A letter from Susie Frerichs in Mexico
November 2010
YANCUIC CAMANALI
Good News from the Huasteca
El Frijolillo Celebrates the Mexican Revolution
November 20 is Revolution Day in Mexico, a day in which we commemorate the 1910 Revolution that removed Dictator Porfirio Diaz from the presidency and demanded justice and prosperity for ALL Mexicans, not just the wealthy and powerful few, many of whom were not even Mexicans. You may have heard of people like Pancho VIlla, Emiliano Zapata and Francisco I. Madero or even the famous “Adelita.” These were significant personalities in a revolution that dragged on over more than 20 years. This year’s celebration is special because it is the Centennial of the Revolution.
Each year El Frijolillo, along with every community across the nation, remembers this transformational moment in Mexico’s history with a parade in which the entire community participates and a special program.
Gerson and Marcos take Frijolillo by storm on Revolution Day.
The photo of Gerson and Marcos is an example of the costuming for the event.
During these days of remembrance, please continue to pray for Mexico and your brothers and sisters here. Even 100 years after a revolution that hoped to bring land and freedom to the poor, Mexico continues to struggle to find ways to provide opportunities for the disadvantaged, particularly for the rural, indigenous poor, such as your brothers and sisters in the Huastecas. Pray also that our leaders might find peaceful means to face organized crime, which every day seems to gain more ground and with it the very soul of the nation. Above all, pray for the evangelical believers, who make up only 10 percent of the population, as they witness to the only ONE able to truly transform Mexico, one person at a time — Jesus Christ. Yes, long live the Revolution! Gerson and Marcos are two of the next generation of revolutionaries we trust God will use to transform Mexico, not by might, but by His Spirit.
Two New Students Join the Bible Institute
This month the Bible Institute of the Huastecas welcomed two new first-year students, 19-year-old Gamaliel Hernandez Hernandez of Huitizitzilingo and Simon Hernandez Garcia of Taxicho, husband of missionary Saret Hernandez. They join Candido Antonio Hernandez of Rancho Nuevo in their studies to prepare for ministry. The Institute also includes three second-year students, Adolfo Hernandez and Miguel Francisco of Huitzitzilingo and Amalia Hernandez of El Frijolillo. This school year I am teaching Introduction to the Bible (first year) and Church History (second year). Courses are held in Chapulhuacanito the second Wednesday and Thursday of every month. Please be in prayer for these students, that they may successfully balance home, work, study and ministry assignments.
Literacy Courses Making a Difference
You may remember the Literacy Training course offered within the presbytery in May. Since then courses have been started in Chancuetlan and in Huitzitzilingo with approximately 30 students. I am told they are advancing nicely through the program, which promises to have them reading within the year. A literacy program will begin in El Frijolillo in January, and if we have sufficient students I will join Elder Obed Hernandez in leading the courses. I look forward to the opportunity to not only being an instrument of God’s grace in the lives of those who are unable to read, but also the challenge of working with women who speak limited Spanish since this will force me to use (and thus improve!) my Nahuatl language skills. God willing, our present limitations will be transformed into strengths and instruments of Kingdom purposes.
Newly Paved Road to Be Inaugurated in Frijolillo
We are awaiting word from the state capital, but are expecting the governor of San Luis Potosi to visit El Frijolillo sometime in the coming week in order to inaugurate the completion of a paved road from Frijolillo down the mountain to Tepexquititla. We are VERY excited about our new road since it now means you can get all the way here on pavement. Unfortunately, the smooth ride may not last long since it consists only of a very thin layer of blacktop, but we are enjoying it while we have it. We welcome you to join us next week for our wonderful local dish zacahuil ... or to come try out the new road ... soon!
Brothers from Austin Bless Frijolillo With Their Fellowship
Brother Mike Douglas helps brothers Elias and Obed of Frijolillo sift sand
September 5–9 three brothers from Austin, Texas (Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church and Dripping Springs Presbyterian Church), visited the Santisima Trinidad Church of Frijolillo, joining them in the completion of three Sunday school classrooms and participating in several special worship events, including a service honoring the elderly. The team also enjoyed swimming in the well-fed creek and accompanying brothers Moises and Abraham in tending their cattle and bees.
A Note on Future Contributions
All contributions for the Presbytery of the Huastecas or for mission support for my position as a PC(USA) mission coworker should be sent directly to the PC(USA) at the following address: P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh PA 15264-3700, and labeled either for the Presbytery of the Huastecas (ECO #052111) or for my position as Christian educator (ECO #074044). [You can give online. See the links in the Give section in the left column. —Ed.] As of December 1, Presbyterian Border Ministry will no longer be handling contributions for the Huastecas, so we appreciate your sending your gifts directly through the PC(USA). If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
Please join us in prayer for ...
- Rosalino Hernandez of Frijolillo, who is fighting advanced melanoma
- Tomas Torres of Chapulhuacanito, who is alive and well, but lives with several blocked arteries
- Agustin Manuel, Pastor Abel’s father, who is recuperation in Mexico City after surgery to remove gallstones
- The Rev. Gaudencio Morales, who is in treatment for tuberculosis and diabetes
- The Rev. Martin Hernandez Antonio of Chancuetlan, who continues to recuperate from Bell’s palsy
- An end to the violence in Mexico
- The Mexican government as its seeks to control organized crime
- For rain in the Huasteca (our crops are starting to dry up!)
- The persecution case in Cuamecaco (some good news, the principal perpetrator has been arrested — a sign that the government can defend the rights of evangelical believers; please pray that persecutors will not only understand the rights of believers but come to know Christ themselves
- Evangelistic efforts in Talapis, Acoyotla, Cojolapa, Xicotla and Tianguis Picula and the lay evangelists who attend to them
- My successful completion of an M.A degree (two weeks to go in completing my final course)
With love and gratitude for your partnership with us in ministry here in the Huasteca Potosina e Hidalguense ...
Susie Frerichs
The 2010 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 275
