Salas Update

Greetings from Arrayan, Nayarit, Mexico where “the waters” have calmed, the beans are ready for harvest, and the “chivitos” (baby goats or kids) are jumping around the mountainside. We hope in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that you and your family are well and full of joy.

Andres and I are good, grateful to God for the many blessings we have received. So much has happened in the last few months, much more than there is time to share, so the following is a brief overview.

One of the accomplishments we had was that Linda survived her first “water” season in Arrayan! I now know why the locals call it “the water” rather than the rainy season! Daily rain controls daily life: when you can wash and dry clothes, how long you visit someones’ home while it downpours, and how tightly you grab your husband when the thunder knocks down your door. :) This is of course the “white girls’” point of view, and I’m told this was a calm year; that being true I’m thankful to God for easing me in!

Andres is finishing the season of the year where he dedicates lots of time in the field. He planted corn, beans, and Jamaica this year. The corn that we didn’t already eat is harvested and bundled up at the house, the beans are next to harvest, and the Jamaica is flowering for a harvest in December. The animals are almost ready to come closer to home; they spent “the waters” in the ranch, and the men are ready to rest from the numerous hikes around the mountainside checking on the animals.

Also in the last month the Salas Simon family (in Mexico the husbands last name is followed by the wifes’) has moved! We are happily enjoying our little house and we have enjoyed the friends from the community that have visited us. The only sad thing is our visitors eat a lot of burned tortillas as “the white girl” is just now learning to make tortillas. :) We still have several additions we want to make to the house, but little by little as they say. Whenever you can, we happily await visitors from other towns, and just maybe by then you’ll be served only slightly burned tortillas! :)

We would like to share with you the good things that are happening in the church Andres is pastoring, Fountain of Living Water. Many of the members are strengthening their lives in the ways of the Lord. It has been hard work and at times our impatience to see souls won for the Lord, but in spite of many tribulations we are excited to continue serving our Lord.

We ask for your prayers as in our community there is a strong pull to drug addiction and illegally planting and harvesting marijuana, and many believers because of economic needs decide to participate in this illicit work. We share this with great sadness in our hearts. Our desire is to see people changing their lives and our hope is that you can be a part of that change in Arrayan with your prayers. Please pray also that the Lord will give us wisdom and patience to be able to support the highs and lows that come in ministry. This is an urgent prayer request – pray for us and the mentioned requests.

With great love, Your friends and coworkers in Christ,

Linda and Andres