In God's Perfect Timing
Two years ago we went to a remote community in the Chiapas mountains named Chimix. To get there we had to drive an hour and a half down a washed out curvy road, then up a trail (literally 4 wheel drive territory) and lastly a 20 minute walk down a trail to find this poor Indian community.
Our first encounter (in 2006) with them was a memorable one to say the least. Their water source was nothing more than a seep hole that was dirty and infected by all the animals that would get in the water. They would use this water for bathing, cooking, drinking, EVERYTHING. Needless to say there was a lot of sickness among the people. We were offered their traditional drink of pozol and in our ignorance we drank it. Later we found out that the water they used to mix the corn meal with for the drink was the same water from the seep holes. Well, Gabe will not soon forget that drink because he spent 4 days in the hospital with "nasty bugs". (as the doctor so nicely put it.)
Of course we were moved with compassion to help these people. We started by drawing up plans for a spring box that could be made to collect the water and keep it sealed. Next, we got an estimate from a local craftsman regarding what materials were needed and how much a project like this would cost. Then we left materials and enough money to complete the job.
Unfortunately, circumstances beyond our control soon followed and all the money we left had been spent on other things and the materials had been put to use in other areas. When we thought that the project had been abandoned and forgotten, God was still at work. We received a call from the local pastor at the beginning of the year telling us that the cistern was built and now we just needed to come and install the pump to push the water up the mountain to the church. We would have gotten there sooner but the bridge on the way to Chimix was washed away for a good 2 months.
In April we made our way up to Chimix and saw first hand the completed project. It was a beautiful sight! They were so proud to have it. It is such a testimony to God's faithfulness. Even though His timing is not always ours, He always completes what He starts.
While we were there we showed the Jesus film in the Tzotzil language. (Only 3 men spoke a little Spanish in this community) Then we also went over some basic health and hygiene principles. We gave away bars of soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo and pain medicine. They were so proud of the soap because for them a bar of soap is expensive.
There are multiple villages just like Chimix scattered all through out the northern mountains of Chiapas. We visited another one who has a similar natural water source and we have made plans to work on constructing a spring box for them as well. We are working with the local Indian pastor, Mariano, from Chenalho. He has 27 village churches and all are very poor. Our biggest challenges are the dangerous roads leading to each of them, the language because most only speak Tzotzil, and the time factor. Everything down there moves very slowly because of the heavy rains they experience 6 months or so out of the year. But with God's help we will be able to resource these people with fresh, life giving water and at the same time reinforce God's great love for them.
Our first encounter (in 2006) with them was a memorable one to say the least. Their water source was nothing more than a seep hole that was dirty and infected by all the animals that would get in the water. They would use this water for bathing, cooking, drinking, EVERYTHING. Needless to say there was a lot of sickness among the people. We were offered their traditional drink of pozol and in our ignorance we drank it. Later we found out that the water they used to mix the corn meal with for the drink was the same water from the seep holes. Well, Gabe will not soon forget that drink because he spent 4 days in the hospital with "nasty bugs". (as the doctor so nicely put it.)
Of course we were moved with compassion to help these people. We started by drawing up plans for a spring box that could be made to collect the water and keep it sealed. Next, we got an estimate from a local craftsman regarding what materials were needed and how much a project like this would cost. Then we left materials and enough money to complete the job.
Unfortunately, circumstances beyond our control soon followed and all the money we left had been spent on other things and the materials had been put to use in other areas. When we thought that the project had been abandoned and forgotten, God was still at work. We received a call from the local pastor at the beginning of the year telling us that the cistern was built and now we just needed to come and install the pump to push the water up the mountain to the church. We would have gotten there sooner but the bridge on the way to Chimix was washed away for a good 2 months.
In April we made our way up to Chimix and saw first hand the completed project. It was a beautiful sight! They were so proud to have it. It is such a testimony to God's faithfulness. Even though His timing is not always ours, He always completes what He starts.
While we were there we showed the Jesus film in the Tzotzil language. (Only 3 men spoke a little Spanish in this community) Then we also went over some basic health and hygiene principles. We gave away bars of soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo and pain medicine. They were so proud of the soap because for them a bar of soap is expensive.
There are multiple villages just like Chimix scattered all through out the northern mountains of Chiapas. We visited another one who has a similar natural water source and we have made plans to work on constructing a spring box for them as well. We are working with the local Indian pastor, Mariano, from Chenalho. He has 27 village churches and all are very poor. Our biggest challenges are the dangerous roads leading to each of them, the language because most only speak Tzotzil, and the time factor. Everything down there moves very slowly because of the heavy rains they experience 6 months or so out of the year. But with God's help we will be able to resource these people with fresh, life giving water and at the same time reinforce God's great love for them.
We're so glad of the work all of you do year round. Naturally, we would like to have more of you to ourselves, but that is not God's wish.
We can now see just how much you are accomplishing for the Lord and these people.
When we have so much, and they so little, it makes me ashamed for being so selfish.
Charlotte Hilliard
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God bless you guys for the work you do. It is so amazing and so encouraging to see God's love expressed and revealed in your lives and in the lives of these communities. keep up the good work of faith.
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