So All Will Hear: My fellow Americans....

VIVA, MEXICO!

Before I launch into my recent observations and discoveries, I want to recap an event Jim and I attended late Thursday night.

On the eve of Mexican Independence Day, it is tradition to attend the "Grito" (Shout) of independence, repeating "Viva Mexico!" after each phrase of the declaration is read aloud from town squares all over the country. It's a festive time, and we have many fond memories of celebrating at various churches and in our own town square, complete with silly string, confetti eggs, and shaving cream wars.

On a side note, we used to tease Bekah that she could be one of the lovely girls in the parade who are elected to the Independence Day "court" as Miss Mitla or one of her duchesses. She was born right here in our town, after all, and thus is eligible to compete in the local contest. The huge drawback, aside from the fact that she would have no desire EVER to do such a thing, is that she would have to memorize all the verses of the national anthem. I never counted, but there are a LOT of stanzas, and the tune is not much more singable than our own Star Spangled Banner, of which she hasn't memorized even the first stanza.

Anyway, back to the subject. Jim and I took Debbie and a friend to the grito at a local church in Tlacolula, which is our county seat - the next bigger town over from ours. Since the folks from that church had attended our 4th of July picnic, they made sure we attended the Quince de Septiembre party with them. Let me say that there was a huge difference in the way each holiday was celebrated.

Our party in July was mostly about fun, food, fellowship, and fireworks. While we were praying quickly for the USA, people's stomachs were growling and all eyes and noses were distracted with smells of fried chicken and other typical American food. In contrast, the "party" Thursday night was mostly about PRAYER. After working a full day, except of course many of the women who obviously had been cooking all day long, whole families showed up for prayer starting around 9:00. Worship and prayer lasted for hours, and there was no mention of food until well after midnight.

The pastor spent a bit of time highlighting our ministry to unreached people groups in Oaxaca, which normally is a good thing. In this case, we squirmed as the church was shamed with the fact that these foreigners were (in the pastor's words) "more Mexican" than any of them, because we had chosen to leave jobs, families, and opportunities in the U.S. to come live here on purpose, so that people in Oaxaca could hear the gospel message in their own language.

Then he shamed them further by having Jim speak about the needs in Oaxaca, about the persecuted church here in Oaxaca, and about all the people who still have no Christian witness in their villages. The pastor said he knows no other person who knows more about Oaxaca than Jim Loker. He asked his people how many people had ever been to this, that, and another village Jim had mentioned. (Most people had never even heard of such places.) Then he asked the few who might have been there what they had done in those places. Usually they were visiting someone they knew, or just passing through. Jim Loker, he told them, went with the express purpose of spreading the gospel in those places!

Like I said, it was a bit uncomfortable to be put on display like that while people were being pounded, but I have to say that quite a number of people responded to the invitation to consider devoting their lives to serving the Lord full time in their own country. That was exciting! Please join us in praying that God will use that stirring message on Independence Day to raise up an army of local workers to further the gospel here in Oaxaca.

Now, fellow Americans, at the risk of sounding like I am scolding you like our pastor friend, I have to say that we would be put to shame next to these devout prayer warriors. It's hard to imagine any of our supporting churches sacrificing such time and energy at any hour of the day (let alone 9:00 P.M. to 2:00 A.M) to focus on the prayer needs of their neighborhoods, let alone our ministry in particular. I am not scolding you at all, but trying to inspire you. Consider what a difference it would make if we all valued prayer like these people.

On a personal note, Jim and I are blessed to have this church embrace us as they do. They honor us by praying for us, believing in us, and encouraging us. We know many people and churches are backing us in the U.S. (and we greatly appreciate them!), but this sense of being supported on a local level is kind of new to us. The pastor has a true heart for missions, and has personally visited many of the villages they prayed for, and their church in Oaxaca City is responsible for planting many churches in areas that needed them. We are thankful for their participation in sharing the gospel.

Praise the Lord for this group of believers whose eyes are opening to the needs around them.