Tlancualpican is the name given to the location settled by native inhabitants many, many years ago in southeastern Mexico. It means "The Place Where Water Flows Out of the Mountain". It is also known as the "Land of Scorpions". Additionally it is the home of the Tree of Life Training Center where the Mexico Mission Team spent the bulk of their time while in Mexico January 4 - 13, 2013.
The Mission Team brings back greetings from our friends in Mexico --- those of you that have been there before will recognize these names --- Terry Henderson, Catalino, Mirna, Andres, Carlos, Sala, Estella, Chaly, Juan Lauro, Don Trini, Liborio, Marcelino, and the rest of the GYTTE staff and day workers that we fellowshipped and worked with.
Even though the bulk of the mission team had been to the Tree of Life Training Center before, we still became more aware of the rural reality of the rural poor people of Mexico since the Alternative Work-study And Reality Experience (AW.A.R.E.) was especially tailored to returning missioners.
The team shared in two worship services at the local Methodist Church and hosted the Three Kings Day celebration at the church. Toys donated by Tabernacle members and friends and the Tabernacle VBS were provided to the children on Three Kings Day. The team also visited Estella's home community one evening near Tlancualpican. Estella and Violeta spoke at a well-attended outdoor community gathering on Domestic Violence as part of the outreach efforts of the Tree of Life Training Center. Due to the abundance of toys that were able to take with us to Mexico, we were able to distribute toys to a large gathering of children that were in attendance at this community event.
The team checked out the animal projects at the Center that the Tabernacle Sunday School children funded in 2012 at over $1,000 --- to purchase ducks, chickens, and fish as well as food for the animals. The animals are doing well.
Working side by side on construction with the GYTTE (Give Ye Them To Eat) staff at the Tree of Life Training Center for five days the accomplishments included: (1) replaced a bamboo and tile roof over a concrete pond used to gather water to power a gravity-fed water-powered hydraulic ram pump to move water on the Center; (2) replaced a bamboo and palm branch roof over an outdoor classroom area with new bamboo supports and rice straw. This is the first rice straw roof used at the Center; (3) removed the existing corals for two goat pens and built new pens on the same site; (4) completed a massive amount of work on the new playground at the Center. The Tabernacle Children's Sunday School and the VBS participants contributed over $1,000 in 2012 toward the playground. Tons of huge boulders and a huge number of wheelbarrow loads of rocks were moved off the site, most of which breached the surface and were dug out of the ground. Dozens of tree stumps were chopped and pulled out to clear the site. The entire area was graded by hand. All of the small brush plants were removed in the process. The posts, with metal and concrete supports, and beams were set for a combination tire and rope climbing wall. Dozens of tires were painted and bolted together for the tire portion of the climbing wall. The end frames were built for a swing set, plus the holes were dug and the metal frames built to support the swing set. The frames were ready to be set in concrete in the ground. Tires were painted for a tire climbing pyramid and temporarily set in place until the next mission team comes to complete the work. Horse shaped swings were constructed out of old tires and were ready for installation. A multi-person swing was also constructed and readied for installation using a large truck tire.
All in all it was a great mission trip. We appreciated being able to be with our Mexican friends again in Mexico. They are wonderful hosts and hard workers. A great time with great fellowship was had by all. Some day we will return again to The Place Where Water Flows Out of the Mountain.
