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Hello everyone, In the last newsletter we sent out we shared with you all about the new village of Sitaravo. For now God “closed the door” for us in that village, but opened another door for us to do an outreach in a Tarahumara Indian village called Yaguirachi. It is located back in the mountains a little over an hour from Creel. Before we came to this village there was no one going there to do any kind of spiritual outreach. When Pablo and I talked to some older boys about Jesus Christ, they knew nothing about Him. The children we talked knew nothing about Christ either. We have been going to this village for over a month now. The first time we went we only had three children show up. Now we have at least 25 regular children and many adults also. When the kids see our vehicles coming down the road they all come running! We are so amazed at the acceptance we have received from the adult Indians of this village.
Shelly, our girls, Adriana and her kids help do the Bible lessons for the younger children. Pablo and I take turns sharing with the older boys and men that are beginning to come. We had 5 young men and one adult man accept Jesus as their savior 2 weeks ago. It is very challenging and exciting to try and explain the Gospel to people that have never heard it before. It is a good situation in a sense, because we have a blank slate to start with.
A typical Saturday for an outreach will consist of everyone meeting at our house, loading equipment, preparing refreshments for the children and traveling to the village. We have to take two vehicles to carry all the equipment and our two families. We also will stop and pick up people along the way who want to come too. When we get to the village all the kids start showing up. We get everything unloaded and set up, Adriana will cut hair for free while we all play games with the children for a while. Next we have a time of singing praise songs and then the Bible lesson. After the Bible lesson we serve some simple refreshments to everyone and we pack everything up and head back to Creel. We have made friends with the “comasario” or the village leader and got
permission to be there and do what we are doing. He is very pleased that we are coming and sharing with the children and adults. We also explained to him that we would like to help them with their water situation. The village needs to have a
well drilled there at the little school where we meet. I have been communicating with an organization from Canada We are continuing the Friday night youth meetings. Once a month we try and have something special for the kids. Last month we had a sleep over, but not much sleeping was done. There were like 23 kids here that night! They played games, watched movies, I shared a short devotional with them and they all had a great time. On Sunday nights there is a time of fellowship, worship and praise with
people taking
turns in sharing something from the Bible. A special thanks goes out to the family from our home church (Church of the Crossroads) that donated for the purchase of the materials to make the mattresses for the children of the albergue in Guaguitare. The money covered the cost exactly to make 8 mattresses. Adriana made all the slip covers for the mattresses by hand; she is seen working on them in the picture to the right. Pablo and I tried to take the mattresses out to the village last Friday, but I punctured a tire on the way out and had to turn around. I didn’t have my jack with me, but I was able to plug the tire and air it back up with a heavy duty 12 volt air compressor I recently bought for the truck. It paid for itself right then because we were an hour and a half back in the mountains! We made it back to Creel where I was able to get the tire patched. This past Tuesday we made the trip out to the village and delivered the mattresses to the albergue. The children were thrilled with the mattresses. They had been sleeping on just the boards of the bunk beds we built for them with blankets over them. To the left the children are helping unload the mattresses. Below to the right the kids and I are showing off the nicest beds in the village. Their smiles show you how thankful they are. Thank you seeing this need and responding! We need 8 more mattresses to complete all 8 bunk beds. If anyone would like to be a part of this outreach contact us or Shelly’s parents Mike and Sandy Green. Click here to contact us.
 Please keep our family and Pablo and Adriana’s family in your prayers, we all have been in a spiritual battle at one time or other the past few months since we have made advancements for the Kingdom.
We want to thank all of you for your continued support and prayers. Remember, you may not be able to go yourself, but you are helping us to go out into the “Highways and Hedges…” Luke 14:23.
Be sure to click on the pictures to see them larger. Onor uami micuirsa (God bless you, in Tarahumara) Ryan, Shelly, Monica and Melena Maness
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