ALuaas!>BAJIO CHRISTIAN MISSION

TIE NORM DUNGAN FAMILY

APARTADO POSTAL

QUERETARO/ QRO. MEXICO

FORWARDING AGENT:

MRS. JOE L. GREEN

POST OFFICE BOX 628YIMA^ ARIZONA 85364

PUBLISHED QUARTERLY VOL. 10, NO. 1 APRIL 1978

SPIRITUAL SPANISHThe Dungans are still involved in a struggle which will probably never

end—the struggle to understand and adapt to local culture and custom. OneMexican custom that has been especially hard for us to accept is that ofusing sacred names for the most non-sacred objects. Especially here in theBajio, businesses wear Divine names. Here are a few actual samples, takenjust from the state of Queretaro: "The Holy Faith" Express Company, "TheHoly Trinity" hardware store, "Holy Spirit" funeral parlor, "Sacred Heartof Jesus" paper store, "Blood of Christ" liquor, "Holy Name" chocolate,"Immaculate Conception" furniture store, and "Sacred Name" bread store.

Suspecting that we are fairly typical in our reactions, I would venturethat most Americans would respond with revulsion to such "profaning" ofthings divine. To us, such a secular use of religious terminology is blasphemous .

And such may be the case. It is possible that this Mexican custom mayfall into the same category as "cursing," which is how we Americans haveunderstood the injunction not to "take the Lord's name in vain." However,recently I've had a new thought about the custom. Granted, there may beselfish motives for applying the name of Deity to business establishments—just as the practice of having the priest bless the new business andsprinkle "holy water" on the cash register is surely a ploy calculated toensure God's material blessing and favor. But beyond all that, there issomething that must be admitted--here is at least the name of God, if notHis presence, being involved and invoked outside the walls of the temple,pervading the workaday world.

Could it be that our refusal to allow God's name to be "lowered" to thecommercial level--a refusal that may be in itself commendable—is matchedby an unwillingness to allow Him to have any say-so in our day-to-day business, professional, homemaking lives, that is, in all our "secular" activities? If so, then are we really doing God a favor by so "protecting" Hisname? Perhaps, just perhaps, we would do well to include a mental parenthesis in all our undertakingsj thus, our Ace Grocery would be thought of as(God's) Ace Grocery, and our Acme Moving Company would be consciously conceived of as (The Lord's) Acme Moving Company, and so on. Surely our Lordwould not be angered if we should recognize Him as the sustainer of ourwork and if we should truly let Him be the controlling influence in ourMonday-through-Saturday lives as well as our Sunday one. Spiritually

j speaking, I like the idea of making all my business God's business.

MEMOnABLS MISSIONABY MOMENTSThis has been another one of those experiences that I am sure I'll laugh

about some day. But today I'm doing anything but laughing, even though Iseem to be reaching the end of my "Getting Mexican Working Papers" odyssey.

The process began last November, when I made my first trip to thenation's capital. And in spite of the city's hazards—smog, 15 millionpeople and twice that many vehicles, things went pretty smoothly for a shortwhile. Every so often the government would write me, requesting somenew piece of information, which I would round up and take to the indicatedgovernment office, personally and in triplicate, of course, with the required covering form letter. But the last two trips were a good bitdifferent. Let me elaborate,

Thursday began with a 4:30 a.m. departure from Queretaro, as I wantedto arrive in Mexico City before the 7:00 traffic should clog every street.I arrived just as the doors were opening on the government building thatwas to be first on my day's agenda. Unfortunately, the office I needed toenter did not open until two hours later. Fortunately, when it did open, Iwas near the front of the line; and within an hour I had filled in thenecessary forms and paid the necessary money. Unfortunately, I would haveto return at 1:30 to pick up my docximent. Fortunately,that gave me time togo to a second building a few miles away with another paper that had beenrequested. Unfortunately, that paper could not be submitted without the1:30 document in hand. Fortunately, at precisely 1:30 I was able to getthat form; unfortunately, by that time the second building was closed. SoI took care of some other, non-government, business and came home, arrivingin time for prayer meeting.

Friday began also at 4:30; this time, however, I took the bus. By 9:30I was back at the second building of the day before,and I quickly submittedthe letter to a clerk. "You'll need to go to Room 102 with this," he saidwith a smile. No problem—except that Room 102 would not open until 11:30.Hurry up and wait time. At promptly 11:30, Room 102 did open, and .1 wasfirst in line. "You'll have to go to Room 102 for this," said the smilingclerk. "But I ̂ in Room 102," I protested. "Yes, that's true, but youneed to be in Room 102 Annex." "Oh." Room 102 Annex, where are you?Finally I found it, and grimly read the sign on the door: "Open to thepublic from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m." Well, that should still give me enoughtime—or would it? "You'll need 2 photostats and 5 photos," says the smiling clerk, "No, none of the 12 photos you brought with you will do. Andyou'll need to fill out ^oth sides of this form, typewritten only. Weclose promptly at 1:00." Feeling as if I were a contestant on "Truth orConsequences," I charged out to find the nearest photo studio, copy center,and form-typing office. By 12:41, the last photo was cut, the last linetyped, and the last page copied, and I sprinted back to 102 Annex,arriving with over 3 minutes to spare. The clerk approved the material,not even pausing at the line where I'd had to invent the second last nameof my mother (my mother's mother's maiden name); such genealogical information is not in my active memory file. By 2:00 I was on my way home—withthe hope-springs-eternal vision of only 1 more trip to the city, and thatbeing to pick up the official paper that will alter our life here, andwhich has already affected niine more than I wish it had.

lUE GET - mORE - lETTERSWe receive all kinds of letters in response to our daily radio programs

which are now being broadcast on 7 stations throughout the Bajio. Somejust ask for the course; others request counsel; others give testimony;many thank us for sending the material; some send an offering; a fewcondemn us roundly. The following are three letters which moved us deeply:

Bn.zthfizn.:It li> a. Q/iza.t ptza^Vifiz to QKzzt yotx tn thz namz Jziui Chfit&t, and

to tzlt you that I fLZcztvzd you/i Zzttzn. and thz tAaat znttttzd "SomzbodyLovzi Vou." I am thankful ^OA God'-i Zovz, and I am aZio thank^uZ ioK thzBtbZz C0UA6Z6 you iznd. RzczntZy I havz bzgun to Azad thz Wew Tzitamzntwhtzh you gavz to mz, and I pAay that God wZZZ hzZp mz to undzAitand Ht6iJJoAd.

I AzgAzt thz Zoit yzaA4t ojJ my youth. I am &z\Jznty~tioo yzaAi oZd, andioA moit oi tho&z yzaA/y, I woi a Roman CathoZtz. But my AzZZgton wa& uiz-Zza, bzzau&z my &ptAttuaZ ZzadzAi dZd not tzach mz thz tAuth. But tn1970 I bzgan to Ztitzn to thz (iloAd oi God thAough youA Aadto pAogAam--andnow, pAaZitZ God, I know thz tAuth and am ^Azz.

A gAotz^uZ bAothzA tn ChAt6t, RtzaAdo EscobaA

BAothzA^ tn Jz&u6 ChAt6t:Jt ti> wtth pZza&uAZ that I WAttz to you to wtih you hzaZth and to Zzt

you know that J Ztitzn datZy to youA pAogAam on my Aadto. 1 wouZd notmti^ tt, bzzau&z I zaAnz&tZy dzitAz to ZzaAn moAz and moAz about thz (iloAd0^ God. I havz a BtbZz, but I know that I nzzd to itudy tt datZy and wttha pZan, iuch a4 thz onz youA couAizi gtvz mz. I that I won't bz Ztkzmy nztghboA, a young Zady who bzgan to 6tudy youA zouAizi but who qutt bz-cau4e 0|J hzA ^zaA o^ thz zAtttzt^m otJ hzA iamtZy and othzA nztghboAi. Ba^I am not io young, and I am dztzAmtnzd to zonttnuz itudytng, whatzvzA thzzoit, whatzvzA my nztghboAi &ay oa do. So anyttmz you zaAz to vtitt mz,you aAz wzZzomz.

StnzzAzZy, GAzgoAto GaAzta

BAzthAzn:T am WAtttng tht6 ZzttzA to a^k you a btg ^avoA. My ^amtZy and 1, aZZ

bzZtzvzAj> tn thz LoAd Jziu6, havz AzzzntZy movzd hzAz ^Aom nzaA EZ Paio,Tzxa6. Wz want to 4ZAvz thz LoAd and woA^thtp wtth ouA bAothzAi; but tnthz month we've been fie^e, we can'^ ^tnd any othzA ChAt6ttani. Stnzz thatti 60,1 am wondzAtng t^ you wouZd bz wtZZtng and abZz to come and tzazh u6moAz ojJ thz (tioAd oi God. My iamtZy and I aAz wtZZtng to tnvttz othzA6 ,andthz LoAd ha6 gtvzn me 6omz monzy, 6o we wtZZ itnd a Aoom we can Aznt ioA6zAvtzz6. But we nzzd somzonz to tzazh u6. We havz hzaAd youA Aadto pAo-gAam and znjoy tt vzAy muzh; and I am maktng thti boZd Azquz6t bzzau6z oithz iazt that you tzazh thz BtbZz and bzzau6z we nzzd hzZp ti we aAz toAzmatn 6tAong tn ouA iatth. PZza6z an6WzA tht6 ZzttzA, and come and vt6ttU6 .

youA bAothzA tn thz LoAd Jz6u6, Juan GaAzta

FINANCIAL STATEMENTBalance 9/30/77 187.86 Expenses 10/1/77-3/31/78 10,998.82Income 1^/1177 - 3/31/78 11,159.99 Balance 3/31/78 3U9.03

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FAMILY AFFAIRSIt crept up on us in the night

while we slept, causing pandemoniumsuch as hadn*t been seen around herein 30 years.What was it—an invasionfrom outer space, a plague of rats?No, just ordinary snow, and only 4inches at that. But for an area thatrarely even gets frost,the Queretarosnowfall of March, 1978,will long beremembered. Of course, it had meltedby evening,and the weather turned sowarm that 5 days later we were swimming; but the snowball fights andsnowmen were fun if only for a fewhours.

The household is finally settlinginto a semi-stable routine now thatNathan is 6 months old. In fact, itseems strange now to think that lessthan a year ago we were only 3. Hecontinues to be a joy and is growingby leaps and bounds. He sits up andcan usually manage to reach anythinghe wants by "swimming" or rolling toit.

Heather is just about to completefourth grade, and we are very proudof her. She is turning into quite ayoung lady (at least physically—shestill likes to be cuddled). Her workat school has been excellent for the

most part,and she's the world's bestat entertaining a fussy baby. Herbig thrill right now is that she'sgoing to go to camp this summer forthe first time.

Norm and I continue to be two shipsthat pass in the night,what with histeaching duties, my teaching duties,and the mission work.We do find time

once in a while, however, to have ashort conversation, even if it is between snores. But we praise God thatthere is work to do and that we arehealthy and able to do it. We hopeyou are finding joy in the tasks Helays before you as well

ALuaas!THE BILL HOFF FAMILY

APARTADO POSTAL NO. 57QUERETARO/ QRO, MEXICO

NEWS OFThe CHniLEnCE

THE NORM DUNGAN /AMILYAPARTADO POSTAL NO. /ijlQUERETARO/ QRO. MEXICO

OF CHRIST IN CENTRAL FIEXICO

PUBLISHED QUAPTERLY AUGUST, 1978

A LOOK AT OUR NEW LOOK'Beginning with this issue, "The

Challenge" of the Bill Hoff familyand "Saludos" of the Norm Dungan

family are being combined into onepublication, with a single distribution to all those on both mail-,

ing lists. Thus, the change intitle and in format.

But why the change?

First, we want to give you, ourreaders, a better understanding of

the work that is "Bajio ChristianMission" in Central Mexico. Since

there are two missionary familiesworking jointly at the same task,it has seemed good to share v;ithyou the combined work and not justone part or the other of it.Second, we hope to give you a

more objective insight into thework. Since our reporting willhenceforth be a cooperative effort,

there is less likelihood of sub

jective feelings undersirably coloring the information.Third, we desire to exercise

greater stewardship. Two factorsare involved here. (DThe steward

ship of money. A combined nev/s-

letter will result in a savings in

printing costs: we will cut inhalf the costs for photographingand printing the copy. (2) Thestewardship of time. The unitedeffort will effect a reduction in

time spent by each family in pre-rparing copy for publication. Aspin-off benefit is that you arenow more likely to receive an on-tLme and regular publication . thanever before. So as we have more

time and money to invest in thework itself, you will be able toknow more about that work,and more

promptly.

A final note. To keep this publication as personal as possible,each article will bear the initials

of the writer. Additionally, 1

page will normally be reserved forthe use of each family. Thus wepropose to achieve the same aimsas always—to share with you newsboth of the work and of the fam-

ilies-but to do so more effi

ciently and effectively than ever.We pray that this quarterly let

ter v/ill both inform and inspire?

we will appreciate hearing, yourresponse to this new format. f^ND

HEniE WE GO AGAIN"Mixed feelings" is the

only way I can describe ourdeparture from Cincinnati. Viehad endured a hard winter in apoor.ly heated apartment, 1 hadtramped through snovj for manyweeks to get to classes; Margyhad endured neighbor "kidp" inthe apartment who needed aplace to play when i theirschools were cancelled: those

were the things that we'wouldnot miss. But the professors,the students, the discipline,of study, the friends in |Churches and prayer groups wewould surely miss. M

Vie sold all the used fyvirni-ture that v;e had purcliasedduring the year and begc^iji ourpacking. Much of the vsi^ightwas books and winter ciotliiing.We began the task of haulingall the boxes down U flightsof stairs to the truck and upto the trailer to pack. ' ^Soonwe were done. We had delayedthe departure unuil I e;drnedenough for a set of tireis andgasoline money for the returntrip. i

Forty miles south ol'i jCin-cinnati the truck overhealted.I worked for a radiator' ishopall year and had checked! it,but the problem was ai | cutcaused by a flying object;.^ Twas able to solder it and wecontinued. Our trip on tOj SanAntonio was without further

incident. | IAfter a short stay in' San

Antonio we flew to .Fhoeni:)<|. Wevisited with a supportingjphu-rch, showed slides at another

church, visited our forwardingagents, and had short visitswith our families. From there

we drove to Las Vegas where Ispoke at my home church. Wethen returned to Phoenix andflew back to San Antonio,wherewe resumed our trip.

After a year and two weeksit felt so good to be back inMexico again. Vie had a nicevisit with the Northrup familyin Saltillo as we spent thenight there, on our vjay south.

The city of Queretaro wasat the end of the next day'slong drive. How the city hasgrown I Vie were excited to seethe Dungans and to meet theReed family who had replacedus during the year. They arewonderful people and made usfeel welcome. Doug was a tremendous help in the radiowork, especially with the rebuilding of the mixer whichmakes it possible for us tointerconnect 4 recorders and a

turntable to produce the pro-grani.

We got settled as soon aspossible and then became involved in the work once again.With summer camp beginningshortly, I spent much time inlast: minute preparations.There were also many radiotapes that had to be made.

Mark is readjusting back to"Mexico. It took him awhile to

realize where his home was. He

spends all day playing withthe neighbor children -- hesneaking English and theySpanish. #BH

FAMILY AFFAIRSIt there's anything, the Lord

has taught me since we've beenin Mexico, I guess it wouldhave to be flexibility. Thereis certainly no way to plan ameal for 3 and have it stretch

to feed 10 or have 3 different

families come to visit--all on

the same night--without it.These are just two of our recent experiences, and eachtime I have learned anew that

Philippians 4:13 is not justempty words but a reality forlife. I could never make itwithout God's strength. And Icertainly wouldn't --ent toha'Vii misccG tne' Du. — tii-it

the Lord had in mind on each

occasion.Heather finished fourth grade,

with flying colors--garnering4 trophies at the awards banquet, including best scripturememorization and highest gradepoint average. Needless tosay, her parents vjere poppingtheir buttons. Her reply 'whenwe tried to share with her our

pride in her accomplishments:"You don't have to be proud ofme; I'm proud of myself."

As Nathan approaches 9months, it is getting harderto think of him as a baby. Heis standing up now and nothingis safe. His favorite trickis "whisk the tablecloth."

Unfortunately, he has not perfected it to the point ofleaving the dishes on thetable. How marvelous is Melmac

We are about to embark on '2

months ol close fello'wship as

w(j travel to the States to

visit those of you 'who supportus so faithfully. Please remember us in your prayers, notonly as far as our q,afety isconcerned, but as v/e try toaccomodate both a 9-year-oldand a 9-month-old. It should

be interesting, to say theleast. Nevertheless, 'we'relooking forward to seeing youall again, to share with youwhat the Lord is doing incentral Mexico as well as hearing what He is doing in yourlives. v/e truly love these"•'amily reunions."

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

Balance, 3/31/73Income, 4/1 -• 6/30/78- ■ • • i -.r " "

Balance, 6/30/78

.•V4

9.21

5141, 62

5156.76

= ND

WHAT'S NEW?The Spanish-speaking congre

gation honored 4 graduates inMay. These were the first tograduate from within the bodyin Queretaro, so it was a timeof real joy.

The youth in Queretaro recently conducted a clothing drive,then took the material to awidow and her children who livein a remote village in themountains of the state.

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The mid-week studies herecontinue to grow. A month ago,some neighbors of the familywho received the study in theirhome tried to stir up a lot oftrouble. But the family tookcourage and invited us back. Atthat second meeting we met anew family who showed vitalinterest in the Gospel, to thepoint of inviting the meetingto their home the followingweek in the same housing unit.VJe praise God for His Victory!

We have again been refusedradio time in Queretaro--at anyprice. Please keep praying!

The Queretaro congregation isnow being assisted by a weekend personal evangelist, whocalls on homes in the working-class subdivisions of the city.The evangelist is a new Christian who while living herereached many new prospects forChrist. Now he buses in eachweekend from his new home about120 miles north of here.

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As I write, we are on thebrink of camp, 1978. The newstore-storeroom building isready, as are the long-overhangeaves on the dormitory whichwere added to keep the rain outof the campers' food after theyfile past the kitchen's servingwindow on their way to thedining hall. Since the Dungantrip must begin during camp,the shopping burden falls onBill. Most of the in-campactivities will be handled bythe Mexican brethren; but Billwill be extremely busy tran-porting the tortillas, sweetbread, fresh fruit, etc., etc.to camp daily. Pre-registra-tions indicate another fullhouse this year for both Intermediate and Senior weeks. #ND

The Norm Dungan Family

evangelizing among the people of

CENTRAL MEXICO

with

BAJIO CHRISTIAN MISSION

The Work

The work is based in the city ofQueretaro. The fieid, however, includes ailof 2 states and parts of 3 others. The meansof evangelism are fourfold:

I. SEED SOWING

A. Radio ministry. A 15-mlnute broadcast, "Dulces Momentos," is carried on 13stations in 4 states in the Bajio, a total of200 times per month. In addition, 5 stationsin the North and West of Mexico also carrythe broadcast. Two Mexican evangelists dothe preaching; production is done in Queretaro.

B. The printed word. (1) Locally designedtracts are distributed at the many festivaldays to great crowds; (2) quarter-page adsIn local newspapers draw good response.

C. City-wide campaigns. Over 50 responses to the invitation have come In the 2held so far in centrally-located, rentedarenas. Total attendance of 1200.

D. Coffee house. Led by one of theMexican evangelists and by young peopleof local congregations. "Attractions"include live music and black lighting. Open4 nights per week; average attendance of 30In 12' X 12' room.

il. CULTIVATION

A. Bible correspondence school. OperatesIn conjunction with all mass-mediaevangelism. Over 5,000 requests for coursehave been received; new requests arrive atrate of 3 per day.

B. Follow-up visitation. Four Mexicanevangelists and two missionaries open newfields, visit among students, distributeenrollment cards and tracts, and hold Biblestudies. Regular visits are being made inover 50 cities.

Mi. HARVEST

Baptized believers meet in 12 cities andvillages in the area. Ail but one of these areled by Mexican men.

IV. ADDING NEW SEED-SOWERS

A. Cassette tapes. Used by Christians towin neighbors.

B. Summer camp. New facility is beingbuilt In Queretaro on donated land.

The NeedsRADIO: Average cost of $5.00 per program— $1,000 monthly.

BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE: $25 sends out100 courses (includes cost of courses,envelopes and mailing). $25 also sends out40 New Testaments In modern Spanish.

EVANGELISM: $250 supports one Mexicanevangelist for a month, including travelexpenses.

COFFEE HOUSE: $50 monthly keeps "TheCarpenter's House" In operation.

CAMP: $400 monthly for a year will put updorms for 100 and a kitchen.

CAMPAIGNS: Cost varies from $250 to$500 for each meeting.

BAJIO CHRISTIAN MISSION

P. O. Box 628

Yuma, Arizona 85364

I wish to help reach Central Mexico with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

□ My gift of $ for radio time is enclosed.($5.00 buys 15 minutes.)

□ My gift of $ for Mexican evangelists' salaries isenclosed. ($50.00 Is one week's salary.)

□ My gift of $ for youth work (camp construction/coffeehouse ministry) is enciosed.

□ Piease add my name to your mailing iist.

Name.. ,

Address

City

With trust in theLord to provide, I statemy desire to contributemonthly support for:

□ Radio $

□ Evangelist $

□ Youth $

State Zip

LP BRING SPIRITUAL

HI TO 7,000,000 PEOPLE

CENTRAL MEXICO

The Field

Stretching almost from coast to coast in the centraipart of Mexico iles a rich farming and mining areacomposed of 5 states known as the Bajio (Bah-hee-o). Thearea Is pointed to with pride by the Mexicans themselvesas providing aii that is needed for the good life — fertilesoli, mild climate, and growing industry. But although theBajlo's 7,000,000 Inhabitants may be on their way to the"good life," 99% of them have no concept of the"abundant life," the life that Is in Jesus Christ.

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The

Bajio

THE HOPE OF

meXico

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ALuaas!THE BILL HOFF FAMILY

APARTADO POSTAL NO. 5/QUERETARO/ QRO. MEXICO

THE NORM DUNGAN FAMILY

APARTADO POSTAL NO. 741QUERETARO/ QRO. MEXICO

NEWS OFThe [HmiEnCG OF CHRIST IN CENTRAL MEXICO, 3

PUBLISHED QUARTERLY VOL. 10, NO. 3 NOVEMBER, 1978

IS THERE ANYBODY LISTENINQ?Modern technology has taken radio out

of the age of the big cabinet full ofglowing tubes and into the pocket orhand of nearly every family in LatinAmerica. So radio has become increase

ingly effective as a tool for evangelism. Even the little boys who tendsheep can hear the gospel message. Wecan safely say that virtually anyonewhose heart is open to receive the "GoodNews" will have the opportunity to hearit.

Previously, the only difficulty wehave had in presenting the Word of Godby this medium has been obtaining thesufficient funds to pay for air time.But now there is another difficulty:the government has taken all religiousprogramming off the air in the MexicoCity area as well as in certain other

high-population-density areas. We havelost the use of the most importantstation which carried "Dulces Mementos,"station XEBO in Irapuato, state ofGuanajuato. Perhaps Satan's attack

against religious broadcasting has beenhelped by well-meaning Christians. InIrapuato, for example, an ex-priest hasbeen causing open confrontation with the

Roman Catholic hierarchy. The stationitself has carried the porgram of a"healer" who promised to cure,then askedfor donations. Perhaps these are part ofthe reason for government action:the misuse of the media and the form of evangelism. The manager of XEBO has told methat he is trying to get special permission for our program, but he has notyet been successful. He says that he isreceiving many letters asking about theprogram. Please pray about this, becauseradio has been very valuable in our program of evangelism in the Bajio.

To demonstrate the value that radio

has been to the work, throe examplesshould suffice. Two months ago. BrotherSoto (evangelist in Irapuato) visiteda family in a neighboring city who hadheard the program and written in for acorrespondence course. Brother Soto

cultivated the family for several weeks

until they were ready to accept JesusChrist as Lord and Saviour. Now we have

two newborn members in Christ's church.

Another man in Guanajuato wrote us,after hearing the broadcast, and wevisited him. He is nearly illiterate,so

LISTENING, continuedcannot study by correspondence? buthe wants to know about meeting with achurch to help him grow spiritually.Unfortunately, we have no church inhis town; and now he can no longerreceive'teaching even from radio.

'! Radio is important to the evangelism of this great country. Pleasepray that the government wi^ permittfu^ Christian broadcasting to continue. 1 # BH

The most interesting visit in the *last few months was made on a familyin the mountainous state of Michoacan.The husband, who works 5 days a weekin Mexico City, was won for the Lordby a fellow worker. His wife, however,refused to accept either his new faithor his changed life. One day, nonetheless, she chanced to hear ,"DulcesMementos." She enjoyed the hymns and ^the Bible message, asked her husbandto listen, and was pleased ' at hisdelight. When visited, she expressedher desire to be baptized the following week in Mexico City. Radio hadmoved her when her husband could not.

A Campfire's EmbersThose of you who have ever worked

on a Christian Service Camp committee

know that camps don't just happen—they are planned. Here in the Bajio,planning begins many months in advance of the camp. Often our firstmeeting is held a month after theprevious camp ends. ■

Planning for camp involves bothtime and money, and sometimes we askourselves if it is worth the effort

and expense. The answer comesquickly as camp begins and we spend afew moments in observation: in the

dormitories there is more than horse

play—there are young people studyingthe Word of God? in the classes

there is 'eager expectation andsearching of the scriptures to confirm or refute what the instructor

has said? in the free hours, smallgroups form around the water faucet,and spiritual truths are shared; andwhen someone needs a hand, there are

others willing to cooperate. Thesethings convince one that camp isworthwhile. This year, to furthers^spiritual growth, there was even a^V;Christian book store, which sold over-r;

200 dollar's worth of books to the/150 teen-age campers. Many of our]youth had never seen a Christian book istore before, nor had they had then

opportunity to edify themselves with;Christian books.

Oh, yes, there were troubles: a

boy had to be rushed to Mexico Cityone night, and a counselor's wifemade an emergency visit to the hospital. But there were none of thediscipline problems which can soquickly ruin a camp.

The measurable results of this

year's camp—16 baptisms—were far

outweighed " the less measurablestrengthening and growth in Christ-likeness which we saw. So we praisethe Lord for camp, and we pray for aneven more successful camping programnext year. # BH

HOFFS' PERSONAL GLIMPSESBait/, biuy, bait/. Thtfie. no

otheA my to zxplcUn qua. lcu>t tkAzzmonthA ke/Lz tn Mexico. Apzntmuch tanz tn camp pAzpoAotton andthen tn camp ttAzt^. Attkough tt MUveAy AewoAcUng ^oa the young pzoplz,camp tooA a tot o{^ uJOAk and vzay tOi-tng ioA the Ata^i, Onz night mAApznt tn tAonApoAting a young man toa hoApitat in Uzxico City [a 3-houAdntvz onz wtu/). knotkcA zoentng BiltApznt in oAAanging £oa a counAztoA'A{^}iiz to zntzA thz hoApital hzAz intorn, OA Ahz lAJOA mlAcoAAying, And Aoit ufznt, OJz Azjoiczd cohzn it uxiAoveA,

A lozzk ZatzA wz zntzntainzd 23

young pzoptz and a Ata^^ o{, 5 ̂ AomViAAt ChuAck otS ChAiAt in Phoznix,AAizona. (Szz neiOA item on "ConceAt")

We ^ztt that a AhoAt vacation lOOAin oAdzA about thz middtz of^ Aagai;t.We took thz tAoiteA and dAovz about40 miZzA Aouth to a AZAoAt aAea witha natuAot hot ApAingA, PoA two dayAwz Azlaxzd, Awam, and viAitzd nzoAbytownA. MoAk thoAoughty znjoyzd thzwatzA and woA popuZaA among othzAAWAjnmzAA.

On SzptembzAkindzAgakdzn,iicuZt ioA himiiAAt wzzk {hz

4, Motfe AtaAtzd pAz-It WOA a litttz di^-to izavz homz thzcAizd zach timz I

tZ'^t him). Bat now hz gztA Aight outojj thz tAuck and wavzA to me oi hzzntzAA thz playgAound, Hz bAingAhomz papzAA with vaniouA ZettzAA o^thz aZphabet WAittzn on them* ThzdiAzctoA AayA that Ahz hoA "nzvzAhad a chitd that znjoyA hzaAingAtoAizA OA much OA MoAk*" Shz AzadA

two AtoAizA a day to them in EngZiAh*

Hz hoA gAzatty impAovzd hiA SpaniAhAincz AtoAting Achoot.

MaAk znjoyzd hiA (ouAth biAthdaypaAty on SzptzmbzA 29. OuA AmaZtpatio oAza WOA (fitted with battoonAOA 8 chitdAzn camz to heZp MoAk cztz-bAotz. Thz bAzaking o^ thz pinata,aAoiwayA, WOA thz ̂ avoAitz event.

Bitt iA cuAAzntty tzaching actoAA on thz Old TzAtamznt MonoAchyat a Bihiz Cottzgz in San LuiA Poto-Ai {120 mlizA noAth o^ QuzAztoAo].Each TuzAday hz leavzA on a 5 a.m.buA. HiA ctoAA iA iAom 9:30 to 12:30.Potlowing that, hz AztuAnA by buA,oAAiving homz about 5 p.m. Hz AayAthat hz gAzatly znjoyA thz cIoaa andiA giad {oA thz oppoAtunity to be^OAczd to Atudy thz Biblz AyAtem-aticatty.

I am cuAAzntZy 1 o^ 4 AtudzntAwho oAz Atudying SpaniAh in ouA homzundzA a pAivatz tutoA. I am oZao-glad that I am {^oAczd to Atudy inpAzpoAotion ^oA thz claAA.

y Since SzptembzA 11, wz have had^chy. -Pay Ataying with ua . Bzcky iA""a ChiuAtian young woman who iA thz'hejw tzacheA at thz A.C.E. [AccelzA-atzd ChAiAtian Education] Achool intown. We znjoy hzA iellowAhip, andHoAk likzA to play "Hide and Seek"with hzA.

A FACE. A Voice, and A MessageHunger. Poverty. Suffering. Suchwords had long been part of my cognitive vocabulary. I could give areasonable definition of the terms,

could use them in a coherent sentence,

had told myself and my family (usually when our daughter was reticentabout eating one of her 3 dailymeals) that thousands of people were"doing without" at that very moment,and had even, at times, asked the

Lord to "care for" those millions of

undernourished around the world.

But that was as far as it went. I

had never been forced to go beyondthe abstract definitions and platitudes—words that made me feel con

cerned without demanding any |person-al involvement, other than alwayseating everything on my heavily-laden plate, I j

And then I discovered thalp hunger

has a face, that suffering has avoice. And as both the face and the

voice belonged to people I knewpersonally, I could find nc!> platitude nor excuse to prolong my non-involvement. For the face and the

voice came from close around me—

from the high mountains of my ownstate here in Mexico. Nor yas it alazy face, unwilling to work, but acreased, weather-beaten face, scar

red from attempting . to wreak anexistence from the thin soil of a

12,000 ft. mountain face.And the voice

was not the petulant whining of aspoiled brat but the plaintive crying of a sick, hungry child withoutmilk, and with no milk tojbe had.The eyes of the face were not des

perate but resigned; the voice was

not demanding but helpless. ■ j It wasas if the situation had been faced

and reckoned as inevitable—the cropswere going to continue to be inade

quate, the fruit was going to continue to freeze five years out ofsix, the meat would continue to be

the luxury of the man rich enough toown a hog, and milk, vegetables, andeven medicine would continue to be

only a dream, as there was no income

to make possible the purchase of suchthings.

But what if a strain of corn could be

developed which would yield a largerear on the soil, without the non

existent irrigation and chemical fertilizers? What if rabbits could be

introduced as a new meat source?

What if a fruit tree could be found

which would not bloom during the January warm spells that precede theMarch frosts? Could there yet be aray of hope? Could it be that some-'thing might be done to help changethe face and the voice?(Turn to pg. 5)

HUNGER, continued

Frankly, we do not yet know the ans

wer. We are not sure we even have

the resources to help search for theanswer—a Christian with some agricultural experience and a lot ofpatience and love, some corn seed touse in experimental plots,a source of

information concerning late-bloomingfruit trees. But we Jcnow we must do

something—we must try,we must becomeinvolved. For the face is the face

of a brother, and the voice is the

voice of that brother's child. And

that face and that voice represent

literally thousands just in the onemountain district alone. Surely to

Jesus Christ, "hunger" and "suffering" are more than abstract defi^

, nitions, more than statistics; theyare individual faces and individual

voices.If we are to be His disciples,. they must be that for us, too. # ND

VA/E'D like you

To KNOWA brother of ours spent a day in

jail last month, but it was not adisgrace to the family. They had torelease him for lack of a charge.

He was suffering because of hisstand for Jesus Christ in his closed

village. Please pray for him; hisname is ̂ lestino, and he will faceyet more persecution for the Lord'ssake. And, most likely, so will theother half dozen or so Christians

who share the same faith in the

village. #

In August we had the pleasure ofentertaining some very special youngguests from Phoenix, Arizona. The"Christian Minstrels" (27 of themwith sponsors) came to present ;aconcert in the Palace of Fine Artsin Queretaro. They sang before apacked house (400 people), and theevening gave us an opportunity topresent the gospel in the form of a

narrative and introduction to theirsongs. Programs such as these make

the gospel more acceptable everyyear; they open people to God'sWord in a way that we could verylikely never do by knocking on doorsalone. # bh

Those of us in Mexico who are in

volved in literature distribution,

correspondence course ministries

and similar evangelistic works' aredeeply indebted to the ministry of

a retired ..Christian brother and his

wife who have turned all their time

over to the Lord. Their ministry?

To provide Christian workers in

Mexico with free modern - languageNew Testaments for distribution.

Since Ray and Hazel Ewing begantheir unique ministry, they haveraised the money for and deliveredliterally tens of thousands of New

Testaments to workers throughout

the country. Recently, their goal-^has been 4,000 Testaments monthly;^ and the Lord has provided in re

markable ways.

We in Queretaro are grateful to

the Ewings for their work, and we

commend this dedicated couple to allof the churches, -'- 'ip you are inter-

,Zested in having them share their/7 message with your congregation,iL please write them at 200 So. Fifth'"^St., St. Helens, Oregon 97051 # ND

/

Meeting Places -- i

Queretaro Congregation

9 9 I ; f I}

I f illH !

I

AND FUTURE.Above: Four of the six homes whore

the Queretaro congregation now meets

for worship and study. One reason:to save rent money, the sooner to boable to build on the property recently purchased {right). The land is65 ft. square, in a fast-growing areaof the city, near bus routes, andadjacent to a sports complex. Costof the land: S6000.00 if paid withina year. Otherwise, $8000. So far,over S2500 has been paid. All build

ing will' be done by the congregation.

PRESENT . .

'•H.

DUNCANS' "FAMILY AFFAIRS99

We Qot a. 6mcM ujfuU km-uen (jfxCtt be LLke, iiiU ^ummeA, cu> u>e

iMctk many oi you. u)ko -iuppoAX.tu. ijJkat a joy it w^w to makei^UencUkip^ a6 ujett 04 to fienm oldonm. The LoAd uxu cmtainZy with U404 wt tAjaveled, and we ^latainednothing moA.e cAitimt than a brokeniipntng and w/iecked tiAse on the tAoit-eA.

I wa4 brought back quickly toAeality upon ojviioing home. Wea/uitvod on SatuAday and I taught thecfiildAen'6 c£a44 at chuAch on Sunday,Then Monday I ^tanted my week'66tint 04 tmchefi'^ aide at the A.C.E.school. I boAely had time to catchmy bAeath,

The iiokool iA o^i to a good itantthi£> yeoA with 12 6tudent6--6 o^ themnew. We well have oua ijiA6t graduatethij> June, HeatheA hoi had to woAkhoAd to make up the 3 M;eefe4 4 fie m^4-ed, but 4fie i& doing veny well as a{^i^th gAadeA, 3ecky_ . Ray has Siteppedin as ouA new" teacheA with muchenthusiasm and a lot oi hand woAk andhas become a poAt oi the "family,"

Mom continues to tmch 3 classesat the UniveASity, and because he nowhas his immigAont papeAS, we hope tobAing in a small amount o( ̂ uAnituAe^Aom the S;£o^e4 be^oAe too long,

1 had my iiASt taste o^ whathaving "twins" is like as Mathan andHeatheA celebAoted theiA biAthdaysjust 2 days apaht Aecently, I managed to suAvive both a bi-lingualpaAty with 9 little ginld and HeatheAand an all-chuAch paAty ^oa Nathan,Nathan is walking now and Aeally enjoyed himseli. We aAe so thankfulthat God has blessed us with twochildAen who oAe healthy and thathave given us so much joy.

Oua family shoAed Thanksgiving withseveAal otheA AmeAican families whoOAe paAt Ojj the English-speaking con-gAegation heAe, We fiope that youAAemembAance o^ the day includedboth Aeason and time ^oA much giving0^ thanks.

It appeoAS that all o^ the QueAe-toAo "family" oi missionoAies andwoAkeAS will be in town ioA theChAistmas holidays; alAmdy plansOAe being laid ^OA holiday activities, Nathan is blissfully unawoAeof "special" days, as mch day isfull of now discoveAies, mischief,and delight, HeatheA, of couAse, isgetting pnimed foA the season. Sheespecially likes oua evening devotions and coAol-singing the last weekbefoAe the ChAistmas celebAaiionitself. We look foAwoAd to the toneof spiAitual shoAing and gi^ng.

DUNGANS' FINANCIAL SUMMARY

On hand 6/30/78 $ 166.76Income, 7/1 - 8/30/78 5755.19Expenses, 7/1 - 8/30/78 5157.79Balance, 9/30/78 $ 764.16

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