By Carol Marie Fisher

Russia

Jon and Sonnet Barr , missionaries to RUSSIA , are on their fall recruiting trip. Please pray that the schools and churches where they present their summer and spring trips see their role in missions as something God desires in his healthy church. (see their newsletter on the following page)

Indonesia

Gideon and Mei Tanbunaan covet your prayers for the growing churches in INDONESIA. Some of the new churches can only be reached by small motor bikes that can travel the rocky, uneven roads. Pray that the funds for these motor bikes might become available for the pastors.

Mexico

We have a team that will be leaving soon for Oaxaca, Mexico. Where is Oaxaca anyway? You will find it at the lower end of Mexico, almost to Guatemala. The people that live in the state of Oaxaca come from a very diverse and old culture. The land is full of lush green hills and small villages. In this area, roughly the size of Indiana, there are 61 dialects spoken. The people are very proud and very family oriented. Usually there is a group of men who run the village and discuss medical needs as well as village needs when they have their meetings. Many cannot afford to live there and support their families but they travel to the USA and work until they have money to take care of expenses in the Village. They are usually always drawn back to this land and their people. The attachment to family and heritage is very strong for most of them. If you are chosen as the head of a Village, that might mean that you also have to provide for the local parade and celebration the village has each year. Every village has to have a band and music and food and decorations. The head of the village must provide these or people will grumble and talk about him. These celebrations sometimes cost up to $5,000.00.

Oaxaca has a minister’s conference each year. Over 1400 people are expected to attend. For some, it is the only time they will have left their village. For some it will mean hours and hours of travel over hard, narrow, muddy roads. But they come and we will be there when they arrive.

Our team will offer medical and dental assistance. We will provide sunglasses that are almost unheard of in most villages; eye damage due to unprotected exposure is common. They cannot afford this "luxury," so we will provide glasses for their use. We are putting together other supplies that will be gratefully and thankfully received, such as children’s school/art supplies for use during the conference and to take back to their villages. Most important though, they will know someone cares for them.

Keep Oaxaca in your heart and prayers in the coming weeks as this team gets ready to go forth. If you want to financially give to this team (over your regular tithe/offering), write “Short-Term Mission Trip” in the memo space of your check. These funds can only be used for this trip and subsequent short-term mission trips.