Report from Mary Ann Garrett Ashby

Long term Missionary

Mary Ann is from St. Barnabas, Fredericksburg.  After many years as a member of short term mission teams predominately in Cuba, Mary Ann answered God’s call to be a long term missionary in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Bishop Benito Juarez asked Mary Ann to come to Ciudad, Oaxaca in the Diocese of Southeast Mexico to start a church for the Iglesia Anglicana de Mexico.

Mary Ann brings many talents to this assignment, she is fluent in Spanish and has a degree in theology.

“Here in Oaxaca things are going well. We have been having church on Sundays, usually at 11:00 am, for a little over a year. We have an average of probably 7 or 8 but sometimes up to 17 or 18 attending. Last year I was living in the owners' apartment at the Casa Colonial. It was a lovely spot for us. There's what we would call a long porch about 15 feet wide where we could have worship, and inside a bedroom, bath, and other room that I used for an office. But the owners needed the space for themselves, so I had to move.

After intense searches by me, my friend Anne Mayagoitia, and others of the congregation, we found a house that's just perfect. There's a large living room/dining room where we have Sunday services. Anne plays keyboard for us, and it's a fixture in there now, too. The house is in the historic center of the city, just a couple of blocks from Santo Domingo church. It's easy to get to and not too far for people to walk.

We have Bible Study on Thursday mornings at the same table we use for altar. And, of course, on Sunday we use it for coffee hour after church. We have lively talks, and usually everyone stays.

The congregation is made up of mostly retired Americans although just about everyone is involved in some kind of work here, too. One is the author of children's books; he is also a retired professor of French. Anne Mayagoitia is a licensed translator and is very involved with the guidebook for the anniversary celebration of the anthropology museum in Mexico City.

We started a project this year to help the students of a small school in a tiny village about 45 minutes from Oaxaca. We've gathered children's clothing, school supplies, and some carpet samples are being sent from Michigan. We hope to involve the parents in a cooperative work so that they can also begin to set up their own little shop eventually. That will take some time.

I'm enjoying living here. In addition to my work here in Oaxaca, I go to Tuxtepec every month or so for meetings. When I go there, I try to take the same kinds of small things we're gathering for the school. The women of the churches can have small bazaars if there's enough.

My home is lovely, but it is taking some time and patience to get it into shape (the woman who owns it had just bought it when I moved in, so  had not been any painting, etc, done). It is comfortable. I have space for visitors, too.

I am blessed beyond words.”

- Mary Ann Garrett Ashby

Long Term Missionary

Donations to help Mary Ann in Diocese of South East Mexico to:

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

P.O. Box 6885

San Antonio, TX 78209

Attention:  Betty Chumney