Costa Maya Newsletter July 2016

July 2016 Pedro Pablo In recent years we had welcomed many new people to our church family, but last month we had to say good-bye to one, Pedro Pablo. Pedro was a Mayan man of great stature in the community.  He had become a member of Cruz de Cristo in 2015, one of seven confirmands that day.  Pedro had studied under five different pastors, eagerly learning as much as he could in God's Word.   I came to know Pedro many years earlier as a man living on the beach, working as a caretaker. He was a man with demons and addictions that were much more than he could resist by himself.  None of us would have imagined he could become an important part of our church family.   Then a few years ago we decided to offer Bible studies in the beach community of Rio Indio. Since most people living there have no cars, I went up the beach, door-to-door, inviting everyone and offering to pick them up. The morning we went to see Pedro, he was not able to come with us, so I told him to be ready the following Thursday. I told him what time I would pick him up, but I had no idea if he would actually come. On that day when I arrived at Pedro's house, I blew the horn and waited in suspense. I could not keep a smile from my face as he came out of his house in his white polo shirt, black pants and nice sandals – Bible tucked under his arm!  God was working in many hearts that day – especially mine!  He got into the van and started his journey with us.   Almost two years later Pedro was confirmed as a member, after studying with many pastors in Bible classes, all the while grabbing every book about God that he could get his hands on. He not only learned, he shared what he was learning with his family in Chetumal, two hours away.  He and his family even discussed having classes in their Chetumal home to share the gospel with many others.    Sadly for us, he died in a fall into a well on the property where he was a caretaker. His life ended suddenly, but we know that because God allowed Cruz de Cristo to invite him to join us in our studies, he has won the victory!  Pedro (far left) will be missed by all – please pray for his family and our church family as we remember the joy he brought into all of our lives.                         ~Deb Blackburn *************************************************** Sharing God's Love in Mahahual   You never really understand the beauty of a Mahahual sunrise, the pains of poverty, or the happiness that comes from seeing a new soul brought to faith until you've experienced the beauty, seen the sadness, or felt the joy of these things for yourself. I and six others traveled to Mahahual this summer and had the opportunity to witness these things.    My group shared God's love by canvassing a nearby village called Kilometer 55. We drove down the extremely bumpy dirt road and visited homes, huts, and hammocks to spread the news. Not only did we share God's love through words, but we also shared it by helping with food preparation at the church's soup kitchen. In addition, each weekday, we taught a Bible lesson to the local children, each story with the theme, "Sharing God's Love." The highlight of these classes was hearing the roaring laughter of the kids as they watched us act out a skit of the day's Bible lesson. After each day of VBS, the kids were loaded into the church van and taken to the community center to play games. The class' favorite game was called "Drip. Drip. Drench!" Needless to say, many days I sat in the van on the way back to church feeling very soggy. If we were not teaching, we were on the beach soaking up the sun or reading in hammocks. One day we even went snorkeling!   On this trip, I learned the importance of praying for our missionaries because Pastor Valleskey's outreach in Mahahual is amazing. His humble, friendly personality makes it easy for eager ears to hear the gospel. I have been impacted by his Christian attitude, and prayers for Pastor Valleskey and the congregation are never far from my mind. It was a blessing to meet this wonderful group of people, and I look forward to the day when I will be reunited in glory with my Christian brothers and sisters from Mahahual.      ~Anna Grepo *********************************** Online donations can be made at www.Costamayaministries.org or by check payable to Costa Maya Ministries and mailed c/o Fred Starck, 1765 Natures Way, Lindenhurst, IL 60046. Copyright © Costa Maya Ministries, 2016, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 8404 Saltsberry Eagle River, WI 54521 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list **

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Costa Maya Newsletter June 2016

June 2016 Mothers and Evangelism   One thing I've learned in cross-cultural ministry is to take opportunities for evangelism as they come. For many Hispanics, Mother's Day is a day you need to go with mom to church. For our churches doing ministry in Spanish, Mother's Day Sunday can often have the biggest or nearly biggest attendance of the year. This year at Cruz de Cristo was no exception. We had a great crowd to hear the Word. Several new families visited the service. We even ran out of chairs, which is a very nice problem to have in a mission church!   The kids came in on Saturday for their usual Bible class. As part of the class, they made thank-you cards and gifts for their mothers based on the Bible story of the one leper who gave thanks in Luke 17:11-19. The Sunday service was an encouragement to the moms to share the faith of the Bible with their children, just as we see Lois and Eunice did in 2 Timothy. And then we had a little fellowship with cake and juice after the service. In the end, it was a wonderful opportunity to tell a large group of people how to get to heaven through faith in Jesus.  ~Pastor Valleskey Summer Projects   In June we're looking forward to welcoming a number of visitors from the U.S. From June 11 to 21 six students from Wisconsin Lutheran High School will join us together with their teacher, Karen Kilchemann. They will teach VBS, lead the kids in playground games in the local community center, and, in partnership with church members and neighbors, do some community clean-up and beautification projects. They will also participate in the regular church activities of the week, including the Sunday services, Saturday kids' Bible class, and a trip to Pulticub. We will definitely be keeping them busy!   Then from June 15 to August 16, Wisconsin Lutheran College student, Austin Wagenknecht, will be here to teach English classes to adults, teens, and kids. He also plans to be involved in the church's outreach. We ask God to bless their ministry among us! ************************************************* KM 55   "Kilometer 55" is an area on the outskirts of Mahahual. It got its name from a road sign on the side of the highway. Years ago many of the locals owned pieces of land in this area, and though they were the poorer people of the town, what they had was theirs and they did what they could to live off it. Then the Mexican government convinced them to trade their land to the government in exchange for government-built houses, and were promised working water, electricity, and septic. What actually happened was the people signed over the one thing that was actually their own, the government-built concrete boxes barely big enough to fit a family of four or five, and after nearly a decade is only now beginning to keep its promise of electricity. Water is collected in cisterns on roofs or makeshift platforms. If a family has a septic system of any kind they probably installed it themselves. The power comes from a massive bank of junction boxes at the edge of the area, which the people themselves must connect to and run their own electrical line to their home. Imagine the risks involved in doing that. What can a small Lutheran mission do for such a people? Well, we can make sandwiches. We can bring the kids and their parents to the church, give them a good lunch, pray with them and give them God's Word. We can invite the kids back the next day for a Bible lesson and some snacks, and we can give them a backpack stuffed with basic hygiene supplies and school supplies. Is it enough to make a major difference in their lives? Maybe not today, but is it enough to show them they are loved? Is it enough to open a door for the Gospel? Is it enough to show them the grace of God and give them a chance to know him so they have hope? Si Dios quiere (If God wills it). But since El Señor es siempre bueno (The Lord is always good), God can and will work good from what we do. We leave it to him what that good will be.                       ~B Steenbock ***************************************************** Online donations can be made at www.Costamayaministries.org or by check to Christ Lutheran Church, 121 N 3rd St, Eagle River, WI 54521   Share Tweet Forward Copyright © Costa Maya Ministries, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 8404 Saltsberry Eagle River, WI 54521 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list *|*

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Here is a current wish list from Costa Maya Ministries

We would love to see congregations or individuals adopting needs from our list! Some possible ideas: school groups, teen groups or small church groups (such as choir or church groups) could take on a project and adopt items from the CMM Wish List. CURRENT CMM WISH LIST: 1. Right now CMM is in urgent need of a new printer and toner cartridges for that printer. The cost will be approximately $300 to get started. Additional toner cartridges will be $50 each. 2. We also need new plastic chairs for worship. CMM's current chairs are well used and have already been repaired, but each time we worship they break a little more. Each chair costs approximately $10. 3. Spanish Sunday School materials 4. Wireless sound system for church 5. Electro acoustic guitar 6. Rhythm instruments for the children (approx. 30) 7. Food for soup kitchen 8. Boxes of food for needy families 9. Eye exam/glasses for members

Costa Maya Newsletter May 2016

May 2016 Firsthand Is Different   Growing up in the church, I saw or read plenty of missionary stories. The articles in the magazines or the WELS Connection video updates showed us pictures and video of our missionaries interacting with the people of some foreign land. They'd be giving helpful gifts, playing with children, and telling people about Jesus...and we'd hear the story of how eagerly the people welcomed the missionaries and how thankful they were to hear the Gospel.   These stories were as familiar as they were distant. They were things that happened in far away places. I wasn't sure what it would feel like if I ever had the chance to experience them firsthand.   Therefore, being in Costa Maya was a bit surreal. Suddenly I was there, experiencing firsthand what I'd seen only in videos or magazines. It was a little like stepping into a WELS Connection video, but while it was surreal in that way, it was also incredibly enriching in its realness. Let me give you some examples. Pulticub: I was not surprised by what I saw; I knew there were people living with no running water or electricity or modern conveniences. Yet, here I was stepping into their world, bringing them things that were a part of my everyday life - like stickers and toothbrushes and cheap plastic cross necklaces - and they were drawing me into their life - serving a meal cooked over a fire, showing us the iguana they had caught, and explaining how to open a coconut to get the milk out. Our missionary explained sin and grace to them, I played guitar as we sang, and they showed gratitude that we had brought them gifts and the Gospel. I left unsurprised, but changed in small ways, and richer for having shared that time with them.                         ******************************************* Kilometer 55: In this area of Mahahual, I saw a place of poverty and need unlike anything I've ever personally visited. Once again, I wasn't surprised. I know such places exist. Yet, to see it firsthand works a change on the heart. It becomes real, and the desire to do something about it increases. I was thankful that we had a chance to do something about it - to bring children from there to our mission, to give them a meal and to teach them the simple truths about their Savior  and what he has done to save them. Feeding them a sandwich, some chips, and a granola bar may not make a major change in their lives, but if it shows them the love of Jesus and opens their hearts to the message we bring, it can have an eternal impact.                             ********************************************* Rio Indio: We joined a group of men and women for Bible study. I'm working on my Spanish, but I have a long way to go before I can easily converse in it. So it was very encouraging when one of the men came up to me and told me - in English and with a twinkle in his eye - that he enjoys speaking to gringos in their own language. More encouraging than that, though, was to be welcomed into the circle, to speak together about what God's Word tells us and how good our God is. To hear men reflect on the simple truths of the Gospel that they have come to know and love, to hear women speak out of the peace they have found in Jesus. There's a fellowship that overcomes all barriers of language and culture, where we gather together as one under the one God. My Take-Away: I am very thankful for the few days I spent with our mission in Costa Maya. I now know from personal experience what the missionary stories are all about. I'm carrying back to my congregation the fire that was lit within me to support this mission and make the most of the opportunities there. I look forward to what God can do through us as we work together in the future. Hasta luego, Costa Maya. Can't wait to see you again.   ~Brandon Steenbock                           ****************************************** Donations may be made online at www.Costamayaministries.org or by check mailed to Christ Lutheran Church,121 N 3rd Street, Eagle River, WI 54521. Copyright © *2016* * All rights reserved. Costa Maya Ministries Our mailing address is: 8404 Saltsberry Eagle River, WI 54521 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list **

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Holy Week and Easter

Holy Week and Easter were celebrated at Cruz de Cristo. as they were in Christian churches all over the world. Yet it's different in this popular vacation area. Kids are out of school, and families from all over Mexico come here to enjoy the beach. There were several cruise ships as well, arriving every day from Wednesday through Sunday. This is a high point for local businesses, and people work around the clock to save up for leaner times. Despite the distractions, our church was blessed by God in many ways this Holy Week. The children made palm crosses that were handed out in the neighborhoods with invitations to church. On Tuesday a full church watched the "Jesus" film. Fifteen family members of a new contact attended an impromptu Bible Study on Maundy Thursday. Most of our members took time out of their busy work schedules to attend the Good Friday and Easter services. In addition, a number of tourists from the cruise ships joined us at Easter worship. It was a joyous celebration with a meal afterwards. In spite of a different kind of Holy Week in Mahahual, the central message of our faith was heard by many...our Savior's sacrifice for sins and the sure hope of the resurrection.

A Visitor's Perspective (March 2016)

After seven years of hearing about the amazing work of God in Costa Maya, we were finally able to see it in person during Holy Week and Easter Sunday. I had no idea what to expect as we drove to Good Friday and Easter Sunday services with the unfamiliar all around. A huge part of the ministry involves picking up children and adults from little shacks with grass roofs or tiny cement homes along the beach and in a nearby neighborhood which seems to have been carved out of the ever¬-encroaching jungle. On Sunday, we stopped at the shell of a building where a family of four (father out of work) was squatting. Naked three¬-year ¬old Eric was bathing by pouring buckets of water on himself. The mother finally coaxed him into coming, and miraculously, by the time he climbed into the truck, he was wearing shorts. I got to hold six--month ¬old Erica for the rest of the trip on the rutted beach road. We picked up another woman with four-¬year ¬old twins, and both women unashamedly nursed their babies as they sat in church. The atmosphere in church was friendly, even though the language barrier kept us from communicating much. We sat in white vinyl chairs in the open ¬air church and wondered how we could worship when the service was in Spanish. However, Pastor Martin gave us English summaries of his sermon, and as he spoke with his joy-¬filled smile, the unknown quickly became familiar. I cried and praised God for the pure Gospel message being preached, the message we ALL need–payment for sins made in full and accepted! Because Jesus lives, I will live also! In the meantime, the Almighty God has promised never to leave us on our own in this world of sorrow, heartache, and difficulties. We returned home to Milwaukee overwhelmed with gratitude for the Truth we have had all our lives and for the pure joy of seeing the power of the cross and the empty tomb breaking through the darkness in this faraway place! ~ Candace Winkel