'^UG J

ALuaas!
THE

NEWS OF

APARrao~PO^T7nrM77m

QUERETARO/

MEXICO

The INnUEHGE OF

Published Quarterly

^982

THE^^ORM DUNGANFAilLL^

BILL HOFF ^FAMILY

^ART/^O-PGSTAXT NO. 57
QUERETARO. QRO.

f}

QRO.

MEXICO

CHRIST IN CENTRAL MEXICO

Vol. 13, No. 2

Summer 1982

Be Prepared
To everything there is a season, and a time
to every purpose under heaven: a time to .. .
a time to prepare once again for our Christian
service camp. And preparations began months
ago. Normally at this time of year we are
planning the list of teachers, and trying to

decide how we will patch the" tar pdper

roof. But this year the camp secretary (yours
truly) has written the list of potential evangel
ists, teachers, cooks, etc. and the camp
committee is NOT trying to arrange for
patching the roof. In fact, repairing the
7-year-cld roof was occupying so much time
that something had to be done. In spite of the
patches, during the camp, we were always
receiving complaints of wet blankets and
mattresses to which we, being very busy,
would have to respond, "Put a bucket under
the drip, or move your bed, the blanket will

reduced cost, because the sheets are seconds

of odd lengths and colors.

Brother Bob Wright of the orphanage,

bought and hauled the material, and two
work days were set to install it. After Friday's
work in which only 5 men were able to install
14 sheets, we were a little discouraged, but
Saturday a van load of missionaries and
nationals arrived from Mexico City. Their
help made it possible to install four times that
much steel in one day so that more than one
half the roof is done.

The old saying "many hands make light

the work" certainly is true and what great
fellowship we had swapping jokes in two
languages, and discussing the Lord's work in
His churches.

dry out"

Therefore, this year the camp committee

felt it prudent to purchase some galvanized
steel roofing which was available at a very

Hopefully the rest of the roof will be

finished before the first camp begins the
middle of July.

Spiritual Grandchildren
There is no more heartning feeling than seeing the fruits of one's labor. I was privileged
to share with Freeman Bump on such an occasion last month. A dozen years ago Freeman (a
missionary in El Paso, Texas), spoke to two young men about the gospel. They had been on
their way to the U.S. to look for employment as "wet backs." Of the one youth we know
nothing, but the other accepted the Lord and eventually went to Colegio Biblico to study.
Now he, Chon Avalos, works with us in Central Mexico in a very successful ministry. At
one of the Bible Institutes teacher's meetings, I mentioned that Freeman was bringing down
a small caravan of people interested in Mexican missions and wanted me to arrange a service
for them to attend. Their arrival was to be on a Monday and we have no services Monday
nights so I was going to have to decline. Chon immediately insisted that I bring Brother Bamp
to Urireo to meet the congregation there. I told him that the additional hour and a half drive
might be too much considering the distance the caravan had scheduled each day, but he
insisted.

When Freeman arrived, the group was very tired and he and his gracious wife, Carolyn,
felt the tour couldn't go that far, but the two of them agreed to go.
We arrived late, but the service was just getting .underway and Freeman preached a power
ful message on "following Jesus under persecution." It was a great joy for all of us to see
Freeman's spiritual grandchildren. There were 40 or more, and that being on a Monday night
(otherwise there might have been 70). Freeman, who was exhausted when we went, returned
to Queretaro rejoicing and content to see the children he had won by winning just one man.

The New Testament Pattern

In the Scriptures we read about "the priesthood of all believers." Striving to follow the
New Testament pattern, the church in Queretaro emphasizes the ministry of each member to
the congregation. For example, the people take turns directing services, providing special
music, giving devotional thoughts for the Lord's Supper and teaching. But there has been a
weakness; that is, the members have not been evangelistic enough in their daily lives. Now we
are trying to overcome this.

Last month the whole church, after a short worship service and the Lord's Supper, dis
banded to distribute tracts in a subdivision near where the church intends to build. The results

were favorable, and we hope to repeat this again soon.

Speaking of building, the congregation is gathering funds to begin construction. They are
trying to get the plans drawn and then will begin buying materials. Ten thousand pesos ($230)
were collected in 8 weeks. This is a small amount but it is a beginning. Please pray for the
church in Queretaro.

The united youth meetings are going well, and we are happy to report attendance of 60 or
more for each monthly meeting. It is crucial that our youth are supported in their Christian
lives because we so easily loose them to the world. The youth themselves are taking responsi
bility for paying many of the expenses that we missionaries and ministers used to pay.

Personal Glimpses
It is thundering and lightning as I begin
this article. Now the rain has turned to hail

and the electricity has gone off. Rebecca is

somewhat frightened but the lighted candles
ease her fears. How thankful I am that Jesus

said "I am the light of the world: he that

foUoweth me shall not walk in darkness, but
shall have the light of Ufe." John 8:12. What
assurance we have

when

we

follow Him.

It was not our intent to visit our families

over Christmas, but when my grandmother

got very sick and Bill's brother decided to get
married just before Christmas, we changed
our plans. In a very short time we attended

Bill's brother's wedding, had Christmas with

Bill's folks, and attended my father's 65th
birthday party. We were happy to participate
in these special occasions as well as visit other
members of our families. I thank the Lord

that my grandmother is now much better.

I continue to monitor at Mark's school,

but since January I am there every other week
instead of every third week. This keeps me
very busy but the school is very beneficial to
Mark. A few days ago Rebecca sat on a little
parson's table and sang "Jesus Loves Me." At
the end of each phrase she raised her voice
in praise. Her only mistake was to sing four
times "Jesus loves me" instead of three. I had

to thank the Lord that she knew this song and

it was important to her.
May the Lord keep you safely in His care.

NEW FORWARDING AGENTS

kim n
Shortly after we returned home, (about
the middle of January), construction began
on our house. At this time the bottom floor is

ready for plastering, and the back wall which

marks the end of our property is now being
constructed. We plan on moving in, even
though it will not be finished, in July or
August.

Jackie Baker, Margy's sister, has faithfully

served as our forwarding agent for 10 years.
However, due to her health she cannot
continue, so we have asked Darryl and Marge
Olson to perform the job. Darryl has always
been involved in evangelism and has been
a strong supporter of our work. He has visited
Queretaro and was the one who located the
tape duplicator which served us for 8 years in

producing Christian radio programs.

The Olson's address is 3908 W. Windsor

Ave., Phoenix, AZ

85009. Their telephone

numiaer is: 602-272-9078.

Prayer n Praise

OyyN\

JUN

PRAISE THE LORD FOR:

Al and Mary Gonzalez' plans to return to Queretaro this summer, and for
renewed health.

the Celaya church which has finished their building and is repaying their loan.
the baptism of a school teacher in Esperanza, Queretaro.
the work done on a new house for the Hoffs.

Norm and Mary Dungan's year of teaching at Johnson Bible College.

PETITION THE LORD FOR:

Darryl and Marge Olson; the Hoff's new forwarding agents,

the National Bible Institute as it recruits new students.

a teacher for the Christian school of Queretaro next year.

j I

;l. 1 il. '\33m.

0 6/ :L 'H/BZ

FiETUF^N TO SKNDE'.FV

FROM:

NOT l>i-L:iVC:FiAl=sL-Ei: AS) AD0RI=;)SE-:D

LlNABLlr. TO FORWARD

BAJIO CHRISTIAN MISSION

C/0 GLENDALE CHRISTI^ CHURCH

tRATE
'OSTAGE
fAID

P.O. BOX 415

Permit No. 36

GLENDALE AZ 85Xll

Glendale

ADDRESS COR^CTION REQUESTED

.MISSrj'J SE.^VICjZ^
BOX 177

K;.!Pt.;-i, li

-sbc-ag
HB8

MISSION SEmCE

PC Box 2^
Knoxvllife

IN

37901

AZ