Partners on Mission

Maya-Mesoamerica Mission
P.O. Box 746
Elkins, AR 72727
www.mayamission.org

April 2005

Xela Community Church: 3M hosted a short-term mission team in late March that was brought here by Commission Expeditions. They attended church at XCC on Palm Sunday and helped lead us in worship. It was a blessing to us for them to be here. We have an ongoing need at XCC for individuals to help in the ministry on a long-term basis and we pray that our Lord will use visits like this one from Commission Expeditions to send laborers to help us in the harvest of souls in Mesoamerica.
Dr. Ivan Steen, a director of Maya-Mesoamerica Mission and our European representative, recently sent $2000.00 to the ministry that had been donated by individuals in Ireland. Most of the people who attend Xela Community Church do not own a car and have to walk or take public transportation. This money will go towards the purchase of a van for 3M that can be used by XCC and Las Nubes Church. We still need to raise another $4000.00 to purchase a dependable van.

Las Nubes: Roger Brant, the pastor of Heartland Church in Missouri, was sharing with the people at Las Nubes a few weeks ago about our "purpose in life". The majority of the people who attend Las Nubes Christian Church live their lives in desperate poverty with little hope for the future. Roger's message was a timely one of much needed encouragement.
The rainy season has arrived in the cloud forest at Las Nubes, and with it new logistical problems. The children meet in the open during the Sunday afternoon service while the adults meet under an awning made of used tin. Children don't mind a little drizzle, but soon it will be daily downpours. Commission Expeditions built a

retaining wall on a slope where the Las Nubes church plans to build a galera. A galera is basically a tin roof on poles, just enough cover to keep the rain off.
With the completion of the galera the children can meet under the awning where the adults are meeting presently, and the adults will meet in the galera. The galera will serve the immediate need to keep dry, but the long-term solution is a church building. The vision is to have a Christian Life Center at Las Nubes that can be used for Sunday church services, but other uses in the community as well. Maya-Mesoamerica Mission would like to teach community health classes, host medical/dental outreaches, adult literacy classes, English classes, and pursue economic development opportunities, all under the banner of Jesus Christ. A Christian Life Center will serve as the hub for these activities.
Just about eight months ago Guillermo and David met for the first time with about twenty people at Maria's house in Las Nubes. At that meeting Maria was the only person from Las Nubes who knew anything about Jesus Christ. Since that first Sunday afternoon many there have come to know Jesus as their personal savior and been baptized.

Xolcaja: The silent auction and dinner hosted by Heartland Church for the Christian Life Center/School at Xolcaja was a huge success. There was enough money raised to pay for the land in full with some left over. David, Guillermo and Roger Brant, a director and vice-president of Maya-Mesoamerica Mission, visited with the school committee at Xolcaja in March about the purchase of the land and the building. 3M is going to pay for the land and an organization from Japan is going to pay for the construction of the initial building. The local school committee will oversee the construction and use of the building and 3M will have full use for a church and community outreaches in the name of Jesus Christ.
Over 125 children attend school presently in this three-room galera at Xolcaja. Next year they expect about 200 students.