Mexico

Latest news:

Saul Cruz visited the UK in

April 2012 conducting

workshops in Manchester,

Birmingham, and London.

Volunteers from the US, UK,

and MX set-up a temporary

clinic in the mountain village of

Yalahui . The clinic was a great

success. Thank you to our

wonderful group of volunteers!

Welcome to Irish Sirmons as

our new Armonia (UK) Trust

Administrator.

Prayer Points:

Please pray that suitable

transportation and internet

access will be provided for

those that live at Casa

Margarita.

Please pray for those at the

Mexico City communities

that are suffering from

medical needs and serious

health problems.

Keep in your prayers the

many families that are

experiencing severe

financial difficulties as they

struggle to find work.

Please pray for the volunteer

groups visiting Mexico next

year.

Please pray that sufficient

and regular funds will be

available for the work of

Armonia.

It is good to greet you in the Name of or Lord Jesus Christ and thank you for your prayers, gifts, and ways of support that you have provided for our Ministry and for us during 2012. May The Lord abound your life with his blessings and gifts.

This was a hard year. We continue to miss our beloved John R.W. Stott, dearly called by many of us Uncle John, yet are grateful for all that he taught many of us through his life. During this year many friends had to limit their help due to their pressing difficulties. Some others had to face themselves the effects of a very unsteady economy and violence in the world. We had to face extraordinary reductions in income which deeply affected some of our programmes, and faced illness in our family and close friends.

Nevertheless many of you remained faithful and constant in your love and concern for our work and lives. When I think of you I remember the words of the Apostle Paul when he was in prison for the cause of the Gospel.

"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you

to live a life worthy of the calling y o u h a v e received.” (Ephesians 5:1)

These are words that we all need to hear in the midst of difficult times to renew our calling in Christ which goes beyond our circumstances.

May you have a wonderful Christmas season,

Yours ever in Christ,

Saul and Pilar Cruz on behalf of the Armonía Ministries.

Christmas 2012

Thank you for your support this year

Christmas 2012

Leo arrived in Armonía 4 years ago from the small village of Tepuxtepec in the State of Oaxaca. One of his cousins was an Armonía student for many years while we were in Yalálag, in the southern mountains of Mexico. Leo was 14 years old then and was hoping to study the last three years of secondary school (Senior High). He has one brother who is seventeen years old, their mother lives in their village and comes to Oaxaca City when there is an opportunity for work. Leo's father passed away very tragically a couple of years ago.

Leo has enrolled at University to start on the 7th of January next year. He will study the technical degree of Industrial Processes near Mexico City. He is excited about the prospect of eventually being able to help his village using some of the resources they have, such as fruit and vegetable processing, and make products that can bring a few jobs and income to his homeland.

Yesterday, as we were on our way back from the Students Residence Leo was telling us how he heard about Christmas for the first time when he arrived in Armonía. 'The first time I visited Mexico City for the Christmas celebrations with Armonía, was the first time I really heard about Christmas... I thought our trip was just a treat, a trip so we could see the City for the first time and have parties with my friends. I had heard almost nothing about Christmas in my village and all I thought it was, was a time to decorate different places.'

Leo continued saying that he now realises that there are many people like him that are celebrating in order just to have a party. 'Now I understand that celebrating Christmas allows us to see and try to understand more how much God loves us... I can also now see that the actual celebration invites us to do things with others, but especially, do things for others. This is important because, lets say I go back to my village and just put up more decorations like others do, they wouldn't necessarily understand why I'm doing that. I can now see it would be better to do things for others during Christmas to let them know that I love them, and that in that way I express the love that God has for us all.' Reg Charity No 1037177

Contact us: Our website:

www.armoniamx.org

Email:

administrator@armonia-uk.org.uk

or Write to:

FREEPOST ARMONIA

(this is our official postal address)

Visit our Blog for news updates and prayer points:

http://armoniauktrust.blogspot.com

@ArmoniaMexico

Volunteering: Armonia Mexico needs

groups of volunteers dur-

ing these two time frames:

1 July -15 September and,

12-25 December 2013

Please contact us to obtain

an application and to

schedule a visit. If you are

able to send a group of vol-

unteers or would like to

join a group of volunteers

please see the Armonia

website for more informa-

tion on volunteering in

Mexico!

Group sizes:

Small-medium: 6-11

Large: 18-22 (max)

Leo’s story

'I can now see it

would be better

to do things for

others during

Christmas to let

them know that I

love them, and

that in that way

I express the love

that God has for

us all.'

www.armoniamx.org