God Provides the Words

Southeast Mexico

The Diocese of Southeast Mexico covers a vast area from the states of Veracruz and Oaxaca to the states of Yucatan and Quintana Roo.  It is three times the size of the Diocese of West Texas.  In many areas there are either no roads or the existing roads are in terrible condition.  Most of the people live in small villages and eke out a living through farming and small businesses.  West Texas formed a partnership with Southeast Mexico and sent two teams in 2003.  One medical/dental team was organized by the Church of the Good Shepherd in Corpus Christi and another team offered a course in continuing education for the Mexican clergy and visited and worked with the women of six small villages.   Since many of the women in these villages do not speak Spanish, but other native indigenous dialects, two translators were necessary in each location.

The team members discovered what all missionaries discover – that language is never a barrier when sharing the love of Jesus.  It is a blessed experience to realize that when the Spirit in one person speaks to the Spirit in another, it is unnecessary to share a common language in order to communicate.

“For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you – or rather that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.”   Romans 1:11-12

“Do you want to go to Southeast Mexico on a mission trip?”

“Sure,” I said, not knowing why God and Betty Chumney would call me for this particular team. 

“You know I don’t speak Spanish.”         “Yes, I know.”

While half  the team ministered in villages each day, the rest of us led the clergy conference.  The clergy of SE Mexico are as motley a crew as are we in West Texas.  They are very like us:  men and women of faith who work with incredibly limited finances, facilities, time.  Several travel great distances to reach their congregations.  They worry about their families, are often lonely and stressed, and have little time for themselves.  Sometimes their lives are in significant danger.  Other than the last, they are like us.

It’s a new thing for Mexico to have women clergy, just like it is for the United States.  They are spread out all over the diocese.  Being together was a precious opportunity.  They welcomed me into that time.  Somehow their limited English and my limited Spanish were overcome by our desire and need to share and encourage one another.

I went into town with Gladis; she had her Spanish-English dictionary and I my English-Spanish.  We talked about our churches, our families, our dioceses, our vocations, our worries, and our prayer life.  How?  God gave us the words, made sufficient that which was insufficient.

The clergy of SE Mexico are like us, and we are like them – we are part of one another.  I long to see them again so that we might share and encourage one another in our faith in Jesus Christ.

The Rev. Betty Fuller

Rector at Church of the Advent, Alice

Donations to help send mission teams from the Diocese to:

Diocese of West Texas (marked for SE Mexico mission teams)

P.O. Box 6885

San Antonio, TX 78209

Attention:  Betty Chumney