House Hunting

As you know by now, we are no longer in Mexico. We have returned to the states to work rigorously for the next six months in preparation for our return. This was not always our goal. Our initial visit to Mexico was intended to be only two months, and we weren’t quite sure where we fit into the culture of Mexico. We only knew that God had laid on our hearts to begin ministry in a new culture, and then opened the doors to Mexico. During our time in the Sonora Desert, we regularly prayed for God to give us a vision and understanding of his purpose for us there. As time passed and we learned the language better, the Lord opened doors into construction for Joshua, and relationships with women and children with Lacy.

When the time drew near for us to leave Mexico, we knew that we should come back as soon as possible. We had begun regular outreaches in a village called “El Ejido del Guadalupe Victoria” … in English, “The Village of the Holy Vision of Victory.” The villagers shortened the name to simply “Victoria,” but the village itself is in spiritual bondage. All but three families are Catholic. The three Christian families, including an old pastor, are members of a tiny church that is elderly and struggling to survive in their secluded village. The village is also a waypoint for high school students who cannot afford to live in the dormitories, and rather rent houses together in the village and then walk to the high school. Zoyla, our dear friend and sister-in-Christ, has lived in the village for most of her life. After her husband died years ago, she raised her children in a new home that she built from scratch with her own two hands. She also is now raising her grandchildren there, and because of her seniority in the community, is respected by many of the Ejido members.

When Zoyla learned we were in search for a home to purchase or rent, she eagerly became our real-estate agent. She began checking all her contacts in other villages for available houses, but was very excited about the possibility of us living in her village of Victoria. After three houses, and frustrating let-downs, Zoyla ran into a friend in her village who’s husband wanted to sell his parents’ old home. The house included a kitchen with four rooms, a woodworking shop, and a separate building with two additional rooms. The backyard also holds a ramada (shelter house) with a brick oven. For the Mexicans in this small village where even outhouses are not commonly built, a house with this much room is almost too much, but for missionaries who are looking for room to use in ministry, the house was perfect! Zoyla’s friend, Francisca (lovingly known as “ki-ki” in the village) had many conversations with Joshua and several brothers from our village as she learned who we were, what our purpose was in Mexico, and why we desired to live in her village.

After a week of negotiations, Joshua and Francisca signed papers for a year’s rental agreement. On our last night in Mexico, Francisca invited us into her home for a dinner of Hot Tamales. This is very important, because it signified her trust and growing friendship that she had in us.

It is our desire to return earlier than six months, as the rental agreement is now in effect until next May. Here are some pictures of our home, and although it is in need of several repairs, it is in great shape and has plenty of room for us to be able to host missionaries and teams who wish to come down and experience Mexico. Our vision is not only to provide housing to mission teams, but to also provide a place for people to come learn the Spanish language in our Ejido. Another use of the home will be a youth outreach facility for the growing number of youth in our Ejido and surrounding villages.