The Mission Diaries

I hope you enjoy reading about what God is doing in Mexico and Central America. Our brothers and sisters are glad to share their victory stories with you. They are also grateful for your contributions. As a non-profit organization, MCA Missions relies on donations to carry out its work. We are now in our yearly fundraising drive, which is sustained mainly by disciples of Christ in the Los Angeles Church of Christ. However, everyone can help. Here are some opportunities for you to contribute to the work of MCA Missions.

1. If you shop at Ralphs grocery stores, you can register your Ralph’s Member number, and Ralph’s Community Contributions program will donate back to us an equivalent of 1-4% percent of your purchases. To enroll, please follow these steps:

a. Go to http://www.ralphs.com/, click on Community Contributions and then click on Participants.
b. Follow the easy online directions to register your Ralphs Member number. If you do not have your Ralph’s card with you, follow the directions to obtain your number.
The NPO number for MCA Missions is: 83579
c. Each time you shop at Ralphs, make sure your member card is swiped. Just remember that entering your telephone number won’t make your shopping count toward this program; you must have the card swiped.
That’s it! Enjoy your shopping, and know that a percentage of your purchases is going to MCA Missions’ programs!
SPECIAL REMINDER FOR ALL OUR CONTRIBUTORS: All members who were enrolled in the Ralphs Community Contribution Program need to register for the new term at www.ralphs.com that became effective on September 1, 2007

2. Your contributions to MCA Missions are tax-deductible. If you would like to make a direct donation, you may send a check payable to:

      Mexico and Central America Missions
      96 Wildwood
      Irvine, CA 92604      

Please include your return address so we may forward a receipt

3. MCA Missions partners with several International Churches of Christ and with HOPE worldwide programs to organize short mission tours to Mexico and Central America. Please check the Mission Diaries for updates and opportunities to serve in the mission field.

J De Anda

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As a father, I am deeply concerned for the future of my children. Perhaps one of my strongest motivations for the work that I do in the ministry is this: What kind of world are my children going to live in? How can I prepare them? I also believe that, collectively, our churches are concerned about the future generations. A relevant scripture is Deuteronomy 11:18-19, “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds…teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Today we bring stories from the Guatemala City Church and the impact of their children’s, teen and campus ministries.

(Read the article)

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The following story was first posted on the blog of the Xela Church of Christ. Xela, pronounced “shella” and also called Quetzaltenago, is a city in Western Guatemala. The story reminds us of how much God loves his children and how much he wants for us to be with him. As you read it, please remember how you came to know Christ, and how God orchestrated the events and circumstances that led to your encounter with him.

Victor was a disciple of Christ, baptized in the church in Puebla, Mexico. About ten years ago, under the pressures of various personal and family problems, he decided to leave the church and return to Tapachula, in his home state of Chiapas, Mexico. Chiapas is located in the southern part of Mexico, on the border with Guatemala. At the time that Victor returned, there were only a handful of discipling churches in the whole country; none in Chiapas. He had found a way, at least in his mind, to run away from God.

In 1999, the Guatemala City Church planted a mission in the city of Xela, about 60 miles across the border from Tapachula. Since people travel frequently between the two cities, it wasn’t long before a few people from Tapachula were also baptized. One of them was a man named Antonio. Antonio had first learned about the church during a visit to Puebla, where his son  was a disciple. During that brief visit, he had met Victor, when Victor was still a member of the church.

A few months ago, Antonio was sharing his faith in a park in Tapachula, and who did he see? Victor! They recalled that they had met briefly many years before. Antonio shared about his new life as a Christian. Victor shared about his struggles and the reasons why he had run away. Antonio studied the Bible with him and prayed with him, and finally Victor recaptured his faith and was restored to the Lord! He had tried to run away from God, but God had found him! And just a couple of weeks ago, in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, Victor baptized his wife, Conchita!

J De Anda

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This week we received news from the church leaders in Villahermosa, Mexico. As we reported before, the whole city was hit with major floods last year, and several churches in Mexico and the U.S. responded with special collections and efforts to help our brothers and sisters there. God has protected them and even blessed them with spiritual fruit.

Here is a brief note from church leader German Gutierrez:

Two weeks ago, two of the families that had been living in the service room of a building were able to move into an apartment. The church helped them with six months’ rent. They were so excited and grateful!

We had to hold off on some of the rebuilding efforts. On March 23, the government will reopen the floodgates on the local dam, and there is a possibility that things will not work out well and we’ll have more flooding.

The place where the church used to meet was totally flooded. Thanks to the donations we’ve received from the U.S. and Mexico churches we have been able to rent a hall for our worship services. Thanks to all of you brothers and sisters, we have been able to meet most of the physical needs of the church. Please continue to pray for us.

If you want to find out how to help the church in Villahermosa, please send a note to mcamissions@mcamissions.org

J De Anda

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