In 1986 we planted our first church in a Mixteco Indian labor camp that was without running water or electricity. We built our first church building there with the help of teams from the USA.

Tiburcio and Josefina and their children attended services, and Vacation Bible School programs. Their 8-year-old son, Steaven, became deathly ill after drinking rusty water from the camp water tanks.  While in the hospital Steaven said to his father, Tiburcio, “Dad many people die. If Jesus does not heal me, it’s okay. I will go to Heaven and be with Jesus, but YOU CANNOT COME TO HEAVEN WITH ME. You drink alcohol and give mom problems.”

Tiburcio wept aloud, fell to his knees, and committed his life to Jesus.

God used little Steaven’s words; then He took Steaven home to heaven. Over the next year, we struggled to encourage Tiburcio and Josefina.

By and by, Tiburcio joined me in leading discipleship classes. One day, Tiburcio told me about a dream wherein Jesus visited him. In his dream, Jesus said his village in Oaxaca was without the Word of God. He decided to go back to Oaxaca–San Pedro Yosusqua, Oaxaca to witness to his relatives and win the meanest men, in his village, to Jesus.

Tiburcio asked me to join him in Oaxaca. As his spiritual father, I was obligated and privileged to mentor him as God has allowed, all these years. It was a joy to install Tiburcio as the first pastor of this church. I also had the privilege of ordaining two elders to serve with Tiburcio. These men were his cousins, formerly, the meanest men in the village.

In that Tiburcio has gone on to his final reward, we miss him dearly. Nonetheless, the Lord continues to increase the church. The church carries on, conducting Bible conferences and studying a two-year discipleship, church planting course known as Omega. To this day, church members continue going out to make disciples in their villages. Margaret and I are blessed to be lovingly embraced as their spiritual father and mother. May God be glorified.