Don Rogelio and his family. This is the young man that was healed, and the first Pame family to open their home to the gospel when Javier first came to Tanlacut
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ – to all who love our Lord and Savior and who are excited to be a laborer for His Kingdom, and to all who are passionate about missions and what God is doing around the world I want to send an update on the work in Mexico.
I know that the news has been dominated with very negative things lately, especially as it relates to the southern border of the United States with Mexico. There is much chaos and stress in the world, but God is still solidly on His throne and His sovereign will is in no danger of running off the rails. God is still God, King of kings, Lord of lords, and in complete control.
I have been blessed to receive a year-end report from Javier which I am going to place directly into this blog so that you can catch a little bit of the burning passion that he carries for ministry. I told Theresa that it is akin to reading a modern-day rewriting of the book of Acts. Whereas the Apostle Paul and Dr. Luke and others faced the challenges of their day in a Roman world, Javier and Cristina, Mario and Janny, along with the many others face the difficulties of ministry in the 21st Century in Mexico.
One of the first things that immediately struck me in reading his report is the need for money to keep the tools moving – specifically to keep the little Ford Ranger that he now has running, as well as to purchase the fuel to do so. To me it is unconscionable to think that for the lack of funds to keep a vehicle on the road, or for fuel needed to travel, one soul, and perhaps multitudes would not hear the gospel message of God’s love for them and spend eternity in Hell. I understand the difficulties of getting to the places that he is talking about. I have driven these same roads, and many like them – more cow paths than roads in reality.
Pame Believers worshiping at Tanlacut
The second thing that immediately jumps off the page is the burden that he has for the unreached.
Without detracting any more I will place Javier’s report below.
Blessings,
Steven
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Project for the Pame Zone of the Municipality of Santa Catarina and the Tenek Region pertaining to the eleven communities of the Municipality Cd. Valles, San Luis Potosí
I always give thanks to my God for the grace that he has given to us because in all things we are enriched in him. Because of this, the testimony about Jesus Christ has been established in several communities in the indigenous Pame region of the state of San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
Location of Santa María Acapulco in the map of Mexico
For a long time I have wanted to reach this tribal group but the opportunity was denied me and every day there remained a pain and anguish in my spirit that would not let me rest. In the month of June of last year I was able make an exploratory visit to the communities of the Jabali, La Copa, Veite de Noviembre, and Santa Elena, all communities belonging to the Tamasopo region. My eyes saw firsthand these very beautiful communities, but in my heart I knew that God had prepared me to go even further into the Pame region of Tanlacut itself.
And so we pressed onwards. Upon arriving at the village of Trigo we desired to speak to people but it was not possible to do so. Going further we arrived at the village of Tanlacut for the first time and began to scope out the community. We did not have any contacts in place, but we trusted in God that he would direct us. Arriving at a house we stopped and got out of our vehicle. Here we found a young man who was very sick and we asked if we could pray for him. After praying for the young man the family offered us hospitality and hosted us and we were able to have our first meeting with his family in order to share the gospel.
Fifteen days later when we returned back to the village we were overjoyed to see that God had healed the young man completely. This time we did not hold a service in their house but rather we were able to meet together with the whole community for their first evangelistic service. Although we have had ups and downs along the way we have had no problem with the community and they even provided us the use of the village town center for services, and it is in this building that we are holding services and which serves as a church building up to the present. To God be the glory given. This is the first Pame area in which we began to work.
Beginning in January of 2018 we were able to visit several other communities within a short distance from Tanlacut, including Agua Nueva where a small property and house was donated to the ministry. It is my vision that this be developed into a mission center for the Pame people within their own tribal region so that missionaries and other workers who travel there to preach have a home place to stay when they arrive.
The Pame region of San Luis Potosí including the Tanlacut and Santa María Acapulco areas
Approximately four kilometers further up an almost impossibly bad mountain road is another community called Milpas Viejas where we are also ministering the gospel is Jesus Christ. These brothers and sisters in Christ often walk the eight to nine kilometers down the side of the mountain to attend church services in Tanlacut.
In March we began ministering in another community belonging to the same municipality called Chacuala. Here we found people desperately in need of the Word, many with thirsty hearts prepared to receive.
We still have a long way to go and to date we have achieved very little of the full vision which God has given, but we want to continue to advance the gospel to other communities as well as God permits. Our desire next is to be able to go to the community of Tanlú and then from there to be able to enter even further to the very center of the Pame region, or Xiux to a village called Santa Maria Acapulco which is adjacent to the state of Queretaro. There are also further communities such as Los Positos which have invited us to bring the Gospel.
May God provide the laborers to advance his Kingdom as well as sufficient funds in order to purchase the fuel needed to keep the truck on the road and for the parts and repairs which are always needed for the vehicle in order to continue with this missionary work to this people group.
It is the desire of my heart to continue to prepare laborers for God’s Kingdom. The harvest is ripe.
A satellite view of the region including Cd. Valles and Santa María Acapulco
The House of Prayer mission outreach which is heading up the ministry of Casa Maranata located in Rio Verde over which I also have oversight is also about ready to become an independent church. However because it still does not have its own stable location to meet we have been seeking God’s sovereign will and intervention. This mission church is pastored by brother Hazael Moreno who was ordained last year as a minister of the gospel at the regional convention at Victoria.
While being careful not to neglect the work in the Cd. Valles area or the church in Solidaridad which I pastor, in the coming year I hope to be able to take the gospel of our Lord all the way to Santa Maria Acapulco which is located in the very center of the Pame tribal region, as well as to preach the Word here in Cd. Valles.
We are already making an impact into the Tenek tribal area around Cd. Valles (of which tribal group I personally represent) and have had a mission outreach established in the village of San Antonio Huichimal for some time. This work is being ministered to by brother Armando Lopez Ramos, a member of our local church in Solidaridad. We also want to open mission outreaches into the Tenek communities of Ojo de Agua and La Lima in the upcoming year, the Lord willing. My vision for the next year, if God permits and provides the means to do so, is to fill those places with the gospel.
I desire to also be able to advance God’s Kingdom into the mountainous regions of the state of Hidalgo to the west of us where the soil is also fertile for the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. What we prayerfully wait and intercede for are laborers willing to serve in this capacity.
Very soon, as God helps me and gives me life and strength and the finances needed to proceed, I long to accomplish my heart’s desire which he has placed in me from the beginning – to advance His Kingdom to the unreached tribal groups, and to disciple men and women to become leaders themselves.
A group of Pame Believers in the mountain village of Milpas Viejas
Even though my days here on earth may be short I know that God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, my Lord, will prosper my way and provide me with the ability to accomplish what he has planned for my life. God will sustain my way and will bless my children after me.
Thank you Lord.
Santa María Acapulco:
Santa María Acapulco is a community in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosí, located in the Sierra Gorda forest reserve in the southern mountainous region of the state territory. It is part of the Municipality of Santa Catarina. Its population is almost completely formed by indigenous people of the Pame ethnic group.
History:
The territory where the town of Santa María Acapulco currently sits, the Sierra Gorda, was not completely conquered by Spaniard conquest until the year of 1744 when it was finally subjugated at the hands of José de Escandón.
Its inhabitants, the Pames, are one of the only two surviving groups of Chichimecas that the Spaniards conquered in the northern regions of Mesoamérica, and that were characterized as nomadic. As a part of their domination missions were founded, one of which was Santa María Acapulco, founded around 1740 by the Franciscan religious order. Its name comes from its founding mission as being dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. The word Acapulco comes from the indigenous Náhuatl language and means “where there are large and thick reeds”.
A group of Pame children being led by Cristina at Tanlacut
The Spanish mission of Santa María Acapulco stood out for its particular and unique style. The church was built on top of a hill dominating the community, with a facade decorated with niches and images of saints. Its roof was formed by palm branches. Inside there were three altarpieces constructed of carved wood in the baroque style – a large central one as well as two on either side. A pulpit was constructed of wooden polychrome (referring to an item that has been decorated with many colors of opaque paints and pigments). The interior also had 125 articles, including sculptures and oil paintings now cataloged by the National Institute of Anthropology and History as historical pieces.
Culture:
The vast majority of the inhabitants of Santa María Acapulco understand and speak the Pame language. The main activity of the population is agriculture, which nevertheless provides only a subsistence level of income for most. The women of the community dedicate their time to the weaving of palm fiber with which they make petates, colotes and chiquihuites, (various baskets and floor mats), but which in reality generate barely any income at all. For these reasons it is considered one of the poorest communities and regions in the whole of Mexico.
Among the main traditional celebrations of the community are Holy Week, Corpus Christi, All Saints, 3 de mayo, 12 de diciembre, and 6 de enero. During these celebrations it is common to see the traditional dance of the mitote characteristic of the Pame communities in which men and women dance in straw capes used as protection for the rain
Location and demographics:
Population graph of Santa María Acapulco 1900 to 2010
Santa María Acapulco is located in the southeastern part of the state of San Luis Potosí very close to the boundary of the State of Querétaro, in the Huasteca area, and in the Sierra Gorda region. The geographic coordinates of its location are 21 ° 28 ‘ 20 “N 99 ° 26’29” W. It sits at an altitude of 853 meters above sea level. Its main communication route is a rural road that connects it with its municipal capital Santa Catarina, as well as with Rayón and Lagunillas in San Luis Potosí, and Arroyo Seco in the state of Querétaro.
According to the 2010 census the total population of Santa María Acapulco was 712 inhabitants, with 294 men and 294 women. The largest population registered in the town was 1,502 inhabitants in 1910, while the lowest was only 93 in 1950.
Report written by
Javier Santos Hernández
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I trust that Javier’s report has been as inspiring to you as it has been to me. God is at work and he is bringing a harvest of souls into his Kingdom through the hard work of faithful brothers and sisters around the world.
The other aspects of ministry in and around Cd. Valles continue as well and I am not trying to take the focus away from it in any way. Mario and
Javier and Cristina at Tanlacut with the mountains in the background
Janny continue to raise up leaders through the Bible Institute Luz de las Naciónes as well as through the work of Project LAMBS. They are faithful in ministry and working hard for the Lord also. Cristina and Alicia are as busy as ever in the sewing ministry and women, many of whom would otherwise not be open in any way to the gospel are now being loved into the Kingdom of God as well as learning a wonderful trade while doing so. The Training Center farm, Casa del Obrero is advancing. The crop this year looks good. Armando and Alicia are serving well and faithfully – both at the farm and the ministry there, as well as in the multitude of other areas that they are also involved in.
God is on the move, and his Kingdom is advancing!
As the Christmas season and year-end approach I want to request that you remember our brothers and sisters serving in Mexico. I personally have nothing to gain in what I will now ask, so I will do so without apology: Please remember to pray for them. Please give financially if God lays it on your heart, and if you are able to do so. I am so very often reminded of how a small amount of money to us here in Canada and the United States – that little extra something that I “deserve” and which doesn’t “break the bank anyway”, can mean the difference between having the gas to travel out to a mountain village to preach the gospel, or to pay for the repairs of a broken vehicle. Either way, my Starbucks might mean a soul included or excluded from the Kingdom.
I often think of the scene in Schindler’s List where Oskar Schindler looks at his gold badge and his other remaining trophies and falls to his knees weeping and sobs “This could have saved one more person; one more person could have been saved”. I don’t want my beloved trinkets to keep a soul from God’s Kingdom.
Have a blessed Christmas season filled with Jesus Christ.
Your fellow laborers,
Steven and Theresa
