Mission to Mexico
Our Church involvement started in 1996 with an invitation from the Conyers Presbyterian Church to send some of our members on a mission trip to Mexico with them. Jan and Jerry Tolbert and Art Neil were the first to go to Mexico on what was to become a regular trip over the next 7 years. Since the beginning trip, some 66 different members and friends of our Church have answered the call and quite a few members have gone more than one time.
We started by working with the Conyers Church group doing work at Puerta de Salvation Presbyterian Church located in Dzitya. We worked at this site for 3 years, finishing with the completion of the sanctuary. In 1998, we started looking for a new mission location. We were blessed by finding a congregation at Sitpach that were worshipping in an outdoor lot. They had a small structure that was walled on about 1/3 of the structure. We struck an agreement with them; if they would prepare building plans and construct the walls – we would help them construct the Church. They were also committed to assist us as best they could including working with us during our week with them each year on site.
Over the next 5 years, we built the Church and more importantly, we built a strong, loving, and lasting friendship between our congregation and theirs. We have truly become a family under our Lord.
We have also been blessed with having a couple of our members who are doctors go on the trip and provide medical help for the congregation. This was especially appreciated by them as they could not afford medical attention or the medicine needed. During the construction period, we were also blessed to the Presbyterian Church in LaGrange send a group to assist for a couple of years. We also received some significant financial backing from Central Baptist Church in Newnan.
During our 2003 visit, we were able to help them recover from the Hurricane Isidore by building a house and repairing or replacing the roofs on three houses and providing medical help. We were also able to provide some necessary household items for each family of the congregation.
Some of the many highlights over the years include:
Our Church involvement started in 1996 with an invitation from the Conyers Presbyterian Church to send some of our members on a mission trip to Mexico with them. Jan and Jerry Tolbert and Art Neil were the first to go to Mexico on what was to become a regular trip over the next 7 years. Since the beginning trip, some 66 different members and friends of our Church have answered the call and quite a few members have gone more than one time.We started by working with the Conyers Church group doing work at Puerta de Salvation Presbyterian Church located in Dzitya. We worked at this site for 3 years, finishing with the completion of the sanctuary. In 1998, we started looking for a new mission location. We were blessed by finding a congregation at Sitpach that were worshipping in an outdoor lot. They had a small structure that was walled on about 1/3 of the structure. We struck an agreement with them; if they would prepare building plans and construct the walls – we would help them construct the Church. They were also committed to assist us as best they could including working with us during our week with them each year on site.
Over the next 5 years, we built the Church and more importantly, we built a strong, loving, and lasting friendship between our congregation and theirs. We have truly become a family under our Lord.
We have also been blessed with having a couple of our members who are doctors go on the trip and provide medical help for the congregation. This was especially appreciated by them as they could not afford medical attention or the medicine needed. During the construction period, we were also blessed to the Presbyterian Church in LaGrange send a group to assist for a couple of years. We also received some significant financial backing from Central Baptist Church in Newnan.During our 2003 visit, we were able to help them recover from the Hurricane Isidore by building a house and repairing or replacing the roofs on three houses and providing medical help. We were also able to provide some necessary household items for each family of the congregation.
Some of the many highlights over the years include:
- Dr. Barrow and Rev. Clark have led the Church services there.
(Meg is one of very few female preachers to fill the pulpit in a Mexican church). - Oliver Sueing and his wife presented a musical service at the Church and at the Presbyterian Seminary
- Donated the parchments for the new Church.
- Presented the wall hangings, made by Carrie Griswold, for the new Church.
- Built two restrooms with running water at the new Church.
- Presented a bell for the new Church.
- Conducted Bible Study each year for the children.
- Presented donated clothes to the members of the congregation.
- Presented household wares and foods to the congregation several years.
- Presented a swing set for the children and a basketball net/stand for the older children.
