YLM Website Down

The YLM website is down temporarilly.  The hosting company is upgrading its servers and expecst to have our website running again soon.  We appologize for any inconvenience.  Please call our office if there is any information you may need:  915-858-2588.  Online donations can also be made by phone during office hours.

Christmas Posadas in Juarez and El Paso

Las Posadas are a beloved Christmas tradition in the Hispanic community. “Posada” is literally an archaic Spanish word meaning “inn,” but today it is used to describe the ceremonial reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging in Bethlehem, which can be found in Luke 2:1-7.  The custom is believed to have originated in Spain but is no longer common there.  Today Las Posadas is celebrated primarily in Mexico but may be found in many other Latin American countries as well.

A posada is essentially a procession through the streets stopping at various houses (or “inns”) while singing a song of responsive verses in which Mary and Joseph ask for lodging but are repeatedly turned away.  At the final “inn”  Mary and Joseph are finally welcomed in and a celebration ensues.  YLM mission churches are blessed to have musicians from Mariachi San Pablo to accompany the traditional Posada song and sing other Christmas carols as the group walks from “inn” to “inn” looking for lodging.  Often the traditional Posada song is sung acapella and prayers or other songs are said as the group travels from “inn” to “inn”.

The procession in search of lodging is led by children dressed as Mary and Joseph.  It is also common to have an angel carrying a star.  The rest of the crowd divides into 2 sections to sing the parts of the innkeeper and the expectant couple.  Finally at the last stop, the innkeepers welcome the weary travelers in and everyone is enters the “inn”.   After a brief message about how Jesus continues His posada daily for a place to stay in each of our hearts and lives, the party commences!

There is generally a piñata or 2, and ALWAYS a feast of traditional Christmas fare: bunuelos (fried pillows of dough seasoned with cinnamon and sugar), champurrado (a chocolaty beverage thickened with masa (corn flour)), and tamales (corn dough with either a sweet or savory filling steamed in a corn husk).

Here at YLM, there is a posada at each of the Mexico mission sites as well as one here in El Paso. Typically, posadas take place in the nine-day period from December 16th until Christmas Eve; ours started earlier with one on Monday the 14^th followed by a day off on Tuesday and then 2 each day for the rest of the week.

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you from all the staff and volunteers at Ysleta Lutheran Mission.

Mary and Joseph from Cristo Rey

Looking for a room at Cristo Rey

From the inside group at Cristo Rey

View from the outside at Cristo Rey

Cristo Rey actors

Cristo Rey actors with some of Mariachi San Pablo

San Pedro y San Pablo

Starting the posada at San Pedro y San Pablo

Walking at San Pedro y San Pablo

The procession at San Pedro y San Pablo

Dancing El Sapo at San Pedro y San Pablo

San Pablo posada at the Mission

San Pablo actors

San Pablo Posada

San Pablo at YLM

YES, you can stay here, open the doors

Mission San Francisco

Mission San Francisco

Mission San Francisco

Mission San Francisco

Santisima Trinidad

starting out at Sin Paredes

Watching the show at Sin Paredes

Good crown at Sin Paredes

Kids at the Sin Paredes posada

Walking up the hill towards Sin Paredes

Enjoying the Posada at Sin Paredes

Posada at Sin Paredes

Santa pinata at Sin Paredes

Pinata at Sin Paredes

Pinata at Sin Paredes

Multitudes of angels at San Lucas

Kids singing with the Mariachi at San Lucas

Leaving San Lucas

Preparing for Maximum Impact this Christmas

Elvira and volunteers are working every day to sort donations to give to the poor this Christmas.  YLM is preparing to provide 1,500 Christmas gifts to children  and to distribute 1,470 food baskets, 836 jackets, 600 hygiene kits and 1,200 blankets.  Also, our Mariachi group will be adding their joy filled music to community gatherings in 6  sites throughout Juarez and 7 in El Paso and Las Cruces.  Later this month a servant event team from Mayer Lutheran High School in Mayer, MN, will arrive to build three houses for families in Juarez, lead a basketball camp, and make repairs to a mission church.

“Who else is going to be God’s voice in Juarez?  Not the military, police, or government officials…  As they work to bring order, we work to bring mercy and grace to all,”  commented Stephen Heimer, COO of YLM and vicar at San Pablo Lutheran Church.  ”What we do in response to the suffering and sorrow that exists in our valley will make a lasting difference in the lives we touch this Christmas and throughout the year.”

If you would like to join us on the front lines of hope this Christmas, please consider sending items or making a financial gift today.

Fun, Successful Golf Tournament Raises $6,000

November 2nd marked the first annual YLM Human Care Golf Tournament organized by local supporters of YLM and the LHMI.  Over 70 men and women golfed in the tournament, many of whom were Ft. Bliss soldiers who received the opportunity to golf free-of-charge from corporate and individual sponsors.  In the end, over $6,000 was raised for the extensive work of YLM and the LHMI in reaching out to people in our El Paso/Juarez valley.  The amount raised includes $1,600 of matching funds provided by the El Paso Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.  We are very thankful to the many people who organized and ran the tournament and to all the sponsors and participants whose contributions  have enabled us to assist the needy this winter.

Registration, the morning of the tournament.

The golfers await the “shotgun start”

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

2009 Fall Newsletter Available

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

2009 Fall Newsletter

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 .

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.