Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Oct/82

Contributor - Annette Shriel

Title - A Missionary Letter From Mexico

Topic - Missions

Ya no vivo yo, mas vive Ctisto en mi Y lo que ahora vivo en la carne Lo vivo en la ft del Hijo de Dios Y cual mi amo y sentrego 0 si mismo por mi. Galatas 2:20

This little "corito" means a lot to the Evangelical Christians in Mexico and they sing it with a great deal of emotion. The song, based on Galatians 2:20, reminds them constantly that their lives are Christ's and that He is in control. At times it is this faith in Christ that is the only thing that gives them any hope. Unfortunately, millions of Mexicans have never heard the good news of new life and new hope in Christ. They are trapped in a syncretistic religion often called "Christo Paganism". This means that the heathen beliefs of the ancient Indians were gradually combined with Roman Catholicism to form the religion of the people living there now. Christ has been pushed into the background. Prayers to the virgin of Guadeloupe are said in the belief that she can save them. Yet, there are those who are proclaiming Christ - being a living witness to His love.

I had the privilege to work and live for four months with a family who is doing just that: giving their all in order that people might be won for Christ. The Legters have been serving the Lord as missionaries in the Yucatan peninsula for almost 50 years. The ministry of this family ranges from theological education, church planning and evangelism, to running a Christian camp during the summer. The patriarch, David Legter, Sr. graduated from Westminster Seminary and went down to the Yucatan as a Wycliffe translator during the early thirties. When he finished his translation work he left Wycliffe and continued working among the people he had grown to love. Now, at the age of 74, he still continues teaching and preaching. His son, David Jr. has now taken over a great deal of the work. Don Bito, as he is called, runs a Seminary to train national pastors, preaches regularly, acts as secretary for the Mayab presbytery of the National Presbyterian Church, and during the summer months, is responsible for the camp program at Porvenir. Supported by churches and individuals throughout North America, Bito and his wife, Jean, are also working tirelessly in the ministries that the Lord has given them.

Right now the biggest problem that they face has to do with the camp. The roof of the chapel is in a shambles; the generator which they use to provide electricity for the camp needs to be replaced, since it is just about worn out. The generator is in such a sorry shape that when a boy was trying to get it started, a piece flew off and hit him in the head. He had to get 5 stitches. There were several evenings that camp was without any electricity at all. We would only run the generator two hours a day to try to conserve it.

The recent enormous devaluation of the Mexican peso has almost doubled the cost of feeding the 300 campers that come each week. I'll never forget one day when Bito came home from the tortilla factory. He was quite upset because the price of tortillas, the staple food in Mexico, had doubled that day. That meant his cost of feeding the campers had also risen - enormously. "But the Lord will provide," he told Jean. And the Lord does; He takes care of His children!

Since I have had the honour of living and working with these people, I feel that it is my responsibility to make the needs of this ministry known. Of course, it is impossible in a letter such as this to say all that needs to be said. If you, your church, or your organization would like more information, don't hesitate to call or write!

The Legters' address is: Apdo. 1250, Merida, Yuc., Mexico.

I have also prepared a slide presentation dealing with my work this summer, as well as the work of the Legters. It would be my pleasure to show this presentation to anyone who is interested.

Please click the "Back" button of your browser to return to previous page.