Rocky Point

These are exciting times in Rocky Point, Mexico. I am thinking back to when Chris and I first arrived in Rocky Point. I remember standing on a pile of rubble thinking this is the land where the church will be. So much need in the community. So much of Gods work to be done and so much potential. A lot of progress has been made since that moment standing on the rocks.

We split ourselves into groups and spread out reaching different parts of the community, handing out leaflets to each household inviting them to a 7 day campaign and on the 8th day there would be the launching service of a new church. I noticed that in this particular part of Mexico it seems to be the culture to stand just outside the grounds of where the home is and shout for the person to answer the door rather than knock on the door. It was not long before word started to spread that something is happening in Rocky Point.

As the Campaign drew nearer the team were in planning and preparation mode. We set up 2 tents for the campaign. Served food, preached the gospel of Christ to the people and the band Sounds of Canaan came down for a concert. The team all worked together.  Each person had their part to do. I made around 14o cupcakes and they were gone in a flash. I am glad they enjoyed them. After the campaign was over around 77 people gave their heart to Christ. God is good!   We now have 3 house groups to disciple the new christians spread out over the community. We are just finishing our new believers study class which takes place in the homes, and will soon be arranging dates for the people who are ready to be baptized. It is so rewarding to see the people grow in faith and have a hunger for the word of God in their life. The youth are also expanding. We recently had a soccer/football camp for the youth which went well. Six young people accepted Christ. 

There is a certain part of the community where there is a lot of witchcraft that takes place here in Mexico. They worship Santa Muerte, which translates “Saint Death,” known as the goddess of death. One lady had an altar in her house to Santa Muerte as an idol of worship. She opened up her house for  people in the community to come round and worship the idol. This same lady who came to hear the message of Jesus Christ preached at the campaign gave her heart to Christ. Soon after the first discipleship class she tore down the idol in her house and no longer worshiped death. Now the lady has moved from death to life. She understands there is only one true God and that is Jesus Christ giver of life. Praise God!

Some people don’t understand missionary work.  Recently one person who hadn’t actually seen the work or understood our motivation claimed we were trying to bribe people with food and empty words, but in reality we don’t get anything from the people. We genuinely want to see people’s lives changed for the better. Only God can change a person’s heart. On our most recent Sunday service there were bags of clothes donated to the church for the people of the community who are in need. My eyes were welling up at this point. One little girl came running up to me with a smile from ear to ear holding a pair of shoes in her hands. She was overjoyed because she had a new pair of shoes. My heart melted! It was in that moment I thought, “This is what it is all about.” 

Chris and I were away for a few weeks to spend time with the family in California. It was very much a sad and emotional time as Chris’s dad, Leon, passed away. The funeral was lovely and the people were very understanding and supportive. It certainly puts life into perspective. We were glad though to have spent the time we had with his dad and family. You’re left with memories and the reassurance that Leon is in heaven for eternity as he was very much a man of God.

At the moment I am still working on my English Second Language course and learning Spanish. I find I am beginning to understand a lot more than I used to. The people in the church were commenting that they have noticed, which is always encouraging. Chris is fluent so he sometimes helps with the pronunciation. All is good!

Now the land which was just a pile of rubble and rocks has a brand new church planted. It’s great to see how far the church has come from where we were. Glory to God!

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