Trip to Oaxaca Days 7 & 8

Ok - let's finish up the Oaxaca trip report and pictures.

Day 7 - Sunday. This was a day of celebration for the past 16 years of God's help and presence in our Bible Methodist Church "on the hill". Bro. Dolores preached a wonderful sermon in the morning service and Marc preached the "clausura" - the last service of the revival.

Here's some of the Sunday morning crowd after the service.

Pastor Benito and his wife Ana singing a special song.

A bilingual quartet: John Parker, Marc, Bro. Dolores and Steve.

Day 8 - Monday. Headed home! A stop was made in the beautiful Oaxaca City plaza (center of town) before leaving. Love these beautiful buildings and the scenery.

A beautiful outdoor restaurant on the plaza.

Marc's gracious hosts in Oaxaca City - Hermano Moises and his wife.

Here are the 3 amigos - think they look a little distracted and travel-weary? I kinda do... :)

That concludes the Oaxaca trip report and pictures - hope you've enjoyed "going" on this trip with them.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Thank you!

I am so excited at the great response to our Pastors' Wives Care Package Project and the First Aid Project for the Bible Institute Classes coming up in April!

Thank you to so many who have volunteered to send items for the Pastors' wives, those who have donated money, those who have taken one of our Pastors' wives as your "Sister in Ministry" and to my wonderful friend, Tamra Craycraft (traveling with her husband and children to Saltillo for the Inst. classes) who has agreed to help me in the packaging and card-making for the Care Packages!

There's still "room" in the packages if you would like to donate something small/compact that would benefit our Pastors' wives in their ministry. Those items would need to be sent quickly to our TX address since the Institute classes are less than 6 weeks away.

Thank you to the Covington, GA Bible Methodist Church for providing the 20 First Aid Kits to be used with the First Aid Classes in the Institute! What a quick and gratifying response - thank you, Jeri and the Covington Church!

Your help and willing cooperation means so much - thank you!

Need for 20 First Aid Kits

Here is a rather last-minute opportunity for you as an individual or church to be part of the Spring Bible Institute Classes here in Saltillo, Mexico.

We are in need of 20 of this basic style of First Aid Kits to be used as part of the First Aid Classes that Prof. Shane Craycraft will be giving in the Institute - April 13 - 17. They could be shipped to our Texas address and we will pick them up there the week prior to the classes.

If you are interested in helping with this project, please contact us at melodiesankey@yahoo.com for more details and shipping info.

Update - thank you to the Covington, GA Bible Methodist Church for providing these First Aid Kits!

Thank you!
Marc & Melodie

Pastors' Wives Project Update - Thank you so much to all who have responded with contributions and money toward the Care Packages! Your ideas are wonderful and I'm looking forward to receiving your items and giving them to the ladies. 8 of the ladies have been chosen as "Sisters in Ministry" - 6 still are available to choose from. If you'd like a Mexican "Sister in Ministry", please contact me for the ones that are available. Thanks again! Melodie

Happy Birthday to my Husband

To Marc, the man who stole my heart 19 years ago - I hope you have the best birthday ever.

I love you always....Melodie

Oaxaca Trip Days 5 & 6

Day 5 - Friday. The travelers took a trip down to Puerto Escondido, the coastal town right on the beautiful Pacific, where we have 2 Bible Methodist Missions.

Marc talking with one of the locals on the beach of the Pacific.

Marc, Steve, and Bro. Dolores enjoying fresh coconut at one of the missions.

The beautiful Pacific coastline of southern Mexico.

That evening Marc translated Bro. Parker's greetings to the people into Spanish and preached the final revival service in the village church of San Gabriel.




After the service, Marc asked the church board and all of the church members to gather around Pastor Desiderio for a special time of prayer and encouragement.

Day 6 - Saturday. Marc, Steve, Bros. Dolores and Cuco boarded a bus for the trip back over the mountains to Oaxaca City for their Saturday night and Sunday Church Anniversary Celebration and Revival. Bro. Cuco preached Saturday night in the church on the hill (we have 2 Bible Methodist Churches in Oaxaca City).
The view of Oaxaca City from our Bible Methodist Church up on the hill. It's quite a climb - ask anyone who's done it!

Oaxaca Trip Days 3 & 4

Day 3 - Wednesday. The travelers hiked up to the mountain village of La Canada to hold a service in the Bible Methodist Church there.

Bro. Cuco preached a great message that morning, then it's on to the village of Santa Maria to visit the mission there.

Here's Elsa, Bro. Desi's granddaughter and supply pastor at Santa Maria, receiving her gifts from the Auburn Church.

The church people at Santa Maria.

Day 4 - Thursday. The day began with a river baptismal service. 4 new Christians from the church at Las Palmas (Pastor Reveriano) were baptized that morning.

Here's Bro. Dolores speaking to the people and candidates before he and Bro. Parker baptized them in the cold mountain river!


The 4 young people - the baptismal candidates




After the baptismal service, everyone headed to the village of 201 to visit the mission and Pastor Maria, who is helping in the mission here.

Then the missionaries headed up the trail to visit the BM mission in Bugambilias while the Mexican brothers returned to San Gabriel for the evening revival service. There they go....

At every stop during this day, gifts were given to our Bible Methodist pastors: the Christmas gifts from the Auburn church, Spanish Thompson Chain Reference Bibles (as part of the Bible Institute), the 3 volume set of Spanish "Exploring Christian Holiness", given by the Alabama Conference, etc...

Here's Marc with Pastor Reveriano. At an age when most pastors are retiring and enjoying their rocking chairs, this pastor keeps pushing on. He has a burden to see the lost in his community saved.



Marc and Pastor Edgar in front of the newly remodeled church in Bugambilias


The sun is setting on Day 4...over the village of Bugambilias. How beautiful!

Oaxaca Trip Days 1 & 2

I want to try to share the pictures with you on a day by day basis, so you get the feel for the trip and what they did each day.

Day 1 - Monday. Marc, Conference President Dolores, and Steve left Saltillo early heading for the Monterrey airport. They arrived in Oaxaca City, Oaxaca in the early afternoon and met our Missions Director John Parker there. They were met by Pastor Benito and his wife Anna and family and enjoyed visiting with them for awhile.

Pastor's wife Anna (Oaxaca City) and their 2 darling boys

An evening trip was taken up to our Bible Methodist Church in Jayacatlan to visit Pastor Alejandro and his new bride, Chele. Marc was happy to present them their gifts from the Auburn OH Bible Methodist Church (part of their Christmas Project). As you can see from their faces, they were happy to receive them. Thanks again, Auburn!

Steve, Pastor Alejandro, Marc, Pastor Dolores

Receiving their gifts

Bro. John, Pastor Dolores, Marc, and Pastor Alejandro singing in the church at Jayacatlan

Praying a special prayer of blessing over Alex and Chele

I was a little concerned about their night trip back down the mountain to Oaxaca City, but all went well. They spent the night there in Oaxaca City and sometime during this day (I believe) were joined by our pastor in Cuchicuato, Pastor Refugio (Cuco).

Day 2 - Tuesday. The travelers were up early and boarding a bus heading south across the mountains to the village of San Gabriel. The bus ride is a story in itself, I hear; Marc's had "various and sundry" experiences on this particular ride on his different trips to Oaxaca. But they arrived safely and were met by Pastor Desiderio Lopez and his wife and hosted by them during their stay here in this village.


Pastor Dolores preached a great message that Tuesday evening in San Gabriel. Here's the altar scene at the end of the service.

Marc's safe arrival

Marc arrived home yesterday afternoon from his week long trip to southern Mexico to visit our Bible Methodist Churches in the mountains of Oaxaca.

He has tons (I mean it) of pictures and I loved looking at them last night and seeing faces and places that are now becoming familiar to me, even though I have never been there. After seeing pictures from 5 previous Oaxaca visits, I am beginning to recognize things. :) The boys and I are planning to join Marc on his next trip to Oaxaca City in August for our church's anniversary celebration. I'm looking forward to it!

I'll be posting pictures and an update soon - check back!

Our boys' dad

On Sunday as we were getting ready for church, I caught one of those father/son moments that I love. They were looking in the mirror on the living room wall, and Marc was teaching Jordan how to tie his tie.

Our boys adore their dad, would much rather be with him than me, and want to be just like him. I remember Marc singing a song on Father's Day at Franklin one year: "Lord, I want to be just like You, 'cause he wants to be just like me."

Marc is such an awesome dad to our boys - the best!

Our Spring Revival in Saltillo

Our revival ended up great on Sunday. Bro. Eli (Bible Inst. Pres.) preached the weekend services and did a wonderful job - God really helped him. I really did not get a good blog-worthy picture of him to post. Especially annointed was his message on the eagle Sunday night, likening the eagle to us as Christians. It was powerful and much-needed.

Beth and I helped Noemi teach the combined Sunday School class (our classes plus the preschool class) in the dining room during the preaching on Sunday morning. It was interesting to "rise above" the noise of the kitchen, where the ladies were working hard fixing the delicious lunch, but we did it. :)

The meals and fellowship with our people in the dining room on Sunday were much enjoyed. Pastor Dolores, his wife Silvia and the church people were very organized and worked very hard for this revival effort. We are so thankful for their dedication to God's kingdom and His service - and grateful to share a part in it.

Caught Cameron with his mouth full, enjoying the delicious lunch...I'm sure he'll love me for posting this one.

Here's a shot of the Sunday evening crowd. I was playing the piano although you can't see that in the pic. Click on the next 2 pics to enlarge them.

Marc directed the Youth Choir and I accompanied them to sing a beautiful song Sunday night. The song they sang was "Vencedor" in Spanish - Through It All in English. They did a great job!

Valentine's Day

My husband returned home in the afternoon on Valentine's Day from his trip to GBS. He brought me a beautiful gift and two sweet cards - one funny, one especially meaningful. He's my Valentine forever! has been for 18 years and we plan to keep it that way. :)

I took Rice Krispy Treats with Cinnamon Red hearts for Valentine's Day to revival Saturday night to hand out after church. Everyone seemed to enjoy them. I made a pan for my family, too. Thanks to my friend Renee for the cereal!

Pastors' Wives Ministry Care Packages

For some time, I have been thinking about our pastors' wives here in Mexico, and wanting to encourage them in their ministry...to help equip them to do the job of supporting their husband and enhancing their own ministry and impact in their local church. I have talked to several people, our Missions Director John Parker included, about this idea and have received their support.

I would like to put together a Pastors' Wives Ministry Care Package as a ministry arm of our Bible Institute Classes coming up in April - 13 through 18 (more on that later). Many of these pastors' wives cannot attend the classes although they would be welcome to. They stay at home, many times caring for children, home and even conducting services in their church in their husband's absence. I would like to assure them of our love and concern and that we value their contribution and ministry to their local church.

With this in mind, I recently went shopping for a resource book/Bible study guide for women in the Bookstore at the Rio Grande Bible Institute - a treasure trove of Spanish materials. I found an excellent book on How to Be a Woman of Prayer - Como Ser una Mujer de Oracion - complete with Bible study guides and discussion questions: a wonderful ministry tool. I have ordered one of these for each pastors' wife.

You might be wondering about the pastors' wives themselves - how many do we have? what are their names? Let me introduce you to them. I will give you her name and church first, then a photo of each one.

Hermana Esther - pastor's wife at Soledad




Hermana Areli - pastor's wife at La Florida


Hermana Edith - pastor's wife at Rio Bravo



Hermana Graciela - pastor's wife at Santa Apolonia



Hermana Sylvia - conference president and pastor's wife at Saltillo


Hermana Adalia - pastor's wife at San Rafael



Hermana Macedonia - pastor's wife at Pedregales



Hermana Rosa - pastor's wife at Cuchicuato

Hermana Anna - pastor's wife in Oaxaca City


Hermana Chele - pastor's wife in Jayacatlan (Oaxaca)

There are 3 other pastor's wives that I do not have pictures of. Pastor Panchito's wife in Galeana, Pastor Desiderio's wife in San Gabriel and Pastor Reveriano's wife in Las Palmas. Hopefully I will be able to post pictures of them very soon.


I have also included our Bible Institute President's wife - Hermana Isela. She has a ministry of support to her husband, much like a pastor's wife. He is very active in the local church there in Rio Bravo.




Now that you've seen their faces and know where they minister, would you be interested in helping with this project?

~ Funds are needed to cover the cost of the books we have ordered - about $105.

~ Nellie Miller, my late grandfather Miller's wife, is hand knitting dish cloths for each pastor's wife to include in her care package - thank you Grandma Nellie!

~ We'd like to include other small, compact items that would be beneficial for our pastor's wives to use in their ministry, whether it be entertaining guests, conducting Bible studies, etc....

~ Do you make or sell something that you'd be interested in donating to this project? Keep in mind - you would need to act rather quickly to gather the materials, ship them to our Texas address (see sidebar), or contribute money so that we can purchase the items here. Also, it would need to be a relatively compact item that we can include in the package and send home with her pastor husband in his suitcase, if she's not able to attend.

~ Maybe you cannot contribute at this time, but would like to adopt one of these pastor's wives as your Sister in Ministry - thinking especially of stateside pastor's wives here, but really anyone can participate. Let me know and I'll be responsible for communicating that to each pastor's wife in her Care Package card.

Thank you for considering this special Pastors' Wives Ministry Care Package Project!

Melodie Sankey