Give a Gift to Change a Life

The 2009 Christmas Giving Catalog is now available online and in printed form.  Those of you who wish to reach out with God’s love to the poor this Christmas will find 17 ways to do so here.  With your help, YLM will be blessing 1,500 children with Christmas presents this month.  Also we plan to build three homes in Juarez and distribute 1,470 food baskets, 836 jackets, 600 hygiene kits and 1,200 blankets.  Reach out to the people of El Paso and Mexico by giving a gift today:

Choose from 17 ways to

help others this Christmas

1,200 Meals Served on Thanksgiving Weekend

“Blessed to Serve”…and that is what they did. On Wednesday, November 25, a group of 25 from Our Father Lutheran church in Centennial, CO, made their 15^th annual pilgrimage to El Paso. They joined up with Servant Event Coordinator Erin’s parents, brother, and sister from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Des Peres, MO, to serve the Lord on the border. The theme for the week was “blessed to serve.” The group cooked, transported, and served over 1200 Thanksgiving meals of turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, ranchero beans, salsa, rolls, and cake at San Pablo on Thurdsay, Cristo Rey and San Lucas on Friday, and Santisima Trinidad on Saturday. Each meal followed a brief worship service honoring the real reason everyone was gathered together to enjoy a fantastic meal. They also cooked for the over 100 volunteers who come toYLM every Saturday and left behind enough food for the attendees at this Wednesday’s King’s Table luncheon at Sin Paredes to have Thanksgiving too.

To many, that would be enough to keep everyone occupied for the three work days that were put in, but not for this group. Not only did they feed 1200 hungry people, but they also painted YLM building #1, formerly leased to the El Paso County General Assistance program and now home to Mariachi San Pablo and San Pablo’s Sunday school classrooms. The building really does look sharp, and our hope is to paint the rest of the campus buildings with the same colors eventually.

Just in case that still wasn’t enough, 6-7 people also helped “winterize” a trailer in Horizon City on Friday and Saturday mornings. The family, a mom, a dad,  their 2 young sons, and another one on the way, basically live in an 8 foot by 26 foot trailer that you would tow on the back of your truck when you went camping. Leaking roofs, a plywood floor, and broken windows were all tackled by the crew. A new roof was built over the trailer (and sealed to prevent water and cold air from getting in through the top), windows were sealed with black plastic, and new tile was laid on the floor. Please pray that we will be able to build this family a new home in the coming months.

The group also went to the market in Juarez on Thanksgiving Day, and spent each evening in a Bible study that tied the lives of 2 “minor” characters in with the “blessed to serve” theme. They departed early on Sunday morning, November 29.

Their dedication was truly inspiring; we praise God for this ongoing tradition at YLM and can’t wait to do it all over again next year!

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.

Back to School with Scholarships and Supplies

Volunteers Sorting Donations

Volunteers Sorting Donations

Volunteers Sorting Donations

Elvira Coordinates volunteers and distribution to Mexico (and sorts in the warehouse too)

Scholarship Recipients with their School Kits

He says, “Gracias!”

“Muchas Gracias!”

Children are returning to school this fall with school supplies and scholarships.  Nineteen youth received scholarships to pay the costs of middle school and high school (free public school ends at 6th grade in Juarez).  In addition, 1,336 school kits and hygiene kits have been given out (800 in Mexico and 536 in Texas).  Each includes two note books, a package of loose leaf paper, crayons, color pencils, scissors, 5-10 pencils, a bottle of glue, and a backpack.  This year’s backpacks are especially nice packs donated by Dell Computer.  The hygiene kits include soap, a toothbrush, toothpaste, a washcloth, and a pair of new underwear or t-shirt.

This wouldn’t be possible with out the generous contributions of scholarship donors and supply donors, and the steady work of Elvira Viramontes (YLM staff) and numerous volunteers who worked in the warehouse.

If you are interested in YLM’s  scholarship program, please let us know.  We have a long list of children in Juarez who need assistance and firmly believe that education is key to escaping poverty as well as raising up the leaders we need in society and the church.

Warehouse Volunteers Needed

If you would be available to volunteer this fall, please let us know.  Between now and Thanksgiving, we are expecting to receive several truck loads of food, clothes, toys, blankets and other items.  We need help sorting donations, creating food baskets, cleaning toys and preparing gift packages.   We especially need help on weekdays in the day time hours.  If you are able or if you would like more information, please contact Elvira Viramontes by calling (915) 858-2588 or writing to volunteer@ylm.org.

Juarez Lutherans Building Sunday School

Members of the Juarez Lutheran Churches (San Lucas, Cristo Rey, & Santisima Trinidad) are pursuing the dream of providing Sunday School classrooms for the children the new mission in Anapra.  On Sundays, begining at 5am, families from the Mexico Lutheran churches began to gather at the mission site to volunteer their skills.  Many of the men are unemployed (or work only a few days a week) during this economic downturn.  They have received help from the church in the past and are happy to lend their skills to the needs of the church now.  These hard-working men in the past worked long hours, six days a week in construction and in factories.  While the men build the retaining wall, their wives and children help divide bulk food donations in to food baskets for their families and others in the community.  They also prepare a meal for the men in the kitchen.  Sixty-five different families have taken part in the construction effort, and YLM is providing funds to purchase construction materials and food for this necessary project.  Bulk donations for the food baskets come from various U.S. donors.

One of the first tasks was breaking up the huge rocks needed for the retaining wall. Pastor Martinez pulls out the sledge hammer.

The land above the retaining wall is cleared to make space for the future classrooms.

Pastor Lozano leads the volunteers in a morning devotion.

Clearning land and digging the path for the retaining wall & property boundary

Group shot of that week’s helpers.

Retaining wall as of Sept. 9th. The wall extendes over 2 meters below ground.

The Sunday School teachers and Pastor Lozano.

School Supplies for Children

As everyone knows, the end of August brings back to school time. One of the programs that we do here at the mission is an annual backpack distributon. These backpacs are filled with all the necessary school supplies that a child would need and of course a backpack to carry them in. As an added bonus, this year, the computer company Dell donated 1200 backpacks to us. You will see from some of the photos that these are very large, nice backpacks. Makes me happy that I have a Dell computer. Let’s hope that they think of us again next year if they have another surplus.

Last Saturday, August 29th,  the mission  passed out around 500 backpacks full of supplies, and Elvira says she has to put together another 650 for the missions across the border in Juarez. That sure is a lot of pencils and paper. As soon as she gets done with the backpacks, it is time to start thinking about the jacket, blanket, and Christmas toy distribution. Never a dull moment here, and it is so amazing to see how we can help all our brothers and sisters in Christ everyday.

Update on Financial Crisis: Good News, Bad News, AMAZING news

The good news is many people near and far have mailed or used our web site to send financial support, and it is making a huge difference.  Activities this weekend are testament to this:  school supply distributions, health kit distributions, worship services at six locations, three local mariachi performances, Bible classes…

The Bad news is we aren’t out of trouble yet when it comes to paying our pastors, ministry workers, and electric bills next week.  The deficit is $15,000.  Ouch!  (Yes, we need all the help big and small possible.)

The AMAZING news is that a Christian foundation in East Texas is taking steps to send us a check for $25,000 when they meet on September 11th.  The foundation member who contacted us had been told about the work we are doing and feels the Lord’s leading to send help.  Also, YLM friends in El Paso are making plans to hold a Golf Tournament Fundraiser to help sustain our services.  Please keep our need in your prayers.

The good news is many people near and far have mailed or used our web site to send financial support, and it is making a huge difference.  Activities this weekend are testament to this:  school supply distributions, health kit distributions, worship services at six locations, three local mariachi performances, Bible classes…

The Bad news is we aren’t out of trouble yet when it comes to paying our pastors, ministry workers, and electric bills next week.  The deficit is $15,000.  Ouch!  (Yes, we need all the help big and small possible.)

The AMAZING news is that a Christian foundation in East Texas is taking steps to send us a check for $25,000 when they meet on September 11th.  The foundation member who contacted us had been told about the work we are doing and feels the Lord’s leading to send help.  Also, YLM friends in El Paso are making plans to hold a Golf Tournament Fundraiser to help sustain our services.  Please keep our need in your prayers.

We Can Help These Children

by Vicar Stephen

Coats for Children

School Supplies for Children

Christmas Toys for Children

Meals for Children

Bible Instruction for Children

Scholarships for Children

“Go and Baptize all Nations”

Last night I was talking to a friend who recently visited our newest mission site in the Juarez area.  She was surprised at the number of children who came seeking a hot meal.  Everyone who sees the need here walks away knowing that the need is real and wondering how to help.  As the new school year begins, YLM is doing more than just providing food for children caught in the tumoil of a city shaken up by cartel violence, and economic collapse.

• Food is cooked and served weekly in addition to food baskets sent home with families.
• Scholarships are helping more than 15 children continue education this year into high school (free public ed. ends at 6th grade).
• School supplies are reaching more than a 1,000 children this year.
• Sunday school, VBS, and other special classes and worship are teaching kids they have an ever-present God who gives them eternal salvation in Christ.
• Homes are built and fixed
• Health kits (includes toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, wash clothes, etc…) are distributed 2-3 times  a year.

This year you can help us lift and empower the spirits of children in this economically ravaged and cartel-abused valley.  Donate today and help us provide emergency food, scholarships, school supplies, health/hygene supplies, Sunday school, worship, hugs, smiles, music lessons, home repairs, and more…   If funds aren’t available and you would rather organize a donation drive, here are some important options:  ramen noodles (used every Wednesdays combined with vegetables) , canned goods, beans rice….  Also children’s vitamins, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc…  Also, when winter comes, the temperature here shoots down to temperatures in the teens.  Sending coats, blankets, mittens, hats, etc… will keep many children warm in the winter months.  See donation needs for more ideas.

Eyeglass Clinics in Chihuahua City

by Erin Mackenzie, YLM Servant Event Coordinator

The same week that a group of 40 from Barrington, IL, spent a week in El Paso building a house, running 2 Vacation Bible Schools here, and sponsoring a third at Santisima Trinidad (July 18-25), there were 12 additional servants working for the mission…about 5 hours away! A MOST Ministries group composed of team members from Illinois, Virginia, and California, made a longer trek than most YLM servant events and spent their week conducting an eyeglass clinic in Chihuahua City. Chris and I had the rare opportunity to leave the mission for a week to accompany them as interpreters. I think they were grateful for our help because our first language was English and not vice-versa, and also because we stayed with them and could therefore interpret for non-clinic related issues as well.

The group traveled to one of YLM’s partner churches in Chihuahua City, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, which is served by by Pastor Martin Tovar and his wife Blanca. This particular one, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, is located in the heart of downtown Chihuahua, which made sightseeing during downtime a piece of cake. We stayed in a combination of the parsonage and fellowship hall, both of which have extra spaces that have been converted into bunk rooms, and enjoyed Blanca’s authentic Mexican cooking all week; the menu varied from staples like enchiladas and gorditas to include more traditional fare like barbacoa, a pork dish that is typically eaten at Christmastime, real asadero cheese, and coffee with cinnamon and cloves.

The clinic was held at Jardin del Abuelo, a government run senior citizens’ center. The spacious venue turned out to be ideal for the needs of the clinic, unlike the previous one which was held in Gloria Dei’s sanctuary. A total of 804 people were seen in 4 days, which amounted to 840 pairs of glasses—most of which had positive prescriptions—and 390 pairs of sunglasses passed out. Patients first registered with Pastor and Blanca’s son and daughter-in-law (Misael and Erika) who gave of their vacation time to serve with us, then consulted with one of the two nurses, completed the reading and distance tests, selected their glasses, and finally had them fitted and cleaned and got to pick from a selection of cases.

The first three days were somewhat slow, but word must have gotten out by the final day as we had to tell Erika when to cut off registration or we would have been there all night…and we still saw over 250 people! Several media crews came to witness our outreach as well, and my interview aired on the news later that night!

The Chihuahua missions don’t see many servant events, but we had a fantastic and memorable week—check out the attached pictures!—and I would urge anyone who reads this to learn more about them, pray for them and their unique ministries, and maybe even consider booking a trip to one of them!