Editorial Update on Visits to Puerto Vallarta

In December of 2017, Omar Lozada (Venezuela) and I were invited to help the assembly in Coapinole, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. This first visit, in 2017 lasted a month. The second visit a year later starting in October of 2018 also lasted for a month and Omar stayed on until July of 2019. Our brother Omar carried the bulk of the burden of the work during this period. I had the privilege to assist him on three separate occasions. On all visits, we saw the hand of the Lord with us in the salvation of souls, and the restoration of saints. It was truly the Lord's doing. Before these meetings, attendance at assembly gatherings had fallen off considerably and the Lord's people were discouraged.

Gospel meeting in a home, Puerto Vallarta

Usual attendance at the hall was minimal yet during our first visit attendance steadily increased. Then a year later in December 2018 following a month of meetings in the hall in Coapinole with brother Omar, my grandson and I returned to Vancouver. On the last night of the meetings, sixty people were in the hall and it pleased the Lord to save a dear man at home following the meeting.

Brother Omar Lozada and his wife Maryeri stayed on after December 2018 until July 2019 (with a couple of short breaks) to help and encourage the believers. They have laboured in the Puerto Vallarta area with Gospel meetings in a suburb called Volcanes. Omar also held Gospel meetings in several homes. This is a common practice in Venezuela but appeared to be a somewhat new way of outreach in Coapinole. He also held Gospel and ministry meetings in the Ixtapa, assembly a work where our brother Aubrey Kelly served the Lord for many years.

Gospel meeting in a home, Puerto Vallarta

As brother Omar's visa was about to expire on July 2019, they decided best to return to Venezuela. Since we had laboured together from November 2017, I decided to go down to assist him and to send medical supplies back to Venezuela. Omar and his wife have arrived safely home and the medicines proved to be a great blessing to the needy saints in Venezuela.

Gospel meeting in a home, Puerto Vallarta

During this last visit during July of 2019, we took the opportunity to make some house calls. We visited some of the believers who have been in a spiritual decline, and have not gathered with the Christians for some months. At the same time, it was so wonderful to meet again many of those that were saved during the last 18 months. We also met brother Noah who was restored to the fellowship after an absence of eight years. He is happy and taking an active part once again. He and his wife run a Taco stand in town. We were frequent customers.

Among those that we visited this time is a brother and his wife who for more than a year have not attended the meetings of the assembly. They were once very active in the assembly. But as in many places today, the lack of consistent and regular spiritual care is lacking. We had an enjoyable visit in their home, for a few hours; we met with a good reception. We shared and prayed with them. We also visited another family and encouraged them to come back and attend the meetings and seek fellowship again with the Lord's people.

It is our prayer as the saints in Puerto Vallarta continue to learn and put into practice the NewTestament principles on how to resolve issues and conflicts within the local church, according to Matthew 18:15-22 and how to hold each other accountable before the Lord, further growth is to be expected.

The believers in Coapinole and Ixtapa Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, in a letter given to Omar and Maryeri, expressed their appreciation, love, and affection for the help provided by brother Omar during the time spent with them.

They stated, and I quote - "our brother Omar's teaching has awakened us, from the lethargy of many years. Reaching and filling our heart with the scriptures that have served to reinvigorate and encourage us, and move us forward in the ways of the Lord - giving us a fresh appreciation of our beloved Lord, and Saviour Jesus Christ. We studied two epistles, Ephesians and Philippians, also two chapters in Colossians, these studies were held in different homes, by our beloved brother Omar."

"For more than 20 years. We have been as it were asleep, deprived of sound teaching. Which has left our souls dry, for lack of the Living Water to satisfy our lives?"

Summer 2019 Written by T. S. Ashley Milne - Mexico tsamhorizons@shaw.ca