tUG aJORM DUfiCA/4S

APDO. POStAL 741

QUEeGtASO QRO.
MGXICO

PUBLISHED QUARTERLY

AUGUST 1975

Meet the Men

We'd like for you to know the men who are carrying the major lead of
evangelism and teaching in the Bajio. In this issue, Juan Avifia, evangel
ist in Celaya, Guanajuato, gives his testimony.

^ "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel unto every create
This command of the Lord was a challenge for me from the day of my con
version when I was only 15.

But it was not until 1967 that I made a de

cision to learn more about the Word, so that I might more effectively ful
fill
this Great
how was I to learn
Bible?
The answer

it intensively.But
have time to teach

of a Bible college
to

enroll

there,

desire was strong,

dition was weak. I

had

just

barely

in auto mechanics.

turned

vided
for

the

to God,

money

official

enrollment

pa-

fee in

in Eagle Pass,Texgan a new life.

Commission.

But

more

the

about

was easy study

where?
me?
so

But

Who would

I had heard
I

determined

although

my

my financial con-

had no job, for I

completed a course
In my frustration

and

He soon pro-

for

bus passage,

pers and for my

Colegio
Biblico
as.

There I be-

I dug into the Word of God and, thanks to my excellent

teachers,was soon able to teach and preach for congregations near the bor

der.Of the many blessings involved in the work among those churches,one of
^e greatest was meeting Maria Magdalena Garcia.Soon after our first meet
ing, near the end of ir^ first school year, I encouraged her to come to the

college to study. . We both attended thfe next year; and on August 23, 1969,
we were married.

In due time our first child--Ruthwas born.

I had studied two years;

now I had

to fulfill obligations to a family.

So we left Colegio Biblico without graduating.(I wish now that I had stay
ed on, not because I feel incapable op doing the work of God, but because
I would like to be able to say tliat I
a college graduate. Nonetheless,
I believe that I learned enough in those two good years at Eagle Pass to

enable me to fulfill the Great Commisijlon. 1 know the Truth, and I aia not
ashamed of the Gospel.

I praise God por what He has done, for I have had

the joy of baptizing many souls into Cnrist.)Having left the college, how
ever, I returned to my home in Guadalajara, and took a secular job. It was

there that a second daughter, Cristinal was bom to us.

One day, however, another t\iming point came into my life.
home from work, I found a letter waitmg for me.

Returning

It was an invitation to

move to an area of Mexico where there|was a spiritual harvest waiting for

reapers. I was interested, but I also knew of

ily.

I prayed that God would lead. In a matter of days, the same brother

who had

again.

responsibility to my fam

written the letter came to Guiidalajara in person to plead with me

Although he did not find us jut home, when I learned of his visit

and his concern, I determined to accejpt the call.

I quit iry job, and we

moved to the city of San Miguel de Ali(inde,where a fellow Christian, Tomas

de la Cruz, was waiting for us. In the two months that followed, he intro
duced us to the work, after which we moved to the city of Celaya.For three

years we have been sowing the Gospel ^(ied here and in surrounding areas;
it has been a great pleasure to see ttus fruit of the Gospel,in the form of
baptisms and strong, growing congregaiiions.

It was here that our third

child,John Mark, was born (a son whom :c pray will be a.faithful servant of
the Lord.)

It is my prayer that God will continue to be sble to use me. There is

much yet to be done.

still few.

The harvest is|still plenteous and the laborers are

But I have faith in my (pod to fill us all with the wisdom to

teach others to preach the Word and thus help to increase the number of

laborers in the field.

I am content.God has given me a failJiful, obedient wife and a beautiful

family. Although our trials have been liiany, both in our personal lives and
in our Christian life,our faith in God has carried us through every crisis

and difficulty. Labor, fatigue, sickiposs, discouragement, economic need-all these have been overcome thanks to the faith that Christ has put within

us. C3od has provided materially and blcissed spiritually.We praise His name.

Balance 3/31/75
Income 4/1/75 - 6/30/75

(Note:

FINANCIAL ISTATEMENT
$ 721.64 Expenses 4/175 - 6/30/75
3972.40

Balance 6/30/75

Expenses for firs1: 15 days of July = $807.80)

3697.58
996.46

Embers from the Campfire

The 1975 camp, held on the new campgrounds just outside Queretaro dur

ing the week of July 14-19, was surely one of the best held in the
last 6 years. Figures cannot reflect the spiritual blessing and uplift
that the week provided; neither, completely, can the few pictures we had
time to take.
Only time and perhaps only eternity will tell the whole

story. Suffice it to say that the new camp building was well used during
the 6 days. Over 140 people filled the two dorm rooms, and the cooks put
in 18-hour days preparing and serving the food.

The heavy rains of Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday taxed the facilities,
for all evening activities and some of the morning classes had to be held
inside the building. The boys' dorm room was large enough to hold every

one, even with the bedding and clothing which had to be stacked along the

walls;
the problem was the tracked-in mud.
It came in faster than we
could sweep it out.
Fortunately, the Lord had provided us with concrete
blocks and planks, so we did not have to sit on the floor. But in spite
of the rain and the mud,

there was a good atmosphere for learning,

the

preaching was excellent, and a "group" spirit soon developed. On Thursday,

Friday and Saturday, however, the skies were clear, and the enjoyment in
creased.
Evening services were still held inside, but other activities
moved outdoors. Sports championships were hotly cpntested; the Thursday

night bonfire warmed the body, while the prayer and singing warmed the
heart; the Bible dramas were carried off with strong spiritual impact; and

"faculty night," which featured a flour-flinging Mexican version of The

Keystone Cops, brought \anifying laughter to all.On Friday afternoon, three

young people completed their initial obedience to the commands of Christ

and were baptized in the pool.

Some of the most encouraging sings that we missionaries saw were:

^e

almost total responsibility assumed by the Mexic^ evangelists, the desire

to expand next year's camping program, the willingness and ability of the
campers and congregations to underwrite an ever-greater portion of the
costs, and an eagerness to know the dates of next year's camps.

Although we were thrilled with the building the Lord provided for us,we
believe that it will be necessary to add a second structure by next year

a covered, patio-like area, for dining and for services and programs. We
are at work on a proposed plan for the structure, one which would probably
cost around $2500 to build;
but the final word is in the Lord's hands,
for we have no funds with which to build.
We will pray and wait, for He

knows best. And as we pray, we'll not forget to thank Him for what He has
already done.

Fami'lif
Home at last!

Affairs

This was our thought as we reached the outskirts of

Queretaro.
It had been a long trip from Knoxville, Tennessee, by way of
Quincy, Illinois, to visit with iny ^olks. The trip was made even longer
because of car and trailer difficulticis en route, and so we breathed a sigh
of relief as we saw the familiar skyline.

We were greeted with open arms by the Hoffs, who had been living in

our house while we were gone.

They were planning to leave shortly for a
two-month visit to the States, so wq stacked our things in the hall until
they could get their furniture moved to the basement for storage. The move
took longer than anticipated what with camp preparation, the camp week it
self, and a number of visitors passing through (one night there were 17 of
us in the house),but it was finally completed the day before the Hoffs left

We praise God that Charles Hulire, a J.B.C. student who came down to
work on the camp building, also took time to do some muchneeded repairs on
our house.

Now I am busy painting -- a job which has not been done for 7

yearsso the house is beginning to l|)ok like new again.

Norm has been spending his time since our return in camp construction,
visiting, radio tape production, tr^islation of filmstrip scripts, and a

station-bystation radio survey. He has also found time, however, to plant

10 rows of corn in our garden. The tain has been generous and the corn is
now about 3 feet high, so our mouths a:re beginning to water.
Heather is anxious for school to ]>egin.

We have decided to enroll her

in the American school here even thcl)jigh tuition is high ($50 per month).
She will be receiving 1 1/2 hours each morning in Spanish grammar and voca
bulary with the rest of the day devolved to classroom subjects in English.
Since her Spanish is rapidly improvingj, she should have no trouble.
So it looks like things are back to normal in the Dungan household,
and we continue to thank God for His blessings beyond measure.

FROM:

Bajio Christian Mission

c/o First Christian Church

U. S. POSTAGE

221 East 26th Place

Yuma,AZ 85364

Yuma, Arizona

Permit Mo. 86
NON-PFT. ORG.

85364

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

PAID

MOM

ALUDOS!

tUC ^ORM DUACAH5

APOO. POStAL 741

QUtRCtARO. QRO.
MXlCO

NOVEMBER 1975

PUBLISHED QUARTERLY

MEET

THE

In the August issue of Saludos

we presented the first in a series
of

articles about the

Mexican men

who are carrying the major load of

evangelism
and teaching in the Bajio. The article was a translation,
a

fact

which

we

again

From the time I was a child, how

ever, my desire was to preach the

Gospel.
One day I left my hcane,
thinking I would find a good job and
thus

forgot to mention.
Now we present the
second

MEN--I.I
ents have always been poor, so I had
to help with the work.

be

better

sketch

able to help
family
economic
ally. But God led

transla

me to a student of

tionthis time of

Colegio Biblico in

Hermilo
evangelist

Eagle Pass, Texas.

That student spoke

Gasca,
living

in the city of San

to me about what I

Juan
del
Rio,
state of Queretaro.

might

do

pare

myself

to

serve

the

"I

of

am a native

the

Bajio

better

of

Lord;

the village of

Seui

Pedro

Naranjos
Peter

even

arrange

pass

port

St.

could attend Bible

the

College
n^self.
With the encourage
ment of that student and the help of
the Lord, I went to college, idiere I
first finished my high school work
and then went on to receive ayf coll

of

in

the state of Guanajuato.

peu:-

still live and serve the Lord

there.
My education as a child was
minimal I did not finish junior
high school in San Pedro.
My par-

ege degree (in 1974).

so

my

de los

Orange Trees),
ents

he

offered to help wb

Mexico. I was born

in

to pre

that

"Meet the Men," continued

While in school,
i wanted to
preach; so I went out to many cit
ies and congregations and shared the
Gospel.

I thank God that the bro

thers gave me much encouragement,

and the more they encouraged me, the
more I gave myself over to the Lord.

When I graduated,
and

I thank

God

I got married;

for the wonderful

wife He has given me.

study
was

in a Bible College,
a Bible School

home congregation.
iage

Marta did not

she

has

but

teacher

she

in her

Since our marr

continued to teach.

We will soon be celebrating our

first anniversary as man and wife.
(Continues on next column)

THE

CAMP

On October 13, work was begun on

the second building of the Campamento del Bajio, just outside Queretaro,

on the grounds of the Christ

ian orphanage.
Designed to accomodate 150 people

So ny life has returned to its

early-planned goal.
For a time I

was interested in earning much money;

but now I know that it is much more
profitable to win souls for Christ.

Since early in this year of 1975 I

have been laboring for Him in and
around the city of San Juan del Rio.

And the Lord has blessed the work;

a number of people, especially teen
agers, have accepted the Lord.
would ask you to pray for them,

I
for

it is very difficult to continue in

the Lord faithfully in this city.
The Lord has also opened a number of
new doors

through the Bible corres

pondence courses.

With the Lord's

help,the church in San Juan matures.

GROWS
to wait at

least a year

floor and put

to lay the

up all 4 wallswe'll

be using concrete pillars to support

the roof anyway, so the blocks will
just be to keep out the elements.
Bro. Steve Shold, missionary in

the building will serve as both din

the
state of Hidalgo, has been
ing hall and chapel. Dimensions are
directing work on the building, with
8 by 15 meters (about 25 by 48 feet). Norm serving as incompetent assist
Basic design

will

be

identical to

the original, dormitory

building

concrete floor, cement-block walls,

and wooden trusses supporting a dou
ble-slope roof.
The major differ
ence will be, Lord providing, the
asbestos-sheet roofing, in contrast
to the tarpaper roof of the dorm.

raised stage will

into the building;

In addition to the work done

ing touches

new building, finish

have

been added to the

kitchen in the first building:

two
doors have been bought and installed,
two windows made

and fitted;

ceiling laid in.

These improvements

and a

should make the work of the cooks,if

be incorporated
and portable

no easier, at least more pleasant.

Additional minor projects for the
year include laying a sidewalk along
the front of the dorm,
putting

chairs and tables will serve to keep

the building extremely versatile.
Total cost will probably be about

3000.00 fully done.

ant.

so far on the

But we e:^ect

lights in the outhouses, improving

the drainage

system,

the sports facilities.

and upgrading

VISITING THE CHURCHES

We

want

give

to

use this column to

you a word*s-eye view

congregations

important

that

part

form

of the

the most

of the work in the

Bajio.

This time let's look at one of

the four churches in the state of

Within the last month, a second

work has been begiin in the city, in
one of the edge-of-city colonies.
About 10 people have been involved
in the studies which are held in
the home of one of the Christian
ladies.

Queretaro.

San Juan del Rio is the ci"^ out

of which Hermilo Gasca (see "Meet
the Men" article) works.
The work

sum' facts 'n figures

here began in 1971, through contact

Number of

with two students of the Bible cor

respondence course.
Since then,

through October:

there

has

been

steady growth, in

spite of many obstacles.

For

held

two

in

years,

the

tiny

hcanes

of

the

accompaniment

for

the

Number of new
correspondence
October:

requests
course,

for Bible
August -

39

the

studies. In 1974, however, a down

town building was rented, and the

congregation has been meeting there

ever since.
An outbreak of perse

cution
lems;

15

were

Christians, and jeering, cursing

euid stone-throwing neighbors pro
vided

566

Ntanber of stations carrying the pro

gram:

services

radio broadcasts, August

last year caused real prob

but the Lord answered pray

Number

of requests from July, 1974

to July, 1975:

Active

dents

622

students as of Oct. 1 (stu

who

have completed at least

one course in the last 3 month^lBO

ers, and the Christians endured and

grew.
Hermilo

With the coming of Brother

this year, there has been

Percent of total requests that con

tinue,to study: 18%

growing excitement. Attendance runs

between

being

25 and 40,

held

on

with

services

Sundays and Wednes

days.

The youth meet each Satur

day;

they are the strongest part

Average number

of new requests per

day,October,'74 - October,'75: 2.2

of the congregation. At least seven

families are actively involved in

the work, although there is not one

Just a little reminder.

complete family (father, mother and

children).
Hermilo's eir5)hasis on

our Forwarding Agent:

stewardship

Green, P.O. BOX 628,

has

as

goal

the

the

responsibility

an

immediate

congregation's assuming
of rent pay

ments ($28 monthly).

It will

help us immensely if you will send

your financial gifts directly to
85364.

Mrs. Barbara

YUMA, ARIZONA

But any letters you write

should come to us here. We do enjoy

hearing from you.

Familq
I don't

call

it,

"Year
area.

know

but

what

this

has

been thei

and they have eatenj

every tender, green thing around.

We're beginning to wonder when Pass~

over will come.

We

did manage to salvage squash

from our garden, though, and have

been enjoying squash pie, which hasi

proved to be a very good substitute

for pumpkin.

birthday, so

took

little
friends
(Yes, Queretaro

of the Grasshopper" in our

They are thick as carpet in

our back yard,

Affairs
more "grown-up" this

the Chinese

So I guess I can mark

skating rink).

year

for her

her

and six

roller skating.
does have a new

It was quite an ex

perience for all of us. It's a good

thing I had planned plenty of food,
because by the time we got home
they were famished frcxa all the
effort they had expended trying to
stay off the floor I
Norm has been kept hopping late

ly

trying

to

work

with both the

pximpkin off my diminishing U. S.|

Mexican

grocery list.
spending a lot of n^<

l|

and the ever-growing American con

gregation.
It's quite a week-end
meeting schedule now (to say noth

thought that surely I wouldn't have

to do much this year.
But when I

ing of the other work that must be

done), but we praise the Lord for

tried last year's clothes on her, i

letting us in on all the excite

ment.
We hope you will keep both
of these
congregations in
your
prayers. We are praying especially

I've

been

time lately sewing for Heather.

was

astonished

were

at

least

short.

It's

to

see

three

that most

inches

too

hard

seven-month-old

to

believe that the

baby we brought to

Mexico is now a young lady of severj

years.

church

here

in Queretaro

that the Lord will lift up a Mexi

can man who can serve as leademship
material for the Mexican church.

She wanted to do something

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Revised Balance 6/30/75

Income 7/1/75 - 9/30/75

$ 751.26
4000.71

Expenses 7/1/75 - 9/30/75

Balance 9/30/75

4043.69
708.28

U. S. POSTAjCS

^H:

Bajio Christian Mission

PAID

c/o First Christian Church

Yuina,AZ 85364

221 East 26th Place

Permit No. 86

Yuma, Arizona

NON-PFT. ORG.

85364

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED