Les and Val Klassen

Balbina

Clarence & Judy Bouwers, from our home church in B.C., and 5 of their 8 children arrived at IDT on Sunday night, February 17th.  The next morning they made their way to Zapata to meet a sweet young woman named Balbina and her two young children, Ivan, 5 and Diego, 2.  They found a cement pad ready and waiting for a new house.  Clarence and Judy and their family began the job with a great deal of excitement and Balbina couldn't quite believe her good fortune at having this generous family come and give of their time and money to help her.

Tuesday morning began a little differently than expected.  A strange man showed up at Balbina's lot with an "official" looking piece of paper claiming to own the same property Balbina was living on.  Balbina also had an "official" looking piece of paper that said the same thing.  What now?  Clarence & Judy shut down their building for the day while things were hopefully sorted out.  We received a call in Canada letting us know this was happening and we promptly began praying for a happy ending to the story.

The next day, it seemed that everything was back to normal and the Bouwers once again continued on the building.  They carried on with the original plan, and all went well until Wednesday of the following week.  Three police officers arrived at Balbina's door and told her she had an appointment at the police station the following day at 11:00.   We proceeded to rallied together some outspoken Spanish speakers to accompany Balbina to this appointment.

Balbina arrived in bare feet, covered in red paint (she had been painting on her house that morning and the day before) and what followed was a long 3 hour meeting between Balbina and the man who had claimed the lot was his also.  We met with 3 "officials" in the Delegacion (Police Station) at different times and the story was told many different times in many different ways.  We didn't realize until well into the meeting that there was actually a lawyer there speaking on behalf of Balbina.

The purpose of this initial meeting was to look at the facts and the paperwork and decide who had the right to live there.  Both Balbina and the other man have paperwork that looks official and authentic.  The other man bought the lot in 1996 for $500 and then left for the States where he has been living ever since.  He also owns other properties in the area.  Balbina bought the lot in 2006 for $3000 and has been living there ever since.  It seemed curious to us and to the Delegado, that he has done nothing about Balbina living on his "so called" lot for 2 years, but just when she is about to receive a new house, he shows up and claims ownership.

At the end of the meeting the Delegado told the man that under no circumstances is he allowed to go to Balbina and harass her.  All of his communication needs to go through the Delegacion office.  Balbina was told that as she is in possession of the lot at this time and is actually living there, she may continue to do so.

There will be a further meeting at the Public Minister's office and probably a hearing before a judge to determine who will actually end up owning the lot.  There have been some new laws put in place recently which are in support of single women, so we continue to pray for Balbina that this will all work out in her favor.  We ask you to do so as well.

There were some good things that have come out of this meeting at the Delegacion Office.  We meet a Christian lady named Elsa.  She was part of our meeting, and she oversees a program where the government provides building materials for poor, single women to better their living conditions.  She has offered to help us in any way she can -- in discerning needs, looking at paperwork to make sure they are authentic, and giving us contacts of other people who can help us as well.  We also met the lawyer who was speaking on Balbina's behalf.  His title is "Visitado de Grupos Vulnerables de la Procuraderia de los Derecho Humanos".  (Put that on your business card!)  This means - "Visitor of Vulnerable Groups for the Ministry of Justice of Human Rights".  He also said he is willing to work with us, recommending people who own their lots and are in desperate need of better housing.

We praise God that what started as a seemingly negative situation, has turned in a God appointment, putting us in contact with new and extremely beneficial contacts who are willing, and in a position, to assist us in doing our job more effectively.  God is so good!  We also believe that God will continue to work on Balbina's behalf and that there will indeed be a happy ending to this story!  At the house dedication the next day we were able to encourage Balbina with Psalm 37:3-7 ...

"Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord and He will do this:  He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.  Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him."

During the dedication time, Balbina was moved to tears as she realized the significance of receiving such a gift as the one the Bouwer family was able to give her through this house.  While a house is a very real and genuine gift in the physical, it is also a very tangible way of expressing the more important gift of Jesus Christ's love to us as people.  It helps put into perspective in the physical, what is sometimes hard to understand in the spiritual.  Through this project, Balbina was able to undertand the significance of God's gift of love for her.  Yolanda (one of our Mexican missionaries) was able to explain to her the  significance of God's gift of love, and when given the opportunity to receive His gift of salvation and forgiveness of sins, Balbina readily accepted.  Not only was she needy in the physical, but she had been impoverished in the spiritual.  Pray with us as we continue to build a relationship with her.

As the sun set, and we all dispersed to go back to the IDT Base, Les was detained by several other needy people who came to site to inquire about houses for themselves.  As he turned to leave, Balbina came over to him and gave him a hug.  Coming from a woman who had not shown much emotion throughout the week, that was a significant moment.

We are so thankful to the Rotary Club in the City of Courtenay, on Vancouver Island, BC, who through  their generosity, made this whole project possible.  Little do they know how their generosity has changed forever the lives of a young indigenous Mexican woman and her children,

Medical Crisis

Olga is a 29 yr. old widow with a 10 yr old son and a 1 1/2 yr. old daughter.  She lives in a 15 x 15 one room house she shares with her mother, also a widow.  We recently reconnected with them at a Mexican wedding where Olga told us she has had a lump in her breast for 2 years and had been told it was malignant.  Due to the lack of finances, she has not been able to do anything about it, and understandably, has lived shrouded in fear that she may well die, leaving her orphaned children dependent on her 73 yr. old mother.  Olga's income is at best between $8 - $10/day, working hard in the fields.  Because she is a hard worker, she is able to work a shorter day for the same pay.  Thus she is home by noon and is able to continue adult education in a school in her community.  She will be completing 6th grade this year.  (Her son is in grade 5)

We have been working closely with her to help her get the much needed medical attention.  She had appointments in the hospital in Ensenada (3 hrs drive) for the end of September for further testing, but no way to pay for the consultations.  Add to that, prospective overnight stays in Ensenada plus traveling costs, the dollars begin to increase rapidly.

Due to a series of God appointments, we were able to get her into the Buen Pastor Christian hospital in San Quintin (20 minutes south of here) to see Dr. Gonzales, a highly recommended doctor.  Due to the urgency of her situation, he was willing to adjust his appointment schedule and booked her for an appointment at 8 a.m. Friday, September 8th for what we understood would be a needle biopsy.  At 10 a.m. he consulted with us and told us he was going to perform a lumpectomy instead of a needle biopsy.  He said sometimes this will take care of the situation, and he was willing to take the time to perform this surgery if it meant quicker cleaner results.  Her recovery would be about 2 weeks during which time she could not do any physical work.  By 5 p.m., we were able to take her home, armed with an arsenal of medications.  Due to the high costs associated with hospital stays, patients seldom stay overnight unless the situation is very serious.

The greater challenge is to ensure Olga eats well during her recovery, restricting her from their regular diet which contains a lot of chili and grease.  Seldom do the poor people eat vegetables, except for what they can glean from the fields they are working in.  She has been back to the hospital for several follow-up visits as well as one telephone consultation early the other morning when she had become quite sick, possibly related to not eating properly while taking her medications.  That prompted a visit to the local market to buy a supply of vegetables to include in her diet.

We will not know the full outcome of her surgery until after September 22nd when the test results of her tumor will be back.  We are praying for a complete recovery for her and ask you to pray with us.  Life is absolutely precious and not to be taken for granted.  While one never knows the extent of the time or financial commitment involved before getting involved in someone else's crisis, be it medical, emotional, or spiritual, we do know lives are worth getting involved in.  Furthermore, are there any alternatives to involvement?

Actual costs to date associated with her surgery are approximately $1000 US.  This does not include any costs for further treatment or surgeries, all dependent on her test results.  If you would like to contribute to helping offset the costs of Olga's medical expenses, please contact us and we will inform you of the best way to get those funds to us.  We cannot guarantee a tax receipt for your gift of life.  But we absolutely believe God knows when you help the needy, and He will ultimately bless you for it.

Extreme Makeover, Mexican Style

During Spring Break, we had the privilege to work with two groups from the Fraser Valley, B.C.  Students from MEI (a Christian school in Abbotsford) and a group from Greendale MB Church worked together on a large project.  We completed two new homes and renovated a third, all on one property.  Until then, two families lived in an old adobe house with dirt floors, no windows, and a roof that leaked like a sieve.  They had been living this way for a long time.  By the end of the week, all three houses were completed, including electricity.

The renovation was the biggest challenge.  The house was built of adobe blocks - that's dirt, no concrete - and needed a complete new roof, a concrete floor and some windows.  Old adobe is very fragile, crumbling easily.  Originally, we were going to build new roof panels and gently slide them over the old existing roof, anchor them down and the project would be complete.  But the homeowner was so excited about the total project, he worked hard while we were not there, and began dismantling the old roof.  So we had a new dilemma to face.  Four fragile adobe walls, none straight or plumb, and an uneven top along the walls.  But we were committed.  The old roof was gone, except for a centre 4 x 4 ridge beam spanning 24' and one supporting 4 x 4 post in the centre.  Thankfully, the floor was poured before we got there, so we could at least work from a solid base.

A lot of thinking went into this part of the project.  Because of the fragility of the walls, we built four roof panels on the ground.  We then lifted them above the adobe walls and walked them across to the centre wall - which we built as our main support.  It took a lot of manpower to lift these panels high enough not to touch the adobe walls, and then gently set them down in place.  To move the panel, even one inch in any direction, meant lifting the entire panel off the walls.  But we got it.  The groups were just awesome to work with and by Friday afternoon, the total project was complete.

The families were very happy to receive their new homes, and the adobe house, which is actually quite warm in winter and cool in summer, became very liveable and comfortable.  Because the people had very little furniture, the groups built bed frames and purchased mattresses for them.  They also gave them a new stove and tank as well as some other extras.  You could visibly see the difference in the countenance of the father of the family as the project neared completion.

Trapped in a lifestyle of desperate poverty, until now he had no way to pull himself or his family to a higher standard of living.  MEI and Greendale gave him more than a house, they gave him new hope.  But they gave him something else too; they gave him back his pride.  And that -- is a very cool thing to see!

Geronimo's Blessing

Geronimo usually comes by in his little Suzuki Samurai once or twice a week.  You can tell by the tunes he's playing on his overhead speaker that he is "The Ice Cream Man".  He comes through town a couple of times a week and covers a large territory.  His days are long, and both he and his wife have different routes, each trying to hone out a meager existence.  Their only other option for survival is working in the fields.  But he claims to make more selling ice cream.  Today was especially hard for him.  His Suzuki broke down - the transmission needs repairing - and so only one of them can go out with the one remaining vehicle they have; an old Dodge minivan.  That means their income just got cut in half.  And in order to fix the Suzuki, he needs $300 US.  That's a lot of ice cream to sell.

His eyes held a certain sadness, yet they brightened as he said "It's okay, Gloria a Dios, it's okay.  Thanks be to God."

Faced with insurmountable expense, Geronimo still has a heart of thanksgiving.  He understands what it means to receive a gift from his Heavenly Father.  He knows what giving is all about.  And he knows what community is all about.  You see, Geronimo is a pastor, supported by his ice cream business.  And recently he received a gift.  A group from British Columbia, Canada, came and built a brand new church for Geronimo and his wife.  Where there was a bare piece of ground at the beginning of the week, stood a  beautiful church by Friday noon.  But Geronimo and his wife were doubly blessed - they also had a new house built for them and their family on the same property as the church.  So after a long day of selling ice cream, they can come home and step into their dream and passion; pastoring a new little church in a little out of the way community, a community where God has called them to be.

I wish you could have all been at the church dedication service that Friday night.  Tears welled up in our eyes as we witnessed the fulfillment of a dream.  Words cannot express the feelings of blessing we felt as we stood in that little church, filled to capacity, as we sang and worshiped together with these wonderful Mexican people.  There is only one way to capture that moment - and that is - "to be there".

Today, Geronimo blessed us.  He gave each of us a free ice cream - two scoops even - with a splash of chocolate syrup on top.  Geronimo, you see, understands the deeper significance of the verse from the Bible that says, "Freely you have received, freely give."  No, it's not about giving away free stuff.  But it is about freely giving - out of a thankful heart.

(See the picture album of Geronimo's church building project.)

Food for the hungry

We have undertaken a project to coordinate a feeding program for families that either have no work, or have no food for whatever reason during these cold winter months.  We have set up four stations in the surrounding communities where a representative in each community distributes food which we have provided (rice and beans), to needy people on a regular basis, usually Monday and Thursday morning.  December through March are extremely difficult months for many people in this area as there is not much work, and they don't have money to buy food for their families.  At the moment, the missionaries are using their own resources to buy this food, but as you can imagine, we cannot keep doing that indefinitely.  So, help is needed to keep our warehouse full of rice and beans so that we can keep these people alive until they can find work once again.

The food stations are in the communities of:

1. Triqui - our contact person here is actually an IDT missionary - Johanne Manzano.  She and her husband pastor a church in Triqui.  They have worked closely with these people and have developed relationships with many of them.
2. Las Misiones - contact person - Teresa.  Teresa worked with us during our Spanish classes, helping us practice our conversation skills.  She is a dear saint, loves the Lord and has a heart to help her people.
3. Playas de Guerrero & Bonito Garcia - contact person - Armando.  Armando and his wife, Cielo, are pastors of the church that Les and James helped build a year ago.  They live in a different community than where the church is and will provide food for both communities.
4. Santa Fe - contact person - Sonja.  This is the station we are responsible for.  Santa Fe is just south of where we live and is quite a large community, built on the hillside overlooking the main highway.

If you would like to help with our Food Program.  His Hands and Feet Ministries based in Chilliwack, B.C. (address below) is set up to take donations and issue tax receipts.

• $65 CDN buys one 45 kg bag of beans
• $35 CDN buys one 45 kg bag of rice

To put this into perspective - $200 CDN will feed 45 families for one week (not a gourmet meal, by any means, but it will keep them alive).

Right now we are supplying each station with two bags of each per week.  This may increase as we get further into the winter season.

DONATIONS CAN BE SENT TO:  His Hands and Feet Ministries, 45200 Wells Road, Chilliwack, B.C.  V2R 1H6  Ph:  604-793-7756

Designated:  FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM

Note:  His Hands and Feet Ministries works closely with IDT, bringing groups down for house building projects 3 or 4 times per year.  They are a reputable organization and have recently received their charitable organization status which enables them to issue tax receipts.