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2009 2010 2011 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. Mark 9:41 Ministry Update Agua Viva Ministries provides Christian teaching and humanitarian aid to needy people in Agua Prieta, Mexico. Volunteer organizers RoseMary Townsend and John VerWys are assisted by visiting teams and caring individuals. Together we aim to glorify God and give testimony to how He is working in the building of His kingdom. Our logo represents “living water in a dry, thirsty land.” Agua Prieta (Spanish) means Dark Water (English) while Agua Viva means Living Water. The mission of Agua Viva Ministries is to bring LIFE to DARKNESS - the gospel of Jesus Christ in Word and Deed to needy people. TEAM INQUIRIES, DONATIONS Agua Viva Ministries, Inc. 1409 12th Street Douglas, AZ 85607 Phone: 520-364-4946 [email protected] ADMINISTRATION Agua Viva Ministries Society 10150 Gillanders Road Chilliwack, BC V2P 6H4 Canada Phone: 604-794-3772 For additional information, please visit our web-site at: www.aguavivaministries.org by John “Buenos Dias” once again from Agua Prieta, Mexico! Since our last mission newsletter in 2008 many things have transpired in and around our Christian based oasis in Agua Prieta, Mexico. There have been blessed seasons as well as trying times. Many volunteer groups, youth, and highschool students from various areas of North America have again richly blessed us with their visits, for which we are so grateful! With God’s help and our feeble efforts, primitive yet beautiful new homes are being built and donated to needy families each year. Due to your contributions, we are also able to aid and bless our dear Mexican “familias” daily with countless other gifts such as: bags of beans (their main food staple), clothing from our new distribution centre seen on the picture on the far right, hygiene items, household goods, but most importantly the gift of God’s Word. However, there have also been times of great trial for us. Our first hardship was, the illness and eventual death of Rosemary’s son Jeremy on Feb 12, 2010, and the second was a serious vehicle accident which occured in January of this year. (about which you can read more on page two of this newsletter) Jeremy Townsend, in whose memory we would like to dedicate this newsletter was married to Tricia, and also served in the army for a short time, until he was diagnosed with kidney failure. On June 16, 1999, Rosemary donated one of her kidneys to him, which gave Jeremy ten more years until God welcomed him home. This was a very trying time for Rosemary and her husband Jim. Unfortunately this dimmed our light for ministry to the Mexican people for quite some time, also resulting in a delay of our ministry updates. But with a rich supply of God’s grace, and trusting our Lord’s provision for all the great needs to the Mexican people, we press on and look forward to accommodating more teams, and more mission hearts. Making a difference for God. In Loving Memory of Jeremy Townsend Jan 31, 1976 - Feb 12, 2010 www.aguavivaministries.org Bus Accident by John The second major trial was a bus accident that involved 40 of our people that were traveling back from Hermosillo supporting a local mayor at a political rally in January 2011. One of the buses was run off the road by an 18 wheeler and was forced into the mountain side and landed on another bus. This is a very dangerous stretch of highway in which a lot of accidents occur and many vehicles end up in the bottom of the valley. Miraculously only one of our people was killed, a 21 year old girl. Without going into much detail, we spent the next weeks and months visiting and taking care of people in hospitals and in their homes. The funeral service for 21 yr old Juana was attended by over 400 people including the mayor and many dignitaries. We had the opportunity to share the gospel with them. Afterward the Mayor spoke a few words expressing his sympathy and also commenting that he had never met such people that had so much peace as our people. We take that as a compliment to what the Lord is and has been doing in our church. Even through many trials, the Lord continues to bless us in many ways. Several groups a year have come and built five homes this year and eight the year before! These groups were also blessed in ways they never thought of. Juana’s mother Maria (victim) Lola - One of our ladies with a broken leg (victim) Juana’s Funeral Prayer Request Just before the publication of this newsletter, we were informed that Fermin, Jose’s brother, passed away from a heart attack after a struggle with diabetes. He spent a lot of time helping around the church. We worked together with him and Jose building homes the weeks that we were down in Mexico. Please pray for the family of Fermine, as they morn his passing. May God be with his family as they mourn his death. www.aguavivaministries.org With the government no longer Agua Prieta initiated lunch programs in several poor Several of these children are now regularly attending supporting the initiative, Tabitha is areas of the city. Agua Viva Ministries was given the church with their families. able to open with a Bible lesson, hymn contract for our neighborhood, utilizing our Center to praise the Lord for this ministry singing, andWeprayer. We watched the serve a daily hot lunch to school children. opportunity and request your financial support for the Unfortunately, the funding didn’t last long. children learning the names of God: by Janet Les grocery expenses so that we can keep it going. However, through food donations, volunteer helpers, and your donations we have been able to keep this program going. mayor of Agua last term, the former Attendance varies from 30 to 50poor areas of lunch programs in several children each school day. School Lunch Program During his Prieta initiated the city. Agua Viva Ministries was given the contract for Tabitha andCenter her volunteer our neighborhood, utilizing our to serve a daily parent helpers provide a nutritious hot funding hot lunch to school children. Unfortunately, the meal. On the day of our visit, the didn’t last long. However, through food donations, children were enjoying a bowl of bean volunteer helpers,andand your donations have been sausage soup, along with awe small able to keep this program going.salad Attendance varies from piece of chicken, and tortillas. 50 to 80 children each school day. With the government no longer Tabitha and her volunteer parentTabitha helpers supporting the initiative, is provide a nutritious hot meal. thewith dayaof ourlesson, visit, hymn the children able On to open Bible were enjoying a bowl ofand bean andWe sausage along singing, prayer. watched soup, the children learning the names of God: with a small piece of chicken, salad and tortillas. With the government no longer supporting the initiative, Tabitha is able to open with a Bible lesson, hymn singing, and prayer. We watched the children School Lunch Program learning the names of God: Jehová, Dios el Dios, El Señor, El rey de Salem… Several of these children are s last term, the former mayor of Jehová, Dios el Dios, El Señor, El rey de Salem… now regularly attending church with their families. ated lunch programs several Several of these children are now regularly attending We praiseinthe Lord poor for this ministry opportunity and Agua Vivarequest Ministries givensupport the forchurch with their families. yourwas financial the grocery expenses neighborhood, utilizing our Center to so that we can keep it going. lunch to school children. e funding didn’t last long. h food donations, volunteer helpers, ns we have been able ram going. s from 30 to 50 ool day. We praise the Lord for this ministry opportunity and request your financial support for the grocery expenses so that we can keep it going. nd her volunteer ovide a nutritious hot y of our visit, the oying a bowl of bean , along with a small salad and tortillas. government no longer itiative, Tabitha is a Bible lesson, hymn er. We watched the the names of God: www.aguavivaministries.org Home Repair and Building Project by Janet Les Maria and Andres live in Agua Prieta with their large family, including several married children and grandchildren. The family owns a large lot in “brick village,” an area so named because many brick makers operate there. Most of the family works making and selling bricks. The family home is one large brick room with running water, electricity and a wood stove. This puts it above average compared to many of the homes here. Separate buildings include an outhouse and bath house. A married son and his family sleep in a building of patched cardboard and scrap wood. Their roof was leaking badly so the Chilliwack group added a new metal roof in March. Andres had prostate cancer about 1 ½ years ago with surgery and numerous complications. He is now well. When he found out he was ill, Andres started coming to church. Maria had been praying for many years that her husband would attend church with her. They bring several grandchildren with them but sadly their teen and adult children do not come. Many of our Agua Prieta families are the working poor. They do not receive any income from government or charity but manage to scrape by, often with poor diet and low standard of living. Families that have a decent house are in better health and can use their meagre resources for food, health care and school fees. Visiting groups usually build a home or two for the neediest families, who are selected by John and Rosemary. John has perfected the process of buying materials and constructing small 14 x 14 houses. Many groups in recent years include a few construction workers who lend their experience and expertise to this project. Groups also pay for all the costs of materials. The houses are built in such a way that owners can easily add on as they are able to afford it. The families must purchase their own lot and fence it, so a commitment is evident. The land must be ½ paid for before a home is donated. Demand for this service exceeds the ability to provide it, of course. After a home is completed by volunteers, the group gathers with the recipient family for a dedication ceremony. John reads scripture, for example, Ps 127 “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. ... “ He gives a short inspirational message applicable to the family situation. Together the group prays that Christ will be the center of the home, that His word and prayer will be heard there. The keys are then presented to the homeowner in what is often a moving moment. This tradition is wonderfully meaningful for both the Mexican family and the volunteers from Canada and/or the United States. www.aguavivaministries.org Aurora (Cuata)…Gone Home by Rosemary ECCLESIASTES 3:1 …TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON, AND A TIME TO EVERY PURPOSE UNDER THE HEAVEN: Aurora and her twin brother Danni were born 23 years ago. Aurora was known by her family and friends as “Cuata” (twin in Spanish). Cuata and all her 8 siblings were raised in the church by their mother Esther who suffered beatings from her husband Macadio, due to the fact he was not in favor of Esther and their children attending church services. At the young age of 12, Cuata received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. At 14 she met Alfred (20) a young musician she met at church. They soon became a couple and married. Approximately a year and a half later “little Alfred” was born ( many of you remember him because he enjoys going forward to sing “MI PENSAMIENTO ERES TU (My thoughts are of you O Lord). Two years later “little Aurora” was welcomed into the family. In early December Cuata shared the fact that they would be having a baby late May. AVM sent her to Dr. Valenzuela (GYN…once a month) who graciously allows us to send him five patients per week who do not have any health coverage and are extremely financially humble. AVM also provided Pre-Natal vitamins. Cuata suffered from Thyroid problems, but due to their financial situation, was unable to take required medical treatment. AVM would occasionally provide this much needed service. Approximately 4 years ago a visiting team lovingly built a home for them on a lot directly behind the Heritage of Ebenezer Church Complex. Alfred had paid for the property but was unable to build his family a home. They were not able to purchase baby clothing for their baby daughter. So Cuata and “little Aurora” went to our distribution center and picked out baby clothing graciously donated by AVM supporters. In March, a visiting team purchased brand new beautiful pink baby garments and a few personal items for Aurora, including a food basket for her family. Aurora and the children were surprised and overjoyed to receive these items. On Tuesday May 17 Cuata attended Tuesday Bible study and shared with Tabitha that she was not feeling well and her baby had stopped moving several days prior. Tabitha immediately advised her mother Esther to take her to the hospital. This particular hospital requires their patients to provide all needed material and medications to provide medical care. After medically assessing Cuata, Esther was told to take her daughter home and not to return until her labor began. Esther refused and insisted that Cuata be admitted as a patient. Cuata was taken to the very last room in that wing) yours truly has been in that extremely isolated room). She was administered an IV to prevent dehydration. The Dr. refused to perform a C-Section or administer antibiotics, nor other medical help, due to the fact that his belief was that “nature should be allowed to take its course”. Esther was allowed to visit her daughter for 10 minutes every 3-4 hours. During the course of one of these visits Cuata asked her mother to take charge of her 2 children and to express her gratitude to us for all that was done for her family. If for some reason she did not see us here on Earth, she would see us when we went home. During the course of this time another young mother was brought in with the same problem. She was immediately taken into surgery and the baby was delivered by C-Section. By Wednesday afternoon Cuata’s screams for help and for her mother could be heard by her mother as she waited in the waiting room. At this point Esther was told “all was normal” and she was no longer allowed to visit her daughter. You dear reader might be asking yourself, where was Alfred, her husband all this time? He was not allowed to remain in the waiting room. In the wee hours of Thursday morning, Cuata’s screams stopped. Esther was told to go home, was advised sedatives had been administered to make her daughter more comfortable. When Esther arrived at home, Alfred immediately drove to the hospital where he was denied access to his wife. He waited until shortly Friday midnight and then he pleaded with the security officer to allow him access to his wife’s room. The security officer relented. Upon entering his wife’s room, he knew things were not right. When he took her into his arms, Cuata’s skin was cold and rigormortus had set in. Alfred became angry and hysterical causing the Dr. to come into the room. He then ordered a C-Section, thus informing Alfred that unfortunately the umbilical cord had strangled the baby. Little Alfred said goodbye to his mother by singing “MI PENSAMIENTO ERES TU” at the burial. FYI…Dear reader I neglected to share that there was another Dr. in attendance who had received consent to over rule the attending Dr. and perform a C-Section on Tuesday evening, hoping to save Cuata. But he was removed by security from the hospital, orders from the attending Doctor. Cuata’s remains have been exhumed three times. The Dr. remains in jail awaiting verdict from the local judge. (These actions have occurred due to the city’s Mayor calling for action.) www.aguavivaministries.org So what is Testimonies p a mission tri A group of girls huddled around the greasy table at a cramped , a t restaurant on the border between Arizona and Mexico. Food had to Agua Prie been pushed aside, holding no interest, as tears ran down several faces. The past week of mission work had been wonderful, but our Mexico like? planes were leaving earlier than expected, and we had not had time to say good-bye to the kids. One more hour would have sufficed. I could have hugged Alexandria one last time, tickled little Jorge, or run around with Joanna on my back. But airports have schedules and don’t care about what people feel. The planes were going to leave even as one of the best weeks of my life was ending. We had arrived in Tucson, Arizona one week earlier, cramming seven girls from our church youth group into one tiny hotel room full of beds and cockroaches. With no floor space whatsoever, we had an amazing bonding experience. Long discussions stretched late into the night and coordinating showers made us work as a team. Every morning found us crawling sleepily out of bed and piling into the back of pick-up trucks to make the daily commute into Mexico. We went in to help the people, to paint their church, to add rooms to their tiny houses, to dig a trench for a water line to the new community building. We came out with a much bigger blessing than we could ever give them. That blessing contains so much, I don’t know if I can put it all into words. The people of Mexico taught me what true contentment is. They have so little that I’m almost ashamed of my big bedroom and comfortable home. Yet they are happy with what they have and don’t need more. Hand the children candy and their faces light up. Play with them for an hour and become a friend for life. Our team could spend a whole day alternating between working and hanging out with the kids and they would stay the entire time. It was as if they had no sense of time. They didn’t need deadlines or time commitments. They just lived life as it came. They showed me that sometimes it’s good to forget about what has to be done and just let time melt away with friends and family. When I left Mexico and all the amazing people there and traveled back to my own home, my eyes had been opened a little wider. I noticed the bright green grass, the flourishing trees, the cars zooming over our wellpaved Michigan roads. I enjoyed long, hot showers once again, as well as sleeping in my own bed without the fear of large bugs crawling over me in the night. I developed some of the best photographs I have ever taken. But, most of all, I thanked God for all the blessings He has given me and prayed that someday, I would be able to see those dear people once again. Esther Beeke “Buenos Dias, Amigo! Sandwich? Agua? Biblia?” In this way our team approached the street vendors in Agua Prieta. Every morning we prepared around twenty five peanut butter/jam sandwiches to hand out on our way back to Arizona after an exciting workday at the Agua Viva Mission Post.The food, bottled water, and above all getting a Bible in their own language, made street people run for the big blue van that crossed the border around six o’clock p.m. This was definitely one of the highlights of our Mexico trip. We had heard much about the Agua Viva Mission from our sons, who had joined house building teams before, but we never thought it to be such a blessed experience. The thankfulness for the little they have, their optimism, the love for the Lord, His Word, and each other, was touching, heart warming, and such a lesson for us. We will never forget this experience and always hope to remember this small part of God’s Kingdom in our prayers. Matthew & Margo Koster www.aguavivaministries.org Stories Refreshed! by Neva Woolley I panicked when RoseMary asked me to write something for the newsletter. Writing isn’t my thing!! I began to think about the wonderful ladies I’ve been blessed to work beside. On my last trip I went there to teach English as a Second Language and crocheting, but they taught me far more than I could ever teach them. I saw the fruit of the Spirit in their lives. Love, joy, peace kindness, patience, goodness faithfulness, gentleness and self control. I was blessed to see how enthusiastic they were to learn to crochet. Out of the yarn donated for this class, they made baby blankets. Each made something to give to Gloria for her soon to be born daughter. They even created patterns for the booties and caps. They were generous even when they didn’t have the same thing for themselves. Their happiness was contagious!! Teaching English took a little longer than I had anticipated, but found they learned more quickly when words were put to music. After the first week learning to say “Hello, my name is _____. How are you? It is nice to meet you”; we began to learn the words for the skeleton. This they learned rapidly by singing “Them Bones, Them Bones” We had so much fun with this lesson; we had to repeat it in each class. By the time I had to leave them, they could greet a ‘gringos’ with an English welcome and sing the chorus of “Them Bones” with much laughter. How very kind and patient they were with me - especially when we tried to communicate in our daily conversations. Maybe they are better teachers than myself, since I believe I learned more Spanish than they did English. While there I saw their faithfulness and dedication by feeding lunch to 30 to 50 children and some adults on week days. Making wonderful soups out of little to nothing. Mainly food that had be donated to the church for this purpose. I learned some wonderful menu stretching ideas while having the privilege to work with them. These ladies are far more generous than most of us with so much. They have so little in comparison to our living standards, but they are far more giving than many of us. They often sacrifice so others may be helped. There was a peacefulness and a joyful attitude whenever I was with them - this is their natural countenance it wasn’t just because I was there - believe me! I enjoyed working with these lovely ladies and look forward to seeing them again. It would be such a joy to be able to spend more time with them and to see how their crocheting (& English) is coming along. I’m praying this will happen soon, since I truly miss them!!!! I praise God for giving me this opportunity to serve Him and others. “Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed” -Proverbs 11:25 www.aguavivaministries.org how w as Me xico? ---------------It was amazin -----g... I feel s o live lik blessed! W e e ....but kings here :) it is ha rd t explain over te o so let’s xting, g so I ca et together n God h tell you how as wor ked! Some of our Mission Team Photos Timothy Christian School, BC March 2010 Delaware, BC, Ontario Group New Years 2009 USA, Canada Group New Years 2010 Michigan Group April 2010 Colarado Group 2010 Ontario, BC Group New Years 2011 Colarado Group New Years 2011 Timothy Christian School, BC March 2011 Michigan Group April 2011 We pray that you would also prayerfully consider aiding us in our support and relief efforts to the Mexican people. A donation of any amount is vital to the work of Agua Viva Ministries. urgent o o o $100 each $.... $150 Tires/maintanance for our church vans, due to rough roads Children’s medical prescriptions Glasses for Veronica’s daughter Designated funds are welcome, or we will use your gift where it is most needed. Please make your donation payable to: other o $1800 o $200 14’x14’ starter home 2 1/2 sq. meter cement floor Food o $40 o $18 o $15 100lb bag of pinto beans 50lb bag of rice Baby formula Agua Viva Ministries, Inc. 1409 12th Street Douglas, AZ 85607 Phone: 520-364-4946 [email protected] Proverbs 11: 24-25
