26 April 2015 Update!

Thank you to all of you who are praying for the work going on southern Mexico. We are certainly aware of many of you 'holding the rope' so faithfully. Thank You!

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This past week was simply amazing. We wish you could have been able to witness the gathering of several language groups as they worked together to craft God's Word in the languages of their people. As you know, southern Mexico has over a dozen language groups. Many of these people do not have access to God's Word in their heart language.

StoryTogether is a way to train people to translate God's Word into other languages. We were able to help offer a StoryTogether training in Oaxaca this past week. Eight language groups gathered for five days and worked together to get God's Word into their heart language. They also learned how to share these Bible Stories orally so that those who don't want to read or can't read can have access to God's Word. It was an amazing week. Your prayer support was a key part of the success.

Now, these people return to their communities with the task of sharing God's Word. This past week's training was just the beginning of a long process. We have three other trainings planned for the coming year. Please pray for God's Word to be shared in these communities.

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Summer 2015 is quickly approaching. We LOVE summertime because we have the blessing of working with college students. We have a team of 22 students who will begin arriving in Oaxaca on June 1 and will serve until July 20. These students will be learning culture and language as well as doing what followers of Jesus do: Make disciples. Some will be living in indigenous villages, some will be leading sports camps and some will be teaching English. Will you join us in praying for our students by name? Here they are:

Orientation Helper: Jasmine

Zapotec Village Disciple Makers

1. Brooke
2. Tory
3. Devin

Chontal Village Disciple-Makers

1. Anna
2. Brittany
3. Kate

Disciple Making and Teaching English

1. Erika
2. Rachel
3. Lauren
4. Gabriella
5. Anna

Disciple Making and Sports Ministry

1. James
2. Matthew
3. Charlie
4. Emily
5. Josh

Endeavor Team  Will arrive June 20 and depart July 20.

1. Faith
2. Caroline
3. Hope
4. Mary
5. Sara

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Please join us in praying for these additional requests:

• Our teammates who have children are having a time of retreat on April 30 to May 4. We'll be headed to the beach for some training and fun times! Please pray for safe travel and a great time together. These families face some tremendous challenges in their work. Pray for a time of rest and encouragement for them.
• Karen Smith Eaton and her team from Texas State University will be joining us May 16 to 26. Karen served on our Summer 2013 team and we are so thankful to have her coming back to Oaxaca. Pray for this team to have great opportunities for ministry.
• Urbancrest Baptist Church and Sonrise Baptist Church are in southern Mexico this week working among their people groups. Pray for their teams to find favor among the leaders of the communties and for them to continue to build deep relationships among their people. Pray for opportunities to share the Gospel in a way the people can understand and respond to.
• Second Baptist Church, Springfield, MO was here last week and were able to encourage and train pastors and leaders in three different locations in southern Mexico. Pray for the pastors and church leaders of southern Mexico as they work in difficult places with persecution and in, some cases, isolation.

Thank you all for your partnership in prayer. We also thank you for giving to the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

Jeff, Liesa, Haylee, and Jackson