Christmas Newsletter

Dear Friends,

We pray a joyful Christmas and a blessed New Year for you and yours. We pray in gratitude for the prayers and blessings with which you have graced us, and our shared work in the Lord here in Mexico. 

Teresa Ramirez was 15 years old and attending Padre’s mission school when her Father was ambushed and murdered by drunken neighbors jealous of his ranching success. There wasn’t much law in the Sierras at that time, but eventually justice was done. Not however, until after her Mother was forced off the home place, the cattle stolen, and the family left destitute. Life is difficult everywhere, it is often brutal in remote areas of the Sierras. But Teresa was tough, a survivor, and with Padre Pascual’s example became a follower of Jesus.

Now, twenty years later, Teresa is teaching at the Albergue Fray Pascual, raising an adopted son as a single parent, and is an active member of the Albergue Association Board. She is also closing in on finishing her PhD. in Human Development. She is loving, focused, committed, and competent - a great example for students and staff at the school, as she teaches her primary class of 12 to 15, 6 to 9 year old students.  The other day she asked the students in her class what they would like to be when they grew up.  Every single one of the boys enthusiastically said they wanted to be narco-traffickers because they drive new trucks and have lots of money. Now there is a Merry Christmas reality check.  

Sure they’re just kids. When I was their age I wanted to be like Gene Autry, and Collette wanted to be a ballet dancer - didn’t happen.  But at least we had positive dreams.  What do these little guys and gals have to look forward to without the help of people like Teresa?  Not much.  Here’s another problem. Teresa can’t afford to stay and teach because she has a family to raise and a degree to finish.  Two years of working for nothing, because she cares, hasn’t helped her financial situation. The Albergue needs more people like Teresa, and they need to be paid a living wage. Not much by our U.S. standards, $200 a month does the job for a licensed teacher up here. 

There is good news. For every one of the younger students figuring out their dream, there are older students who are well on their way to understanding that Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life. Make no mistake, they are still vulnerable teens with all that that implies. Yet we are excited for their futures because they are receiving and responding to the Word.  God promises His Word never returns empty. God is developing His eternal Kingdom right here, right now.  Joy to the world, the King has come!

Thanks for all of your help, we deeply appreciate you.  Feliz Navidad y Prospero Ano Nuevo!

Tom and Collette

 

 Teresa with a few of her students.