Update from Las Moras Part 2

June 5, 2013 by Liesl Hypki 1 Comment

Hey all! I feel bad that update “part 2” took almost a month in coming. However, there have been extenuating circumstances that have prevented me from finishing this post until now.

Back around May 16th we lost our satellite internet signal in Las Moras. It happened without warning. And honestly, we do not know what the problem is at this point. Please pray we are able to fix it when we return in about two weeks. At this time Pete and I are in the city. Which is why I am able to post.

Now where did we leave off…oh yes, our last workteam.

In early April following our most recent language evaluation we hosted a work team. Five friends (from Liesl’s high school years) came from Nebraska, Texas, and Illinois to help us with some finish work and “wish list” projects on our tribal home!

Here’s the group.

This team worked so hard, had so many creative ideas, and made our house feel like a true “home.” Thank you, each of you, for sacrificing your time and money to come. We know it wasn’t easy,  but you blessed us in more ways than you will ever know.

Here are some of the pictures of the projects that were completed!

Ben laying our “wood look” flooring.

That’s our hallway upstairs. Pretty nice right?!

Pete working with the planer to get wood ready for door frames and shelving.

Rob

Chris framing up our doors.

Putting in our last window in the guest room upstairs.

Chris and Matt putting in the supports for our outdoor car port.

Pete and Ben mixed the concrete.

It was a team effort.

Tara helped me (Liesl) with the cooking for the week,  but she did so much more than that. When there was something to be done she did it whether it was hauling water, cleaning up after the guys, or helping paint or with other projects. It was also fun to have a friend along, and we worked some afternoon coffee and catching up into everyday. 🙂

We also took the work team around the village and introduced them to some of our Nahuatl friends and some of the culture.

All the guys at the edge of the canyon.

Our hope is that through this work team that the Nahuatl people were again able to see the body of Christ in action. They often don’t understand why people would come to help us if they are not part of our family. Please pray for the day we are able to explain that to them clearly in Nahuatl…how amazing it is; the body of Christ.

After taking the work team back to the airport, buying supplies, and returning to Las Moras we were able to press into language again full time. The more we learn about how they speak the more we are able to communicate. Being with the people, in their homes or ours, is something that Pete and I both really enjoy and when you can communicate with them…even if it’s not nearly perfect, it’s just that much better.

I (Liesl), celebrated my 31st birthday at the end of April. I spent it with my language helper and friend Julia taking dirt from the dry creek bed with pick axes, and hauling it in large sacks in the back of our truck to her family’s house. They will use the dirt to make a “enjarre” or protective coating of mud, donkey poop, and water to put on the outside of their adobe house to protect the bricks from the rains.

Julia’s nephews carrying some tools for us.

The last week of May we made the trek out of Las Moras to the city where our mission headquarters is located here in Mexico. Last week our entire team attended the bi-annual missions conference. It was a great time of fellowship with other missionaries and opportunity to hear about what God is doing throughout all of Mexico in each of the different tribal church planting locations.

Our team being prayed for after our presentation about what the Lord is doing among the Nahuatl.

This week we find ourselves attending an Advanced Language Workshop which lasts for eights days, and is a study on 10 things that people, worldwide, do when they communicate. The information is interesting, but the assignments and homework are well above my (Liesl) paygrade, so any prayers are appreciated. Pete has been very patient in helping me.

After this workshop we will buy some supplies, and then begin the trek back to Las Moras. The rainy season should begin at anytime, so we would appreciate your prayers for safe travel back and for an uneventful ride up the mountain road. When it begins to rain the road gets more and more slippery and makes travel very difficult.

I think I can speak for our whole team and say that we are all very excited for rainy season. We are trusting the Lord for some amazing opportunities to build deeper relationships with our Nahuatl friends and for His strength and wisdom to begin to understand even more about how the Nahuatl communicate.

Thank you for your prayers and great sacrifice that so many of you have made to be a part of the Nahuatl work from afar. We appreciate all of you very much.

“Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.”  – Jude 1:24,25