The end of May and first part of June, my long time friend Greg Wallace from Lindale, TX went with me on another trip to Chiapas.  Jess and the kids were still tied up with school and were not able to go this time.  We first went to a small town in the state of Oaxaca near the Chiapas border to drill at a church there but we hit rock about 30 feet down and after drilling for another 3 or 4 hours on the rock without advancing even another foot, we decided to head to our next location the next day.  This location was still in the state of Oaxaca and we were able to complete a good well there at a small church and pastor's house.  This pastor and his wife were very poor and I was watching him when we started pumping the well and I think he gave one of the biggest smiles of joy I have ever seen.  It is the small rewards like seeing the smile on his face that makes all the hard work worth the effort.

     Next we went to another fishing village on the coast of Chiapas with plans of only drilling one well at a church there.  When we got there and started drilling, I found out how big the need for water was in this particular village.  Especially since it was in the height of their dry season and everyone was really struggling for water.  So, we decided to stay there and drill as many wells as we could.  In January on another trip, I had met a local man in the area that drills wells and he is also a Christian.  He had told me then that if I ever needed help just to give him a call.  So, I called him and contracted him to drill some wells while we were drilling also.  Long story short, we were able to complete 9 good wells on this trip, one in the village in Oaxaca and 8 in the fishing village.

     On the Thursday night before we left, all of the local pastors had helped organize a big outreach in the central plaza where I preached, Greg shared a few thoughts and then we gave out Bibles and tracts.  When we first started, there were not that many people there but after an hour or so, I think the entire village came out to see what was going on.  We have several more wells planned for this village (it is a pretty large village spread out over a large area) and I can't wait until Jess can go so she can have children's Bible classes, we can show movies and have more outreaches there. 

 
                           

    
     We have shared this with a few people but now we want to let everyone know.  For the last few years all of our work has been in Chiapas and God just keeps opening more doors and opportunities for us there.  So after much prayer, we have decided to move to Chiapas (it is the state that borders Guatemala).  All the trips down there are becoming harder each time (it is a hard 2 day drive on some very bad roads) and Jess is not always able to go because of the kid's school, so we feel it will be better to just live there.  We are heading down next week when Payden gets back from YWAM camp to look for and hopefully finalize arrangements for a house.  It is always difficult to find a place that has enough space for all of our equipment because they build houses a lot different down here, but we know God has the perfect place for us just like he did when we got to Soto La Marina.

     Once again we would like to thank all of you who have stood with us all these years, spiritually and financially.  I look back and it is hard to believe we have been here almost 5 years now and to see how much things have changed and grown since we got here.  Without God's help through all of you, none of this would be possible and I thank you all for your obedience to God and your willingness to help see the Gospel spread to those in need. 

     We ask that you all be in prayer for us as we start out on a new chapter of our lives in a new place.  Although we have worked in Chiapas for several years now, it is always difficult to uproot and move to a new place.  Knowing that we have many friends and family praying for us always makes it easier.

God Bless,
Gabe, Jess, Payden & Audrey

     As some of you may remember from our past newsletters, last year in May we were finally able to finish a water project up in the mountains of Chiapas in a small place named Chimix.  There we constructed a cistern to collect water from a small water source that came out of the side of a mountain in order to keep the water clean and also to store enough water to last them through the dry season.  Since the first time we saw this place, we have wanted to also be able to pump water from the cistern up the mountain to the church that is there, but because of the steepness and the distance to the church it has always posed many problems.  The first problem is that this village is only accessible by foot, so any materials have to be “hiked” into this place and it is not easy.  The second challenge was to provide them with something simple enough that they could use it but more importantly be able to maintain it.

     A couple of weeks ago, Vic Spillman and I were able to return to Chimix and finally get water up to the church using a series of plastic water tanks (1100 liters) and gasoline powered water pumps.  We installed one tank about half way up the hill and pumped water from the cistern to this tank using one pump and then we used a second pump to pump water from this tank up to the tank at the church.  Sounds pretty simple right?  Well without boring all of you with a lesson about pumps, let’s just say that most of the time the specifications that are listed for pump capabilities (head lift, gallons per minute, etc.) don’t exactly apply when you are in a jungle, at high altitude, hanging on to coffee plants so you don’t go tumbling down the mountain.  Here is where “trial and error” are the only rules and a lot of faith.  But praise God, we finally hit the right combination and got water pumping.  As an added bonus, the pastor of the little church lives below the level of the first tank so we ran a 1/2” line from the tank down to his house and installed a spigot in his front yard.  He and his family were so excited because they are the first people in this whole area to now have “running water” at their house.  The ladies are especially happy because they are usually the ones that have to carry the water up and down those steep hills. 

     The people in this area are extremely poor and cut off from many things, so we had to spend time just to teach the men the basics of how to maintain the pumps (check and change the oil, prime the pump, fill it with gasoline, etc.) and we left them with plenty of oil, gasoline(with a stabilizer added) and even the tools necessary to keep everything running.  We also brought beans, rice and cookies for all of the families in the community.

     After all was said and done, we had a time of prayer together to thank God for his mercy and goodness.  No matter how many times you experience it, when you see people living in the conditions that these people live in it really touches your heart.  To most people this would be a very crude water system, but to them it can mean the difference between life and death.  God bless, Gabe Hilliard

                       

     Hi everyone!  We returned home this past Monday from being in Palenque and other parts of Chiapas for about a week.  This all came about when Living Water received a request from a church in Houston, Texas.  A few ladies from the church wanted to have health/hygiene training for some pastors at a local Bible college in Palenque, Chiapas.  Since we are the representatives in Chiapas, we got the phone call.  It was wonderful to get to meet the students who came from all over Mexico.  We worked together with the team from Houston and presented a two day training class.  We covered basic topics like; disease transmission, healthy/unhealthy habits, hand washing, nutrition, keeping water clean, and some lessons specifically geared for kids.  The goal of the training was to give these leaders tools and ideas that they could use to educate the people in the villages/communities where they work.  At the close of the training several of them mentioned ideas that they had for implementing this knowledge.  We had a lot of fun with the training and want to thank First Presbyterian Church for inviting us.

     From what we learned and saw first hand, this area of Chiapas is similar to other parts of Chiapas where we've worked in the past.  They are mainly indigenous, live very modestly, have very dirty water sources and don't practice basic healthy habits.  For example, one pastor that Gabe was talking to explained that in his village the people are so poor that they comb the lice out of their hair and eat it.  We also know that the majority of them are plagued with sicknesses due to amoebas and worms.  Which is to be expected because the water they drink, cook, and bathe with comes out of a seep hole or river that has trash, feces and other bacteria in it.  We are praying about what and if there is anything God wants us to do further in this area.  Please help us pray for direction. 

     When we left Palenque we headed down to San Cristobal de las Casas to see the Sanchez family.  They are still standing strong in their faith.  Even though it would be so easy for them to move to another town (to avoid further persecution) they believe that they are to stay put and continue on.  Praise God for their faith and endurance.  The Holy Spirit is truly with them.

     After visiting them for a little while, we then made our way to Tuxtla Gutierrez to visit Gris.  Many of you know our precious sister in Christ and are always asking about her.  She is adjusting very well to living in Tuxtla and has already received a high honor from her students at the university.  God has blessed her with the ability to succeed at whatever she puts her hands to.  We miss her terribly, but are so happy that she is doing well.

     Well that's all for now...we are preparing for our next trip to the coast of Chiapas sometime around the end of the month, first of April.  I have to apologize that there are no pictures this time; we went off down there and forgot the camera, oops.  I'll end with a scripture that I read this week that was really special to me.  May the words of Jesus Christ encourage you today;  "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.  He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."  John 14:21  

   

         

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     We had another good trip to the coastal area of Chiapas in January.  Vic Spillman and Felix Cedillo went with me on this trip and we were able to complete 5 wells.  Three of the wells were for three different schools all from the same community, Villa del Mar.  We were able to share with the kids about Jesus by giving them each a Christian coloring book and a box of colors.  Our last well in the community of Villa del Mar was in the central park area.  After working all week with the people of this community we were able to have a community wide outreach one night in the "parque".  We showed a Christian movie named “La Esperanza” (The Hope), which gives a really good overview of the Bible from Genesis through the life of Christ and why we need a savior.  It never ceases to amaze me how many people we encounter that have absolutely no knowledge of the Bible.  It is always one of our main goals to try to give everyone a Bible and emphasize to them the importance of reading and studying God’s word for themselves.  Felix and I both shared a message after the movie and we gave out Bibles and tracts to everyone who came.  Our final well was drilled for a church in a small community named Rancheria Berlin about 30 minutes outside of Arriaga.  There they so lovingly served us a lunch of some very questionable chicken parts. HA!  And we wonder why we always have so much stomach trouble.   
     One day we made a quick trip up to Nachig (about 3 hours away) to visit with our friends the Sanchez family.  As many of you know through our newsletters and web site that they have been experiencing a lot of persecution lately.  Well, the community leaders (tradicionalistas) were at it again and had cut their electricity and water supply to their home and welding business, as well as banned them from having church services in homes or church buildings.  We contacted our attorney (Arturo Farela with Confraternice) in Mexico City and he started the ball rolling to try to get this situation resolved. Fortunately the electricity and water were reconnected after only about a week.  We wanted to go and visit with them for a little while and offer them some encouragement.  I think that is kind of funny because they are usually the ones who encourage us because of their continued faith through all of the trials and daily persecution they face just for following Christ.

     Each trip we receive more requests for wells and right now we have close to 20 more to drill in this particular area.  We look at it as a huge opportunity to share the hope of Jesus Christ with the people of this area.  They are so excited about the hope of receiving a water well... but we know that Jesus said, "If you drink of this (physical) water you will thirst again".  How wonderful to be able to share with them the Living Water who will quench their spiritual thirst forever!
     Also, the last week of February we have been invited to go to another part of Chiapas (Palenque) to help with hygiene training and also investigate the possibilities of drilling in the surrounding area.  Please keep us in your prayers as we are traveling so much.  Thank you!  We really appreciate and value your friendship and support. 

     2008 has been a record year for us in terms of the number of projects we have been able to complete and the number of people who have heard the Gospel.  The first few years of drilling here in Mexico, we were fortunate to complete 3 to 4 projects per year due to the difficulty of drilling here in the immediate area (of Soto La Marina) and also due to financial constraints.  But this year has been awesome.  This year we have been able to complete 21 wells and water cistern projects in 4 different states of Mexico.   (Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Hidalgo & Chiapas)  Each one of these projects impacts the lives of many people, not only with clean water, but most importantly with the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

     Also, another well driller, Vic Spillman, from the Texas/Mexico border joined MRI in July.  As a result, I have been working with him and his partner, Felix, up at the border area between our drill trips down south.  It has been nice working with other people that share our same passion to bring water to those in need.  This addition has in essence doubled our drilling projects and we are very excited about the doors this will open for other ministry opportunities in the border area.  Already for 2009, we have requests for over 16 wells in the coastal area of Chiapas, an invitation for health and hygiene training in the northern part of Chiapas and also 2 requests from the state of Oaxaca (the state west of Chiapas with a large Indigenous population also).

     December completed our 4th year living here in Mexico, (wow, how time flies) and though we have passed through many tough times and trials, we would not trade any of it for the world.  Your continued support, spiritually and financially, over the years has been invaluable to the work we are doing here and without your help we could not do what we do.  We look forward to what God has in store for 2009.  Thank you for working with us and God bless you. 

                          
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     We hope that all of you had a wonderful holiday time with your family and friends; celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior and the many blessings he has given all of us.  We had a busy but rewarding month of December.  It started with the first two weeks of the month we went as a family down to the coastal area of Chiapas.  We worked hard and much was accomplished.

     Gabe, with the help of Chencho and Chuz, two young men from the community of Nachig, were able to drill 4 successful wells.  Two in the community of Punta Flor and two in Arenal.  Both places are fishing villages, right on the Pacific Ocean.  The majority of the men work as fishermen and their livelihoods depend on them getting a catch.  What surprises us the most is that even though they are very close to the ocean, we are able to drill to almost 100 feet and find clean, sweet water.  The water level actually rises above the ground level.  We are constantly telling them how blessed they are by God to have this kind of water available.  Their only problem is that they can't afford to pay someone to drill so deep and they suffer.  So us being there has started a frenzy of excitement and has resulted in Gabe receiving 16 more requests for wells. (which is probably only the beginning)  This is a two way blessing; we are able to bless them with water and spiritual encouragement and we are blessed to be used by God in a way that is truly impacting the lives of these people. 

     While the guys were drilling I had lots of ministry outreaches.  In Punta Flor we had 2 different kids outreaches, showed a movie in the plaza and had a community wide health/hygiene class.  In Arenal it was similar...2 kids outreaches and 2 movie nights.  Each community has its own set of problems spiritually; one place dealt with a lot of homosexuality and the other battles with alcoholism among the women.  Both places have Christian churches and we were able to spend time visiting and encouraging the Christian leaders.  They have a very tough job!! 

     Thank you for helping us do what we do.  Being able to sit and eat a meal together with these people, love on them with a hug, stand side by side with them when you're neck deep in mud, pray with them when they are down, share with them a gift of a Bible, watching the kids sing with all their hearts to the Lord...all these things are priceless to us.  We are truly grateful to be servants of God.  Thank you for partnering with us, words cannot accurately express our gratitude.     

     In the first part of October, we had a wonderful trip to Chiapas.  My long time friend, Greg Wallace from Lindale, TX went with me because Jess and the kids had to stay home for school and because Jess had a prior commitment to teach English for the Office of Tourism here in Soto La Marina.

     In the past there have been times when we came into a new area that just had a certain feel to it; a peace and confirmation that it was God's will.  This new area of Chiapas along the Pacific coast feels like one of those areas.  There ...<< MORE >>

     Yielding to the will of God can prove to be challenging, at times.  Right now Gabe and I are going in different directions.  (that's the reason for part I and II)  For some time now I've felt the urge from God to put more focus on my children; their education and their spiritual health instead of just focusing outward to others.  Because of the nature of our ministry work we were traveling almost every other month and staying gone for 2 weeks at a time.  Even though we do homeschool, not a lot of schooling was going on when we ...<< MORE >>

The first week of August we made another trip to Chiapas. This trip was special for several reasons. First, we brought our friend, Isabel, from Soto La Marina with us to teach praise tambourine/dance classes to the Christian women in Nachig. They were eager to learn and asked me if I knew someone who taught classes; I immediately thought of Isabel. << MORE >>

     We, like many of you that have school age children, have had a busy summer full of activities with our kids.  Being in a foreign country and traveling as much as we do, doesn't leave a lot of time for our kids to just hang out and pursue their individual interests.  With our truck being broke down (for about 3 months now - that's another story), we weren't able to drill wells so we made the most of the opportunity to focus on our kids. 

     In the beginning of June, Audrey and I (Jessica) went to Lindale, Texas so she could attend a week ...<< MORE >>