[News] Mission Trip 11-16-09

[Berkshire Mission]

Feb 16th 2010 - Mission 2010 Mexico - One day plus and more!!		
 
Hello Everyone,
	At this moment I am over the Caribbean somewhere on my way back from
the pre-trip to Mexico to plan for our group's arrival. Thank you all for
your prayers and thoughts.
	There is a lot to tell you so I'll move along as quickly as
possible. The logistics of this project are a bit different then our last
trip but I really believe God has worked out the details very nicely.
	First let me explain some of the housing, food, construction,
medical, evangelism, and excursion details in brief and then tell you our
needs.
	We will be staying at the Linda Vista University, meaning a
beautiful site, and beautiful it is. We will have a wing of the campus dorm
to ourselves. I have reserved 20 rooms so that we can have 2 to a room.
There are 6 bunks in each room so if there is a family of more that 2, you
will be able to stay together. Each room has a private bath, bedding,
towels, soap, shampoo etc. We will eat at the University and work around
their eating schedule. The kitchen, dining room, baking area etc, are very
clean. All kitchen help wear facemasks and hairnets. They have their own
bakery, laundry, water purification plant, store, snack bar, etc. I believe
we will be very very comfortable there. The only draw back, if there is one,
is that it's about 45 minutes from the work site. We will travel by bus that
we have rented from the school. I could not find any housing closer to the
work site other that a 2 story hotel 40 min. the other way with no kitchen
facilities or any other things that the University will supply. 
	The construction site is in the village of Jitotol (pronounced
Hetatol). It is a very, very poor area. There are many little stores in town
including several shops and hardware stores, but no shops with souvenirs.
The church floor is already in and the posts approx. 2feet up are in also
and ready for us to place the steel beams, roof, walls, windows, doors, and
pull electrical wire. If we have time, we'll put in a front wall with gate. 
	The medical team will have their hands full. The need there is very
great and the village is thickly populated. I met with the Mayor and he is
very willing to help us with any needs he can provide. I visited two
villages outside of town in the mountains. They speak Tzotzil, an Indian
language that some of the locals will translate to Spanish and on we will
go. They were very scared of me. Most of the woman and children ran into
their small wooden one-room houses. I can already hear some of you laughing
because you know me. The president of the village said most of us have never
seen an American. Both village presidents met with the people and agreed
that it would be very beneficial for them if we visited. Neither village has
had a medical team there, only a local doctor who visits on occasion but
with no medicine. Both places are about 40 minutes from the work site. By
the way, while I am thinking about it, several on the last trip told me they
get carsick.. Because of the terrain I would suggest that you bring some
Dramamine or other motion sickness medicine. If you will let Eric or me
know, we can arrange to have you ride near the front of the bus.  OK, back
to the medical team. I will speak with the medical team, and come up with a
schedule. Tentatively we need several days in town, one day in each village
(2 of them) and one at the University. We will plan accordingly. Sorry for
the length but I must give you as many details as possible.
	Evangelism. The local churches had planned a large campaign a week
before our arrival, long before they knew that we were coming. They had
planned to rent a large community building in town and bring an evangelist
from Columbia. The cost of bringing him there was very expensive. After a
very large meeting with the 22 local mission churches, which was scheduled
somehow the same weekend that we where there, I spoke and explained our
usual plans, but did not want to interfere with theirs. After much
discussion and prayer they were very happy to change there dates to the
dates we will be there. They will take care of all the plans, and work with
us on Bible studies prior to our arrival, and asked if Pastor Rigo from
Honduras could be the evangelist. They were very impressed with him and his
God given talents. The only thing they lack is a children's program. After I
told them about ours they were very excited for they never had a children's
program along with a campaign. We will take care of that program totally. I
spoke to a local man who had a place perfect for our children's program and
when I told him all the things that we had planned for the community; he
said that we could have the place for free. By the way, he is not a brother
from the church. Praise God for His plans.
	Excursion.  We will be staying at the Crown Paradise Club Resort in
Cancun. I believe God worked out something very special for us. The round
trip ticket from JFK and back via Cancun was only a few dollars more. The
room rate at this Five Star resort includes 7 restaurants, 6 pools, ocean
front, lots of activities, etc. I could fill 6 more pages about the resort
but will give you the website instead. www.crownparadise.com
<http://www.crownparadise.com/> .  See for yourself.
	Our needs, as always, are large. There is probably a better word to
describe it but that will do. 
	1) Money to purchase Bibles and literature - There at the mission
office they will give us Bibles and literature because of our outreach for
60 Pesos each. That is approx 4.60 each. What a blessing, and they will have
them there when we arrive. We will need 300 Bibles, also literature at our
ready- 2 Pesos each. 
	2) Medicine - We will need 4-5 Med-packs. Purchase price is $475.00
each and it provides approx 3,000-4,000 dollars of meds appropriate for that
particular area. We will also need to purchase extra meds in quantity for
specific needs - approx. $4,000.00 
	3) Transportation - Buses and trucks are very expensive to rent and
the fuel there is also expensive.
	4) Children's Program - We always need money to purchase crafts,
misc. supplies and children's literature and Bibles. By the way, the local
church expects to have 600-700 adults and 400-500 children at this program.
As I said the population is very dense there.
	5) Money to advertise our program - such as posters, flyers and loud
speakers on cars to announce our evangelism and medical work.
	6) Sponsorship - We will need to help Pastor Rigo Dawkins to come
and speak and help with many other things, as many of you know. Also to help
with his pay for his family while he is with us. 
	7) The university would like if we could provide some equipment such
as soccer balls, basketballs, nets for the courts and other supplies as
well.
	8) Project Fee - Maranatha will need a minimum of $7000.00 for the
supplies and construction materials to build this one-day church, which will
also include walls, windows, doors, etc.
	I will need donations as soon as possible. It has been  coming in,
but very slowly. I know some of you have been waiting to hear from me after
my trip. I pray that there will be some large donations. Please contact me
as soon as possible.
	I am always surprised by the response I get each year. I am not a
fund-raiser. That gift is something I have not received. If you remember, I
asked if there was someone out there who has that gift I would relieve me of
that responsibility so I can concentrate on the gifts I believe God has
given to me. Again thank you all in advance for your prayers, your
sacrificial offerings and support in all ways. I have never met most of you
who give to Berkshire Mission. Thanks for all of your faith in this team.
	Also, those of us who go, pay for all the airfare, excursions and
much more. Only because of your help can we supply all the other needs.
	Let me close with this thought from Numbers 11:21-23 Paraphrased -
"Moses said where will I get food for over 600,000 people, we would have to
catch every fish in the ocean to fulfill your promise" Then the Lord said to
Moses, when did I become weak? Now you shall see whether my word comes true
or not! 
	Pray what God would have you do, and watch the windows of Heaven
open up and provide for you during these very hard economic times.
 
God Bless you all
Bob Young
Mission Director
 
PS.  There has been no reported Swine flu in the area where we are working.
I checked with local medical people and the Mayor. It does not mean it does
not exist, we still need to be careful. 
 

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