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God's Symbol of Hope |
 In
the year 2000, we flew to Tuxtla and then went by vehicle up into the
mountains to doctor and hold evening Bible meetings. Our team consisted of
my four children and a teenager and myself. We stayed in the home of one
of the generous villagers who moved in with her mom while we were in the
village. Every day the dear people came to help wash clothes and cook for
us. Because of their dedication, we were able to do more. What a special
two weeks we had in their little village. I loved these precious people. |
 The
funniest thing happened. Esperanza was my sweet helper in clinic every
day. She had a really fun sense of humor. Her husband was a great
carpenter and had a lathe on which he made the nicest table and chair
legs. Since my son makes pens on a lathe, they had fun together.
One day in clinic there was a lady complaining of pain in her spine. Years before she had fallen off a horse and she still experienced pain. I worked on her neck and asked her to turn this way and that on the little tiny cot Esperanza had placed there in a back room of the church. Suddenly without warning, the cot tipped my patient onto the floor as its legs buckled under it. The lady got up laughing. I was so worried she would be angry. She giggled and said she was better. Every after that, when we had a dull moment in clinic, Esperanza would offer this new special treatment secret of the Doctora. She had the most infectious giggle. |
| Just down the hill from her home was a nice road for a good long walk. About a mile down this road was a big rock that we were told by Freddy was where people claimed to hear marimba music played for them from Satan. When villagers would go to pray to Satan and promise to give their life to him, Satan would play the marimba for them and later they would become very wealthy. |
 For
translators, it was arranged that Doctor Ivan and her husband would share
the time between them. Their son also helped. They lived in another
village and it was not easy to make it to my meetings. They were such a
delightful couple. It was a real pleasure knowing them and having their
help. |
 The
church was packed when we arrived with people standing at the back. It was
impossible to picture the whole audience without a wide angle lens. They
had heard about us and were excited to see us. The man Freddy that we had
stayed with the year before, was born in this village and had told them
all about us. We had been traveling for over 24 hours and felt like it
would be great to have a shower and rest. We did not realize that we would
arrive to the packed house. I prayed as I quickly prepared in my mind
which program I would use from those I had prepared and placed in my
computer. I begged God to give me the Holy Spirit
enough for each person not to be disappointed. How I loved these
precious hard working people of the mountains. |
 I
presented a series of meetings that covered the basic fundamental beliefs
essential to salvation. The materials I used are in the section entitled
"Basic Bible". I had only 15 days with these people then I was
scheduled for a Youth Rally. I condensed and meshed the information
together till all concepts were covered. There was careful organization by
the pastor where all in the church were involved in helping. Six came
everyday to wash clothes, iron, cook and do all they could to help us
first thing in the morning. There were groups organized as prayer bands
during meetings. The Holy Spirit rested heavy on these dear saints. |
 We
worked every day of the week for 15 days straight without time out. God
gave me strength. One morning the brothers took us on a picnic and boat
ride. It was fun. We made it back just in time for meeting. God answered
my prayers and many were influenced to take their place on God's side. |
 Our
friend Freddy was determined to bring his boss the three hour trip up the
mountain to hear the meeting I present last called symbols of hope. I
heard these thoughts at a camp meeting in Portland, Oregon and treasured
the symbols of hope as a gift to give as I part with friends on mission
trips. The year before, after I presented this in Costillo, Tuxtla
Gutierez, a very unusual thing happened. The next morning it clouded over
and began to rain. This was a very rare event at this dry time of the year
for them. It never rains in the last part of November and first of
December. I grabbed my camera and headed over to their partially completed
church expecting a rainbow. I was not disappointed. Up through the rafters
of the church we photographed the rainbow. |
 As
soon as I had taken pictures, I hurried over to Freddy and Rachael's home
and asked them to come out and look. They were thrilled at the gorgeous
site. I told them that God had heard their prayers for a roof on their
church. Even though I could not provide much for it, God could. It would
happen. |
 Through
a step by step process of great faith, their church had started when we
had gone down the first time in March of 1999. They made tortillas and
sold them and had many projects to pay for their lovely church. Now they
needed a roof. |
  Freddy's
boss Ramon Cancino was told about this lovely symbol of hope and he said
he wanted to be a part of the project and he helped with provisions. The
great day came when the people worshiping had a roof over their heads. |
Freddy wanted his boss to hear first hand my
presentation of God's symbol of hope and the resulting prayer answer to
this church. It took a long time to arrive in Porviner from Tuxtla. Roads
had obstacles and he had to stop and help resolve some persecution issues.
Chamula Indians had death threats on them for their determination to
follow Jesus. It really was an issue of not buying alcohol any more.
Instead of being drunk, they were living productive lives. For this they
were beat up and killed. This is a long drawn out battle from the
Zapatistas.
Well, I knew he was coming to the meeting but we had been holding the meeting for over an hour and he still did not come. We knew Ramon was to see the symbols of hope program so we sang and sang and did the last of the video of the life of Jesus using the Mathew word for word DVD in Spanish. Next the pastor did the baptisms and just as he was finishing, in walked Ramon and Freddy. Chairs were placed for him on the front row next to the dentist visitors. He was shown honor by this. The presentation began. The information for this presentation is in the Bible lesson called Symbols of Hope. It is Basic Bible lesson number 39. |
 In
Genesis 9:13 God said He made this sign to tell all people that He had a
covenant with them. He would never again send a universal flood to destroy
the earth again. He would never leave them in their struggle with evil and
sin.
In Revelation 10:1 Jesus appeared to John in vision with a pillar of cloud about Him and a rainbow above His head. In heaven Ezekiel saw a rainbow above God's throne. |
 I
shared how excitedly we prepared for each child and mourned the loss of
one born dead. How empty Jesus will feel to have a fancy place fixed up
for someone but they chose not to be in heaven. When I completed the
program I told all the congregation that Jesus will soon be coming in the
clouds. He will have a rainbow about Him. I invited all to be ready for
the second coming. My presentation lasted about 40 minutes. All were
invited to raise their hand if they wanted to be ready. I was thrilled to
see the hand of Freddy's boss and the dentist visitor and hundreds of
others. How I prayed for the Holy Spirit to pick the words for me that
each heart would be moved to love and serve Jesus. |
 We
closed the meeting then gave Ramon a hand carved pen made by my son Lloyd
on his lathe. It was from maple wood as we had maples near our home in
Portland. The church just poured out gifts of gratitude on us. We had more
love shown us there than any place in the world we had been. What a
surprise. They had a whole box of gifts to give the people who had helped
sponsor the trip. They had other gifts for us and made T shirts with a
picture of the second coming on them on the back and our names and their
church name on the front. We love these T shirts. |
  Next
we had the surprise of our lives. Ramon turned to the audience and spoke
for 20 minutes telling them he was dealing with very serious things at the
law making level in the government. He stood under my projected picture of
the second coming of Jesus. He told them now was the time to accept Jesus
for soon there would be no more chances. Persecution as at the door. Just
close by to that village people were harassed and killed for their faith.
He had personally with Freddy gone in to bring relief to people. One
pregnant mother had fled with a toddler and been out in the rain under a
tree for safety. Freddy had gone in to find and help these precious people
standing firm for their faith. |
 Just
a short week later, Ramon's 23 year old son in college died of heart
failure. The grief was terrible on this dear man. I feared that he would
give up his determination to meet God with his heart ready. I feared he
would give up helping defeat laws in the government regarding the
Chamula Indian persecution. Ramon said that he was determined to continue
on. His heart grieved so much for his son. He determined the money gifts
he was given should go towards a TV station where he could broadcast God's
messages into areas no one can go. What a special dear man. I pray that
his courage will never fail. I pray that he will have extra angel guards
in his dangerous work. Ramon stated that he felt God had sent us to bring
him comfort in his loss. He felt God had provided him hope before the
crisis. We joined them at the funeral home until one or two in the morning
and then the next day at he cemetery. God held him up during his grief. |
| God had answered my prayer throughout the whole trip to be a blessing and to have the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that people would be moved to love Jesus. |
 I
have a few video clips of the persecution experiences of the Chamula
Indians in southern Mexico. These enactments are not even one tenth as bad
as the actual happenings. Our brothers are fighting valiantly for laws to
protect with religious freedom. May God give them unusual wisdom, courage
and boldness as they give reasons for the hope we have. They have chosen
as their symbol of hope, the rainbow over Chiapas. May God continue to
honor their faith is my daily prayer. You can see these on the video
rendition of my Mexico trip. See
illustratedbible.org.
God is in control: Rev. 10:1 He holds back the worst human passions till the appointed time when all have chosen whose side they will be on. Then He lets go, declares it is finished, and comes in the clouds. It will be very soon my friend. Get ready now. Give Jesus your heart and obey his commandments and treasure the Bible, His word to us. |
