December Update

Mexico City, December, 2007
Dear Armonía friends,
Blessings in the name of our good Lord Jesus Christ. We pray the celebration of his birth will point us to His whole ministry, death on the cross and resurrection so that we gladly celebrate the God who made Himself flesh and blood in human history to rescue us. We thank our Lord for His blessings and count among them your love, prayers, gifts, tireless support and visits. What a wealth we have in you! It really keeps us encouraged and in confident hope for a better future for the poor.

A few minutes ago I had a wonderful phone call from a faithful Armonía friend. “How are things going at Armonía?” asked my dear friend. And of course, I immediately wanted to tell him that we are grateful because this year Pilar, Josías and I have been blessed with renewed health. God also comforted us in our time of need when Pilar’s mother and Greg Davies departed to be with the Lord. We celebrate redemption in Christ as we remember how bitter it was to leave the ministry amongst Yalalag Indian students and how sweet the new buds of growth in the students’ residences in Oaxaca and Mexico City are. We rejoice in God’s faithfulness to Eidi as she completes a masters at the London School of Economics and learns to trust God’s provision for her future. Saul Jr. is no less busy, sharing in an intense but beautiful OJC project in Reichelsheim, Germany. The absence of our children has been significant as both carried an extraordinary share of the work since they were young. Obviously not being with us has meant an increase of responsibilities amongst us and we thank God for Dani’s leadership and tireless energy, and the scholarship recipients and volunteers who have come to our rescue in a year marked by disease and struggle.

I also wanted to tell him that God has blessed Presidentes and Jalalpa with two more groups of ladies, meeting for prayer, Bible study and Christian education. Our Lord has been faithful in letting us continue to help the Hornos community. These people tragically lost their homes as torrential rain and the ensuing mudslides forced the authorities to evict them to a temporary shelter. Here they wait for the possibility of purchasing their own accommodation with the help of soft loans. In the meantime, Armonía has been able to bring Jesus’ love and keep working alongside them in their needs. At Santa Cruz, we continue to see transformation and growth in the seven ladies who are in charge of the work through a transformation course which equips them to do a better job day-by-day. Their good work is evident in the increasing attendance of children, especially to the Sunday Christian Celebration.

He would have been interested to know that Joaquín has finished his studies at the University of Tecámac. His successful graduation is one of the fruits of the student scholarship. He is going to spend a few more months gaining professional experience. We are pleased to announce that he and other classmates presented a prototype vending machine in an exhibition and were awarded enough money to patent, professionally produce and sell it. We are so excited about this great opportunity for him.

In the midst of much instability and disease, I wanted to share with him that we have become innovative in our communications. Next Sunday, we will web cast our first service from Santa Cruz to Presidentes. This and video conferencing has allowed us to keep teaching, continue evangelising and to stay in close communion with increasing prayer. Every Tuesday and Thursday, I lead a Bible study for community leaders in other parts of the city and holds an open meeting for the general public at Presidentes to study how ‘God cares for the family’. Later, the Santa Cruz transformation group meets over Skype and this month we have been learning the biblical foundations for marriage and the family. Tomorrow we are going to start an official program with the elderly ladies of Jalalpa entitled ‘God’s provision in the golden years’. There are more programs which we want to start as we improve our communications network; for instance holding online meetings with the kids in the Oaxaca students’ residence.
However, because time was short I promised my friend this update letter and told him this short story: Under the guidance of Alfredo (our master carpenter), the kids from the students’ residence have built a small table set accompanied by three benches with the aim of selling them to churches and Mexican Armonía friends. Each set will generate $100 profit, which will supplement the residence’s income. I could feel how excited my friend got when he heard the story. Having helped over several years to nurture the children and grown to love them so much, he immediately offered his financial help. He wanted to go into his own pocket to provide resources so that they could have a starting capital for the project.
What a blessing and an amazing encouragement he and I received through this phone call. He has been given the opportunity to share his money and gifts to help us to reproduce more sets, keep working and continue to transform poverty into life.

This phone call reminded me of the responsibility I have to share with you our needs so that you can be blessed through giving and bless others as well. Please pray and consider helping us for the following:

1) Health: disease among the Armonía leadership has marked the last 3 years. Pray that we keep persevering in the victory of Christ and keep serving regardless of how terrible the spiritual battle is.
2) Oaxaca Residence Project: we need 90,000USD to build the first dorm in the new students’ residence to welcome the new intake in June. We’re very happy with our current rented accommodation but in light of the many excellent students who are excited to join us, we want to expand the future opportunities. We invite you to assist in building a dorm to house many more kids.
3) Vehicle: 35,000USD will allow us to keep a van in Oaxaca to provide transport for children, visitors and staff. We should not keep taking the only van we have in Mexico back and forth to Oaxaca because it’s running down quickly due to overuse and the state of the roads.
4) Tabasco: 1,500USD will provide water for one community of 400-800 people. Any contribution in that regard will allow us to send equipment, medical help and Christian comfort to the needy in the flooded state of Tabasco.
5) We would love more visitors to come and visit. Please don’t forget that Armonía self-supports much of its work through income-generation projects like the Casa Blanca hotel. Come and spend vacations with a purpose with us; we need your support, work, presence and the income that this produces.
6) Financial support: We remain thankful for your regular support of Armonía. If it is possible, talk with those close to you to consider helping us and continue to pray about our tight financial situation. This could make the difference.

With our gratitude in Christ and very much love.

Saul and Pilar Cruz.