Okla.Bapt.Nursing School and Chatino village

Worshipping with the Chatino

Oklahoma Baptist Nursing Students visit a Chatino church
Well, we were supposed to go to El Mosco and a new location in the Ixtayutla region this week, but political rivalries and a road blockade changed our plans. Instead we went another direction, to Ixtapa, a little village in the Juquila region of Oaxaca. We were only there for a few days, but they were eventful days and I wanted to share them with you.

Roca Blanca has been hosting nursing students from OBU this week. We just returned from two days of travel and two days of clinic in Ixtapa. The Lord really gave these young women a memorable experience.

After an eight-hour trip over dusty bumpy roads we arrived in this Chatino village. It still amazes me to find these communities deep in the mountains so far from commerce and conveniences. When we arrived we were fed scrambled eggs in a black bean soup and tortillas. As we poured our beverages someone asked if it were purified water…oops, suddenly the pitchers disappeared and after the bottles of water we had carried up the mountains were unloaded, we were brought something “safe” to drink.

Just a little scary, but safe in God's will
We were informed by Pastor Armando that the town president had given us permission to stay in the town hall building, and hold our clinic there. When we arrived at the town hall, right across from the large Catholic church, there were a dozen or so men inside presumably talking with the President (mayor). We were very tired and ready to find places for our sleeping bags, but that had to wait.

Soon a crowd began to gather, Pastor Armando said to Laura, “Don’t worry, everything is fine, it’s safe, but please just sit down here and pray.” As we sat in the patio area of the town hall more people began to congregate. As we all prayed quietly we became aware that we were the center of some controversy. Those of us who looked around and watched the faces saw anger; but the anger was not directed at us. It appeared that they were disputing with the president, many people were standing there quietly listening to the angry talk, watching to see what would happen.

The voices were loud, and angry, but we couldn’t understand what they were saying at all because they were speaking Chatino. As we sat there some of us felt quiet at peace, some of the girls admitted to being a little nervous, Eddie says that he felt that it could turn ugly, but there was nothing else for us to do but to pray and trust God. Apparently the people were telling the president that if he let the strangers stay in their town hall, they would kick him out of office.

The crowd appeared to be growing; perhaps 300 Chatino people, men, women and children surrounded us, and our cars. We saw them sitting on the bumpers of our trucks, we wondered about the security of the trucks’ contents but didn’t dare to move from where we sat. After about an hour Pastor Armando came and told us to quietly get into our vehicles giving us each a guide to direct us to a home where we would be staying instead of the town hall. (sorry that I couldn't take a picture, but you understand)

Chatino hospitality
We were taken to a home where we felt safe and at home. The students took the bucket toilets in stride, as well as the bucket showers. We slept there and then drove to another home across town where we ate and saw patients. We were fed well, four times a day as is the Mexican way, desayuna at 7:00A.M, almuerzo at 10:00 A.M., comida at 3:00 P.M. and cena at 8:00 or 9:00 P.M.

Desayuna, sweet coffee, bread and cookies

Chatino women cleaning up after comida

Brisk ride from where we slept to where we ate and worked

Over the two days we were there we saw over 170 patients. At every location where we hold clinics there are predominant ailments; here it was parasites. I came pretty close to running out of Flagyl and Abendazol.

Professor Hernandez and students preparing injections for sick infant

I had most of the nursing students rotate through the pharmacy. This group of students seemed to be the best I have ever had. They developed a system that made everything run smoothly. I have already talked with them and gleaned some ideas for upcoming outreaches.

Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings Thou hast ordained praise
There were children everywhere! They loved the games that the students taught them. They colored the pictures and watched the heath teachings eagerly. Their beautiful brown faces beamed. Around us the mothers sat with their babies who invariably cried desperately when we tried to get a temperature or weigh them.

The first day of clinic was closed early so that everyone could attend a worship service where we would share as visitors from the outside world. It appears to be a great encouragement to these indigenous churches that they are a part of something much bigger than their isolated world. For us, it amazes us as we realize that the day is coming when we will stand with not just the people we go to church with, but with Chatino and Mixteco peoples together worshipping at the throne of God.

I have already described the vibrant worship of the Chatinos in my last blog….but how thrilling it was to stand with them in their own small church building singing, clapping and dancing. But wait, there’s more!

The children, ages 4 to 12, stood at the front of the congregation during the worship. They were packed in about 5 deep the width of the church building. They clapped and sang loudly, and then, they started jumping up and down in dance. I watched their faces, they were happy to be there. Some had their eyes closed, faces upturned in true worship. As I looked behind me, I saw the adults, women on the right, men on the left, singing and clapping as well. But the children did not look back. It was as if the little children were leading them.

May the next generation carry the Word to the nations!
As I considered these young ones, I remembered our own kids. I remember all that Jesus said about the worship of children, and that we must come to Him as a small child.

I watched the parents with their kids here, the tenderness and relationship was obvious. I know that there are other areas, like in Ixtayutla where the love of father and mother is not a given, but is rather replaced with bitterness and violence.

I think that a child that is loved may be better able to receive the Lord’s love, and be more able to respond. And it challenges me in my ministry as I give my love to these people of the mountains. How do I show, and sow, God’s love and affection?

The last verse of the Old Testament, in Malachi 4:6, the scripture talks about turning the hearts of the fathers back to the children…This is something that is very big in the heart of God, and it is therefore something very important for us to work towards and pray for.

Prayer Requests
Please remember to pray for Jay, Faith, Isaiah, Elisabeth and Kai. They are now living up in Mojocuautla among the Cora people. They plan to be there for 6 months to learn the language as the first steps in making a true impact for the gospel among the Cora.

Like the Mixteco, violence is not uncommon with the indigenous Cora. They live in poverty and hold very tightly and proudly to their old ways, including the worship of their gods, and particularly the skull of King Nayar.

Jay tells me that the kids have started the public school, which teaches in both Spanish and Cora, and that they like it. They will also have a retired teacher to tutor them in Cora.

Life for the family will be rather primitive by their usual standards in Cofradia. Their house has one brick room and a bedroom made of clay and sticks. Jay commented that most of the hardship will probably fall on Faith, as she will not have her washer and dryer, etc.

So please pray for them. And that God will keep away the scorpions, and keep the children safe in every way. So please pray for them. And that God will keep away the scorpions, and keep the children safe in every way.

I put this picture of a Chatino mother and son in to show our daughter Faith how she can do dishes and laundry with baby Kai on her back!

Also, please remember us as well. God seems to be leading us to greater commitment here in Oaxaca. We need to get a visa that will allow us more time, and cover my work as a missionary nurse. A few people have begun share in our financial support, for which we are very grateful. We would appreciate you praying about joining with us in prayer and in financial support.

Support checks can be written to The Gathering, P.O. Box 512, Mount Vernon, WA, 98273, in the memo space write “support for Eddie and Leeann Kelley”

May God’s mercy cover you and give you joy!
Eddie and Leeann Kelley