Bunk Bed

Sponsors from San Marcos, Texas provided a bunk bed for Gustavo and Sandra. This brother and sister have two other younger siblings and the family had all been sharing one double bed. Now the bedroom, one room in the 3 room house, is neatly arranged with the new bunk bed against the back wall. Gustavo proudly sleeps on the top bunk.

The Child Sponsorship Program pairs sponsors in the U.S. with children in the Burgos region. The sponsor support of $20/month is used to help the child and family with things such as food and clothes. (more info) Sponsors receive correspondence and photos from the child. Some sponsors are able to come to Burgos to visit the sponsored family. Occasionally special needs arise and as sponsors are able, they participate in help above the monthly donation. (example)

It began with a question by Gustavo's sponsors, "What else can we do?" and the bed was on its way to El Charco, a small community outside of Burgos proper. Gustavo's family, though quiet and shy, has been overwhelmed by the help. Every gift is an opportunity to speak and demonstrate the love of Christ to the family and to draw their attention to the nearness and goodness of God.

We thank all of our sponsors for their help and support. Not all are able to send bunk beds, but their faithful monthly support is making a difference physically and spiritually. We thank God for His provision and the partners we have in the CSP.

The Plaza at El Charco

In the middle of what sometimes feels like a desert, a playground stands as the first phase of the “Plaza” of El Charco. This picture shows the playground which is on the highest part of the community. What is not seen in the photo are the 25 or so houses that make up the community. Most are constructed of mesquite branches or something like an adobe. The afternoon heat keeps everyone inside until a breeze comes about 6 pm and the kids come running. Before the playground, there was nothing to do, but now kids enjoy swings, two slides, monkey bars, a small playscape and trampoline.

The project began as a plan of the Greater Paris Rotary and ended with cooperation from the Burgos Mayor’s office, the DIF, Burgos Missions, and Cristo la Roca Church. It involved a brand new construction in the Burgos Plaza, mentioned in an earlier post, and the reconditioning of the old playground and a new installation in El Charco.

When the community members refer to the playground area as their Plaza, it is with pride and thankfulness that their small and very poor community is “coming up”. Larger communities with more resources take great pride in their plazas and use them for community events and gatherings. They are usually next to city offices, stores, churches, etc. While El Charco lacks all these things, it no longer is without a Plaza, however humble it may be.

We are so grateful to those mentioned above and to our partners for the progress that seems like a little thing, but means so much to the families in El Charco. We meet monthly with the families and teach Bible stories and songs to the children. God’s attention is on this forgotten and out of the way place. We are glad to have a small part in what the Lord has planned for El Charco.

Lamplighters in Burgos

On their second trip to Burgos, representatives of Lamplighters Ministries helped to begin work on the El Charco Playground. Besides the hard work and great advance made, we so enjoyed the visit with good friends.

Lamplighters is a mission organization with works in Uganda, North Africa, Mexico, and Alabama. Burgos Missions has been growing in relationship with Lamplighters and its founders since 2006. We are encouraged by their example and passion as they work around the world impacting families and individuals with the love of Christ. We name ourselves as one family that has been blessed by this ministry.

Two of the ministries that function in the family of Lamplighters are located 3 hours north of Burgos in Reynosa. This year the group, which consisted of the Hester and Maisonet families, and Andrew Tisdale, was able to come to Burgos a couple of days and help us make a lot of progress on some projects. The first day of work consisted of a long morning doing some "pre" construction of 2 platforms for the playground since the El Charco location is without electricity. While part of the group worked with wood and metal tubing, others worked on repairing two drum sets and preparing materials for the second group of IBB students. We spent the afternoon installing a large slide, monkey bars, swings, and platforms in what is now humbly called the El Charco Plaza.

During the trip plans were set in motion to partner with Iglesia Oasis en El Desierto to begin new Bible colleges in other parts of Mexico. We will be working with Pastor Jorge Maisonet to make this a reality. We ask for your prayers as we look to have many key aspects in place by the end of the summer.

The group continued their trip in Reynosa by doing several projects at Big Heart Children's Home. The Home also has two schools and hosts mission groups throughout the year. We have been on the receiving end of several blessings from this Home including one of the slides they donated to complete the El Charco Playground.

Photos from the trip.

IBB Graduation

The Burgos Bible Institute (Instituto Bilblico de Burgos) graduated its first class on February 24th. The 10 Graduates shared briefly about the experience, education, and impact the Lord had made on them through the curriculum.

Each student invited family and friends to the graduation ceremony and dinner hosted by The Institute which operates as a ministry of Burgos Missions. The graduates were joined by the mayor and his wife, local pastors, and Maria Tellez to celebrate their accomplishment. Tellez, who has been doing mission work in the region for 25+ years, presented each graduate with their diploma.

A highlight of the event was what each student had to tell about what the 2 years of study had meant to them. One graduate in her 50's shared a text from the Bible and some remarks, then broke into tears as she explained, "This is the first thing I have ever graduated from." A younger graduate shared many details of her two year journey as well as events from before the school but related to the ministry and impact of Maria Tellez and Burgos Missions. She is now leading the children's programs at 3 churches. The valedictorian's address was powerful. Shyly but powerfully presented, the graduate encouraged those present to know that each of us has a purpose and giftings that the Lord wants to use in His kingdom. Despite feelings of inadequacy and reservation, we should take courage in God and pursue serving Him with the abilities we have.

New classes will begin in March using the International Curriculum of ISOM. The Institute also offers Bible classes and studies for those not seeking a diploma. English and Music classes are available along with a library serving adults and children. Please contact us for more information.

Click here to see photos from the graduation.

New Playground

Thanks to the Greater Paris Rotary Club, the Burgos Plaza now has a new playground.

In cooperation with Burgos Missions, Cristo la Roca Church, the DIF and Mayor's office of Burgos, the Rotarians of Paris, Tx have provided for the building of two new playgrounds. The first is about complete in the Burgos Plaza and is being used daily.

Visit the slideshow of the progress to see the change that has taken place. http://www.flickr.com/photos/10022403@N08/sets/72157613558274236/show/

The broken swings and slide are now replaced by a playscape. Phase 2 of the project will be to install a smaller version playground in El Charco next month.

The construction was done by two good friends of Burgos Missions, David Garza and Peto Rodriguez. Both are leaders on our music team and work in many aspects with the ministry.

In March, a group from Paris will be coming to Burgos to do some final touches on the playgrounds, attend the inauguration of the Burgos playground, and meet the community and its people. The group will visit several areas of the county and investigate opportunities for further partnerships. This relationship has already been a huge blessing to the families of Burgos.

We are extremely excited about this progress and new relationship. (but not quite as excited as the children who have already begun to enjoy the new play area). More info is available on the web at http://www.burgosmisisons.org/

Sister Maria - 25 years

Maria de la Luz Tellez began doing mission work in Burgos with little experience and education, but with a great love for her Lord . She would sell tamales and BBQ plates to raise money to buy gas and food items and then head from her home in McAllen, Texas to Burgos. She had been invited by a young lady in her church to "come and see if you can help the community where my parents live." Twenty-five years later, she's still helping.

Maria is the visionary behind Campamento Cristo es la Roca. It serves as a church, mission and outreach center, and can be used for disaster relief and housing. We met Maria while we were still teachers in Lockhart. Our church began to partner with her in 2001 and in 2002 we made our first mission trip to the region. We didn't know it then, but God would move us in 2005 to begin Burgos Missions and partner with Maria and her work.

This fall we held a special anniversary / birthday party for Maria at the Camp. "70 years old, and 25 years working for the Lord," Maria said to many as she was planning the event and inviting people from both sides of the border. Several hundred people came to honor the Lord's work through his servant.

Affectionately known as "Sister Maria", Maria has been involved in hosting outreaches, building churches and houses, and bringing help in the form of food and clothing to families throughout her ministry. At age 70 she shows no signs of slowing down. Besides her work in Burgos, she has a mission in Veracruz, Mexico and is involved in mission work in Chiahuahua, Mexico.

We are blessed by Maria's input into our lives and ministry, her example, and her faithfulness to our Lord.

Hear the word of God

Miri is a joy to all who know her. Her smile is heartwarming. Since she is unable to hear, she was denied school attendance and has only learned to communicate by reading lips. Now she is getting a chance to hear.

This past summer she met Kelly Miller and her son Collin, while they were visiting Burgos on a mission trip. Collin also has little natural hearing, and the two immediately connected. During her 3 week stay, Kelly became friends with Miri and her family. Her heart ached to help Miri in some way, so on her return she used her family's experience to locate help for Miri. Shortly, Miri's family was off to Monterrey, Mexico for an exam.

In the fall, we visited Kelly's church and talked to her and her husband, Kenneth, about Miri's progress and the hearing specialist's opinion of Miri's condition and plan for help. After church that weekend, Kenneth handed us a check and said, "Tell Miri that God loves her and wants her to hear His word." Today, Miri is learning to hear with her two new hearing aides. She is active in her church, and she is working part time for Burgos Missions. We can't wait to see what God has in store for her in this new chapter of her life.

Miri's family is amazed at God's help to them through the Miller family. At one appointment they were talking to the hearing doctor, telling the story of God's provision, and the doctor could only say, "to me this is a miracle for this young lady."