Saskatchewan group helps in Mexico

A group of 35 people from Hillside Christian Fellowship Church, Beechy, Sask. and several surrounding churches, went on a short mission trip to Vicenta Gerraro, Mexico, to work with International Discipleship Training (IDT) to build a house for a Mexican family. It was a rewarding and eye-opening experience for them.

IDT is a mission agency in Mexico that makes arrangements for small groups to come and build a house for a needy family. This time, Feb. 11–21, it was a Oaxacan Indian family that would receive the new house. Money was raised for the building materials and the cement pad was ready when the group arrived. They brought their own building tools, the power plant and the paint. They paid their own expenses for travel by bus and for their accommodations. Meals and sleeping cabins were provided. The group completed the 20x24 house in four days, and provided furnishings for the mother, her adult daughter and a handicapped adult son.

The afternoons were spent in VBS for the children, using a Spanish tape and puppets. The group of children grew from 25 the first day to about 50 on Thursday. Several moms also listened. Everyone enjoyed the giveaways of bookmarks, pencils, pens, notebooks and toques. On Thursday afternoon the group distributed packages of beans, rice and a Spanish Scripture.

Mary Mielke writes, “Although we couldn’t tell the people about the love of God and the way He works in our lives because of our lack of the Spanish language, we could demonstrate how God works in a community of believers. By the love and unity we had in the group, by the singing during devotionals on the worksite, and the laughter and fun we had while working, we could show the way God works in our lives.”

—from a report by Mary Mielke