Septic System In

In my last post I wrote how Lupe, Leti and their 4 children were into their new little house (550 square feet) but had no drinkable water, no septic system, and a totally inadequate electrical supply.    

The septic systems here are totally different than in the US.  Instead of having a septic tank and a drain field they dig out a room under the ground.  They build the walls with cement block and it has a cement floor with a hole, 1½ feet in diameter, in the middle.  They also build a cement roof for the room with a cement lid for access.  The drain pipe dumps into this room and everything that goes into it has to escape through the 1½ foot hole in the floor.  I was told that all of these “systems” stink.  The whole process is very time consuming and expensive.  It might be months before Lupe could get it done.  I explained to Lupe how a US septic system works and that we could install it in a couple of days.  His main concern was that it would stink.  I assured him that it would not. 

Digging Trenches (notice their view)

Having received permission to proceed, I made a shopping list and set out to find the ingredients to build a septic system.  Since no such thing exists here it was harder than I thought.  I had to make do with what I could find and it took more than a day to find everything.  It took us two days of work spread over three days but the job is done and they now have a working toilet.  The only problem is that they have no water to run the toilet.  As soon as the job was finished we tried to fill the family water tank with the brownish water from the community reservoir but we could not get the pump to start.  Alas, we were disappointed.  The toilet is now working with the “bucket of water” method.

Covering the "septic tank"

We had to drill our own holes in the pipe for the drain field.
Levi (10) manning the drill and Daniel (7) holding.

Speaking of water, I was able to find a good price for 300 meters of 1” supply line to bring city water to the house.  The supplies to do this project are bought and at the house.  Pray that Lupe can get the water people to make the tap into the 2” main this week so that he can lay and bury the line that he now has and that they can have clean running water soon.

I also bought 120 meters of #8 wire (two individual wires, no ground) and conduit to bury it in.  Later today I hope to put the wire into the conduit and install it tomorrow morning.  Lupe will have to bury the wire after we leave. 

The cost of all the materials that I bought came to a total of about $665.  As I mentioned in my last post, you can help with these expenses by making out your check to ICDV for whatever amount you choose; write Negritas in the memo and send it to: ICDV (Iglesia Comunidad del Valle), PO BOX 240, Jefferson, OR   97352.  All moneys designated to Negritas go to support Lupe and Leti as missionaries to their home town and the surrounding communities.

It became the TOTALLY cool thing to do once I told the
boys that they could fill in the ditch.  Within 5 minutes
there were "experts" telling the others the right way to do it.

We are safely in Mexico and Working Hard

We are safely in Mexico and have spent the last week visiting with and encouraging Lupe and Leti.  We had a lot of setbacks at the border and had to spend an extra day there.  In the end, we had to leave the car we were driving in storage and take a bus the rest of the way.  The bus ride took a day and a half but we finally arrived safe and sound.

A couple of nights ago Jerilyn and I had some interesting moments.  While I was in bed and Jerilyn was sitting in the dark, a poisonous snake climbed up on her bare foot.  (It was just a baby.)  She kicked it away and called for help.  I jumped out of bed and took the snake outside.  In the morning I found out that my glasses had fallen on the floor and that I had stepped on them and broken them.  The rest of the trip is being made with only one ear piece on my glasses.

We are hoping to leave on Sunday for Oaxaca to visit Teodoro and Modesta.  Everything depends on three things.  We need rain.  As I write this it is Friday night.  If rain comes in the next 24 hours we can go and if not, we will have to take two days to water Lupe’s small field by hand.  Tomorrow morning (Saturday – before you read this) we will start to irrigate the field.  (Saturday update: we are irrigating.)  If the rain comes at any time we can stop and prepare to leave.  The hope is that we can water the whole field in only two days and be able to leave for Oaxaca on Monday morning instead of Sunday.  Any delay is a major setback as Teodoro’s window of opportunity to visit with us is limited.  Please pray that we can leave Sunday morning as planned.  Today I talked with Teodoro and he says that they have the opposite problem.  He has too much rain.  I asked him to pray that God would send it our way.  Lupe and Leti also need someone to house-sit and someone else to take care of their two cows and their calves.  So far, no takers for either chore as everyone is busy working right now.

When we arrived here we found that Lupe and Leti are in their new house – a very small but nice two bedrooms and a bathroom along with a kitchen, dining room, living room combo that the government here built for them on the land that they own and farm.  The government is done with their part but they had to move in before it was finished because someone broke in and stole their water pump (that cost about a month’s salary) and a few other things. 

They are living without running water.  They go to a friend’s house to fill two 5 gallon jugs with water for drinking and cooking.  They use brownish water from the community reservoir to wash their clothes, to wash their dishes, and to bathe themselves.  The reason they do not have running water yet is because the water is about 300 yards away and they need to buy the tubing to bring it to their house.  While they have a nice bathroom, they have no septic system.  What they have are two pipes that leave the side of the house – one for the toilet and one for the sink and shower.  Today I went to town with Lupe to look for what I could use as a septic tank.  We finally found something that will work and we ordered it.  I also bought an appropriate pick so we can dig the hole and trenches for the drain field.  We will attempt to install the septic system when we get back from Oaxaca.

Another great need is for adequate electricity.  What they have now is #12 wire running 100 yards over the ground across their corn field.  To have a minimally adequate supply they need 115 meters of #8.  So far the best price I have found for two wire (no ground) is $2.11 per meter.  Another minor need is a washboard sink for Leti to wash her clothes on.  She is washing them in a wheelbarrow with a rock in it.

We view all of these things as needs and not frills.  Their house is not wired (anyone want to drop everything to fly down and help us starting August 4?)  They have two extension cords running from a box in the front wall that serve the house.

Do you want to help?  The old saying, “Wish you were here” rings true in more ways than one.  You can be here in prayer!  We need God’s wisdom to figure out how to do things we know we can do but with materials that have never been used that way before.  You can drop everything and come!  Fly into Queretaro airport a week from Sunday night and we will pick you up and give you a meaningful way to participate in this work.  You will get some good food, too.  Of course I am not expecting anyone to be able to drop everything and come, but if you are a miracle and want to, you can let me know by calling Jefferson Baptist Church and asking them to Email me. 

You can also participate in the costs of these needed works.  The cost is a lot less than you might think.  The total may be only about $800.  (Imagine being able to get running water, a septic system, and electricity to your house for only about $800!)  If you would like to help finish Lupe and Leti’s house, make out your check to ICDV for whatever amount you choose; write Negritas in the memo and send it to: ICDV (Iglesia Comunidad del Valle), PO BOX 240, Jefferson, OR   97352.

Thank you for reading and thank you for praying.

I have been posting shorter updates more frequently on Facebook.  If you want to see those posts you need to friend me on Facebook.  My Facebook name is Jon Sousa.  

Pray for Our Trip to Mexico

Last summer we went to Mexico for almost a month to encourage two families that are trying to live for Jesus and lead others to Christ in their small home towns.  Both Lupe & Leti and Teodoro & Modesta have been back home in Mexico for a little over 5 years.  Teodoro put his faith in Christ in 1995 and Lupe & Leti did the same in 1999.  Teodoro led his wife Modesta to Christ several years ago.  Life has been very difficult for all of them as they have suffered persecution and many roadblocks.  They have all been very discouraged from time to time.

So, last summer we took Lupe, Leti, and their four children in north-central Mexico to visit Teodoro, Modesta, and their three children in southern Mexico, thinking that they could encourage each other.  In that respect the trip was a great success!  All four became fast friends and they spent a week visiting non-stop.  At the end everyone was raring to go again.

When we made this trip last year we thought it would be the only time we would go for an extended trip in the summer because of the heat we have to travel through in the southern US.  But, when we were about to leave last August, Itzel (Lupe and Leti’s daughter) asked us to come to her 15 birthday – a very special event in the life of a young lady.  The small but important celebration will be this Sunday.

Because of that invitation we decided to go for round 2.  We will once again take Lupe, Leti, and the family to southern Mexico for a week of encouragement and instruction.  Another goal we have is to locate Eugenio, another man from our ministry in Oregon, who – rumor has it – is trying to do the same thing in shining Jesus’ light to his small community.  Eugenio is an unknown entity as he professed faith in Christ during a Good Friday outreach but never came to church and never expressed further interest.  We were told he is trying to teach a Bible study in his home.  We want to find him and find out what he is teaching.  He may be another that needs encouragement.

We need this trip to be covered in prayer as last year we were met with so many obstacles we often wondered if we were going to accomplish any of the goals we set out to do.  This year discouraging and troubling things have already been thrown in our path that threatened to cancel the trip before it even started.  Monday, as we were packing to go, out transportation to Mexico all of a sudden was in total limbo.  It seemed like someone threw a stick of dynamite into our box of plans to completely blow it up.  Plan B was drawn up and within an hour the trip was back on. 

Another problem was/is on Teodoro’s side.  He was “volunteered” (legally forced) to serve without pay as part of a security force for the annual town celebration.  The celebration starts just before we can get there and ends the last day we could possibly leave.  Teodoro asked for a couple of days off to visit with us and he was told that he would have to find a replacement and pay him to take his place.  He could not find a replacement so things looked grim.  As we talked on Monday he looked at the schedule of the celebration and found a couple of days that he was “less needed” and we will try to visit during this time. 

We are taking a car down to Mexico for a friend and flying back from Mexico City.  This really helped us out as the friend is paying for a lot of the expenses of getting us to from Mexico.  We will have to pay the cost of getting Lupe’s family to and from Oaxaca and the costs of finding Eugenio (also in Oaxaca).  If you would like to help with these expenses you can do so by following these steps: go on line to InFaith.org and click on the Donate button; Click on Donate Online; designate your gift to Jon Sousa's ministry fund.

Please pray for God to accomplish his goals for this trip.  I will post updates on this blog as the trip progresses.  Also, I will post shorter updates more frequently on Facebook.  If you want to see those posts you need to friend me on Facebook.  My Facebook name is Jon Sousa. 

New Bible Study?

Last night Jerilyn and I approached a couple about having a Bible study in their home.  I don’t want to reveal names just yet but this is a couple that has come to church off and on for several years.  Jerilyn has been teaching an English class in the woman’s home for over a year.  The couple has dedicated each of their three children in our church.  She has more spiritual interest than he does.  I don’t know that either one of them knows Jesus.

We also suggested that they could invite another couple to the Bible study.  The other couple lives in the same apartments and attended the last baby dedication a few weeks ago.  Couple number one said it was a great idea and that they would talk to couple number 2 about it soon.

Please pray that this Bible study will come to pass.  Pray that both couples will attend long term.  The Bible study I want to give is about at 25-30 study series that I am still deciding on what to include.  It will be using the Bible storying method that I have been writing about and that I taught Lupe, Leti, and Teodoro in Mexico last summer.

Thank you for praying.

Update on Sissy's Surgery

Our foster granddaughter had surgery yesterday (November 8) to remove part of a malignant tumor in her brain.  (Read the previous post if you have not yet.)  She was under anesthesia for 5 hours and everything went well.  They took out more than half of the tumor.  Sissy is groggy this morning but is acting pretty normal. 

Thank you for praying her through the surgery.  Please continue to pray for a speedy and complete recovery.  Also pray for the long term result of this tumor that continues to be in her brain.  Long term, the doctors hope that chemotherapy will stop the growth so that Sissy can live a somewhat normal life.  The Great Physician is the only one that can heal her.

Pray for Sissy

This is the first time we have used our blog to ask for prayer on a family matter.  Our daughter Julie and her husband Chad are foster parents to two siblings, a two year old boy and a one year old girl.  They came to Chad and Julie because the girl has inoperable cancer in her brain and Julie has some nursing experience. 

The tumor was considered inoperable because it is too close to vital parts of the brain that cannot be messed with.  Now, something worse has come up and they are going to try to remove as much of the tumor they can tomorrow (Friday, November 8).  Please pray.  The following is an E-mail Julie sent out last night.

I'm writing you from a hospital room with my baby 5 feet away hooked up to monitors. She's been admitted into the hospital for observation with plans to do major surgery on Friday. Up until now the doctors have been calling her tumor inoperable because the risks were far greater than the benefits. That has changed. There is fluid building up in her brain because of the location of the tumor. She's had two minor surgeries in the past month to try and help the fluid drain but it's not working very well. So they've decided to go in with a scope and try to remove as much of her tumor as possible. It's far too dangerous to remove all of it because it's around very critical structures of the brain, but they will take out all they can. I love her surgeon and have a lot of confidence in the team and I trust God to keep her safe. Please pray for her with us. She is still acting her happy cheerful self most of the time. Sometimes I think she probably has a headache. It doesn't slow her down much but every so often she'll hold her head and cry. She's also sleeping a bit more than usual. She was scooting around and being silly, making everyone laugh in the play room here at Doernbecher earlier today though!  Thanks for praying!  ~Julie 

Please pray for Sissy and for my daughter who loves her very much and wants to adopt her and her brother.

Day 16 in Mexico

We are in Santiago Apostol.  Actually we are staying in the neighboring town of San Lucas where Angel & Eva and Teodoro & Modesta live.  We are staying with Teodoro and Modesta.  We brought along two tents with us and all the boys are having a great time in one of them and the girls in another.  The three families of children are mixing very well and enjoying their time together.  We also brought three blow-up mattresses.  My wife and I are using a queen size one and Lupe and Leti are using two individual ones.  Teodoro and Modesta are sleeping on the cement with a very thin petate like they always do.

Everything is going very well.  Teodoro is a very good, successful farmer and he is teaching Lupe how to be a better farmer and how to do things less expensively.  He is being a great encouragement to Lupe in this area.  He has even talked about the possibility of traveling by bus to visit Lupe in Negritas to see his situation and offer suggestions of what he can do to improve his harvest.  That trip by bus would be about 12 hours one way.  In the car it takes us about 9 hours.

I have visited everyone I wanted to invite to the seminar and everyone can come except that Nemesio will only be able to sit in on one or two sessions.  We are going to have the seminar Friday and Saturday from 1pm to 5pm and on Sunday from 10am to 2:30pm.  (Keep in mind we are on Mexican time).  I told Flavio and Violeta if they wanted to come at noon they could eat with us.  Pray for a great time. Pray that God would give me wisdom in teaching and that I would remember everything I want to share.  Pray that everyone understands the lessons and can see how God can use them to reach their towns for Christ.

Teodoro is very obviously a Godly man who has a great desire to see people from his town come to Christ.  He has also suffered a lot for his faith in Jesus.  When he first came to live in San Lucas (right next door to Santiago) and he wanted to grow flowers everyone refused to sell him tools or even the starts to grow his flowers.  So, he grew alfalfa for his animals and corn for his family.  Later, when someone finally sold him flower starts to grow, no one would buy the finished product.  Teodoro has been in San Lucas about the same amount of time that Lupe and Leti have been in Negritas, and, like Lupe and Leti, the people now respect Teodoro very much and everyone seeks him out to buy from him because his product is of very high quality and his prices reasonable.  Also like Lupe and Leti, while they respect him as a man, they are very wary of being influenced by his “non-traditional” beliefs.  Like in Negritas, tradition is of supreme importance in Santiago and San Lucas.

This is one of the main reasons that I wanted to get Lupe and Teodoro together, so that they could encourage each other in the respective ministries that God has given them.  This is happening and I am happy.

I have great hopes that Teodoro will start at least one Bible study after I leave, inviting his family and Angel and Eva.  That is what he wants to do.  I also hope that Flavio will want to have a study in his house that is apart from the weekly Bible studies that the Catholics have.  Please pray to these ends.  It may be that Teodoro will have to prove that I can be done before Flavio takes this step.

After spending an hour together with Nemesio, it was obvious that Nemesio and Teodoro had often discussed their beliefs.  As I have only met Nemesio a couple of times I was still totally unsure of where he is in his relationship with Jesus.  I asked Teodoro what he thought of Nemesio and where he is spiritually.  Teodoro affirmed that he was sure Nemesio is trusting Jesus as his Savoir and wants to live for him.

When we first arrived Angel was not home.  Eva was very happy and held back tears when we presented her with a present from my daughter Julie.  The $100 she gave me for the purpose was just about exactly what it cost me to buy two square plastic tables and seven plastic chairs (from Walmart in Oaxaca).  I wanted a big table but they did not have any so I put the two square ones together.  This is the first table that they have had and they also have never had more than a couple of small chairs for their family of 7.  I also gave her a lot of clothing that was bought and donated by 3 ladies in our church. 

As I shared in last December’s newsletter, their wealth is growing.  Their first hens that were about to lay eggs in November now have children so their little flock is growing.  They also have a couple more sheep than before.  One is pregnant and another recently had a baby.  Instead of two small bamboo huts they now have a third, almost twice as big as the other two put together.  Angel has also begun to fence in his entire property with bamboo.  This also is a sign of increasing wealth.  I did find out that Angel is still drinking a little.  Pray for God to touch him and convince him that God himself can satisfy his every need.

This is a much longer report than I have given because I had more time to write it.  I am feeling good and enjoying some rest in between visits and studying.  Please continue to pray for us.

On another note, I just found out when I got to the internet café that my brother, almost 53, has hung himself.  A get together will happen on the 18^th when I will be in the Sacramento area on our way home.  Pray for his children and for the whole family.

On still another note, I wrote to several people on our mail list that we had only $1000 in hand of a needed $2500 for this trip.  We now have received another $775.  This leaves a need still of $725, assuming we come in at budget.  So far some things have been a little more expensive and others a little less expensive than what I was budgeting so right now, things look about on target.  Please pray for at least another $725 to come in to cover our expenses.  Right now we are very happy with how the trip is going.  God is doing something and we are excited to see the results.  "I seek the fruit that abounds to your account" so please consider joining the team by going to InFaith.org and click on the Donate button; Click on Donate Online; make sure you designate your gift to Jon Sousa's ministry fund.

Thank you very much!