Dear Friends of Mexico Ministries:
It is mid January as I write this letter. I recently returned from a visit to Atoyac, Guerrero and had a surprise celebration with life long friends there. It has me thinking about friendship as we enter this new year. I think of the friendships in the Bible, most notably David and Jonathan, but also Jesus and his disciples, Paul and Barnabas, Ruth and Naomi. Jesus told his disciples, “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15.15)
My decades in Mexico have been marked by precious friendships. One of the earliest was Pastor Moises Carranza from Nuevo Laredo. We traveled all across northern Mexico together, ministering and building churches. When he passed away I was asked to speak at his funeral. I told them I couldn’t speak, but I would carry his casket to the grave. Years ago a young man and I were waiting for a bus to take us into the mountains. He turned to me and said, “You do not know how much I love you. If needed, I would give my right arm to defend you.”
Probably close to 30 years ago a young man’s father was murdered. I flew from Texas to be with him in Mexico and he said, “My father is dead, now you will have to be my father.” To this day we are still close friends, and he is a spiritual son.
I was in Atoyac in late November visiting with pastors and congregations, and much to my surprise they had a celebration at the home of the young man who became my spiritual son. He is now in his 60s and a successful business man, and he had arranged a special celebration filled with people from the area who came to fellowship with me. So many that night told me of the impact I had had in their lives. Friends can even be closer than family. “There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother,” Proverbs tells us (18.24).
I am so very thankful that God has raised up so many of you to be my friends. Not just ministry partners, not just supporters, but men and women who have stood with me through thick and thin, through good times and difficult times. It is one of the great blessings in my life and I thank God and you for being there.
God bless you,
Larry