Dear Praying Friends,
Once again, we want to thank you for your prayers and involvement in our lives. You are very important to us and we appreciate all that you do to make this ministry possible. God is blessing and we are enjoying the fruits of your prayers and faithfulness. Our family is doing well, but is concerned over the acts of terrorism in the US. Our hearts and prayers are with the thousands of families involved, and with President Bush and the other leaders as they work through this horrible situation. We were up early the morning of the attacks, preparing for a busy day of ministry. Mart�n, our neighbor came running into our house almost in a panic, asking if we had heard the news of what happened. When we saw the images of the WTC towers collapsing, we stood as millions of other Americans, in silent disbelief. We showed our support by flying the American flag here in Mexico and joined with America one evening, by standing on our front porch with lit candles to have a word of prayer.
Here in Mexico, we represent the US as well as the Lord. When friends in our town think of Americans, they think of us. Many people were concerned and spoke with us about the attacks and how it might affect us and them. For the most part, Mexicans are very easy going, peaceful people, and many are afraid. As you know, suspected terrorists were thought to have fled into Mexico. The US and Mexico border was immediately closed and no one was permitted to enter or leave the US. As of the writing of this letter, the US has not yet responded militarily. It was sobering, almost chilling to hear US officials say that terrorist attacks might increase after such a response. We are concerned about Isaac and Jessica at school in Florida and don�t know if their travel will be affected. They are scheduled to fly through Atlanta, GA to El Paso, TX in the middle of December. We are trying to plan options in case part of our family becomes stranded in one country or the other. We are glad God is still in control!
The ministry continues to develop and we have been enjoying good services with our people. We recently had a wonderful outdoor activity. We loaded up everything we needed early Sunday morning and found a good site for our service. We shuttled back and forth from town to transport everyone. We sang and had a Bible message. Then, we ate lunch together and played volleyball for the afternoon. It was a lot of fun and everyone really enjoyed themselves. The informal setting makes it great for people to invite friends and the fun aspect seems to draw people together and build a sense of unity. We would like to have other outdoor activities in the future, with the goal of some day, taking a group to another area for evangelistic and Bible services.
Another time of great blessing, was when we were able to distribute used clothing. Along with help from friends in the US, we had accumulated a good variety. With fall setting in, the temperatures are already getting near freezing here in the mountains. It was a good time to help people with warm clothes and shoes. We explained how American Christians collected the things to help us here in Mexico. And, how they loved the people here even though they have never met, because they love the Lord and His people. We want to thank everyone who has had a part in this ministry in the past. Our people were very thankful and appreciated what was done for them. There was a sense of excitement in the air as they searched for items they could use, and were so thankful as they left for home with clean clothing for their family. One might think that poor people would need a lot to be happy, but a small act of kindness means a lot and just a little bit of help makes a big difference. Around Christmas time, we would like to provide jackets, sweaters and blankets to those who need them. If you would like to have a part, we are in the process of collecting items now. Donations can be sent to our mail drop in El Paso. Please don�t mail boxes to Mexico. (They have a way of disappearing.) Anything that is received by December 15th can be brought into Mexico when our kids come home from college for the Christmas break. Other useful items are yarn and bulk material for making the traditional clothing that the Indians wear. It doesn�t have to be fancy or expensive to be appreciated.
Along with our services, the ministry is progressing well and we have been very busy. It has been a great blessing to have our young Indian friend, Miguel, and his family with us. Miguel came to visit, planning to return to Chihuahua city where he had been working for the last year because of the local economy. It has been a blessing to minister in their lives and they are a tremendous blessing to us. When Miguel heard about the break-in at the mission property and the need to finish the building, he decided to stay and help us. He and his family are sleeping in the mission house at night to keep an eye on things and Miguel is working with us during the day to complete the work. With our son, Isaac, away at college, Miguel has been a big help, getting involved in whatever he can do. It has been good for him to be here. As we work, he whistles and sings hymns that he learned in our Bible services. Early one morning last week, we went out to the mission property to work and Miguel, with just a few years of formal education, was reading and transcribing portions of the New Testament. When we asked what he was doing, he said he was studying the Bible. Praise the Lord! Another blessing is in the life of Jorge and Monse, a young couple who trusted Christ under our ministry. They have been faithful to our services and are growing.
In past letters we asked for your prayers for their daughter, Bethany. One of her legs turns out when she tries to walk. She is just one year old. We helped them take her to a doctor in Chihuahua who said she would need surgery. That may be true, but we encouraged them to seek other opinions. Just yesterday, they told us of a good doctor they heard about working in a clinic in a small town here in the mountains. They want to see if a leg brace might work or if the surgery will have to be done. Please continue to pray for them. Jorge has been making rustic furniture to help earn extra money. The other night he asked what we thought about starting a work shop to make furniture. That was an answer to prayer. He didn�t know it, but we have been praying and considering the possibilities of a carpentry shop ministry for several months. The economy in Mexico is greatly affected by the US. With the US economy down, orders for goods from Mexico are down and the already depressed economy is worse than ever. The affect on the US economy since the terrorist attacks has been devastating here as well. With a small carpentry shop, some of our people could make hand-crafted furniture items. If we can help them help their economy, it will be good for everyone. After all, how can a ministry hope to become self supporting if it�s people can hardly feed themselves. Please pray about this opportunity. If things work out, we know there are people in the States who could help us find places in their areas that could sell the furniture made at the mission.
Another ministry that offers exciting possibilities concerns our Indian families. We call it our �Helping Hands Ministry.� While we do a lot to help people with the things they need, such as with clothing and shoes, our desire is to help them help themselves. The Indian people make hand crafts from yarn, wood and also make pottery. On a limited basis, we help them by offering beans, rice, cooking oil, sugar and other staples in trade for their hand crafts. We want to help them improve their quality of life. By allowing them to �earn� the food staples it allows them to keep their dignity and builds their self esteem. It also allows them to see God at work in their lives as they are faithful. We would like to develop the Helping Hands Ministry into an integral part of the mission�s scope. We have been using foodstuffs donated by friends along with supplies we have purchased here. Right now, we have two challenges. First, we need to find an outlet for the hand crafts. They would be perfect for a small gift shop, store or even a restaurant to represent the mission and it�s people. If you have any ideas please let us know. The second challenge is that we have almost exhausted our food supplies to trade. Fortunately, it is harvest time and we should be able to get a good deal on beans from the farmers near Chihuahua city. If you would like to help in the development of this ministry, donations for food supplies are tax deductible through our mission board. We believe God is behind this effort and with a little work we hope to see the Helping Hands Ministry become self sufficient, as we prove God�s love in our people�s lives and teach them to trust Him.
Along with everything else, the completion of the mission building as been a daily part of our activity. Recently, God moved it to the top of the priority list, when our land lord announced that he had sold the house that our family is living in. We may need to move as soon as December. The time schedule is not certain and we would like to have until spring to finish the mission house. But in the event that we have to move, we are working harder that ever to make it livable. It has been a lot of work, and it is exciting to see it coming together. We were able to locate a good deal on floor tiles through a company in another part of Mexico. The company agreed to deliver them to us here in the mountains. What a blessing! We are in the process on installing them now. Also, with Miguel watching the building at night, we feel all right in installing the window glass. The floor will take about another month and then we will need to finish the kitchen and bathroom. We are going to see if Jorge can help us with some counters and storage cabinets. We still need a couple of gates for the perimeter fence and will probably make them ourselves, as soon as we can get the materials. We are also in the process of building interior doors.
Along with physical energy and finances to finish the work, we need your prayers concerning the deed to the land. In our last letter, we shared how we had completed all the necessary work on our part to proceed with our application for the title deed to the land. As we shared, all we needed was $2,400.00 dollars to pay the government�s fee. Since then, we found out that we had another glitch. The government office handling the case wanted all the paperwork to be reviewed by a lawyer in Chihuahua before the application for title was forwarded to the state. The problem is that these are all new procedures and even the state offices are learning how to proceed properly. Our agreement with the state of Chihuahua provides for a single payment to be made on or about the day of the signing of the contract for the request of the deed. We just received word yesterday that the paperwork has arrived from the lawyer. If all is well, we can sign the contract and request the deed. We have been able to set aside one thousand dollars toward the government fee, but will need another $1,400.00 in order to make the payment. Please pray that this can be finalized.
One other item that would be a blessing to us is a pick-up truck. Would you pray with us that God would provide something suitable. This has been a real need that seems to get stronger all the time. We really need a four wheel drive truck, the bigger the better, but even a half ton, two wheel drive truck would be a blessing. We can�t afford a new truck, but perhaps someone has an older truck that could be put to work in Mexico and be a blessing in our ministry. Craig�s brother, David, donated a small Toyota truck two years ago which is a daily blessing. It just can�t handle the loads of people and things that we use it for. One time we had eleven people and eight 100 LB sacks of potatoes in the back. It was quite a sight...but, not very safe.
Please remember us in your prayers as we will be remembering you in ours. We thank the Lord for you, and appreciate all that you are doing to help bring Christ and His love into the lives of the mountain people. You are a blessing to us and God is using you in a mighty way! We join you in looking to God for the answers to the future of the United States, Mexico and the world.
Sincerely, For Souls Who Have Not Heard,
The Chambers Family
