Mission Trip to Aguacate, Mexico
21 – 24 MARCH 2002

Pastor Eliseo Garcia with the help of Christians from several other churches made another mission trip on Mar. 21, 2002 to the village of Aguacate in the state of Vera Cruz, Mexico. The plan was to leave Harlingen Tx at 05:00 pm and arrive at Aguacate on the 22nd (Friday) morning at approximately 08:00 am, have breakfast provided by a member of Templo Evangelico Bautista Emmanuel, take a two and a half hour walk to a mission in a smaller village and have a devotional there. We would then return back to Aguacate and have an evening revival service. Saturday, we would go to Tempoal to purchase black beans and cooking oil to distribute to the church members and then have an evening revival service. We would then stay for the Sunday morning service and leave right after that back to Harlingen.

As we prepare to leave Harlingen on our mission trip, we ask the Lord to put His hands on us and protect us from all that lies ahead; to use us in reaching the people we will be coming in contact with; and for us to be good Christian examples for them.

Arriving in the Matamoros Bus Terminal.

Purchasing our bus tickets.

Loading our luggage onto the bus in Matamoros and thanking God for letting us go through the Mexican check point without an incident, especially with all the extra bags (cloths to distribute to our brothers and sisters in Aguacate) and boxes of Bibles we had with us.

Arriving in Tempoal, the largest town near Aguacate.

Here is a picture of our missionary group:
From Left to Right:
Front Row: Velia Flores, Priscilla Calamaco, Linda Lopez, Pamela Kitchens
In the middle: Rob Rolison, Raymond Flores, Elias Garcia     
Back Row: Mario Gaona Garcia, Baltazar Gaona Garcia, David Reast,
Benjamin Bass, Eliseo Garcia
Not shown: Jaime Flores

This truck is used as a taxi to take us from Tempoal to Aguacate followed by our Christian brothers that came to join us from Mexico City, Baltazar and Mario Gaona, in their car.

Arriving at Templo Evangelico Bautista Emmanuel, Aguacate.

Waiting for breakfast after a 15-hour journey from Harlingen.

Our plans were changed, instead of going to the village today, we would go back to Tempoal to purchase black beans and cooking oil to distribute. Our brothers in Aguacate convinced us that a two and a half hour one-way walk to the village after a 15-hour trip from Harlingen with little rest would be too much for us to endure today. We humbly took their advice.

Walking back to the church after breakfast.

On our taxi back to Tempoal, waiting on the ferryboat.

The ferry coming across to pick us up with a poor soul giving it a cleaning at the same time.

Wiping the algae off of the ferry as it carries trucks and cars across the river.

At the produce store trying to determine how much black beans and cooking oil to purchase.

Taking a break after the long long day.

After going to the market, taking a break before walking back to catch the taxi back to Aguacate.

Taking a few minutes to minister to the children with balloons and inviting their parents to tonight’s services.

Walking to one of the church member’s home for lunch.

Inspecting the livestock.

Having chicken soup, pork rinds, and corn tortillas for lunch.

Catching a few Zzzz…..s after the long long day.

Some thorns in the area.

A cot provided for us to sleep on. As tired as we were, they felt great.

Preparing for the evening service.

Setting up the projector to show a Christian movie.

The movie speakers mounted on the side of the church wall.

Baltazar with some church member’s children.

Getting ready to start Friday night’s evening service.

Benjamin leading the singing of corritos with the congregation.

Baltazar delivering a brief scripture devotional.

After the Friday evening service we distributed the clothes we took.

A little girl with her new shoes.

A little boy with his new T-shirt with John 3:16 on it.

Saturday:

Feeding the chickens while waiting to go to breakfast.

Going to breakfast.

Waiting on breakfast.

Preparing breakfast for us. Each family we went to for a meal provide a meal for all twelve of us. Considering their income, this is a great expense for the family. They are so dedicated that they will give everything they have for the Lord.

Breakfast is about ready to service.

Reminiscing over yesterday’s events.

Arriving at Templo Evangelico Bautista Emmanuel, Aguacate.

Getting spiritually ready to journey with members of Templo Evangelico Bautista Emmanuel from Aguacate village to a tiny, isolated village that is located further up the mountains known as "Zocohuital". The only way to get there was to hike and cross two river crossings in a canoe.

The start of our two and a half hour walk to "Zocohuital".

Walking toward the river.

You had to be careful because in the grass there were lots of chiggers.

Going down the back of the river to prepare to cross it on a small boat.

Getting on to the boat.

Crossing the river.

Getting off the boat and on to the other bank of the river.

The boat had to make several trips.

After each trip, due to a hole in the boat, the water that leaked in had to be removed from the boat.

More bothers crossing over.

Going up the other bank of the river.

Back on the road, again.

The last batch of brothers to cross.

We continue to walk toward "Zocohuital".

Still more walking.

Some of the sites on the way.

Going thru the middle of a field to the next river crossing.

Almost to the last river crossing.

At the last river crossing.

Looking back from the last river crossing.

Crossing the river, again.

I think we are a little tired.

Up the last river bank to the village and finally at "Zocohuital".

Resting a little before we start the service.

People from the village coming to hear the Word.

Preparing to sing some corritos.

Service is about to start.

Brother Mario gives a short testimony and devotional.

The service continues.

Pastor Eliseo Garcia bringing the sermon for this service.

The children of the village displaying their newly acquired toys.

All the members of Templo Evangelico Bautista Emmanuel, Aguacate that were willing to walk five hours total to join us in ministering to their fellow Christians at "Zocohuital". How many of us here in the United States would be willing to do that?

After the service, we continue to praise the Lord by singing corritos.

Preparing to distribute black beans and cooking oil to some of the families at the village. We had to carry these with us as we walked here from Aguacate. Each bag has 4 kilos of black beans and one bottle of cooking oil.

Distributing the food to some needy Christians.

Praying for some of the villagers as for the most part that is the only medicine they have.

Starting our trip back to Aguacate.

Crossing the river on our way back.

Elias and Rob crossing the river praying hard that the boat will not tip over.

Elias helping row some of our brothers across the river.

Walking across the second river crossing on our way back.

Women at the river washing clothes.

Back in Aguacate. One of our brothers was making planks to make a bench.

Kids playing on the plank.

Tree where the plank was cut.

The saw used to cut the plank out of the tree.

Ramon taking a shower and David cleaning up after the long five-hour walk to the village and back. The water was cold.

Saturday evening service. Leading the singing and preparing the way to show “The Sword and the Switchblade”.

After the movie, Pastor Rob brought the sermon with Eliseo translating. Four people came to rededicate their lives and two people accepted Jesus as their personal Savior. Several others asked for prayer.

Bagging the black beans and cooking oil to get them ready to distribute to the needed brothers.

Working on putting four kilos per bag.

Some of the completed bags.

Sunday morning at 06:00 am we are getting ready to leave. These are the brothers and sisters dedicated enough to get up bright and early to see us off.

Loading up on our taxi.

Baltazar and Mario getting ready to follow us to Tempoal in their car.

Crossing the river on a ferry run by a young child.

At Tempoal getting ready to get on the bus to go to Tampico.

At Tampico getting ready to purchase our tickets to Matamoros.

Loading up on the bus at Tampico.

In Matamoros we were picked up on a church van to cross over to Brownsville and then on to Harlingen. With all our luggage, we were packed in like sardines.

In Harlingen, unloading the van.

Pastor Rob and his crew loading up their van to head toward San Antonio, another three and a half hour drive.

David Reast calling home for his wife to come pick him up.

We have now all gone our separate directions, but our unity provided by this mission trip and the Holy Spirit will remain forever.

During these past few days we have tried to serve the Lord as best we can. We just pray that the seeds that we have planned have fallen on GOOD SOIL. We have done our part to the best of our humanly ability, we know the Lord will do his part.

The following churches were represented on this mission trip:

Community Baptist Church, Harlingen
Iglesia Bautista Estrella de Belen, Mexico City
Iglesia Bautista Loma Alta, San Antonio
Lakeview Baptist Church, San Antonio
Templo Bautista / Truth for Youth, San Antonio
Mt. Gilead Baptist Church, Keller
Trinity Worship Center, Pharr
Iglesia Bautista Avondale, Harlingen
San Antonio Baptist Association, San Antonio
Agua Viva, Morelia, Mich., Mexico
First Baptist Church, Pflugerville
Primera Iglesia Bautista, Pflugerville

Trip 1     Trip 2     Trip 3     Trip 4

Building a Chruch - December 2000     Building a Church - March 2002