We went to Mexico
Upon returning from Mexico, Henry and I feel confirmed in our calling to reach Spanish speaking populations with the Gospel. The opportunity we had in Mexico set us up in a dramatic way to explore this calling and I can't wait to share more!
Upon arriving in Mexico City, we met Pastora Bonnie, the wife of Pastor Roberto who is the head pastor of Tierra Prometida. Tierra Prometida is a very large church that also sends missionaries and plants churches in other parts of Mexico and around the world. As we drove with Bonne into the city from the Airport she shared about incarnate missions and how the model they have used since the beginning of their missions work in Mexico is to live among and become a learner of those you intend to serve. This concept helped us set the stage for the rest of our time in Ahuaxintitla.
We flew in on Saturday, and on Sunday we attended a worship service among thousands of others at Tierra Prometida. Our host family for the night was Tatiana and Fabio and they took great care of us. Shortly after the service, we were in the car headed about three hours east of Mexico City with José & Leví, our new friends. They prayed over us and told us more about Mexican culture. Josue has a huge heart for the people of the rural mountain villages and shepherds many churches around, in, and near Auaxintitla. One of my [wrongly] preconceived notions was that everyone in the country was trying to escape the country. That is simply not true. Because of economic reasons like inflation, it is extremely difficult to live on even a really hard day's worth of work. Mexicans are struggling under an oppressive economy and have bought into the American Dream. Most Mexicans don’t want to leave there, they want to live there, but they want to live. While the news about the border crisis impacted what I thought to be true of most Mexicans, my encounter with the extremely joyful, hardworking friends and missionaries in Ahuaxintitla was about to shift that perspective.
We arrived to Pastor Jose Luis's home early afternoon on Sunday, and for the next several days assimilated into daily life with this beautiful family of five. The Arcos family took us in as one of their own. In the mornings, I would take the girls to school with Adriana, Pastor Jose Luis' wife. We would then come home and prepare a little breakfast of coffee and pan (Spanish for bread). The early morning mountain air would surge through my lungs as I felt the freedom from my 9-5 desk job. The sunshine coming over the hills made me feel like I was living in Pacha's family from the Emperor's New Groove. The smiles from Adriana and her kids melted my heart and I noticed the anxiety I had been carrying before the trip was completely melted. One of the mornings coming back from the school drop-off, she told me her story. I just lost it. Right there in the car. Moments before I had shared some of my story, the brokenness in my own home growing up. And just like that our friendship deepened. The moment passed, and we were buying chicken at the polleria (Spanish for chicken store): making friends, and moving on with our day.
So much of daily life with the Arcos family in Ahuaxintitla was organic. We bought and prepared food. Jose Luis shared with us about the strongholds of brujeria a.k.a witchcraft in their city. He told us about the breakthroughs through prayer and fasting and praise they had. He explained to us about the native warring tribes of the region and how their descendants were still living in the area and at odds to this day. They truly invited us in and treated us as family. We prayed together and had many conversations about the Bible while we were there. Henry and I were honored to preach and teach and give our testimony multiple times while we traveled with Jose Luis. Our time ministering, and loving others alongside this missionary family gave me a new understanding of the phrase "mi casa es su casa". They hosted us without expecting anything in return, which included introducing us to the incredibly rico (Spanish for rich) moloetes and Mexican tostadas. We formed inside jokes, we laughed until we nearly cried, and prayed until we nearly laughed. Somewhere between heating up hot pots of water to shower, walking the mountain pass path they would walk and evangelize in the early days, and trying desperately to speak Spanish, we bonded with this family.
Jose Luis told us the church being built (the whole reason we had the opportunity to go!) was symbolic of the spiritual house of God being built in Ahuaxintitla. After spending a week there, I wouldn't agree more. We saw the Lord softenting hearts of those in the community far from Him, we encouraged those active in their pursuit of God, and even met some of the native indigenous families, both of which attend Pastor Jose Luis' church!
As we got to know their story, their labor of love for over eight years there, and getting to experience their kindness, I believe Henry and I walked away feeling more called than ever to continue ministering in Hispanic populations. Upon our return, we have been looking to where and how we can do that in Jackson, Ms. Our current project is recording a Lent Bible Study in English and Spanish as a podcast. I have stepped back from my 9-5 since returning to focus on house, home, and this beautiful ministry the Lord is unfolding before us and entrusting us with. Please join us in praying that God will clarify our vision and give us open doors with families in our neighborhoods and around the world to encourage missionaries and share the word with this who are far from God.
Dios Te Bendiga!
- Veronica Biemann
