Welcome to our new HeartsforMexico Blog!

Learning how build a blog is challenging, I am not sure I have it yet, but I thought you might enjoy my newsletters even more if it was illustrated. Be warned this is not a newsletter, but rather a TEST to see how well I can pull this off.

As Eddie and I prepare to return to Mexico, and the coast of Oaxaca, we are daily made ready by the cold and the rain, which has only let up for one day or two. When the sun does come out it displays falls colors. Yellow maples play peekaboo through the evergreens, and orange, red and burgundy leaves grace the roads and sidewalks as I drive to work. The other day there was a spectacular rainbow!

Although it is not difficult to go south in such dreary weather, still, leaving our children here is hard. It helps thinking about what we are going to, and to think about the work we have done and the things we have accomplished while serving in Oaxaca. It helps us to look forward to the people we left behind last spring. I have been looking at their pictures, writing them letters, and even begun to make special packing lists for foods that we can't get in Puerto Escondido.


Last year we lived in the room downstairs and to the right of the entrance of the Clinica Corban. When we left last year our bedroom became the new dental clinic. We are uncertain where we will be living this year. We pray for air-conditioning and a private bath! And maybe to be in the same building with Angie and Berna (see below).

I have started to think about some of our regular patients. This sweet old couple, Doña Teresa and Don Miguel seem to be alone in the world. They show up every couple months. They have no children around to care for them, and neighbors give them food, a fish here, some eggs there. Whenever they arrive I have the privilege of putting together a care package with whatever I can find in our pantry, usually rice, oil, beans, salt, cheese if we have any, and some sugar. I also make them some food to eat on the spot as they usually haven't eaten that day. Laura always gives them an offering of money. We examine them and give them vitamins, and something for whatever physical complaints they have. And of course, we pray with them.

Last year on our way up to El Mosco we found Celica laying on the floor of her little house. Her head was covered with her shawl in misery, her foot was gangrenous and black, and she hadn't been able to eat because of the smell. Dr. Angelica, Laura and I treated her, and then the next day Eddie and Angelica's husband Dan drove back down the mountain and took her to the hospital. A few weeks later we picked her up from the hospital, and we worked with her for weeks providing a wheelchair and walker.

This is my favorite picture of Laura. Laura came to Roca Blanca about 15 years ago, when Duane and Sue Kershner started the ministry at Mision Victoria. Laura is an amazing leader, with a loyal following. No one works as hard as Laura. She lives upstairs in the clinic, and everyone in town comes to her, day or night for help. Last year when we were living at the clinic we tried to intercept some of her visitors to lighten her load. This coming April we are anticipating a thrilling event. Laura is getting married! His name is David Nelson, a missionary who has been involved with Mision Victoria for a number of years. David and Laura plan to make their home at the base as she continues her clinic work, and David enhances the ministry of the base and worship school with his many talents and skills.

Angie and Berna are some of our closest friends in Mexico. Eddie had the privilege of walking Angie on to the beach during their Mexican wedding last January (we had to miss their American wedding in September). Angie is an R.N. who first came to the base to work with Laura. Berna is one of the first students of the Bible school, and has been very involved in Mision Victoria for years. Together Angie and Berna have been working side by side with Duane and Sue in the promotion of the ministry. Berna is also our computer guru. Together they bring us much comfort as we are so far from our own children. Angie's laughter give me life!

Here are our doctors! Dr. Angelica has been with the clinic for many years, she and her husband Dan now have a son, Jacob. Drs. MaryKay and Dave made their first trip to Oaxaca with Laura's fiance in 2003, and have come every year since. This year they expect to arrive in January and stay until after the wedding. Together they have extended the reach of our ministry to the indigenous. They keep me busy! Dr. Eder joined the clinic staff last year and since Angelica has been away with her pregnancy and new family he has been busy tending to the patients that come to the base clinic and also serving on the outreaches. This year he has been joined by Jossy our new dentist. On the left we are with Rosibel, our amputation patient from the last surgical campaign. On the right, Eder is with a little Mixteco girl from an outreach to Yucuya'a. Oh, by the way, Eder is getting married in December, to Paulina (pics later).

Here is Lupe, Laura's adopted daughter. A nurse, she is my I.V. expert. Here we are up in Xine-yuba, Eddie serving as an I.V. pole. Lupe has had a hard year. Suffering from rheumatic fever as a child she sustained severe valve damage in her heart. A couple years ago she had a stroke due to the her heart defects, and the need for surgery became critical. But with all the issues of raising the money and getting an available bed at Mexico City's heart institute, plus Lupe's worsening condition, surgery wasn't performed until this last August. She is still recovering at home in Oaxaca.

Cleft lip patient Ariceli, post surgery, with her sister Esmerelda. They stayed with their mother and baby sister on the floor of our dining room at the clinic during Ariceli's week recovery. Their mother only spoke Chatino, so Esmerelda translated for us to Spanish. Our surgical campaign was performed by Dr. Chili Robinson, who is flown down by Dr. Terry Elders both from Texas. This year we got to use a new surgical facility outside of Puerto Escondido thanks to local doctors' participation and interest.

Mixteco children at village outreach to Atoyac

In years past when we arrived in El Mosco we were greeted with suspicious stares. Last year it was all smiles and laughter. Here ORU nursing student Heather is with the twins, Alisha and Victoria, and (I think) Norma. The twins' family live at the entrance of the mission clinic in El Mosco. The property was given to us by Brother Primo, the first Christian in the region. To reach the site, we have to have access through our neighbor's land, and that has never made them too happy. However, this last year Rufina, the mother of twins got very sick. The pastor of the church at the mission and his wife, both Roca Blanca graduates cared for Rufina. She was even brought to Roca Blanca where Lupe cared for her.

Here is Rufina with two other daughters. Rufina has now committed her life to the Lord and was baptised. This last year during one of our stays up at the El Mosco mission Rufina's husband invited us all over to their home for pozole.

Susie and her grandma Francisca. Primo, Francisca and there children live on the hill just above our clinic in El Mosco. Their properties have several fish ponds, gardens and now some rabbit hutches. Pastor Miguel, Susie's daddy, ministers to the growing church, and helps provide medical care. This little hill where they live is truly shining in the darkness, but the light is growing, with such as Rufina and her family.

This picture, taken of me in an adobe home where we were holding a clinic reminds me that there is much to do, that it is hard work, and that, as always we need the Lord's strength to do what He has called us to do.

This picture taken in Yucuya'a among the desperate and malnourished,

reminds me why we go.

Please pray for us as we make our preparations. Pray for our finances, our car, our health and all the details that raise their heads and add pressure.

Eddie and Leeann Kelley

P.S. Just added this You Tube video. This is one of my very favorite songs. I will add it to my next blog, since most of you won't be returning to this site, but I am still learning.

Did you feel the mountains tremble? That was the title of one of our newsletters from Oaxaca last year. Last year there was recognizeable opposition of the darkness to our presence in the mountains around Ixtayutla, as we have discribed to you the growing presence of Christ's light in the region. My favorite part of this song says, "did you feel the darkness tremble when all the saints joined in one song....?" Pray that we all stand in unity against the darkness, that we be wise, and full of Christ's love and power.