A BRUTAL YEAR: 1952

1 Samuel 30:24

THE MEXICAN INDIAN MISSION BULLETIN

“For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.”


I am so grateful for my unsaved at the time, maternal grandparents who had the foresight to save every MEXICAN INDIAN BULLETIN from the first one in 1948 to the last ones in the 1960's, although somewhat battered, cut up, and pieced together, it has allowed me to catch glimpses of what transpired during Dad's and Mother's first years in Mexico through others.  It is very touching to think that Grandpa and Grandma touched and read those very same bulletins.  Even to entertain the thought that they could have been inspired by some of the stories to lead them to the Lord.

Grandma & Grandpa Wedgwood

After they came to the Lord, they became  ardent supporters and prayer warriors.

In a greetings to the Prayer Partners Everywhere:
"More than you can know, we do appreciate how you are holding the ropes for us while we toil in the dark mines below, seeking to rescue these lost Indians for Christ.
To realize that you are doing for us just what Aaron and Hur did for Moses gives us deep and lasing inspiration to do our best to bring these lost sheep home to Christ.
I wish I could impress on you the far reaching ministry which God has given you in praying for us.  I believe it is the most powerful agency God has placed in your hands and mine, that of intercession for the lost and for those of His sheep who may have lost fellowship with Him....we want you to understand how deeply we appreciate what you are doing for us.  You will remember what David said, "As his part is that goeth down to battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff."
When you and we gather about the feet of Jesus and He recognizes the ministry we gave Him on earth, and when He comes to tell us of the Indian souls who have been won, don't forget that you will share in a large measure in any reward given, for that is exactly what David was  saying.  As is our part in seeking those lost souls, so shall be your part when He comes to make up his jewels."  ~J.G.Dale, MIM bulletin Nov./Dec.1949

"People who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives ... and when the bubble has burst, they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted." — Nate Saint, missionary martyr

The year 1952 was a brutal year for the MIM.  There were days of discouragement and oppression from the enemy.  There was much sickness, loss of workers, both foreign and national in persecutions.  (Edith Van Reeds passing)EDITH VAN REED click here
"There have been times when we have felt that we could stand no more and yet, so close has been the presence of our great God through it all that we dared not complain.  We could only cast ourselves and our burdens upon Him and wait upon Him.  And so we look back, we can testify with full assurance that our Heavenly Father has indeed been "our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble."
We rejoice in Him, knowing that all things indeed work together for good to them that love Him, even those things that cause the deepest pain."  ~MIM Year-end-Reflections by Bernice I. Ouren  Oct/Nov/Dec, 1952

 

Don Ricardo Garcia

Several Evangelists had been lost to the work, and some of them have departed on ungodly paths.
Dad's ministry companion of two years, DON RICARDO, was suddenly taken away to Glory.  (Sobering thought, Dad was not on this visit to that village that day.)A Veteran of the Mexican Revolution ~click here
"A prince in Israel has fallen."  Three nights ago, on Sunday, Oct.19, Sr. Ricardo Garcia, one of our outstanding evangelists, was holding a service in the little congregation of C--in the State of Hidalgo.  Two other evangelists were with him.
A mob of about thirty fanatics came into the service and announced, they had orders to kill all three evangelists.  They took them off to the woods, along the way drinking whiskey which made them more furious.
For some unknown reason, a soldier let one of the evangelists, Sr. Camilo Ruperto, free.
The second, Sr. Roberto Martinez, was stabbed and beaten, and fell over a precipice.  The next day he made his way to a village not too far away.

The third evangelist, DON RICARDO was in front.  They mistreated him a along the way, recognizing him as the leader.  When he fell, they kicked him.  They beat him, made fun of him, leaving him dead in the woods.  Evangelical friends nearby heard of this, took his body and gave it a decent burial, and advised us of what happened.
For 20 years Ricardo had been associated with us in our work with the Indians.
He was once a soldier, and had run the scale of sin to the last notch.  Then he decided to drown his wife in the river, and kill himself.  She escaped, and though he cut his throat, he did not die.  Another evangelist found him and brought him to Christ, and from then on like a flaming torch Ricardo had served the Lord.

Evangelist Camilo Ruperto,persecuted,threatened, jailed, former alcoholic, popular pagan dancer, turned aggressive Christian

He was well-known throughout our entire mission in the five states where we have work.
His love able spirit, his good common sense, and his unflagging zeal made him a prince in Israel.  His Home going has left a wide, wide gap and we are wondering if it will ever be filled.  We know that Moses goes and Joshua takes his place.  His passing has left the entire mission in mourning."  ~MIM Bulletin, 1952 by Dr. James G. Dale.

Don Ricardo on the trail

Don Ricardo Baptismal Service

Excerpts from a letter written by Don Ricardo, June 22, 1948 translated from Spanish:
Through this letter we greet you affectionately.  This month we have had very encouraging experiences.  It would be tiring to relate them in detail, so we will have to omit some things of interest.  At the beginning of the month we went to H--and were able to place three NT in a home there.
The people listened with much pleasure when we explained the gospel to them.  While we were preaching to them in the house of one of the villagers, the local priest passed by, and remaining standing on the street corner, listening.  After a long while he addressed himself to two men who were in the back of the audience and told them that they should not permit us to propagate our message and literature there because we were bad people.  One of the men replied: "But the first one who has deceived us is the priest."  Poor priest! and the man who spoke to him was an Indian!  The lady of the house where we conducted the service was not at all intimidated by the priest.

Don Ricardo

Ricardo & Marcia Garcia with daughter, Ofelia

On the 10th, we spoke to a man who on other occasions had paid no attention to what we told him.  This day, however, the divine light struck him in full and he was awakened and we believe he was truly converted.  He invited us to his village to speak to his wife.  We had prayer together before he returned to his home, and he himself prayed, surrenering his life to the Lord Jesus Christ....  ~Your brother in Christ, Ricardo and Marcia Garcia


"We share with you the following extracts translated from a report sent into the field headquarters by Ricardo Garcia, Aztec Evangelist of the Mexican Indian Mission.":

"Some of the brethren are suffering at the hands of the Catholics: one family in whose house we have sometimes gathered to teach them some hymns, and verses of the Bible, receive insults from the enemies.  When these brethren sing, stones are thrown at their house and many of the roof tiles have been broken.  They threaten to throw them out of the village, to force them to sell their lots and home, and they try to force the father of the family to drink whiskey.
The women with whom the mother used to drink bothered her very much but in spite of it all, the brethren remain firm in the Lord.
It seems that for the present the Lord is manifesting Himself with more power, for they not only listen with pleasure to the Word, but when we go to their houses of visit them, they are very grateful and give us little gifts such as an egg, little corn, beans, or some other thing.

Don Ricardo officiated at my baby dedication ceremony, Oct.9,1949 in Zapotitlan

One man asked us to go to his house to do a rosary, but when we explained that we only teach the Word of God, he said, 'Well pardon me.  I do not know how to say it, but what I want is that you go to my house in order that my wife, who cannot walk far, may hear."

Evangelist Luis Villanueva

Persecutions continued in 1951 also
While in route  to a day of prayer, Evangelist Luis Villanueva was attacked by a soldier with a knife.  The knife was aimed at his heart, but his arm deflected it and his life was spared.

Don Ricardo with this wife Marcia & daughter Ofelia

Even Dad's life was threatened.  He was advised to leave the country for a short period of time which he did, leaving us in Zapotitlan under protection of soldiers from the county seat.

This was also the year that Dr. Robert C. McQuilkin passed away.  He was closely associated with the MIM and everyone felt his enthusiasm.  He was the first chairman of our home council.