Huichol Villages and AWANA - Day 4

The team - along with the Hunttings. Clif was flying, but Kari, Sean, Haley and Kylie came to the village with us.

Hola!

Yesterday morning we went to the Huichol village.  Debbie Mellberg (our host, who has been in country for nearly 40 years) shared their history with us.  This particular village is mostly Christians who had been relocated by the government several years ago.  Many of them came under persecution by family when they accepted Christ.  They are painfully poor, but spiritually rich, and you could see it.  The women do not speak Spanish, only Huichol, but most of the men do speak Spanish.  When Debbie was explaining the Gospel bracelets to them, and had them recite John 3:16, nearly all of the older children and most of the adults recited it.   

Debbie Mellberg, Chris and

The village is up the mountain, about 45 minutes from Dave and Olivia's - think about as far as Mt. Lemmon.  But to get there, we had to stop about five city blocks or so further down the mountain and go the rest of the way by foot, on an unpaved red clay road.  It had rained, and started raining while we were up there, so you can imagine the fun we had slipping and sliding our way down the hill back to the vans when we finished!  

Walking down the mountain after the rain.

They loved the games!

Debbie explained the Gospel bracelet and had the children raise their hands once they had their bracelets on.

Awana flag ceremony

Group time

When we got back home, we had lunch of leftover tamales, and rested a bit, then it was time for AWANA.  Their AWANA program gets 48 children consistently each week.  You could have picked it up and taken it to just about any other AWANA program - the same pledges to the flag (Mexican, of course), the same games, the same group time, the same council time!  It was wonderful seeing all those children huddled in groups with their leaders (they have 30! leaders, most of whom grew up in their 20 year old AWANA program!) working on their verses.  

When AWANA was over, we went back to Dave and Olivia's for dinner, and a rousing game of King and Pauper :)  

Today is church, lunch out and then to the park and cemetery to experience some more of the Tepic culture.  

Some prayer requests, in addition to those mentioned above for Jasson and Clif - Tom P, Brenda and Tom K, and Chris have all been hit with Montezuma's Revenge.  Please pray that it passes quickly and doesn't linger around, and for protection for the rest of us.  

Short update after church.  It was wonderful to fellowship with other believers even when we don't have a common language.  I knew all but one of the songs.  The pastor preached from Colossians 4:7-18, and while I couldn't understand what he said, with the slides (in Easy Worship, which I immediately recognized from my job!) I was able to follow along and get the basic message.  Erik gave a short testimony and sent greetings from El Camio, thanking the congregation for their gracious welcome.  We came back to the house to find Tom K up, and sort of functional.  Chris and Brenda both are up, but they still don't feel very well, so prayers are most definitely appreciated!