One afternoon Wes, Nick and I had the most pleasant of surprises. We arrived on the mountain in Contreras, at an elevation of 7000+ feet thinking we were just going to visit some church people. We were told that we would be going instead on a "preaching walk" which turned out to be in fact a prayer walk. These women and a few of their children took us on an incredible breathtaking journey up and down the mountainside.
Aren't they all beautiful? You should hear their testimonies. God has done great things in their lives. Jesus has saved them from sin and much suffering. They are women of great faith who walk and claim this mountain and it's many inhabitants for the Kingdom. 
They are evangelists and women of prayer, several of whom have alcoholic and abusive husbands, and children in peril. And yet they obediently follow and love Jesus for all to see. What a great privilege we had to walk and pray up and down those steep slopes with these servants of the Lord.
And I do mean steep! It is hard to get a good perspective from my pictures, but this is the front walk way up to Chela's house.
I know we all felt as if the ground we were walking on was holy. We stopped and said hello to some people, shared laughs together, picked flowers along the way, and just enjoyed silent prayer for all the men, women and children we came across.
At some point part way up, we stopped where there was agood view. We gathered in a circle, prayed and felt the presence of God very strong among us. It was just after that when Wes noticed two little boys staying close by us. He invited Carlos and Enrique to walk with us, and Chela asked them to come all the way to her house for some hot chocolate and cake.
(I just had to come up the hard way! I'm not a very good faker, am I?)
We kept climbing up and up until we were above the village, with a hazy view of much of Mexico City. Some of the women told of the problems in their community and their heartfelt desires to see people come to know Jesus. One teenager gave a testimony of being delivered from the desire to commit suicide here at the top of the mountain. We had another wonderful time of prayer together, with Carlos and Enrique watching us all the while.
Aren't they all beautiful? You should hear their testimonies. God has done great things in their lives. Jesus has saved them from sin and much suffering. They are women of great faith who walk and claim this mountain and it's many inhabitants for the Kingdom. 
They are evangelists and women of prayer, several of whom have alcoholic and abusive husbands, and children in peril. And yet they obediently follow and love Jesus for all to see. What a great privilege we had to walk and pray up and down those steep slopes with these servants of the Lord.
And I do mean steep! It is hard to get a good perspective from my pictures, but this is the front walk way up to Chela's house.
I know we all felt as if the ground we were walking on was holy. We stopped and said hello to some people, shared laughs together, picked flowers along the way, and just enjoyed silent prayer for all the men, women and children we came across.
At some point part way up, we stopped where there was agood view. We gathered in a circle, prayed and felt the presence of God very strong among us. It was just after that when Wes noticed two little boys staying close by us. He invited Carlos and Enrique to walk with us, and Chela asked them to come all the way to her house for some hot chocolate and cake.
(I just had to come up the hard way! I'm not a very good faker, am I?)We kept climbing up and up until we were above the village, with a hazy view of much of Mexico City. Some of the women told of the problems in their community and their heartfelt desires to see people come to know Jesus. One teenager gave a testimony of being delivered from the desire to commit suicide here at the top of the mountain. We had another wonderful time of prayer together, with Carlos and Enrique watching us all the while.
Halfway back down the mountain we all enjoyed sweet fellowship and some refreshement at Chela's house. I asked her to tell us how she came to know Jesus. She couldn't wait. That is her on the right, with Karla in the middle translating. We laid hands on and prayed for each woman. Their lives are so burdened by family problems, and yet they are so at peace and so full of joy.
...And there is Carlos listening to and watching it all!
At some point, Karla took the boys aside and she and Wes shared the gospel with them. Wow - the Holy Spirit really showed up. There was no pressure on the boys. They just listenened to the story, and were ready to pray along with Karla to recieve Jesus. We prayed with them and gave them each a Gideon New Testament. Chela told us when they left that day, they walked down the road, arms on each other's shoulders, joyously jabbering and holding their Bibles in their hands.
Enrique came to church the next day.
So if you would, please stop now and pray a quick prayer for the church in Contreras, for these women evangelists, for Pastors David and Karla Martinez and for Carlos and Enrique. I believe something special happened in them that day. Maybe God will use them to reach that mountain for Christ.
...And there is Carlos listening to and watching it all!
At some point, Karla took the boys aside and she and Wes shared the gospel with them. Wow - the Holy Spirit really showed up. There was no pressure on the boys. They just listenened to the story, and were ready to pray along with Karla to recieve Jesus. We prayed with them and gave them each a Gideon New Testament. Chela told us when they left that day, they walked down the road, arms on each other's shoulders, joyously jabbering and holding their Bibles in their hands.
Enrique came to church the next day.
So if you would, please stop now and pray a quick prayer for the church in Contreras, for these women evangelists, for Pastors David and Karla Martinez and for Carlos and Enrique. I believe something special happened in them that day. Maybe God will use them to reach that mountain for Christ.
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