A letter from Susie Frerichs in Frijolillo, San Martin Chalchicuahutla, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
February 2010
Yancuic Camanali
News from the Presbytery of the Huastecas
It is hard to believe that it is 2010. Wasn’t it just 10 years ago that everyone thought the world was coming to an end because computers could not handle the numerical realities of the new century? And now, all eyes are on 2012. As I shared in two Christmas messages in December, we have much to learn from the examples of Simeon and Anna, the two elderly servants of God who received the infant Jesus in the Temple soon after his birth (Luke 2:21-38). They lived righteous and devout lives of service to the Lord as they awaited patiently the Messiah’s arrival. We, like they, await the coming of the Lord, may we not be unduly alarmed or influenced by all the “hype” but live righteous and devout lives as we wait His glorious appearing. For certainly, our hope IS his prompt arrival.
The lastest addition to the Manuel-Frerichs “household” (they live at Pastor Abel’s house, but we share ownership and responsibilty for them). Tiggy is the gold cat who is struggling to decide which of the community cats will become his wife.
Bible Institute of the Huastecas
My Bible students continue to plug along, enduring the pace and demands of their high-energy teacher. We finished the Old Testament in January and last week covered the Gospels which are a bit more familiar to them. They proved it with their much improved content exam scores. I lament I have lost one student who did not feel he could meet the demands of the course work (of the Institute in general, not just my class), but the struggles of my students are always before me and I seek to find a balance between maintaining high expectations to emphasize the centrality of the Word to their studies and ministries and lightening up a bit, understanding the demands of part-time students.
This month Sister Raquel’s Christian Education students presented a drama based on the book of Ruth during worship last week. I played Orpah, the daughter in law who stays behind in Moab. Of particular fun was watching Sister Raquel (Naomi) eat ... eat when they arrived in Moab and eat when Ruth brought her food from Boaz’s fields in Bethlehem. Sister Raquel likes to eat ... and is the one who always ensures that we have plenty of “lonche” while on the road. The part of Naomi fit her well. ( :
Evangelistic Event for Women in Planning
Ani is the multicolored cat, Tiggy’s sister, whose struggle has been fighting off her brother who thought he could marry his sister! We are still debating whether or not she is pregnant. Maybe I need to teach Tiggy a bit about Biblical sexuality! Ha!
Sister Martha (Pastor Abel’s wife and Minister of Evangelization for the Presbyterian Women of the Presbytery) and I are planning a special evangelistic event in celebration of International Women’s Day (March 6th) in the community of Xicotla where the Huitzitziling church has working evangelistically over the past six months. This is the first time the PWs of the Presbytery of the Huastecas have held such an event. We expect between 50 and 100 participants. Sister Saret of Taxicho will provide the message and lead the altar call. We will also have a social hour including a simple handcraft, piñatas, games, and a tamale and soda lunch. Thanks to a special gift we received, we will also be able to provide a very simple gift for each woman. Please pray for Sister Martha and me as we plan and coordinate the event (I am trying to share my adminstrative skills and vision without taking over the event ... wanting this to be a leadership development opp for her and other women in the presbytery). Pray for Sister Saret as she prepares the message and above all, pray for the women of Xicotla (a community where there are only 5 believers and a handful of sympathizers to the Gospel), that the Lord would open their hearts to hear the Word and receive it with joy and conviction.
Tuesday’s Presbyterian Women’s anniversary service in Barco.
In other PW news, this week I returned to Barco with several members of the leadership of the presbytery’s Presbyterian Women’s organization to participate in the local chapter’s (Ruth and Naomi) first anniversary. A highlight was fitting the women with earrings that had been gived by a member of the Chapulhuacanito church. Wow! What a good looking group of women. And bright! They have quickly learned the ins and outs of the PW organization and so very enthusiastic about participating fully in presbytery-wide events despite their remoteness and lack of financial resources. Sister Candi, their secretary, and her husband Felipe are expecting their fifth child in March.
Youth Week
Last night I preached in Taxicho as part of the congregation’s “Youth Week” celebration. The topic they asked me to preach on was: “How to escape the temptations of pornography and sexual fantasies.” In two weeks, I will preach three nights for a similar celebration in Huitzitzilingo and the topics are similar: The Biblical Perspective of Sexuality, Distortions of Modern Sexuality, and Redemption of Biblical Sexuality in the Age of such Distortions. How grateful I am for the opportunity to train our young people to live in the grace and power of Jesus Christ as they face the perversions of our post-modern, secular society. I covet your prayers for me as I prepare these messages and for the youth who will hear the Word ... that the message will truly provide them with the tools they need to face sexual temptation.
The Trials and Tribulations of a Mac User
Last year I bought a Mac, determined to free myself of the ravages of cyber viruses and worms. Of course my father had a point when he asked if I would be able to find someone here to fix a Mac. I decided to take the risk and paid the price in late January. The computer’s hard driave and internal fan died. The good news was that the machine was still under warranty from Apple. That bad news was that I had to get it to the U.S. for service! I was in Texas for all but 48 hours the end of January, but was able to deal with the problem (basically buying another Mac and finding a buyer for the repaired one once it was fixed. The highlight of the trip, however, was taking an 87-year-old sister from Frijolillo all the way to Monterrey when we could not find her granddaughter’s home north of Ciudad Valles. Once we were well away from her designated drop off (she had not recognized it when we passed it and there was no answer at the phone number I had been given), she asked me, “Ama tayaj tijchihuase?” (Now what are we going to do?) and I replied “Ama tias Monterrey ica Hna. Martha” (Now you are going to Monterrey with Martha). (: What an experience for her. The youth living in Monterrey showered her with gifts of cookies, laundry soap, shampoo, and the like ... excited about the abuelita’s unexpected visit. Upon my return from Texas, I recovered sister Josefa (the abuelita) as well as Sister Martha and her daughter Cesia (Pastor Abel’s wife and daughter) and we were able to drop grandma off at her granddaughter’s home where she spent another week of vacation. Wow! She’s never vacationed so much in her life!
Evaluation of U.S. Participation to Date
In early January I gathered with the leadership of the presbytery to hear their comments in regard to the participation of U.S. congregations in their ministry over the past four years. To synthesize their comments, they are so very grateful for how God has provided encouragement and support for their congregations through the participation of U.S. American brothers and sisters. They believe that the biggest impact has been the simple presence of the brothers and sisters here, representing the the camaraderie of worldwide Christians. That presence has also helped to break down stereotypes and false perceptions that they had of U.S. Americans. They are particularly grateful for the respect shown for their autonomy and culture as a Mexican church.
During 2010, they would like to host two Vacation Bible School teams for the churches of Octlamecayo and Taxicho (Octlamecayo will receive a team from Covenant Presbyterian Church of San Antonio, Texas, and Buen Pastor Presbyterian Church of Castaños, Coahuila, Mexico, but we are still looking for a VBS team for Taxicho for the week of July 11th. Contact me if your congregation is interested.). They asked for a team visit to the church in Frijolillo to support a variety of construction and possibly evangelistic activities during the month of September. Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church of Austin, Texas, has accepted this challenge. The presbytery would like to host a medical team at some point and we are in particular need of dentists and eye doctors. If any of you know of medical specialists able and willing to provide their services in our communities, please let me know. In addition to these short-term teams this year we will host a Oaxacan team from Literacy and Evangelism International which will provide a training seminar for those interested in beginning literacy programs in their communities/congregations. We are also establishing contact with the Fair Trade Center affiliated with Frontera de Cristo, a Presbyterian Border Ministry, in order to begin exploring opportunities for the development of cooperatives in our region. Grateful for what God has done to date, we plunge forward into the new year excited about the new outreach opportunities God is providing his people in the Huastecas.
Class at Fuller
In January I asked the presbytery for permission to take two weeks in February and one week in March to work on a course I need to complete for my studies at Fuller Seminary. This week and next week are supposed to be free of other obligations in order to allow me the time to complete the work (the plan is sort-of working). It is only a two hour class so the work load is not heavy, but I DO need to take the time to sit down and do the work. So far, so good. I expect to complete the work by next Thursday and not take that extra week in March.
My Health
My health has been fine. I had a cold at some point in December as well as a bad case of chiggers (I first thought it might be chicken pox!). It seems my body does not recover quickly from the bumping and thumping it takes. I have been nursing strange ligament or bone damage in my ribs and one foot for months. But, it has not slowed me down, just made movement painful from time to time. Maybe it’s because I will be 39 this year. Things do not work like they once did. The BIG news is that this week I am celebrating the fact that I have not thrown up for a full 12 months! This is, indeed, quite a milestone. And one my colleagues here shares with me as they are the ones who have to deal with me when I do fall ill. Thanks for your prayers. My system is adapting ... slowly, but surely.
In gratitude to God for the opportunity to serve the Kingdom among our brothers and sisters here in the Huastecas and in gratitude to you all for your partnership with us in this endeavor. Thank you for your prayers, your financial support, and your friendship along the journey.
Tohueyiteco ma mechtioxihuas. May our great God bless you all.
Susie
The 2010 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 275
