TRADITIONS IN MEXICO

Christmas traditions in Mexico are unusual and interesting. We experienced one annual Christmas Eve tradition at Apolinar's house, the butchering of a pig. Thankfully we got there when most of the work was done and the fresh meat was hanging from tree limbs in their back yard. Since they have no refrigerator or freezer, they had to salt the meat and hang it up to dry.

It was a big occasion and several friends gathered around to help and share the meat. We were invited to join them. Marcelino brought a large shallow pan with attached feet that fit over a fire built on the ground. In this heavy pan they rendered the fat from cut up pieces of skin, ears, etc. This created chicharrones that in the United States we call cracklings, crisp bacon flavored bites. And the fat will cool and harden later creating lard. When the pieces of skin browned and shrank and floated, someone took a board and lifted them a few at a time out of the hot fat and into a large pan. The men around the fire were taking samples from the pan when they were cool enough to handle. Lloyd and I were encouraged to try the hot chicharrones and we had to eat them the Mexican way, sprinkled with fresh lime juice. In their lean-to kitchen Carla stirred the contents of a large full pot. This pot contained a stew from other usually discarded parts of a pig. The activities were all surrounded with a feeling of celebration, for a little while there would be plenty to eat.

The picture shows one of the men stirring chicharrones in Marcelino's specially made pan with legs.

FELIZ NAVIDAD!

Feliz Navidad and other holiday songs were playing on the radio when we visited Marcelino on Christmas day. The sun was shining but there was a chill in the strong northerly wind rattling windows and doors. We had gifts for each of them, including a large pring leather Bible for Marcelino. He told us it was difficult for him to read the small print in his Bible. That was when we decided it would be the perfect Christmas gift for him.

Marcelino and Griselda have four children and one granddaughter. He told us proudly that all of them now attend church together as a family. The kids sat around the kitchen table happily checking out their gifts while Griselda served us traditional holiday tamales and hot coffee. The red salsa she offered us was very spicy, but Marcelino laughingly recommended the green salsa which he said was much hotter!

Lloyd and I stopped at Cristela's house next where we were served her specialty, cups of hot fruit punch. The rich dark sweet drink contained chunks of fruit that tasted like peaches. Every year Cristela prepares a huge kettle of her Christmas punch to share with anyone stopping for a visit.

PRESENTS FOR THE PASTOR'S FAMILY

Pastor Gerardo and his family received their presents from THE POWER COMPANY on Christmas day. The Power Company, the children who attend Bethalto Illinois Church of God, purchased, wrapped and shipped presents for everyone in the family. We also had bagged gifts that had been donated for the children by the Mutza family and the Haas family from Bethalto Church of God. There were several other children present and no one was left out when gifts were distributed.

HAPPY CHILDREN

A happy little group of children gathered on the porch to play with the toys and games in their gift bags. Life is difficult in Mexico and the economy is very bad. Most families have few if any presents for their children at Christmas, mainly they emphasize family and their traditional foods. We are especially grateful for friends who generously show their love for Mexican children by purchasing, packing and sending these much appreciated gifts. Many times we heard "Gracias! Thank you!" And we responded by saying, "Gracias a Dios! Thanks to God!"

SOY LIBRE! I'M FREE!

"Soy libre, I'm free!" Marcelino kept shouting to us when we stopped at his house. "I no longer want to smoke or drink or go back to my old life. I'm free and I'm so happy!"

Marcelino accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior over a year ago and had changed a lot, but 2 months ago he had an even more drastic and life changing experience. He had an encounter with Jesus, received the Holy Spirit and made a complete commitment to Him. Now he can't stop talking about his "big father" in heaven. He tells his neighbors about his experience, he and his wife pray for people, together they lay hands on the sick and they are healed and now he wants to find more people who need to know what God can do in their lives. Marcelino is a miracle!

A slightly built but tough little man, Marcelino lives next to our church in Nuevo Progreso. For years he has watched over the project, saying that he always waits for us there. Many times he slept on the roof of the building so he could keep watch over materials delivered to the site. But when Lloyd would talk to him about Christ, he would always say he would serve Him some day.

Now Marcelino is so happy that he can barely stand still. "I waited for you so I could tell you what has happened to me," he said. "I feel so much power and boldness to tell people and I'm so happy! It's in my heart! Everyone needs to know about it!" He said he remembered us telling him so many times that nothing is impossible with God.

When I took this picture of Marcelino before we left, he was saying over and over, "Dios es grande! Con Dios si se puede!" God is big, with God we can do it!

THE MEXICAN MILITARY

Soldiers with weapons stand guard at the entrance to Nuevo Progreso. Some are behind sandbagged enclosures, some stand watch on the balconies of nearby establishments and others stand near lanes of traffic keeping their eyes alert for problems. The Mexican Army is currently represented at the international bridge and the Mexican Marines have set up their headquarters in the police station they recently seized.

Lloyd wanted to ask permission to give them all New Testaments, but we didn't know who was in charge. Two soldiers walking down a side street appeared to be off duty, so we tried to follow but soon lost site of them. We walked around the block and found ourselves once again in front of the customs office. Without much hesitation, Lloyd took several Spanish booklets, walked out into the middle of the street and approached two armed and uniformed men. He explained what he wanted to do and asked if it would be okay. One of them said Lloyd could give them the books and they would see that they were distributed to the others. Lloyd then left several dozen booklets with the soldier in the bunker on the side of the busy street. Lloyd is pictured leaving booklets with a soldier.

Our next destination was the police station where we found a military truck blocking the road. Lloyd pulled the Jeep over to the side of the road and we walked to a small group of Marines standing in the shade of a tree. Friendly and courteous, they said good afternoon and waited for us to tell them what we wanted. The first young man we spoke to called an older man over and we repeated our question, "Would it be all right if we bring New Testaments to the men?"

When the man in charge saw the books of John and Romans we held out to him, he accepted them eagerly and thanked us. He said there are about 50 Marines now in Nuevo Progreso and they would be glad to receive New Testaments from us. Lloyd and I thanked him for being in Nuevo Progreso and for the work they're doing. He responded by saying, "Dios lo bendiga," God bless you.

Before leaving, I asked him his name. "Lazarus," he said. "The man Jesus raised from the dead."

BROKEN ROADS

Flooding from hurricanes last summer caused great damage to roads around Nuevo Progreso. The road we traveled many times to Rio Bravo no longer exists. Instead huge sections of pavement were gouged out with great force, leaving deep ditches about every 20 feet. The broken road stretches about 1/2 mile through fields that once contained corn and other crops. The forceful river of water transformed the area and left behind a huge lake that was full of large fish from the Rio Grande River.

Apolinar went with us to view the damage. He said he and many other people from town caught tilapia, carp and catfish for their families from the flooded fields. It's difficult to see from this picture how much damage was done to the road.

The government is now working on the truck road we often use that circumvents the city of Nuevo Progreso. The road has been widened and they have smoothed out the deep ruts and potholes. The best news is that a water pumping station is being built alongside the truck road. Standing flood water that's always a problem on the east side of the city will in the future be channeled along the road and south toward Rio Bravo. This is a great improvement and will be a blessing to many families and to our church.

CHURCHES UNDER THREATS

One by one churches in Nuevo Progreso are closing or are being abandoned by their pastors. Even though the Mexican military has the city in their control, church leaders are still being pressured for money by the mafia and they're leaving in fear. Gerardo, the pastor we've established in Nuevo Progreso, said he has not been threatened in any way, but he knows of at least four pastors who have left. Many churches have been joining together in homes to pray for God's protection on their congregations. The persecution by the mafia has brought about new unity among believers. As in any other time of testing, only the strongest and most courageous pastors will want to continue ministering in Nuevo Progreso.

Gerardo reported hearing two separate spurts of gunfire Tuesday, but no one seems to know or will say what happened. When we were there the next day, everything seemed eerily quiet like the calm before a storm. Many of the largest restaurants, bars and stores were closed and shuttered. This is like watching an exciting boom town die a slow and painful death.

While we watched, five or six large military trucks loaded with armed Marines drove out of town. Evidently there had been a change of guard. Some of the young men on the trucks smiled at us and waved; and one held up two fingers in the sign of victory.

This is a unique time and opportunity for evangelism because of the fear and economic troubles families are experiencing. Are we here for such a time as this? If so, we're under God's protection and He will guide and direct us.

The photo is of Lloyd and two children from Nuevo Progreso.