A letter from Susie Frerichs in Frijolillo, San Martin Chalchicuahutla, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
April 2010
Yancuic Camanali
from the Presbytery of the Huastecas
Security Update
It has been over a month since I last wrote a somewhat discouraging message about the violence that has arrived in our region. Fortunately, most of the problems are somewhat invisible to the casual observer, though more and more people are receiving threatening phone calls. It appears many are extortion attempts that don’t pose a real threat. They are just scary. We hear things but are careful about with whom we share the news. It is not unlike fighting the Viet Cong or modern day terrorists — you really never know who “they” are until the day you are face to face with them. Please continue to pray for Mexico and its leadership (at all levels), that they would have the wisdom and courage needed to lead with integrity for the good of the nation. Most politicians live under threats and many succumb to them, paying a lot of money to preserve “the peace” with those who then have virtually free reign over ever-enlarging dominions. Pray for peace. Pray that Christ’s message will reach those involved in the terror and being transformed by the Word, will lay the weapons down. Pray for everyday citizens, that the Lord would give us courage and hope to stand up to those who would steal the nation up from under us. Above all, pray that we may not give in to fear ...
More Troubles in Cuamecaco
As I reported more than a month ago, Brother Martin and his family are doing well in San Felipe, living in an apartment rented by the mayor’s office. Unfortunately, no action has been taken to rebuild his home and now the Catholics in town have passed a rule that Protestants must pay the equivalent of $1,000.00 in order to live in the community and hold Protestant worship. According to the lay pastor of the local Baptist church, the Protestants have decided NOT to pay, and I believe another house has been destroyed. Unbelievably, the regional representatives of the Mexican State Department approved the community’s demands of the Protestants! Brothers from Cuamecaco are headed to the state capital of Pachuca to argue their case, and they will go to Mexico City if necessary. Please pray for a peaceful resolution, for provision for those brothers and sisters who are facing this struggle, and for their safety as they travel. One of our pastors said, based on his personal experience, it was unlikely that the state or federal justice system would step in until someone was killed. Unfortunately, even then, response is slow. Please pray for your brothers and sisters in Cuamecaco, for those who oppose them, and for local and state leadership, that a just solution may come before anyone is hurt. I promised a write up on this kind of persecution that is nearly routine in a number of areas of Mexico. Forgive my tardiness, I am now working on it — just being careful about how I word things, knowing that whatever I write ends up in more hands than those into which I deliver it.
Kittens Rule the Roost
Kittens learning to eat.
A month ago, Tiggy and Ani became the parents of five. As you can imagine, Tiggy is less than impressed, but a once very aloof Ani has proven herself as a very loving mother. All five are well and are slowly taking over the Manual Hernandez household. All five have received adoption petitions, so we won’t have them long, but we are sure enjoying them.
Ministry Activities
As always, I have been busy. I spent a week in Octlamecayo the end of March, working with the kids, youth, Presbyterian Women, and congregation as a whole, virtually 12 hours a day between visitation, classes, workshops, and worship. During Holy Week, I had participation in several congregations, projecting movies or preaching or both. A highlight was doing my Mary Magdalene interpretation for the sunrise service in Taxicho (at 5a.m. the day we sprung our clocks ahead one hour). I also preached during an ordination service at the Octlamecayo church Easter Sunday evening. My Bible Institute students are pressing through the Pauline and General letters and we will have a final exam on the New Testament in early May. I will give a class on Revelation apart from regular class time since our school year ends in May and we just could not fit it in. Two students, Juan Bautista and Obed Hernandez, elders from the Frijolillo church, will be graduating. This past week and that which is upcoming have been light ... a much needed rest after the flurry of activity around Holy Week. My biggest job has been doing my laundry and tending to the kids who seem to have an inner “need” to color or play games at my house every day (okay, so I am also studying for my class on Revelation and for two retreats). This weekend, I will be speaking at a retreat for the PWs of Chapulhuacanito. My theme is Song of Songs and our love relationship with God. Next weekend will bring another retreat, this one a Presbyterywide PW event in Barco. I will do the teaching there as well. Then, April 24 – May 1, I will then be in Tezapotla, doing organizational training with the youth and women’s groups. Never a dull moment!
First Annual Missionary Retreat Celebrated
Missionary Retreat 2010.
The four female “clergy” in our presbytery, entitled “missionaries,” gathered at a local river retreat for a day-long devotional and time of sharing with our three students studying at the Bible School for Missionaries in Mexico City. The time went by fast as each shared how God had called her into ministry, and those of us who have been around awhile shared a bit of wisdom with those who are just getting their start. Two students, Sareth Bautista and Abigail Hernandez, will be graduating June 26! Sister Raquel is overjoyed at the prospect of future “relief.” We will soon have more missionaries than ordained pastors in our presbytery! A call to the young men of our congregations.
Prayer Requests
- Brother Rosalino Hernandez of Frijolillo who continues outpatient cancer treatments through bimonthly visits to San Luis Potosi. He is well and tests are coming out well, so praise God!
- Pastor Abel Manuel of Frijolillo who fell a month ago and seems to have damaged a nerve or vein in his right leg. His activity has been severely limited and the leg continues to swell when he is on his feet very long. Pray for the Lord’s healing touch.
- Security and peace in Mexico in the midst of the ever more violent drug war.
- Graduating Bible School students as they finish their theses.
- The situation in Cuamecaco.
- My continued good and ever-improving health (my foot, my side, and my intestines are doing better every day). Everyone here seems to think it is due to the 15 pounds I have gained since arriving in the Huastecas three years ago. Ha! I think it’s time to lay off the Pepsi Cola! Due to changes in weather patterns, our fruit trees are blooming later than usual and their pollen has been very potent. So, allergies have been really bad this spring. Praise God for netty pots and Zyrtec D!
- Sister Mena of the La Laguna congregation who has begun teaching SS for the children on the Sundays I am not with them. Pray for courage and wisdom for her at each step.
- Newly elected elders and deacons of the Tezapotla church as they undergo Bible and church governance and discipline training before ordination. Pray especially for their officiating pastor, Martin Hernandez Antonio, who has to coordinate their training with his many other obligations as pastor of two other churches.
- The courage to speak up in the Nahuatl I already know and the discipline to spend more time studying. Visitation and preaching opportunities in the homes of Nahuatl-only speaking elderly church members have deepened my shame at not being fluent by now. Yes, I can understand a good portion of what is said, and yes, I can speak when forced ... but I am not where I should be in the process.
In gratitude for your partnership with us in mission ...
Susie Frerichs
PC(USA) Mission Co-worker, INPM, Presbytery of the Huastecas
The 2010 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 275
