Ron and Tasha Davis Reaching the Nahuat of Mexico Dear Friends and Partners,
Greetings from sunny Chihuahua! Wow! So much has happened since our last update, I hardly know where to begin! For starters, we are still living here in Chihuahua, Mexico, and still looking towards a move into a tribe. That day is now closer than ever, in spite of the barriers between us and a ministry with the people of “Las Moras.” The Lord has been tumbling those barriers down, one after another, as we placed them into His sovereign hands.
Teammates:
Our first barrier has been the need for partners. And not just anyone willing, but rather, missionaries whose gifts and abilities would fill in our “skill gaps,” complement our fledgling team and help see a strong, vibrant New Testament church planted. The goal has been to add two more couples or families to the team.
Answer!
In October Dan and Sarah Alkire and their son Josiah joined the team! They bring with them diversity, energy and a strong desire to serve the Lord. Over the last few months our families have grown close and we are all looking forward to living and working together in the remote village.
Elementary School:
Another barrier has been the question of how our kids will be schooled. They are all too young to be sent to the boarding school and Tasha and Sarah, though willing to home school them, would like to dedicate as much time as they can to language study.
Answer!
Last month the Lord answered that need in the person of Katie “Tater” Moore. She is a certified teacher, the daughter of missionaries, grew up in Latin America and is extremely excited about the opportunity of teaching missionary’s kids! She will live along with us in the tribe and be our 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th grade teacher! She is currently living in Missouri and is planning to come down next month to spend some time with the team as we make plans for living in the tribe.
Transportation:
In August a new, unexpected barrier sprang up between us and the tribe. The Mexican government, in an effort to stop drug smuggling, has restricted public use of all the small, remote airstrips throughout the region. As an undesired effect, the easy access that we have enjoyed getting to the tribe has ended. The trip by air is only about 50 minutes, but by road it is around 15 hours. Yes, I said, “hours.” So now we need 4-wheel drive vehicles to take our families in and out and to get supplies; a financial strain we weren’t expecting.
Answers!
Upon hearing of the dilemma, Sarah Alkire’s dad offered them a 4-wheel drive Ford diesel pick-up for a great deal! One of their supporting churches offered to cover the price, so now all they need to do is get up to Missouri, prep it a bit for driving in Mexico and bring it in!
As for our family, God hasn’t overlooked us. A fellow missionary family has a Suburban that is in good shape that they have offered to give to us for our ministry! They are still using it, but by the end of summer they will sign it over to us.
Permission to live in the village:
Historically, the Indian tribes of Mexico have been very resistant to outsiders and permission to live among them difficult, if not impossible, to obtain. One advantage we have is that our partners, Tom and Teresa Elkins, have been working among the tribe for over a decade and have established a good reputation with people.
Answer! (at least, more than halfway)
In January we presented our written proposal to the tribe. It was received very well and given a positive response. This Sunday we will follow up with a visit to the head village (different from the one where we will be living) to finalize the request. We have been assured that there will be no problems with this final step. One fellow in the village has even begun to make the adobe bricks we will need to build our homes!
Present:
This week the Elkins, Alkires and a dentist from Washington State will be in the tribe doing our 4th dental clinic. This is Sarah and Josiah’s first visit to the village; a very exciting time for them. Dan will also be taking in two metal molds for making adobe bricks. He will leave them with whoever he can hire to begin making the roughly 10,000 mud bricks that we will need for our houses. On Sunday the 22nd they will confirm with local leaders their willingness for us to begin building!
What a great testimony it is to watch how God is leading the way! We still have a future of unknowns to prepare for, but we can move forward with confidence that the Creator of the universe is going before us… and with us!
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
Thank you for the important and encouraging part you play in our lives and ministry.
Love in Christ,
Ron, Tasha, Benjamin, Emma, Joshua and Nathaniel Davis
