Update from Mexico

The following was sent as an email from Saul Cruz on Nov 16th for general distribution. Please read and pray!


UPDATE
This is going to be a quick update to help you continue to pray effectively for us. We really depend on your prayers and support to continue announcing the gospel of Jesus amongst the poor.

Pilar's Health:
Although Pilar has been out of hospital for 10 days now, five days ago we started to notice that she looked and felt worse. Following new analyses, we visited an infectious disease specialist who concluded that the salmonella in Pilar's body (or the bug responsible for her illness) has not been eradicated yet. Of course, this new development stunned us and we were worried. She has now started a new course of anti-biotic treatment and other medicines including anti-michotics. Thank God that although she had a fever last friday, she dis very well during the weekend This morning she was able to review reports from the different community centres and now is spending time with our nephew and niece. It seems that the medicine is really having an positive effect upon her body. Please keep praying for her.

UK trip cancelled
As a result of the trials we have suffered, it is with sadness that we are postponing our planned trip to the UK in November. Many people have worked hard in preparation for the 20th anniversary celebration; none more so than Lucy Savage, our new UK administrator, who has been admirable in the way she has coped over the last month with both learning the job and organising events. Yet we feel that it would be unwise to travel given the disruption of our preparation and Pilar's current health. A celebration of 20 years of Armonía would not be the same without her and we all want to make sure she is given time to recover properly. We have tentatively pencilled in April for the new celebration.

Armonia Students' Residence:
Recently all the students at the senior high school attended by our youngsters in Oaxaca had to take a general exam. I think you'd happy to hear that our kids occupied the first three places. Two of them have been invited to participate in a state-wide academic Olympiad against many other Oaxaca students. This is the first time that this school has participated in this kind of contest and the teachers are very excited by their prospects. Of course they can't stop singing the praises of our good students' residence program. Praise God!

Tabasco:
Please read the following article that we have prepared regarding the terrible flooding which arrived with heavy rain across the South of Mexico. Please pray about the issues described and if it's possible, we ask for you to provide some support for Armonía to play a strategic role in helping alleviate the suffering.
In the UK, Eidi and other Mexican students has already working on food (tacos) sales (and other plans) at her university to collect some funding to support our efforts to help.

Christmas:
This year, we are going to have all our Christmas activities during the two weeks starting December 14th. There will be a visit and party in Oaxaca at the Armonía students' residence on the 18th. The activities will continue in the community centres, climaxing with celebrations at Presidentes, Jalalpa and Santa Cruz on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd respectively. After that, the Cruz family hopes to seek a time of restoration and to attend family matters, leaving on the 24th. Perhaps these dates will help you a little if you are planning to come to Armonía this Christmas. People will be at Casa Blanca even though the Cruzes are not around – there will be opportunities to participate in maintenance jobs combined with interesting visits to the city.

Thank you for your continuing prayers and support,

Saul and Pilar Cruz.