Iguala, Mexico

We are currently living and working in Iguala, the state of Guerrero, Mexico. Iguala is a municipality of about 140,000 people, many of which live in outlying communities and villages. Iguala lies three and a half hours south of Mexico City and another three and a half hours north from the coast of Acapulco. Because of its low altitude and location closer to the equator, Iguala's seasons are hot and hotter and many times rainy. Over 90 percent of the population calls themselves Catholic, and many practice superstitious traditions in addition to their religion. In spite of this, the people are very warm and will many times open their homes to listen to a word from the Bible. Needless to say, "the harvest is truly great." Luke 10:2

In August of 2015, we celebrated the first anniversary of the assembly in Iguala. It had been a year filled with ups and downs but looking back we can see the hand of the Lord working amongst the new Christians. It has been a joy to see the local brethren taking part in worship, preaching of the gospel and Bible study. The last Sunday in November a young lady, age 18, was received into the fellowship of the assembly here in Iguala. She is the second one added to the assembly since the original group broke bread for the first time over a year ago. Sadly, we have seen some others fall away, but we pray for their soon restoration. We ask you to remember the assembly in prayer, that they would be "stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" 1 Corinthians 15:58

Working with us in Iguala are fellow commended Mexican workers Abisai and Carmen Vieyra who live here with their two young children and Andrea Gomez, a young lady commended in 2014 from Venezuela. We thank God for the help that He has provided, and we enjoy being able to work as part of a team. In February, the annual fair began which attracts thousands of visitors from surrounding cities and states. Each year we look forward to handing out calendars and gospel texts to the crowds that are leaving the fair. During the school spring break, we plan, Lord willing, to have a week of children's meetings on the street under a tent during the day. Then at night, we plan to have gospel meetings in the open air under the same tent. We are praying that the attracting the children in the day will lead to interest from their parents and families at night. Last year, we had over 70 children attend the children's meetings, and we pray that we will have a good number this year also and that the adults will come to hear the gospel.

In addition to the work here in Iguala, we visit an outreach work twice a week in a small village called Oacalco, in the state of Morelos that lies two and a half hours northwest from us. Abisai Vieyra and I have been visiting this work for the past year and a half for house meetings. Then, last August the Lord opened the door for us to rent a small hall in Oacalco. Since then, usually, 10 - 20 people attend the Sunday night and Wednesday night gospel meetings at the hall. In early December, we witnessed the first person obey the Lord in baptism in Oacalco. We built a portable baptismal tank, and it worked out pretty well. A good number attended along with a few that accompanied us from Iguala.

We ask for your continued prayers in both the work in Iguala, Guerrero and Oacalco, Morelos. Photo on the first anniversary of those in fellowship in Iguala:

Spring 2016

Written by Duncan & Anna Beckett - MEXICO

dabeckett218@gmail.com