April 8, 2008

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ and Participants in the Gatlinburg Missions Conference,

Greetings to you from Frijolillo, Chalchicuautla, San Luis Potosi, Mexico where I am recuperating from the busyness of three weeks on the road, celebrating Holy Week, participating in Youth and Women’s retreats in the Presbytery of the Huastecas, and coordinating the joint labors of brothers and sisters from three presbyteries (Huastecas and Noreste of the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico, and Northeast Georgia of the PCUSA) who gathered last week in La Laguna, Orizatlán, Hidalgo to place a concrete roof on the sanctuary of the Divine Savior Presbyterian Church.

Last week’s “roof pour” was success, with over 85 men arriving to mix concrete by hand the day of the pour and over 20 women preparing meals and drinks for the workers. As with every roof raising in the Huastecas, it was a community and presbytery-wide celebration not to be missed! We certainly wish you had been with us, but we were grateful for your generous financial support and the prayers you lifted up on our behalf. Many are the dangers inherent to this kind of work and many are the enemy’s attacks upon Christ’s Church as we gather to minister as His body. Thus, your prayers were and are of utmost importance to us.

Your gift was sent to the US offices of Presbyterian Border Ministry from whence it was sent forwarded to the Mexican bank account of the Presbytery of the Huastecas. The total amount in pesos was $50,366.46 or roughly $4800.00. Your gift was sent to us in its totality; with only the costs of the international bank to bank wire transfer being deducted (I think it costs $45.00). Thank you for your generosity which made this roof raising possible.

In addition to this letter I am also attaching a letter from the Secretary of the Presbytery of the Huastecas and a scanned copy of a receipt signed by the Presbytery’s treasurer. If this mailing does not include photographs, I will email a few in the next week so you can “see” your gift in action.

One again, thank you for your generosity toward our Presbytery and toward the Divine Savior Church in particular. Church leaders were moved to tears the day of the roof pour, in recognition of God’s faithful provision that the sanctuary could have this new roof. Now, the challenge is placed before the congregation….to live the Gospel in such a way as to attract others to Christ and build up the true Church, the body of Christ.

God’s grace be upon you and flow through you for His honor and glory. Now and always.

Susie Frerichs,

PC USA Mission Coworker

National Presbyterian Church of Mexico

Presbytery of the Huastecas