little bit…
There will be changes to the Board of Directors at their annual meeting in December. You will remember that I had hoped to be able to be there for that meeting with the board, but Covid-19 has changed all of that. Please pray with me that those who should step down from the board will do so, and that only those who have a vision and a call of God to be involved with the ministry will remain. In my estimation the board is presently too big, and many of those who are currently “members” are so in name only and serve no purpose and have no desire to really be there. May God bring people with energy and godly vision onto the board.
I am so thankful that God healed our brother Doctor Mario Cázarez. As you will recall, he is the director of the Project LAMBS part of the Bible School as well as the co-director of the Bible Institute along with his wife Alejandra. Earlier this year Dr. Cázarez contracted a very severe case of Covid-19 through his work as an anesthesiologist in the local hospital and was very critical in intensive care for some very desperate days. We are so grateful for full healing for him.
But, I also would like to ask you to pray for our dear brothers and sisters in Mexico. In conversation with many of them I see that they are struggling under tremendous fear and uncertainty concerning Covid-19 and the crumbling economy. One dear sister told me recently that for the past ten months she and their two children have almost never been outside of the house and only her husband leaves to go directly to work and back home again. He alone does the shopping. Please pray that this fear will be broken and they can once again glory in freedom from anxiety.
The Hidden Manna feeding program not only provides nutritious meals to fill the bellies of poor children, but Bible teaching and classes to feed their spirits with the love of Jesus.
I would like to end this blog by having Javier do so in his own words. I am attaching two letters that he wrote to me – one at the end of August and the other at the beginning of October. Even though this is some weeks ago I believe that they do express his heart in his own words:
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I am very grateful to God first of all for life, family, and for all his provisions. But I also give thanks for the life of each of you, and especially for all those who blessed us so much by making possible a home and refuge for Cristina and me as well as for our boys. I feel very blessed by God to have you as my brothers and sisters – my friends! God has blessed us greatly through all of you who have not even met us personally but who have blessed us with your resources. Thank you.
May God multiply your finances even in these most difficult times because the God of Israel is faithful and wonderful. He is our protector and provider in everything. Thank you for everything that you have done for us without even knowing us personally. You have allowed yourselves to be used as tools by God for his divine purposes.
We now have a home where we can take refuge. Being able to own our own home has been a dream for many, many years and this is now a dream come true! Ever since the beginning of my ministry I have never owned a home and have had to pay rent. But now I can declare with joy: “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” (I Sam. 7:12).
He has blessed me in heavenly places and with the oil of joy has given me peace, and I rest in delightful places.
At the Hidden Manna Children’s ministry these little children receive not only food for their natural hunger, but child-level teaching about Jesus.
I can only express my gratitude to God for giving me a place to live while I am on this earth, even if only in passing. My sincerest thanks to all my dear friends. Receive God’s richest blessings to you and your family. It is never in vain to serve God, and he will not forget your faithfulness. Continue to reach for the highest calling of God to achieve what our God has promised us.
Thank you for being a part of my life. You are an example of fidelity and respect and an inspiration in my life, and I give thanks for your life and your words of encouragement. Always keep going and never faint. Thank you for teaching me that indeed all things are possible, and that nothing is impossible in this life.
I feel blessed by you. Again, thank you so much.
Javier
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On October 1st Javier wrote the following:
It is a privilege for me to write to you again and to be able to communicate on this way. Thanks be to God for his mercies and that he has sustained us through his mighty power.
The sewing school/workshop is a tremendous blessing to many women and young girls. Here they are ministered to spiritually as well as receiving training in a practical trade.
I feel privileged to have you as my brothers and sisters. Surely it is only God who could unite us in that very intimate communion of being children of one God, begotten with the blood of Jesus Christ, making us one family in Him. I also thank God for his mercies and that he has been so good to us.
I have been working on the house finishing off details. I am now working on the kitchen and cementing in the windows. The electrical wiring main still needs to be put in to the pole as well as the electrical contract completed. Also I continue to wait for the connection and contract for the potable water and sewer. However, these need to be issued through the proper government departments and can sometimes take time to complete.
I also need to finish connecting some more water pipes to the water storage tank on the roof in order to connect it to the bathrooms and kitchen.
Little by little I am finishing off the house and making it habitable for us to move in. Today I made the power post where the electrical main cables and the meter are going to be connected into the house. God has blessed me with health and the ability to accomplish these things.
My hope in God is to be able to have everything finished before the end of the year so that we can move into our new place by the beginning of the new year. I look forward to no longer needing to pay rent every month since this has been a very heavy burden for many years of your life. God is good and I know that it will be accomplished!
This young girl is receiving very valuable training which will always be a benefit to her.
Little by little we are able to reestablish the different areas of ministry following the enforced shut downs that were demanded as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. For the past month we have been able to return to normal in many areas of ministry – holding services in the local church in Solidaridad, preaching in the various missions including Buenos Aires, Infonavit 2, Tampaya, El Cinco, and San Antonio Huichimal.
In the middle of this month we will also go out to minister in the Pame tribal area again.
I also want to clarify something with you regarding our last communication. In fact, it is not my intention to step down from being the director of the Casa del Obrero Training Center Farm. I will continue my role as director of the Training Center Farm. Rather, what I want to do is simply step down from my position as president of the nonprofit Obreros Unidos para Cosechar. In this way I will be able to separate my name from the nonprofit which will give me more freedom to be involved in the various aspects of the ministry. I will continue on the board as a member, but I do not wish to continue to hold a leadership role on it.
In this way I can also have more freedom to pursue the areas of ministry which God has laid on my heart – specifically that of pastoring locally as well as advancing the missionary thrust into the Pame tribal region in the western mountains.
However, I will not cease to help with the ministry of the Training Center Farm or those who are laboring there so that the vision that God gave for this particular ministry, which is being achieved little by little, will one day be fully realized through God’s provision.
This little student proudly displays her new dress. Lives are being changed through the work of Cristina and Alicia in this ministry to women and girls.
God always has big purposes. This week training will begin through the Casa del Obrero Training Center with five new students. The surprising and amazing thing is that this training will also now be done through on-line coursework, which means that for the first time we will be offering extension classes via the internet. One of the students is from San Antonio, Texas and another one from Matamoros, Mexico. Since they are already pastoring churches they cannot physically come to Cd. Valles in order to attend classes here.
The three other new students are all local – a married couple and another pastor all from Cd. Valles. Each of them is already serving as a pastor in a local church as well. All glory be to God who continues to increase our ministry and our ability to serve him.
Godly leaders are daily being multiplied and trained who are ministering in local churches, as well as going to minister in other places to preach and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is the vision of God that the church does not become stagnant or fruitless.
I want to tell you about a feeling that began in my heart about a month ago. Even while I keep telling myself that I still have not finished ministering in the Pame region I have become deeply burdened for the nation of Venezuela. This seemed very strange to me because I do not even know Venezuela, and certainly have never been there. I don’t know if this is only a feeling of mine or if it is a vision from God.
I keep talking with God and asking him to give me a clear direction of his will and schedule. If the burden is truly from him and not only from myself then I am praying that he will supply everything so that a church can be planted in Venezuela within two years, for clarity of direction for the city that I am to minister in, for the contacts within the country itself through whom he must open doors, and for the people who will work with me there. If it is from God he will make it happen; if not, then no. I rest securely in this knowledge and that I do not have to attempt to make anything happen. I simply rest in him.
Thank you for reading this letter.
Blessings,
Javier
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That will give you a window into Javier’s heart. Please continue to pray for our dear brothers and sisters in Mexico as they faithfully continue to serve our Lord through these difficult times.
“The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him”. (Hab 2:20)
Blessings my friends.
Your fellow laborers in Jesus Christ,
Steven and Theresa
