Dear friends of Mexico Ministries:
“After This.” The Bible says that Job lived 140 years “after this.” After what? After a life of unparalleled suffering and loss, and unprecedented restoration. “After this Job lived 140 years and saw his sons and his sons’ sons, four generations.” (Job 42.16)
I too have an “after this.” My “this” is the dedication of the completed Tuxtepec project on Saturday, October 27. I will be at the dedication service, but I won’t be speaking. If I were to speak, this is what I would say: I would thank all of the churches and individuals who helped with the finances to purchase the land, building material, and labor costs. I would thank Paul Pogue for sharing his vast knowledge of building large buildings without using heavy machinery. I would thank every group that came from the U.S. to help. I would thank Pastor Carlos and his team, who made so many trips from Tuxtla, Chiapas, a six hour drive; not only did he come to work, but he also brought a concrete mixer, welding equipment, and other tools, and he also came to check the work and make sure it was being done correctly. I would thank Pastor Cesar for encouraging his congregation to help as much as they could, working on afternoons and weekends, and for organizing the women to provide food for us. I would thank Gerardo, the lead superintendent, and his men, for working six and sometimes seven days a week, often for twelve hours a day. These men live in Tuxtla, Chiapas and were away from their homes for a whole year, only seeing their families for two or three days every month or two.
Since I won’t be speaking, I hope whoever does will mention some of these things.
“After this,” I hope to build many mission churches and help the poor in times of need. As Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor, he has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, the recovery of sight to the blind, and to set free those who are oppressed.” (Luke 4.18)
“After this,” I hope my book will read as Job’s did - that he lived a long life and died an old man full of days.
God bless you,
Larry