Excerpt from correspondance (Jan, 2007):

...The revival meetings went very well! They are not really revival meetings as much as they are outreach services. We were in a Native village in the mountains and set up a sound system and chairs outside for a public service. The people in these villages are very shy and not nearly so many actually come and use the chairs as stand and listen from behinds some bushes or down the street. It was really quite an encouraging event for us and for this town.
Let me explain briefly the circumstances in a town like that (there are many similar). First of all, there is a beautiful setting in the cooler, cleaner air, and the views of the mounitain tops. The mountians are lush and green with vegetation. In the villages, however, there are very few people in town who have a job and income. Many travel north to work for a few months then return and live off of that. The lack of work, ambition, purpose and the boredom creates quite a depression. Work is very healthy. TO be idle is deadly. There is then often feuding between families or towns, and spurts of violence and murders. Drinking is a snare for many. Lack of discipline and care for the children causes them to make trouble as they seek expression of their restlessness and hopelessness.
The message of salvation and hope, and the wisdom for living, in Chirst and the Bible is indeed light –in a dark place.



Feb, 2007

Guess where we are now? If you look on a map to the hook part of Mexico (East of the Gulf of Mexico) you will find Cancun on the North shore. We are in Chiquila which is along the coast towards the West from Cancun: not very far. This is a small fishing town of 4000 inhabitants approx. The culture of the people that live on by the sea is very different: the food, the atmosphere, the smell, the architecture, even the people seem to look different (many of them in this town were thick chested and bearded), and I am enjoying this experience. The food is wonderful! I have seen so many different kinds if fish, and tried a few. These people are very hospitable, like everywhere we go.

Tonight Dad will preach his third message in this church here before we head back out tomorrow. We have really enjoyed the fellowship and services with these people! We are, however, a little quieter and withdrawn than usual, ready to be going back to Hueyapan… One more week; which will be the fastest week we’ve had here, I’ll bet. It has been a fruitful and edifying trip for us.

It is really important to see how my Dad is growing and being shaped. His messages day after day seem to be inspired and his delivery is skilful and mature. But then you know, Dad does things in the most unlikely places to shake people of their social limitations and cause them to open up. For example, he breaks out of his professor Henry role at the Bible school to sit on the dirty ground and pretend to be a beggar in an illustration for the lesson. He pulls it off without awkwardness and it is affective in causing the students to open up. I am fortunate to be able to learn from his growth into a stage in his life when youthful superficialities are losing their grip in observable degrees.
Mom is interesting. She is being forced to be more social while on the road. It does her a lot of good as far as enjoying her time goes. She too is on a journey and I think her personality is strengthening more and more (whether we are ready or not). We are in an adventure and this is part of her journey in being an ever shaping person. It’s pretty neat.

Together, my parents, are growing closer to each other as well. God is good to us.

If you have questions about anything for us, the questions are welcome. Soon we may have internet at home, and then I’ll make an effort to send some pictures.

We are starting to talk about coming home to Canada in April, but in an airy way because there are some questions to work out. We are very excited to be with our family and church families for a time of sharing life and experience together. God willing, we will come in mid April, and for three weeks, hopefully?

On behalf of Henry and Anna,
John Wall






March 05, 2007


David/ Nacaxtle:
David is a man with whom we have been working with and discipling in order for him to serve amongst his own people in Nacaxtle. We have been working with him closely, and have observed growth in him, as well as a love for the people and desire to serve them.

David and his wife hang around the church cleaning and trying new things. They hold services every night and David visits the people and is establishing his ministry in town with energy and vision.
The church is growing in numbers and maturity! When we are in town we have roughly 40 people come out steadily.
With David taking some ownership and initiative in this congregation, there are visions and projects brewing; there is a desire and prayer to be equipped with sound and musical equipment. (And there is one youth learning to play guitar, and they have just bought a keyboard). There is a need for more seats in the church (here in Hueyapan too actually).

We are praying that we would find direction and provision for David and his family so that he could focus his time, gifts, and energy in investment into the church and community (evangelism and spiritual growth) according to the gifts and guidance of God in his life and those in leadership and support positions over him.

David has been given a bike by people in Canada and he uses it well; he call’s it his Chevy. He uses it in his town and neighbouring villages and for many trips to Hueyapan and back to Nacaxtle early in the morning, late in the evening, in the sun and rain. He is very content with his transportation.
Last week my Dad gave him a big Bible dictionary. David said that he seen it lying there when he walked into the church and had wondered who was going to get that big Bible. When my Dad gave it to him you could see the disbelief in his face and he cried.

Hueyapan news:
The church building here looks incredibly different with dry wall, tile floor, and aluminium sliding windows… John is working on making some wooden pillars to cover some of the steel structure not covered by the drywall. This project was initiated and paid for almost entirely through work and donations of one family in the church. The money for the floor was donated by a woman that had once been hosted and helped in a crisis by this same family years ago… but several others have also donated labour and materials. After some woodwork, this renovation project will be completed. One day they are hoping to put in suspended ceiling, but some exterior work (washroom and kitchen) will the next priority.

The church was blessed to have Jacinto Delgaodo and Jose Padilla (Musician Evangelist) here in Hueyapan for almost the exact time that we were away in Campeche and Yucatan! We are thankful for the provision of these servants during this time while we were away!

As a church we are praying more, and we are strengthening in the deeper levels, and we are seeking and trusting in God with a desire for his glory to be expressed in us and through us.

Campeche/Yucatan:
From Jan 27th - Feb 24th we were on a preaching tour in the states of Campeche, Yucatan, and Quintana Roo. After one week in Campeche ministering amongst Mennonites, we commenced three week ministering agenda (organized for us by a local pastor) amongst a variety of churches and places. We ministered in many small towns and new missions, of different denominations, we also preached a few evenings in larger settings and Henry and John both taught some sessions at a Bible school on missions and the church.

We slept in various different places: at a camp in cabins (what a provision for privacy and rest in a peaceful environment!), we were hosted in different homes; we slept in hammocks several nights, sometimes hung one right next to the other.

We ate well, we were hosted well, and we pray blessings of God in the physical, relational, and spiritual realms for each of these servants.

None the less, a month on the road influenced greatly our appreciation for home in Hueyapan! We were all tired, but my Dad preached more than once a day in all for 28 days without very much alone or study time. We prayed for him a lot, and God faithfully provided food for those who hungered for the word of truth. And the churches were very blessed. God is good, and God is faithful!

On thing I should add is news about our outreach campaign in our first week while we were in Campeche: Last time through the area we helped two men come to the Lord. They were then the only Christians in their town. This trip we held a two day open air campaign (first evangelical event in this town remembered) Many more have now heard the gospel. We made good connections with two area churches to do some follow up work there... Praying for them.



Please pray with concerning our decisions and provisions for potentially coming home to Canada in April. My parents are aiming to be there during the time that my sister and her husband will have their first baby (late April-early May). Details uncertain.

Marriage news: John will be marrying a local girl named Maria de Jesus. Surprise! We are being deeply blessed in this our journey, and we have a wonderful story to tell. Do pray for all of us. We have a lot of work in planning, communicating, and normal everyday responsibilities. But we both have peace and a strong sense of God being glorified through this. I am profoundly blessed in this!

Please do pray with us in all these things I have shared. And praise God too for He has been faithful!

Grateful for you,

John on behalf of Henry and Anna

Details/ Needs/ Provisions/ and Administration:
We found bibles here for 25 pesos/each ($2.80 CDN roughly). We ordered 100, then one of our connections in Hopelchen, Campeche, surprised us in paying for them... We are blessed! We will be taking these Bibles with us tomorrow as Dad preaches in a Jail nearby.
Praying for wisdom in this ministry of giving Bibles.

Dear family and friends,

It is Monday morning, and my parents and I have just finished our devotional together. We are greatly encouraged with vision and energy for the work of this coming week.
Tonight (Monday) the sermon will be directed towards the encouragement and edification of leadership.
Tuesday we will be going a second time to assist another church in bringing the gospel in word and deed to a village called Colonia Hermosa. Passing house to house we will share the news of hope and salvation through Christ. We will be inviting everyone to join us in the evening in the center square to watch a film with an evangelistic message. Last week there were roughly 25 people who responded by praying a prayer of repentance and faith in Christ.
Tuesday, as well, John will be meeting with a group of young men in town who have an interest in growing in the knowledge of God, but have felt powerless to pursue. The vision for this is that we would meet weekly for fellowship and support. Some of them have made decisions for Christ in the past, but some of them never have. They are all searching. There is a real need here that men would be strengthened in courage, responsibility, and wisdom.

Wednesday, every Wednesday, Henry focuses on discipleship in Nacaxtle (the town where we built the church building in January 2006). David is a resident of Nacaxtle with whom we have been working with specifically in discipleship. He has been growing in faith, in passion and has been developing his own ministry in town among his people. This community is changing, and it beautiful to watch and participate in. A few weeks ago we rushed a man to the clinic, bloody from head to toe, beaten and cut up with a machete. There were others too, we found out later, in very bad shape through a fight, feuding, between neighbours. Last week, this man and this family (6 people) were lead in a prayer of submission to God and faith in Christ. Pray that they would be found to be faithful in their submission.

Thursday there are no plans other than what is daily routine: preparing (messages, lessons, ourselves), ministering one on one, maintaining vehicles, squeezing oranges for juice, etc.), church service in the evening, activity with the youth after, resting, and all day simply responding to the people that show up and needs that arise.

Every Friday the evening church service is geared towards youth. The youth make the program, participate in and lead several activities and participatory games during the service.

Friday we will be preparing, as well, to spend 4 weeks on the road. I am writing specifically now to share these plans seeking support in prayer.
Starting in Hopelchen, Campeche, Henry will be preaching Saturday and Sunday in a new church plant.
Next we hope to go to a town called Monte Veo (spelling uncertain) where on our last trip we helped two brothers understand the message of the Christ and the Bible. They became the first two Christians (we think) in that town. We will be spending time with them and reaching out to others.
After Monte Veo, we will be heading a little further North and East to Tekax, Yucatan. There we have someone who has been preparing an agenda for us in visiting small churches and doing outreach campaigns. They have also mentioned the possibility of a conference for Pastors, and missionaries. Six weeks is what they asked for from us. But together with the church here in Hueyapan we have decided to be away for four weeks altogether. We are all three of us nervous because of the challenges of such a trip. We don’t know at this point where we are intended to sleep or rest, but likely there will not be a lot of privacy. The Mexican people are willing and able hosts, but it is not easy to be hosted so well for such along time. It often feels that we cannot serve them as they are serving us, but we long to.

Please be aware of and pray with us for all the things above.

Blessing on your life, of peace and hope in the knowledge of truth,

On behalf of Henry, Anna, and
John Wall


Details/ Needs/ Provisions/ and Administration:

--We are thankful and excited about the gifts that have been given towards purchasing Bibles! We have been able to order 50 Bibles now (that is all that were available) and we expect that to be enough for our month in Campeche and Yucatan, but were not sure. We have more money enough to buy roughly 65 more at 45 pesos/each ($5.00 each in the Canadian dollar). The All For Jesus ministry has been blessed in connecting with willing hearts towards this ministry. And we seek and pray for good administration of this ministry.

--Anna was studying, together with the women in her church in Canada, a book called Lies Women Believe, by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. She has a vision for finding the same or similar material in Spanish for the women in our community here.
Both this church here in Hueyapan and the church in Nacaxtle are short on chairs. The youth in Hueyapan have a goal of raising money through making and selling tomales (chanchamitas) door to door in order to buy 15 chairs for the each of these two churches. Anna, will also participate in preparing baked goods for the youth to sell.

--We are hoping to return to Canada in April to see family, connect with our communities there, file income tax for 2006, and be with my sister and her husband as they expect their first child early in May (am I right?). We are praying for direction and confidence in this decision, as it will require a very practical step of faith in God’s provision. We do want to go very much.

Hello all, December 7, 2006


As I sit here in consideration of what and how to communicate it occurs to me that the must important things and deepest experiences, I realize, are more internal than external; and that those experiences are incomplete, in process, still uncertain, being lived.

The experience that we are living is an adventure of faith; for there has been significant progress in our ministry here, but not without the struggle that brings us to our knees and, further, down on our faces. In that way we have persevered a period of deep of uncertainty and darkness (what else could we do!) and we have come through to a brighter working environment than we had hope for, and greater hopes than were capable of before.
We experience simultaneously a deep joy and hope, on the one hand, that inspires praise and action; and a great burden and neediness, on the other hand, that inspires humility, dependence and prayer…


There has been a cold front through Mexico in the last couple of weeks that has been fatal is some regions! The people and houses here are not prepared to deal with the cold. I told someone the other day that it is colder in Mexico than it is in Canada. This is not directly true except in this sense: houses, stores, cars in Canada all have heating systems. It is cold in Canada but we normally don’t need to stay in the cold very long before we have an option of being warm again. Here the concrete houses, or drafty wood slab houses do not offer much, or any, relief. It is not as cold, but it is constant. Families here will lay in one bed under the same blankets for warmth.
Again in parts of Mexico this is presently a real issue. But do not feel sorry for us here in Hueyapan. The coldest we have experienced is, approx, 13 degrees Celsius but mostly warmer. We, my parents and I anyways, have rather enjoyed the cool weather –It helps us to believe that it is actually nearing Christmas!


We drove northwards towards Cancun for 10 days of ministry in that states of Campeche and Yucatan. We spent two days and three nights in an Old Colony Mennonite community with my Dad’s sister and family. While we were there we made some other connections.
First: 8 years ago, when my parents had last visited, they left a Spanish Bible with their family to be given to anyone who would use it. That Bible was given to a Mayan man in a nearby village. Two weeks ago while we were at my aunt’s house we met this same man working in a corn field. He told us the story of a man coming from Canada and had left a Spanish Bible, but that it was destroyed in the hurricane and floods 2 years ago. He asked for another Bible saying that they read it a lot, and he wished someone would explain to him what it meant. Immediately it was decided and planned, and we went see him and his family that evening.
His name is Antonio. He and his brother, Elias, were known as heavy drinkers. They and their families are quite poor, but after selling some sacks of corn they always drank away some of the profit.
It is a long story in itself, but by evening we had a Mayan Pastor from Tekax (two hours away) as a companion. We sat (my Dad, myself and the Pastor) on little chairs outside the huts where the families of Antonio and Elias lived. These two asked questions, and my Dad and the Pastor worked together to explain the role and accomplishments, the salvation, freedom, life and hope of the Messiah of the Bible: Jesus of space and time history.
Antonio and Elias eagerly accepted this news as truth and prayed prayers of repentance and faith in Jesus…
They have a desire for us to return for evangelistic meetings in their village where there is no Evangelical church. And they desire to learn more.
We desire to go back as soon as January.
This is a story that we can trace back 8 years in some detail, knowing it is an older (indeed, ancient) and a more detailed story than that. But the details of the Mayan Pastor and his unexpected company that day is opportunity for these two men to receive more support than we could offer them. Also, that my aunt’s family has experienced some of this with us will surely influence their family -especially when these two men prove to be changed, new men.
After, talking, we ate Armadillo in a red pepper soup, with home made corn tortillas. First time eating Armadillo, but not the first time we have had to eat soup using only tortillas and fingers as utensils... It was good.

We spent the next 4 days with the Pastor in Tekax, Yucatan and my Dad preached daily in different churches. We were skilfully hosted so that we did not have to be preoccupied with anything at all besides ministering as we came to do. One night we preached in Pentecostal church that was 8 months old. Their building was a dirt floor, palm roofed and the walls were simply thin branches fastened tightly (as tightly as possible) together. This is a very traditional structure for the Mayan people in the province. It is actually quite tidy and comfortable.
Seventeen new people in prayer accepted Jesus Christ as their saviour and Lord.
The Pastor in this church had preached to the congregations everyday in the last 8 months. He was so encouraged that his church had the opportunity to listen to someone else preach. He himself was deeply affected and encouraged by the message.

The following two nights we preached in two different Presbyterian church plants. We were not told where we were going, or what kind of church we had been to (until we asked), but the atmosphere and personality of these churches (Pentecostal and Presbyterian) was so different that we could name the denominational influence. We found it very encouraging and beautiful how these various churches worked together! Both of these Presbyterian congregations met in homes. The first night the hosts, the man, and his two daughters accepted Christ Jesus themselves!

These Pastors, working together have a vision for missions in their area and have invited us to come back to speak to students in a Bible school, as well as speak to a conference of Pastors and missionaries of the Evangelical Christian churches in the area. They have a vision of together organizing outreach and support for Pastors and missionaries in their villages -many of which are without the message of the Gospel. And they have asked us to help with our experience in establishing this as well.
All these things and opportunities are very much in accordance with our own convictions and hearts: the participation of the body of Christ as a whole; the outreach to poor, isolated and un-reached villages; and the support of pastors/missionaries who are heavily burdened and without fellowship, encouragement, and support.
God willing we will return to Yucatan to help with some of these things in January. Please pray with in these decisions and efforts.

After leaving Tekax, we went to Hopelchen, Campeche (2 hour trip) and spent two days with a group of Low-German believers who have recently starting meeting together with the help of some Mennonite churches in Belize, and the EMMC conference. We enjoyed again wonderful hosting, and got to meet dear and beautiful people. I man and wife from Spanish Lookout, Belize have been steadily travelling to Hopelchen (roughly 10hrs of travel) to help this group with teaching and support. We pray all these people and their fellowship will flourish and be fruitful by the river of the water of life flowing out from the throne of God (Rev 22). We have discussed with them a return trip as well for the encouragement of their group and for outreach campaigns (open air evangelism services) in the town park.

We had a truly culturally diverse experience on this trip to Campeche and Yucatan: from the horse drawn buggies and electricity-free Old Colony Mennonites, to ancient Mayan ruins, and Pentacostal churches. We spoke learned a little Mayan, and spoke Low-German, Spanish, and English as appropriate. A rich experience!

Pray with us in this ministry and decisions. We are thinking about going again for a month in mid January. We would, God willing, visit and follow-up on everywhere we had been on the last trip as well as give some talks at the Bible school and speak at a conference. We need guidance and preparation as well as provision for this ministry.

We thank God for those of you that have given for the purchasing of Bibles to give away!

Back in Hueyapan, we have on our hearts a prayer for the nation of Mexico that appears to be so stained with corruption that the influence is seen, very harmfully, in the churches and families. It is very true that to compromise the truth in small matters is to confuse and complicate very important matters! To be unfaithful in the small, is to be unfaithful in the big: that is, the small matters do really prove to be the big ones in the end…

He are seeing change in individuals, but the longer one waits, the deeper one goes, the harder it is. And it can be very hard!
This week we witnessed in a meeting, communication and unity of vision among the church leaders that is revolutionary here.

Two youth leaders have been appointed and I, John, will be seek to support and develop them. We are practising songs for a Christmas programs and we plan to use that practice to also sing on street corners in town on Christmas day. We would sing some songs and carols, read John 1:1-18, then move on to another corner to do the same and ending at the park in the center of town where we would also have a short message explaining the passage that was read. Then we would give away cookies.
If any other group or church decides to do something similar, let us know: it would be encouraging to us and others.

May the peace of Christ be with you!

On behalf of Henry and Anna,

John Wall

This is a verse my Dad wanted to attach:

1 Peter 5:10-11
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

(This is my second posting today: read the other first and this one will make more sense.)

Dear family, friends, partners…

It is interesting for me to be sitting in my room here and watching Mom and Dad outside doing ordinary things (for them), in setting and background that is so different from accustomed Canadian setting. I think about what it was like (what it might be like for all of you now) to wonder about their life in Mexico. For Dad to be walking around with a machete trimming trees was already a normal sight in Canada; he is doing that now. (Trees here are in full leaf year round). Mom is moving back and forth, waiting for Dad and thinking of all the things that he'll forget.

To our family, dear friends, and communities, I tell you that we think about you often. It might even be accurate to say we think about you everyday. Do you believe me? One of the things that causes us to think about you is the excitement of our lives here. With the challenges and surrender of our decision to come here, there are also great joys and victories. When we experience something wonderful, we think about you wishing you could, if not be here, know what we know -experience what we experience.

Remember Dad's blue ranger (truck)? The truck box is now tall and vinyl covered with cushioned seats inside. It is a people carrier, and pretty attractive too, in a way! They do a great job with those things here! We got it for $200. A deal! The person who did it for us is a Pastor in another town. He didn't charge any labour nor, probably, even all the material. And he did a great job.
Well, with this truck, Dad, my friend Lino, and David (from Nacaxtle -he baptised when we were here in January), and myself went into the mountains to a native village. Beautiful! The mountains here are old and worn, covered in lush green. In Tierra Nueva (40 minutes from Hueyepan where we live) we did some road maintenance for the sake of our access to the church there. We chopped away at a huge stump for a while (in the middle of the street) making a higher and better path. We dug up some of the big rocks sticking out of the ground and used them to fill the ruts that were carved by flowing water during rainy season: that street is now usable -for a skilful driver.

Together with the Pastor of Tierra Nueva, we then drove further up the mountain to another village (with a name I cannot remember or even pronounce). We went there because we got word that the church there, that was once thriving, had now been without a Pastor for three years and there remains only a handful out of a congregation of about 100. We found some of those that did remain and soon the house was filled as people gathered spontaneously. ---- One of the opportunities of our presence here is strengthening connections between churches. Often there is pretension between church members, and between one church and another, that prevents them from working together. But there is no pretension towards us and people trust us more easily, it seems. Very soon some of the other pretensions lose their influence as the people fellowship together again. It is just the freshness of our influence, the colour of our skin and the willingness of our service that influences these people most profoundly. They only needed something to bring them together and cause them to open up and trust. There is so much mistrust.---- We all sang together and prayed, and laughed. We ate "square bananas" and oranges plucked off the trees. It really is so beautiful in those mountain villages with great trees and awesome views!

The other thing that was so exciting about this day was that in our physical work, fellowship, decisions making, appreciation of the beauty… we had two people with us who we were discipling and encouraging. I don't know a better way to do that then by sharing life (work, ministry, joy, decision making) together, because this is where faith influences our lives the most in joy, courage, humility, love, wisdom, honesty, seeking, hope…

Birthdays:

On Dad's birthday we hosted a meal of 30 people, or so. Mom did a great job. You never know what is going to happen here -everyone is so spontaneous- but Mom managed it very well and fed many more than expected. (And there were basket-fulls left over.)

Mom's b-day (4 days later) was a full day. It was Mom's 60th birthday. We (Mom, Dad and I) were taken to a tourist town (Catemaco) and hosted for a boat tour of the area. We saw remnants of Aztec civilization where mineral water flowed out of the ground. We saw crocodiles! Monkeys, and Iguana's too… Later that day there was a big dinner at the church for her. She got lots of presents! Mom destroyed a piñata with one swing! -But worked quite hard to bring down the second. Then we had lemon birthday cake. A full day, but it didn't finish off until 1:30 in the morning…

After the party, we filled three vehicles to travel to a neighbouring town where we joined another church for "watch and pray". Every week we plan to get together with this other church to fill at least one nights' watch (3 hours, I think =4 per night) with prayer, worship, and teaching. We started at 9pm finished after 1 am. What an awesome time! The spirit of unity and sincerity and joy was an answer to many prayers! Old and young seemed to be deeply encouraged… The next day we had some (a little) time to rest.

Culture:

The greatest challenge in this culture is dealing the tardiness, disorder, and mistrust. Everything here seems to take three times as long as other places. Organization of an event ahead of time is especially difficult since everything is considered tentative until it actually happens and there are so many adaptations to be made in the process… Spontaneous is perhaps the most efficient way to operate here, but it is a burden on us because we see how it could have been better, had we been prepared. Things happen in flurries and confusion, and we find it more stressful then necessary. On the other hand, if we realize that we are not actually expected to be on time for an engagement, we can excusably take the time, send the word, and take hold of opportunities as they arise. It is so curious but you learn to expect unexpected things. Friday nights we have services focused at youth. Twice we ran out of chairs: The service has started already and there is a flurry of activity as a number of people go home to get chairs; And since many people are still arriving (late) many are offering their seat to others. Last Friday we filled the seats, brought more from our homes and then went (during the worship time) to rent 30 more chairs. 20 minutes later we returned and we still didn't have enough for more people had arrived. Very well, the rest had to stand around the door inside and out. In the end, the seating distraction was less than the excitement of having so many people come. The service was planned out (by me) and that effort was somewhat useful, but we had to adapt in various places for the new people arriving and to buy some time as the speaker was late and various other had left to find chairs!!! God seems to be giving us grace and patience, for by the end of the service we were all very blessed. Please pray for wisdom and more patience as we adapt to or influence this culture. We don't think like they think. For communication and order to be established here, people first need to become dependable and sincere. That is the long road, but is there really any other?

Prayers:
Pray with us for daily peace, humility, wisdom, faith, and hope as we communicate the reality of God's salvation to the people around us. Pray that we would be firm as well as gracious. We learned an important lesson about being critical of others. Especially for Pastor's or people who see a lot of ugly things in the lives and families and are called on to fix it, the criticism leads to condescension, pride, and disunity in relationships and confusion. We experienced that here (Dad, Mom and I) and we decided to commit ourselves and remember occasionally that it is grace that has brought us from dark places and it is grace that keeps us still. We are deceived if have in our hearts something against the fruits of the Spirit .

Gal 5:22-26

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
NIV

On behalf of Henry, Anna, and

John

I have collected some pieces from e-mails written to family and others and I share them here to help fill some of the gaps.

Washing Machine:
Thanks to all those who gave for a washing machine for us here! We were able to buy an good machine and Mom has been using it for a while already. Thank-you and blessing on you

2nd-3rd week:
…Mom is doing very well with the move. I remember this being a large concern of mine before we left-how mom would adapt –but it isn’t a concern of mine here. Maybe I should say it this way to be honest: We are prepared to adapt and we are adapting. All of us experience in our week both joys and grief. Being away from family at home is like a burden that we carry; for we do long to participate in and be with you all, but we are not hindered by that burden -sobered rather. Mom, of the three of us, has the least to distract her during the day, and her prayers always show that she has been thinking about all of you, (son-in-laws, grand children, everyone). I wish I could e-mail you some pictures already, for there is testimony that there are some good times here. I have observed Mom and Dad enjoying each other’s company with an enchantment that I do not understand but is characteristic of people in love. Their language too has been positive and appreciative of one another. They are well…
…We won’t have phone for a while yet. A good time call would be 8:30 pm (9:30pm your time) any night of week if we make arrangements, and we could go to Maria’s house to use her phone...


Oct. 6th, 2006

…Have you been wondering about us here in Vera Cruz? We have to go to a café to use internet and it hasn’t been very convenient, but we are figuring things out. I have some photos that I would like to share but at this point it takes too long to upload them…

…We gave David from Nacaxtle the bike that was given. It has fun for us to give it to him. He received seemed to be in some shock it seemed, and gratefulness. He sends “thanks to the brothers”....

We have had no trouble finding footholds for our ministry here. The challenge is to make the daily decisions about how to spend our time and efforts, and maybe say no to some things and be intentional about others. For example, the many in the church here in Hueyapan see my Dad as their Pastor. They want him to preach almost every night and fix certain issues. This week it was discussed that my Dad would Pastor under certain conditions that he would have the freedom to be away for most of the week to fulfill his calling to plant churches, train and support leaders. So far so good. But, honestly, according to my limited foresight, I am still uneasy that this will cause much distraction and over-burdening. I haven’t talked to my Dad a about that yet but I will on next opportunity. Please pray with us concerning this. I wonder if he could have an elder position instead of Pastor. The church here is under a cloud of disunity presently and we do want to help as we can. Things are looking positive. Youth have been attending church almost regularly in the last two weeks. Today we have a service for which we have invited another church group and are inviting youth from off the streets. It is amazing how such advertising here seems to have such a receptive crowd. We’ll see if it is also sincere. A group of us will be singing a song tonight and reading Psalm 119: 9-16 together.


It has wonderful for me to go to the Nacaxtle church! The building looks really good! The floor is poured and there is iron work over the window openings. It is awesome after our work here to be in the service with the residence, kids and all! Truly this has been a very satisfying project
.
Gustavo has bigger hair (needing a hair cut), but he is still very much himself. There is a difference however: dominant attention seekers are different now, and Gustavo seems to be a bit of an outsider. I think his parents are probably not among the regulars at church.

The church In Nacaxtle has expressed that they would like to have a drum set for their worships service! Apparently there are two among them who play, and they desire it. My Dad asked me to mention it to you guys for what ever doors might open.


I have to go! Any questions? Anything we could do to communicate better to people there? Please let us know.

Oct 07, 2006

…I have now talked with my Dad, about the Pastor-ship thing, and whatever the name of his role it is predictable that he will serve with both his time and energy where he sees need and right now this community is very much looking to us. This is what we will do: my mom and I try to be both an encouragement and accountability for my dad, and all of us for each other. Our vision is to express the love of God here, and be obedient daily to the guidance of the Spirit. But we agree that Pastoring should not be my Dad´s preoccupation here. So we will discuss this with the church in a very honest way, and follow through in the wisdom, discipline, and guidance God provides.
I am very relieved of my uneasiness, and encouraged rather at this opportunity to clarify the vision for our ministry and to be a model for teaching the people with whom we are working this through…

Oct 25, 2006

Update: The church here in Hueyapan would like to see themselves as support and participants in the ministry of Hope Mission 50. They do see my Dad as their Pastor, but they want to both give us freedom to do other things and help with that ministry. That was a agreed upon. Thanks to God for his provision for the people here and this our ministry! The church is experiencing renewal. But the deepest healing will take time. There is need for healing of the unity of the leadership; a breaking down of pretension.

September 22, 2006

Hello!

We have been here in Hueyapan De Ocampo, Vera Cruz for nine days now, and there is much to say; I am wondering how I am going to say it.

Firstly, we have much to be thankful for concerning the very practical needs and circumstances of our drive from Ontario and establishing ourselves here. We have experienced some of the clumsiness of life (of mechanical malfunctions, of administrative systems, and ranging emotions) and we have on every occasion experienced resolutions, affirmations, growth and encouragement. For all the stories and the encouragement of our ministry here we give thanks to God!

This is a small community (Hueyapan De Ocampo, population 6000). We drive 35 min to Acayucan (pop 30,000 or so) to the nearest administrative offices for legalizing vehicles, obtaining Mexican driver’s license, etc. Vera Cruz city is a large and modern city and about 3.5 hours away. But all around us here are very small villages, some of which scarcely been touched by the modern world at all. There are tiny little evangelical churches scattered about each with a story to tell; but there are other villages that have either never received or never heard the gospel story of life, hope and salvation through Jesus Christ. My parents are very intentional about their mission of hope reaching out primarily to these neglected communities and people.

This is why we are so greatly encouraged by the welcome he have received from the church here in Hueyapan, and from the surrounding villages, Pastors, and congregations.
The church here has done much in preparing our home before and since we arrived. We have a steady flow of visitors and gifts. Twice we have had a group from Nacaxtle (where we built the church this last January together with a team from Canada) travel to Hueyapan to join us for the evening church service and Dad has preached in their village twice already ( two women and one elderly man there have received Christ as their Savior and Lord last this week.) A Pastor from another village showed up to our home and desires to work together with us. Another village church has invited us to their baptism service next week, and Sunday Dad will be preaching in a small church in Acayucan.

Last week a young man accepted the Lord on our front porch, he cried and cried. One man during a jail visitation also prayed to God for his salvation in Christ.
There are many that are in deep need here and we are working together with the churches to provide lasting fellowship and care for those in each community. Many people come to us seeking help or asking for prayer.

Please pray with us as we learn to manage our time and administrate the ministry that is given to us.

Everyday as we have been able we have worked on settling into this house here –cleaning and renovating. This house doesn’t meet usual Canadian standards by any means but it is surprising how unimportant that really is. People can adapt to anything, and life may even be the richer for certain limitations.
We have been rigging up an indoor water system that is fed by the town’s water system but held in a black tank on the roof (where it is warmed by the sun) and from where gravity influences the water down through the shower head, and faucets (and “soon”… the toilet too).

My mom has been feeling poorly, but is recovering. Dad is preaching almost everyday (and often spontaneously) but God is providing inspiration and energy. Our daily living and relational attitudes have been very positive.

Please continue to pray, and work, and praise God with us.

On Behalf of Henry and Anna,

John Wall