Week of October 24-31

The fourth and final team that YLM hosted this year from MOST Ministries was here from October 24-31. The team was comprised of individuals from various churches in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Northern Illinois, along with their fearless leader Gayle Sommerfeld and her husband Don. This was Gayle and Don’s second trip to YLM, as they brought an October team last year as well, to do the same thing: a 2-day eyeglass clinic at San Lucas in Anapra, followed by a 2-day eyeglass clinic at Cristo Rey. As is tradition for MOST teams, Friday is reserved for sightseeing.

Eyeglass clinics require a significant amount of set-up, so the group arrived early to church at San Lucas on Sunday so they could arrange tables and unpack green army duffels of glasses. As was the case all week, they had to factor in the beginning of Daylight Savings Time in Mexico, a week earlier than in the U.S. They left at the time groups typically have to leave to arrive at the service on time only to arrive an hour early—AND they got to sleep in a little later than normal all week!

Monday and Tuesday the clinic was at San Lucas, and then Tuesday afternoon everything was packed up and shifted to Cristo Rey so it would be ready for Wednesday and Thursday. The pace was much slower than the team was equipped to handle due to a government assistance program for the poor, pouring rain, and a cold front, but the slow times made us all slow down and pray that God’s will be done, and it allowed the pastors and leaders from each church to spend more one on one time with each person at the final station—evangelism. All in all, 481 people were seen and 559 pairs of glasses were distributed.

It was a week spent giving people the gift of spiritual sight as well as physical sight, and a week filled with memorable moments, but I don’t think anyone will ever forget the kindness of José Ángel. He was an optician who saw a report about our clinic on the news and stopped by Tuesday afternoon to lend his services. The clinic was closing, but we told him where we’d be the next day and he came without fail for the next two days. He brought some of his personal tools of the trade and was an invaluable asset to Ron and Jane at the fitting station. When asked if he was a Christian, he said that he believes in God but isn’t very serious about it, he just likes to help people!

42,000 lbs of Potatoes in Two Weeks

blurry but very happy

When a truck of food arrives from donors, it is always a wonderful task to distribute the food to needy families in a timely manner.  On September 28th, when 42,000 pounds of potatoes arrived from Orphan Grain Train we immediately began to distribute them.  Because of the great need to assist hungry families in Juarez we determined to find every way possible to get the needed food accross the border.  Currently, ADUANA (Mexico’s customs office) is currently not approving many (if any) bulk shipments of donation food to cross the border; however they do allow people to take up to three bags across at a time.  Learning this, members of the Juarez missions and churches rose to the task of coming to El Paso, to the YLM campus, to pick up potatoes to take accross and deliver to the churches and neighbors.  One of these volunteers told us, “We are happy to help in this small way.  God has been good to provide help to us through the church and this is a way I can help others too.  I have a passport and can cross to El Paso, but there are many others who cannot.”  Elvira, Rosy, Karla, and Javier coordinated volunteers to get the food into the hands of families who need it.  In a little less than two weeks, the entire shipment of potatoes has been delivered in El Paso and Juarez.

2009 Fall Newsletter Available

The Fall Newsletter is now available online.  (You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open it)

2009 Fall Newsletter

Fall Servant Event from Barrington, IL

The first of the few and far between fall servant event groups was made up of 5 familiar male faces from St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Barrington, IL. Their trip started off with a party  in Juarez at Santísima Trinidad Lutheran Church on Sunday to celebrate Pastor Hernandez’s 20^th anniversary in the ministry. Following the festive service, the whole group was invited to sit at the head table for the dinner and party afterwards; Pastor Hernandez kept reminding everyone that they got to eat first because they still had a long bridge wait ahead to get back to the mission!

Monday was the end of the partying and the beginning of the roofing on the home of Olga Reyes and her husband Tony in Horizon City. They came to YLM several months ago with a slab and the plans for their dream home, and little by little we’ve been doing what we can; so has Tony, a plumber by trade. This week, the tasks consisted of finishing the tar paper on the roof and shingling it as well as running Romex inside. Energized by a circle prayer each morning, YLM Project Facilitator/Development Director Chris was the Romex runner extraordinaire, while the roofing crew, under the watchful eye of the group’s resident former roofer, finished in a whopping TWO DAYS!!! With the project they had committed to nearly finished…there was still almost a full day of wiring left that Chris took it upon himself to finish…the group decided to work with Pastor Hernandez for the rest of the week, purchasing their own materials out of pocket.

The decision came on the heels of a long talk with Pastor Hernandez on Sunday over dinner, in which they came to realize that while the need in Sparks and Horizon City is at times overwhelming, God is calling His servants to Juarez in the midst of the evil violence, and its citizens need to see and hear the Gospel being proclaimed now more than ever. The five guys set their hearts, their minds, and their wallets on building a porch at Pastor Hernandez’s San Pedro y San Pablo mission site, something he has dreamt of for a long time that will make the site ever more ready to host weekly worship and instruction there.  Pastor Hernandez plans to dedicate the porch on Reformation Day, Saturday, October 31, 2009, at 3:00 pm and begin weekly ministry there in January.

Pastor Hernandez Celebrating 20 Years of Service

Congratulations and thanksgiving is in order as we all celebrate Pastor Hernandez’ 20th anniversary as a Lutheran pastor!  Pastor Hernandez is one of YLM’s principle ministry staff serving in the city of Juarez during these troubling times of hunger and violence.

Born and raised in Juarez, Mexico, Pastor Hernandez studied for the ministry at Ysleta Lutheran Mission in El Paso which served as a satelite campus for the Hispanic Institute (now CHS of St. Louis Seminary).  He was called to serve as Pastor at Iglesia Redentor (Redeemer Lutheran Church) in Torreon where he pastored for nine and a half years.  In 1999, he accepting the call to serve as pastor at the newly built Santisima Trinidad Lutheran Church and the San Marcos house church in Juarez, Mexico.

When asked about the twenty years, Pastor Hernandez told us, “I am thankful to God for the life he has given me and the opportunity to serve Him.  I also have deep gratitude to my wife, Blanca, who is my right hand and for my children whom I love.  I thank Pastor Karl Heimer and all the many people near and far who have supported, built up, and encouraged me and our church.  Pastor Martinez, who is still serving as pastor here in Juarez was the one who taught me as a child and confirmed me and later married me and Blanca.”

Here are some pictures of Pastor Hernandez through the years.  If you have any you would like to share, please send them to sheimer@ylm.org.

Pastor Karl Heimer & Pastor Hernandez

Pastor Hernandez was ordained in Chihuahua City into the Lutheran Synod of Mexico

Ordination

Ordination

Preaching at the San Marcos house church

Praying with the children

wife Blanca and Pastor at Home

Procession at Santisima Trinidad 2003

Baptism in 2006

Confirmation

Baptism

Baptism

Dedication of new sanctuary for Santisima Trinidad

Posada at the Martin Lutero house church

Small Catechisms

YLM Human Care Charity Golf Tournament Nov. 2, 2009

Here are more details on the upcoming golf event:

To be held at the VISTA HILLS COUNTY CLUB, El Paso, TX

• The event will be on 2 November 2009 – Registration begins at 11:00 AM – Shotgun start at 12:30 PM – Dinner at 5:30 PM (included with $60.00 entry fee).  Meal cost for non-players is $12.50 per person.
• Four-Person Scramble Format; $60 entry fee to play (includes dinner)
• Mulligans at the registration tables (credit cards accepted).
• Raffle Tickets available for a very special prize.
• Corporate sponsors – We offer several levels of corporate sponsorship – Diamond $800 (get 8 players included)– Gold $500 (get 4 players  included)– Silver $400 (get 2 players included).
• Hole sponsors  $250 / hole -  Includes a sign with your logo on the hole.
• PRIZES: Door , Score, Longest Drive, & Closest to the Hole Prizes.
• $10,000 cash prize for hole in one on designated par 3 hole – $500 cash prize for hole in one on any other par 3 hole.

Make Checks payable to: “YLM Human Care”- 301 S Schutz Dr El Paso, TX 79907

Contact Susan Hernandez to RSVP  (915) 577-9720  or email: susan.hernandez@thrivent.com .

Dust off your clubs!

We are proud to announce the first ever YLM Human Care golf tournament to help support your favorite mission! With the help of local churches and Thrivent, the event will be held on Monday, November 2, beginning at 12:30 p.m. at Vista Hills Golf Course in El Paso. After the 4 man scramble, a Mexican buffet will be held in the clubhouse with some fabulous door prizes and live music.  Call Susan Hernandez to RSVP  (915) 577-9720  or email: susan.hernandez@thrivent.com .

Mariachi San Pablo to Perform in Alamogordo

Come experience the music and message of Mariachi San Pablo as they perform in concert at Trinity Lutheran Church in Alamogordo, NM.  The concert will be held on Saturday, October 10th begining at 6:30pm.

For up to date concert information, contact Trinity Lutheran Church at 505-437-1482.

Address:  1505 College Avenue, Alamogordo, NM 88310

Grant Received from the Gottlieb Foundation of Texas

If you have been following the recent news of our financial crisis, you’ll know just how much this grant is an answer to prayer.  On September 21st, the Gottlieb Foundation of Texas decided they wouldn’t send the $25,000 requested from a member on behalf of Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care.  They decided to send $29,000!  They wrote, “We pray that this grant will be useful to your ministry and enable the expansion of His Kingdom through your work…”

The gift has come at the perfect time to aleviate much of the financial deficit that has grown as we address the troubles of El Paso and Juarez head-on this year.   We give many thanks to the Gottlieb Foundation as well as the many churches and individuals who are sending financial support as we stand tall with the Gospel this year.  God is answering our prayers.

Vital Partners: Lutheran Hispanic Missionary Institute

Even before the dust settles in today’s violent conflicts and economic troubles, we realize there is both a short-term and long-term need for well educated, Christian, Spanish-speaking teachers and pastors in our valley.  Deep damage is being done in the lives of  Juarez residents, especially the children and youth, by the cartel violence.  We praise the Lord for the current pastors, church workers, and volunteers that are holding high the cross of Christ and shining his light in Juarez.   More leaders are needed  who can bring God’s Word to bear in people lives for a long time to come.  For this reason, even as we make plans to bring physical aid to more families this year and as we pray for and support the current pastors and missionaries who work in Juarez, we realize that we must work together to raise up more leaders for ministry.  To this end we are blessed to have Pastor Schlak and the Lutheran Hispanic Missionary Institute as partners working by our side in El Paso and Juarez.

Please pray that God would bring more students into the Institute to be educated in the Bible and practical church planting skills.  As we seek out potential leaders from the YLM missions and churches, please consider donating funds for scholarships or other needs.  The courses and curriculum are excellent and the teachers are exceptional.  God has placed this Institute here in this El Paso/Juarez valley at a crucial time to send out leaders who can bring God’s promises and saving presence in to the lives of hurting people.

Pastor Schlak is Director of the Missionary Institute

Rosy Lira, has taken what she’s learned and trained Sunday School teachers in Juarez.

Pastor Javier Lozano is completing his education at the institute and serving three missions in Juarez

All these young Sunday School teachers have been trained by Rosy and Javier with materials received from the Institute.

Miguel Muñoz’ leadership of YLM’s mariachi ministry and Sunday School teaching is enhanced through the Theological training

Vicar Stephen Heimer enhances his seminiary education with intensive courses at the Institute.