We’ve been praying for this tribal work before we even moved to Mexico.  The summer before our move to Mexico we took a week and visited the country and saw where we would be living.  While there, we stayed at the guest house in Chihuahua along with Tim and Janet Roberts (top left).  Tim and Janet talked often of their work with the Tarahumara Indians.  Since our time working at the guest house here in El Paso we’ve gotten to know Tim and Janet’s partners, Ted and Sharon Wingo.  The following is an excerpt from Ted and Sharon’s most recent update:

“The best news first…. On April 2, Casimiro, his wife Maria Luisa and their daughter Marcela trusted Jesus as Savior! What better time to begin a new life in Christ than at Easter?! And what better news could a missionary hear?! We marvel, along with the angels in Heaven, at the wonder of our salvation!

New Believers

And then Easter Sunday…. Twenty-eight were at the believers’ meeting. The worship time included showing part of the “Jesus” film in Tarahumara so the believers could more readily visualize what Jesus suffered for us…and then the JOY at His resurrection. We also shared a fellowship meal together.”

As our partners in ministry you have reached far into the mountains of Mexico to this group of Tarahumara believers.  Glory to God!

So many of you have prayed for us, supported financially, or through packages, or in words.  We’ve been with New Tribes Mission for four and a half years and here in this guest house ministry for one.  We could NOT be here where He has us if it were not for you.  We truly believe we are serving Him WITH you.

Before - well the starting stages of distruction.

It all started with a dripping faucet.  I reported to Torre that room #110 had a dripping faucet, one that could not be tightened.  No problem!  Right?  WRONG!  After two hours of installing the new faucet Torre was back home informing me that we needed to go to the store to pick out a new vanity and sink.  What?!?!  So there we are, the kids running up and down the plumbing aisle, Torre speaking Chinese to me about the process (not really, but I was so not following), and me trying to figure out what is the best “look” for the bathroom and the best price and get home so we can eat dinner.  We had less than 24 hours to do all this, as the room was to be occupied the next day.  I’d just like to give God credit for providing a slightly damaged, already marked down vanity so we could get the sink top we really wanted, and an amazingly talented Torre to install it!  Ta-da!  All in a day’s work.  Literally.

Done.

After - removed the never used medicine cabinet and flipped the mirror.

I’m happy to say that we feel settled in this new role.  And our whole family really does take part.  Well maybe Lydia is just there for the smiles, but Turin helps with laundry and “sorting” boxes.

This holiday season started out feeling somewhat lonely for me.  But once folks started to come through I didn’t have time to think about it, and more importantly realized how God is the fulfillment in my life!

CLICK HERE to see a few snapshots of our holiday season.  More to come on the ministry and our life here!  Thanks again for those of you who pray and support us.  Also, for all of you who sent a Christmas card…amazing.  They are still hanging up in our living area. 

Narah for the Meissners

Since having Lydia I have stepped out of teaching for the year to focus again on learning Spanish.  We have gone to the soup kitchen as a family once a month.  They adore Lydia.  We didn’t realize that one of the ladies, Antoña, was keeping track of the last time I was there with Lydia.  So Torre had the bright idea that I go and teach her how to make cookies.  I found a recipe that required only items that could be bought here, at an affordable price (ie. no chocolate chips).

It went well.  The cookies came out perfect and she seemed to understand how it all goes down.  I on the other hand felt frustrated at my inability to speak.  There were several times she would say something to me, of which I’d respond, “I understand you.  I just can’t speak.” <sigh>

God is working on this mom’s tongue.  I feel like a bumbling idiot, but He continues to bring opportunities along for me to see what I know and don’t know.

Thankfully cookies have a translation all their own…Joy.

The 5/6th grade class

August 17th marked a new day for me.  It was my first official day of school…this time as the teacher.  About three weeks before school was to start the Field Comittee asked us if we would consider me putting Spanish study on hold to fill an urgent need in the school for missionary kids.  After praying about it, we said yes.  Three weeks later I had my first day with ten students.  Six fifth graders and four sixth graders.

We’re still a part of New Tribes Mission, that hasn’t changed.  This school is part of the mission orginaziation.  I tell the kids that I teach them because I love the Lord. 

There is a bigger picture here as there is no money involved for this “job”, just a greater goal of seeing the tribal man or woman reached with the gospel.  We are part of that picture, and so are you.

Narah

~Narah