A : 2

JSS'^

ALuaas!
THE

BILL HOFF

THE

FAMILY

NORM DUNGAN FAMILY

APARTADO POSTAL NO. 57

APARTADO POSTAL NO. /Zjl

QUERETARO/ QRO. MEXICO

QUERETARO/ QRO.

The CHmiEIIGi OF CHRIST

NEWS OF

IN CENTRAL MEXICO

VOL 12, NO.^

PRINTED IN MEXICO

MEXICO

WINTER 1981

The Way We Were; 1980

During 1980, BILL
were

involved

in

AND MARGE HOFF

the

NORM AND MARY DUNGAN were

NORM;

mission-related activities:
Bill;

T!

active in

the following mission-related work;

following

T. Preaching

for

the

Spanish-

speaking congregation (2 services

weekly).
2. Sponsoring the youth work.
3. Directing the Bible Correspon

^Leading the English worship ser

vices (8 families actively partici

pating.)
2. Teaching 2 classes at the Bible
Institute (6 hours per week).
3. Calling in Queretaro (1 day a
week).

dence course ministryletter writing

and course development.
4. Managing the Queretaro center
of the Mexicen non-profit organiza

4. Calling in other towns (1 day a

week).
5. Serving as camp treasurer for

tion (an A.C.), and representing

the corporation before the govern

1980-81.

ment .

6. Sharing in the Spanish congre

gation leadership activities.
7. Assisting local and
visiting

5. Handling Social Security bookwork for che 12 Mexican evangelists

currently represented by our A.C.
6. Serving on the cemp committee.
7. Teaching 2 courses at the Bible
Institute (6 hours per week).
8. Acting as Academic Dean of the

missionaries and families with their

mechanical and electronics problems.

8. Transporting people to the weekly
Bible studies held

at the Bible In

stitute (there is no bus service

available at that hour).
9. Working with the radio ministry
(Jan. - Aug.)
10.Working on a committee to develop
adult

Bible

School

Institute.

9.

Overseeing

the weekend

ships of 4 Bible

intern

Institute students.

10.Working on a committee to develop

adult Bible School
Mexican churches.

literature for

11.

Mexican churches.
Marge;

Calling

literature

night

per

week in

Queretaro.

1. Helping with Bible Correspondence

course grading and mailing.
2. Teaching a Bible school class in
the English-speaking work.

Mary:

1. Helping with Bible Correspondence

grading and mailing.
2. Teaching; English-speaking work.

OTHER ACTIVITIES IN WHICH THE MISSION WAS INVOLVED FINANCIALLY AND PERSONALLY

1.
2.

Printing of a new chorus book.

Establishment of a Building and

for

4.

Distribution of

nearly 1000 New

Loan fund.

Testaments and 20,000 tracts.

5. Youth rallies, camps, men's meet

3. Purchase of a bus, in partnership

with the Christian orphanage in town.

ings, national meetings.

6. Evangelist assistance.

#ND

Stone
What is actually being done in our
rrinistry today?
Presently Bill is
devoting time to the English congre
gation which is currently meeting in
the John F. Kennedy school.
The

What might 1981 hold in store for

the work of Bajio Christian Mission,
Of course, only the Lord knows that
answer. However, we are laying the
following concerns before Him:

attendance

*In August, the Dungan family will

have completed 12 years in Mexico
and will begin a 10-month furlough
at Johnson Bible College.

runs about 18-20.

Norm

directs the Spanish-speaking congre

gation which meets in his home. Its
attendance runs about 30-45.

He is

also helping them in their search

for a Mexican evangelist who will
devote full-time to Queretaro, as he
is now a full-time English teacher.
Both Norm and Bill are teaching at
the National Bible Institute.
Bill
teaches 5 hours a week:
a class in

Messianic Prophecy and one in shop

which is designed to help the young
men earn a living and be able to
preach in an area where there is no
church to support them. Norm teaches
6 hours a week:
a class in Corin
thians and one in Revelation.
He
also serves as the academic dean.
Both Bill and Norm believe that this

multiplies their ministry and makes

a strorg church possible. There arc
28 students

in the institute and on

any weekend at least 20 of them are

serving in churches throughout the
Bajio.
Bill

also works

with leaders

of

and several

in the state of Mexico.

The visitation and leading in the

congregation is hopefully both up
lifting and encouraging to sound
doctrine.

these duties

Norm devotes

long hours to preparing the legally

required forms and reports for the
non-profit corporation which gives
us legal grounds
for publishing
gospel literature and Bill works on
electronic and mechanical equipment
for other missionaries to help fur
ther their ministry.
He has re
paired tape recorders, movie projec
tors, cars, tractors, among other
things.
#BH

that

time

comes, we

here

Celaya church

*We could hope to be back on the

radiobut we would hope that our
newspaper ads would bring good re
sults. We would hope to have placed
at least 3 separate ads in 7 Bajio
newspapers by July;
*We woL'ld like to see an Easter week

campaign in the city of Leon, in the

hopes of beginning a new and strong
work there;

*We would hope that the Queretaro

congregation would have a full-time
Mexican evangelist working with it,
and that plans would be well along
for building;
*We would
sons of

the churches in Viborillas

(100
miles), San Juan (18), La Palma (25)

Beyond

Before

would hope to see the

in its new building;

pray thc.t the

first les

the new adult Bible School

material might be ready for printing

and lesson-plan addition and that we
might be able to contribute some
thing to the lesson planning.
After the Dungans leave, the Hoffs
will be concerned about:

continuing

teaching at the Bible

Institute, in the English-speaking
work, and at 2 mission points;
attempting

to find land on which to

build a house;
opening

some totally new fields in

the Bajio, through films, tracts,
and personal visitation;
taking over the administration of
the A. C. in the Dungans' absence;
sharing

helping

in the camping program;

other congregations

which

might wish to make use of the Build

#ND
ing fund.

PERSONAL GLIMPSES

FAMILY AFFAIRS
I am happy to 6ay that thCng6 oaq. dzi-

AjnlteJiy looking up A-tnce my Habakkuk paJva.-

phAa&z 0^ thz la6t weiui^etteA. The fiooi

ha& bzzn fizpaln.zd, we ho\)Z Zyu>taed a new
comp-teAiOA. Zn th(. ^fuzzzoji, and (w-6t/i tkz
heJip o<^ the gM6} the hoa&ewofik getA done
on a moA.z-on.-tz6'6 Azgulcui bcj>^, Th& only

bZ0 p^blm Izit U mtzApfLOO^lng thz

ha^emznt. I hopz to be ablz to xzpont
:(Mt thl&, too, hai been accomptCshzd tn
my nzxt c-olvum.

Chn^tmai

was a

tanz oi KzaL joy (Jo/t

a6--a& we hopz JUi woa ^oh. you. Actukliy,

we (JeeX. tCkz ChnAMtma& zxXzndzd through

Wew Vzan.'^ Vay. We &tayzd homz on Ch/Mtnta6 Vay and tnvZtzd thz Ho^^6 and ancthzA
{jCurUZy Zn to 6haAz dimizn. \fiUth u&. Thm
tiiz nzxt day we hzadzd ^ofi San Antonio
ivhzAz we 6pent a weefe tacth my ^olkA, w/io

(Jew Zn iJ-tom PhoznCx, and ihafizd wZth out

"iauiUy" inom thz Ea6twood cong^zgcvUon

thzfiz. OuA only nzgnoX woa that thz vl&lt
woA muck too 6hofit. [Z&n't that aiway6 thz
CJUZ?) .

My wo^fe load at school has IncAzo^zd

6tncz CluU&tma& 6Zncz thzAz aJiz only 1 pi
OA doJijig tzac.hzA.'i aidz duty Xn tiiz high
6dwol now.

In ondzn. to znablz ui to zojiz

iofL ouA {^amilizS

(both o^ u&

havz pfcz-

6dioolzA&], we havz bzzn m^dUng 6ptCt

weefeA.

I havz

fizally had to

ofiganlzz my

tunz even at tiid^ Jo gzt zvzfiything done.

In spitz OjJ thz pfujblem, hoiVzvzA, we

stltl izal thz ichool jU> wo/tt/i thz zUont
and thct HzatheA. ^ gzttcng thz best edu
cation possZblz.

Spzakaia oq HzathzA, we contlnuz to bz

pfLoud 0(J hzA. Shz 16 assuming

moAz az-

sponstbthty Zn thz ^amlty and continuzs

to bz on
pzAlod.

the.

HonoA

Roll zach gAodlng

Natltah continuzs to dzlight: and. cha/un

us alt uUth his antics.

Hz lovzs to pne.-

tznd and thz othzn. day "dAovz" Into my

kitckzn In his tAudi and said, "Hzlto. Hom

aAz you today?" I Az&pondzd, "Well, I'm

ilnz, Ma, Vungan. Hou) aAz you?" Hz an

Euama',

ThC& is

thz my we havz

Wz oAz IzaAntng

not to iafee i^ie sun ^oA

gAontzd. God's cAzation is mrdzA^ul.

We had a vzAy busy but blesszd ChAistmas

szason.

Re.bzcca soon caught on thct opzn-

ing gl^ts ms a lot oi ^un Izvzn li pizy

vizAen't heAt>).

MoAk thoAoughCy enjoyed

thz day aJUo. Thz weefe ioZZouiing ChAist

mas was spent AzcupeAating and settling
back into a Aoutinz ^olCouiing ouA boAdzA

tAip lohich wa6 made just bz^oAZ thz 25th.

Kill had vcAcous vooAk-Azlate.d activitizs
to kezp him busy.
On Wew Vzoa's eve we zntzAtainzd thz

ijoung pzoplz in.om thz Spanish-spzaJung

congAzgation. EvzAyonz se.emzd to havz a
good ti.mz as thzy atz sandwCchzi, chips
and dips, candy and soda pop. Vahtzzz was
a neio game, that many enjoyzd.
This past month MoAk has been quttz
sick.
His tempzAotuAZ nangzd ^Aom 101 to
103 dzgAzzs ioA zlght dc.ys.
Even a(^teA
visits to two dliizAznt doctons, thz ccasz
We oAz thankful
could not bz detznminzd.
that

hz

is

much

bettzA

ouA pAzsznt thexnz, "Alsaays bz iu^ o^ joy

In tkz LoAd.

I say it againAzjalzzV'

and gnouUng

stAongzA uUth all thz vitamins ajid iAon

that hz Is taking. MzanwluXz I havz had
my shoAz o^ tlmz sitting in a denttst's
ckalA.. I havz had six visits on one tooth
and stlU.. it isn't ^Inishzd.

following mny months o^ pAzpanatlon,

thz dl.zszi snglnz is cuAAzntly bzing Installzd In ouA tAuck.

As I wAitz this,

un^oASzen pAoblems havz oc.cuAAzd but we

pAay that It uiiZt oil mAk out and thz

W'OAk iuitd wll.l be savzd gasollnz expense.

dJittiln thz next couplz o^ months we
shoi'Jid bz ablz to Azpoht that wz havz puA-

dhxLSzd a plzcz OjJ land on whi.ch to build

OUA housz.

HopziulZy by thz summeA OjJ

1982 wz will be. ablz to movz Into a paAti-

alJiy constAuctzd housz.

God Is good to us In spitz o^ ccld, sick

ness, etc.

Let's pnalsz His namz.

li\<^

nounced Indignantly, "I'm not Sh. Vungan.

I'm Ak. Hoj$(5." And so bzgan anotkzn. gamz.

As you can szz, we o^e all busy, but
happy. Nathan's newz&t mesaoAy vzasz is

ielt

hzAz {iOA ovzA a month. Just thz last

couplz 0(5 days havz we begun to thaw out.

DUNGAMS' FINANCIAL. SUMMARY"4th Qtr.

On hand 9/30/80
Income 10/1 - 12/31/80

Expenses 10/1 - 12/31/80

Balance 12/31/80

$ 842.19
7442.94
8126.82
$ 158.31

tracts
on buses
and
in jails
throughout central Mexico; so also
pray that the Lord will raise up
workers to replace him.

Pn.G4fe^ And
"First of all, then, I urge that
entreaties and prayers, petitions
and thanksgiving, be made on behalf
of all men...this is good and ac
ceptable in the sight of God our
Savior. I Timothy 2.
When you

Phyllis Obregon who Is having se

vere problems with her eyes, and
may lose the sight in one.
Pray
that the physician will be guided in
treating her.

petition Him please re-

When

you praise

Him give

thanks

member:

for:

Gelacio and Vicente, young men,

who have let themselves become sepa

The churches in Irapuato and San

Felipe which are beginning plans for

rated from

their constructions.

the church

and the Lord

by the cares of this present age.

The family of Rodolfo Moreno. Bro
ther Moreno died last month leaving
his wife, a fine Christian, and his
family who largely do not know our
Lord.
Pray that his death might
help them see their need for the
Lord Jesus.

He was instrumental 1n

distribution

of thousands of gospel

Marcelino,
who

sion who is engineering Bill's en

gine installation.

U.S.

POSTAGE
PAID

C/0 FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

YUMA AZ 8536^+
PERMIT NO. 86

26TH PLACE

YUMA, ARIZONA

man,

The arrival of Gordon Clifford

from Western Mexican Christian Mis

BAJIO CHRISTIAN MISSION

E.

young

on Christmas eve.

He is now eager to learn the Scrip

tures and teach his neighbors.

from:

221

an Indian

was baptized

8536if

NON-PFT. ORG.

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

smxcss

ir?

MAR 2 6 198^

3s^sS

ALuaas!
THE

milLjmP

THE

FAMILY

JUL 3 0 1981

N^^DUMfiAN^FAMI

LY

APARTASb-POSTAL NO. 57

APARTADO POSTAL NO. 7i\l

QUERETARO/ QRO.

QUERETARO, QRO.

MEXICO

The IHRllEnCE OF CHRIST

NEWS OF

Published Quarterly

VoL 12. No. 3

MEXICO

IN CENTRAL MEXICO
Summer 1981

CHURCH LIFE

Our "mission" work takes many forms and

involves several kinds of activites. But it all
should revolve around one central focus; the

establishment and nurture of congregations.

Without this kind of growth, all the other
activities lose much of their importance and
justification. Missions cannot just be a matter
of "doing things;" there must be some reason,
some goal. And, over the years, there should be
evidence that tiie goal is being, at least to some
extent, reached. So let's talk about church
growth in the Bajio.

be before additional funds are lent.

In other areas of church life that we have either

seen or had reported to us: *A new work in the

capital city of Guanajuato has been having an
attendance of around 40 at its Sunday meet

ings. *The English-speaking work in Queretaro

has been strengthened by the coming of two
new families to the services. The congregation
meets in the music room of a local school.

*The church in Sn. Juan del Llanito has had

two more baptisms recently, and the congrega

tion in Santa Rosa has had five additions.

There are now seventeen active congregations

*Several of the congregations in the area had a

of Christians Only in the Bajio, and tlhere is

additional contact with two o^er congrega

ance of over 125. *The Spanish-speaking

tions that had a denominational beginning but

that have sought out fellowship with and
teaching from some of us. Of the seventeen
congregations,
all have weekly services
(minimum). Six have student preachers, two
have missionary leadership, six have full-time
Mexican preachers, and three have their own
local leadership.
But, specifically, what is currently happening
among the congregations? In September we
spoke of beginning a Loan Fund to assist
congregations in their building programs. As I
write this, two congregations have received

loans totalling $70,000 pesos (almost $3000

dollars). One l^ilding is now up to the roofline,

and the other has everything but a floor, door

and window. In both cases, the Christians
are doing the construction, so money goes into
materials alone. In both cases, additional
money will be necessary for the ^nishing of the
building, but it has been decided to wait and
see how faithful the loan repayment is going to

"Fifth Sunday" rally in April, with an attend

congregation in Queretaro has had one baptism

recently; it raised $8000 pesos in 4 mon^s to

be used at the camp; it has been having
monthly pitch-in dinners which have blessed

and stren^ened the believers; and it extended

a call to a Mexican evangelist to come and work
full-time with the church and to lead in a

building program. Lord allowing, he will be

arriving in August. The church will be providing
about $100 dollars of his monthly salary at the
beginning. Regarding the building, the church's
property is now totally paid for, so the congre

gation can now turn to the building it^.

Preliminary discussions have already b^n held

concerning loan possibilities; I imagine that it

will take $10,000 dollars to build the kind of
building that the congregation will need.
We praise God for each congregation He has
given and for the testimony they live before
Aeir community. We believe they are precious
in God's sight, and we know they are a source
of joy and encouragement to us.
ND

IMPROVING TRANSPORTATION

Those of you who have become acquainted with mis

sionaries know that they are always preoccupied with
time and money. A closely related concern is transpor
tation. On some fields the airplane saves time, but it is
expensive. In Central Mexico with its vast system of
highways, the automobile is still the best compromise
between time and money.

With the high price of fuel and lack of time, Bill and
Norm have invested in some specialized vehicles. One
is a 1970 Chevy school bus. It is a 40 passenger model
with a 6-cylinder engine. The bus was offered to the
Christian orphanage here, but they couldn't raise the
full purchase price. Norm, hearing about the bus,
offered to pay one half, and the bus was purchased.
The orphanage uses the bus for outings and picnics,
and the bus is used for church and youth group events.
During the first year the school w^ch had sold us the

A NEW TEAM FORMED

In previous issues.of Saludos we have spoken of

two of our valued co-workers. Becky Ray has
taught our children for the past three years, and
Humberto Ramirez has been involved in a print
ing ministry in the city for about two years.
Now the teaching and printing ministries have
been merged, as Becky and Humberto are now
Mr. and Mrs. The Civil wedding in Queretaro
was unique in Mexico, for it was performed by
a Christian judge and held at the Christian
orphanage. The religious service was held in
Indiana on June 20. The couple will continue
to work and serve in Queretaro, in their same
roles but now as one family. We rejoice with
them and look forward to sharing with them in
their new united life and ministry.
ND

bus was unable to find the title to it. Then one day

the police impoimded the bus. Why? It had been

involved in an accident two years earlier, and the
damages had never been paid.
So Norm, Bill, and Bob had a bus in jail and without
an adequate title to remove it. For weeks they and the
school battled red tape to free the bus. The problem

w^ to get the bus out before the National Men's

Retreat to ^x^ch it was sch^uied to go with 35 men.
With much prayer and work the bus was released just
before the deadline and the title is now clear. It did go
to Saltillo (400 miles north) for the retreat, but it used
25 quarts of oil on the trip or about 32 miles to the
quart. Last month the engine was overhauled, so it
should perform better on its next trip.
The bus has proved to be a great benefit for youth
meetings because it promotes friendships and singing.
The miles seem to disappear (for everyone but the
driver) as the youth sing.
Bill was suffering with a "gas hog" (a 1973 Chevy
Suburban) and driving 2 to 3 thousand miles a month.
Sometimes he did not visit as often as he felt desire-

able because of the gasoline. So as his engine got near

the 170,000 miles mark, he decided to change power
plants. He chose a Perkins diesel because of the low

cost of diesel fuel (17 cents a gallon) and readily

available parts; and in February he pulled the old
engine and transmission and substituted an overhauled
Perkins and a 5-speed transmission. The job would not
have been possible except for the able help of Gordon

A FACE LIFT AT CAMP

What does Renault have to do with a Christian

camp in Mexico? Normally nothing, but this

spring the camp was able to buy six huge
packing crates from them. They contain lots of
lumber and plywood. They were purchased to
use the lumber for bunk beds for camp, but the
base pallet was so well made that it was decided
to make one into an outhouse. Holes were cut

and plastic oil buckets, without top and bot

tom, were installed as "stools." A frame of 3x3
inches from the same crates was erected and

covered with tar paper as was the roof. Presto,

a Renault outhouse. It only lacked a trench
under it. The tar paper lasts about two years.
The original purpose of the wood is also being
achieved. Fifteen bunk beds are being built
which will bring to 90 the number of available
beds. The other 40 campers will have to sleep
on the floor as before. Maybe next year.
The camp facility is not used just for camp; it
also houses pro-literature meetings, men's re
treats, special youth retreats, etc. The last
men's retreat was

devoted

to four hours of

cost of operation runs 1 cent per n)He for fuel. Natur

bible study a day, but the men wanted to work

also, so they dug a 4-foot trench for the out
house, (tough work through solid rock), they
repaired the basketball goals, made cement
steps, and performed several other jobs.

ally the power isn't quite as good as it was but the

economy is great.
BH

The camp is rustic but effective and useful. BH

Clifford, who is a missionary to Baja California,

Mexico. The results have been vei^. satisfactory. The

FAMILY AFFAIRS
School is out!

I'm sure that the students can't

be any happier than I am. It's been a busy, busy

year. It ended beautifully, however, with a
lovely graduation banquet for our two grad
uates followed the next day by Becky's
Mexican wedding. It was my first experience at
being "the mother of the bride" and it was lots
of fun. The kids at school are practicing this
summer sajring '.'j^rs. Ramirez" instead of "Miss
Ray" for next year. Becky will teach one more
year before she settles down to being a full-time
homemaker.

I'm looking forward to having at least a litde

free time in between moves this summer. We
moved the Hoffs into our house the middle of

June, so now we are living in our house with

their furniture until they get back from the
States the end of July. Then it will be "hellogoodbye" as we pack up for our move to Ten
nessee the first of August.
Heather vacilates in her feelings about the
move. One minute she's excited about going to
a "big" school with lots of kids-a school where
she gets to "change classes." The next minute
she is crying as she thinks of the friends she'll

be leaving behind. The one thing she won't

have to be concerned about, however, is her
ability to handle the work. We feel that the
school here has prepared her very well for her
year in the States.

Nathan, of course, doesn't have the foggiest

notion of what's going on. He can't figure
out why the Hoffs' furniture is in our house
and our furniture is at Becky and Huberto's.
He is enjoying two things about the move,
however-"helping" Daddy pack and having
Mark's toys in our house in addition to his own.
Nathan's Bible memory work seems to really
be becoming a part of his life. Not long ago, in
fact, he brought me up short. After dinner one
day I served dessert to everyone but myself.
He asked me why I wasn't having any and I
told him I was fuU. His response was "Are you
full of joy? " I lauded, but it really was a time
for soul-searching. "Lord, thank you for the
teaching that comes to us from the mouths

of our children."

aH

PERSONAL GLIMPSES

"May we come over to your house while we

await

the

decision of the

doctors?" "Of

course," I answered to this request. A Mexican

evangelist, Hermilo Gasca, was speaking. He, his
wife, and their one-year-old son needed a place
to stay while their four-year-old son was in the
hospital a few blocks from our house. He had
a ruptured appendix but the doctors wanted to
be sure this was the problem. He was in the
Lord's hands and the parents were quite wor
ried when they arrived. The visit turned into a
nine-day stay but we were grateful for this
ministry of service.

On May 21st it was our privilege to sign the

papers that gave us possession of a 220 meter
piece of property in a nice residential section of
Queretaro. Lord willing, construction of our
own house will begin in September. Meanwhile,
we are moving from our current location to
reside in the Dungan's house for ten months.
We are grateful for this opportunity.
"Mommy, are you going to get married again? "
This was the question Mark asked after seeing a
wedding ceremony. His questions can some
times be quite challenging and at times, very
amusing. He is a sweet boy and helps a lot
around the house. He is very good at enter
taining his sister. First grade has now ended for
him and his grades were very good.
"Shoes, shoes." Rebecca loves to play with
shoes. One of her sandals is taken off within a

half hour after I put in on every morning. Then

she begins trying on her brother's shoes. This
often keeps her occupied for an hour at a time.
She is a real joy and your heart melts when she
waves and says "good-bye" and lies dovra to
sleep.
I praise the Lord for our family. Please con
tinue to pray for us physically and spiritually.
Thank you for your love cis a family of God.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

PRAISE:

PRAYER:

*for the renovated bus;

*for the baptisms;
*for the paying-off of the Queretarochurch

*that the concrete-block-maldng machinemay

soon be in operation and that we will quickly
learn how to make the Uocks;

*that the building loan fund willcontinue to

property;

*for the success of the 2 newspaper ads that

function and be available for congregations

have appeared in 7 area newspapers. Over 70

new students are now enrolled and studying
the Bible correspondence courses as a direct

*that the camp may continue to be an effective

result of the ads;

*that the Dungans' furlou^ year may be well

*for the comingof a full-time Mexican evangel

ist to the Queretaro work;

*for the construction projectsof 2 congrega

who need it;

evangelizing and discipling tool;

used and that the Lord will strengthen the
Hoffs as they do double duty in the field;

*that Lorenza, our Christian aster in Queretaro,

tions;

will be consoled in the death of her mother.

*for the recovery of Abdil Gasca, son of an

evangelist, who had a ruptured appendix.

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gmjrsAfE

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35^5"
1

ALuaas!
THE

BILL HOFF

FAMILY

THE NORM DUNGAN FAMILY

APARTADO POSTAL NO,
QUERETARO, QRO.
MEXICO

APARTADO POSTAL NO. 57

QUERETARO/ QRO. MEXICO

NEWS OF

fhe IHnilEnCE OF

CHRIST IN CENTRAL HEXICO

Vol. 13, No. 1

Published Quarterly

MEJIA

NEW

Fall 1981

PRESIDENT

This year as the National

His last ministry has been in

Reynosa, a city on the Mex
ican side of the U.S. border,

Bible Institute was giving a

reception for its graduates,
the founder and president
submitted his resignation.
So

about

and alumni began a search

for a man to fill the gap.

There were two suggestions
and the man who seemed

best able to fulfill the job

was Brother Modesto Mejia.
Modesto, who was un
known to many of the
teachers, came to Queretaro
for an interview (which turned into two all
day meetings) and accepted the job.

Modesto graduated from Colegio Biblico in

1965 and spent three and one half years
in Puebla, Mexico, which is several hours
south of Mexico City. There he was actively
involved in evangelism and participated in the
Instituto Biblica Mexicano in Mexico City.
His students all applauded his ability and

15

miles

south

of

McAUen, Texas. He has been

working there for 10 years

the institute's teachers

preparation as a teacher.

21 iQn
UI

and has built a congregation

which has its own building.

Modesto and his wife, Joan,

have three children ages 8,
12 and 14. Presently, because
of the children's education,
they are continuing to live
in Reynosa but will presum
ably join him when the school year ends.

The reaction on the part of the students to

the new president has been overwhelming.
They like and respect Modesto and the facul
ty's reaction has been much the same. We

realize the strain it must be to live away from

his family and can only pray that the Lord
will compensate for it. Please pray for him
and the institute.

V/.I.P. in Queretaro
Francisco Ramirez is a V.I. P. here in Queretaro. No, he is not the
mayor or governor, but is none-the-iess important. He is a very
important person because he is in charge of the entire Cultural
Communications Center here. The center, referred to as CCC, is a
non-profit organization which provides legal status for the printing

and literature distribution portions of our ministry. Francisco grades

courses, keeps up the filing system and then mails out the new

courses. He also answers letters and visits students upon request,

epecially those that have problems. Often students live three or four
hours away from Queretaro.

Francisco's life has radically changed since he encountered Christ.

He was once a runaway with no family ties. He was a busline em

ployee who lived a wild life and traveled constantly. Now he has

re-established his family ties, and his family has largely accepted Christ through his ministry. His famUy lives
seven hours northwest of here. A few weeks ago he received a call asking that he come to baptize two friends

of his brother who had accepted theLord because of his brother's testimony. He and his wife left Friday night

at midnight in the Volkswagen. When they returned, they recounted with great joy that the family of one of
the young men had heard and accepted the gospel so that instead of two baptisms there were four.

Francisco is unassuming and humble. He is willing to help in almost any way; for example, working on relo
cating the outhouses for camp (he has been the camp purchasing agent for the past three years). He watches
Rebecca when Bill has to teach at the bible institute, and Margy is helping in Mark's school.
Francisco is studying to be a teacher. His wife is already an accredited teacher and commutes one and one half
hours to a village school each day. They have a four-month-old son named Jonathan. Francisco teaches the
youth class at church each Sunday. This family is truly appreciated here in Queretaro.

A Tale of Two Churches

There are several churches within a 35 mile radius of Queretaro. Two of those in which I am involved are to

the west; both are in small villages. The first is in San Juan del Llanito. This church is relatively young. It was

begun because of the testimony of Margarito Roque, a student of the correspondence school (see Feb. 1980).

This church was growing rapidly when persecution broke out. Now growth is more difficult but the brethren

are not disanimated, but rather are pushing their testimony in the community. They are highly active with
four meetings a week. Tuesday night is prayer meeting, Thursday night is Bible study for which I have been
invited to preach, and two Sunday services which are led by local leadership and students from the bible

institute. The church has a Timothy who is a graduate of theinstitute. He isGelacio Santiago who isactive in
the church and in the youth group of the Bajio.

The church is about 40 strong and although that is a small percentage of the village, it represents a great
advance in a town where 20 yearsago a Christian would have been run-out-of-town or possibly killed.
Another nearby church is the one in La Palma. The church is an old one. It precedes our arrival in Mexico. It
is a prime example of a church growing in difficult circumstances. Thevillage is one where thereare no farms
or industries; most of the men live by working several months a year in the U.S.

The town was very closed; but 12 years ago a tract thrown from an airplane was answered and an American

missionary preached the gospel. Now Sunday attendance is over 100 people and the church has a lovely
twenty by forty foot building with electric lights and plastered walls.

Most of Ae people in the town had an opportunity to hear the gospel years ago so one is surprised by how
many visitors come to services. I am teaching there Tuesdays and my emphasis is toward making the church
"missions conscious" so that they vrill propagate the gospel beyond their village into the neighboring ones,
and perhaps think in terms of sending their youth for training in missions.

Personal Glimpses
Perhaps the most difficult part of being a

Mark had a nice 7th birthday party. He in

missionary is living so far away from our

vited some American and some Mexican

families. The grandparents and other rela

tives are unable to see the children grow and

friends. The highlight of the party was the

mature. This past summer our fanilies had

a Christian school here. There are 19 students

breaking of the pinata. Mark is enrolled in

from grades 1 through 12 using Alpha Omega

materials. He is receiving excellent grades
and enjoying school even though it is a lot
of work. Yesterday Mark enjoyed a trip to
the museum and zoo in Mexico City. All
those that were on the honor roll had this

privilege. Due to the type of program used at

the school (correspondence) Becky, the
teacher, needs two helpers each week. I take
my turn every third week. This keeps us all

busy as Bill watches Rebecca during this time.

I am also kept busy entertaining the many
visitors that we have, but we enjoy company.
Rebecca is growing fast. She loves to write
"Becca." Now when she doesn't know the

the opportunity to enjoy Mark and Rebecca

as we spent several weeks in the States. It was

an enjoyable time for everyone.. Mark had

the privilege of "shooting" fireworks.

Rebecca finally learned that the statues,

paintings, etc. were all horses at her grand
parent's house. Mark and Rebecca enjoyed
one more treat as we took a train ride to the

beautiful Topango Canyon in northern

Mexico on our way home, But it was nice to
return to cool weather after being in the heat
of the United State's southwest in July.

We are enjoying the spaciousness of the

Dungan's house this year. We praise the Lord
for the opportunity to spend this time here.
Six days from now the "big shovel" will
be digging the hole for our house. I am

excited about this begiiming after having

waited so long.

name she will say, "I want something."

She loves to eat and is as chubby as Mark is
skinny.

7n

rf

Prayer n'Praise
PRAISE THE LORD FOR:

* the new president of the bible institute, Modesto Mejia.

* the 4 baptisms near Zacatecas, 7 hours north of Queretaro.

* "the church building in Celaya. The concrete roof is now ready to be poured.
* two new teachers at the bible institute.

* the beginning construction of the Hoff's house.

* Jovita (a poor Christian lady) and her husband who have now found permanent
housing and employment on a ranch 35 miles east of Queretaro.

* three graduates of the bible institute last August.

* the ten young people that were baptized at camp last summer.
* the Christian school that Mark now attends.
the completed church building in Urireo, Guanajuato.
PRAY FOR:

* the continued improved health of Mary Gonzalez as they desire to return to

Queretaro. They were missionaries here three years ago.

* the former president of the institute. May he be used of the Lord.

* a new teacher for the Christian school next year.

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