Our Christian ministry to the people of Mexico

The social services are limited in Mexico. Widows and men over age 65 receive a government issued compensation of 250 pesos per month for food ($17.45 U.S.) which is about 58 cents per day. There is no welfare, no food stamps, and no government housing projects. 

God has moved on our hearts to serve the widows of Mezcala. We currently supply food to three widows on a full time basis. We also have taken on the care of a young woman and her two children whose husband has suffered a stroke and is now paralyzed.  He is in the hospital and not expected to survive. We have a rapidly growing list of other widows and elderly couples in great need. 
 
Can you please assist us in purchasing food for these women and children?


To begin a dialog of your desire to assist us in our ministry please 
email us: Contact Us 

May God open your heart to the needs of the people here in Mexico. 

Kindly, A brother in Christ, Barry L. Brumfield

Life in Mezcala 

The "Mean Old Man"
One month ago, right at dusk, I saw an elderly man, who appeared to be around 90 years of age, slowly working his way down the street on crutches (there are many cripples in Mezcala). Recalling where I'd seen him sitting outside a house before, I realized he had at least five blocks more to go to reach home. I asked Luis to speak to him and offer that I would bring him home in my car... upon which... Luis looked as though I'd asked him to poke a snake with his bare hand. Luis told me the old man was very mean, irritable, and often yelled at anyone that came near him, especially the village children. So, seeing Luis' in trepidation, I didn't persist.

An hour later, as we were leaving the construction site, I saw the old man again, he'd only made it about half a block farther along the street. He was also having problems carrying a little sack of food while managing the crutches, and his pants, which appeared to be four sizes too big, were nearly falling down. That did it for me, I told Luis to get over there and speak to him about riding in my car  to his house. Luis warily approached the old man, and after several minutes of our assuring him we would not harm him or charge him for the ride, to Luis's obvious astonishment, the old fellow agreed.

My Suburban sits high off the ground, and the old man could not manage to climb up in the seat. I picked him up in my arms and sat him on the seat. Even though I handled him ever so gently, he must have been in pain, he moaned slightly as I lifted him. During the time we were speaking to him a few people had gathered around to see what the Gringo was doing with the "mean old man". Upon glancing about, I saw a look of consternation on the faces of some of the adults and all of the kids. Luis asked a lady in the crowd where the old man lived and we were told the street name.

As I drove him slowly home people stared and some even whispered to each other. As we reached his street, a group of kids stopped what they were doing and followed us. Upon arrival, Luis called out to the house and a little old lady of about 4 feet 10 inches tall hobbled out, followed by a scrawny pup and a yellow cat. Their house consisted of a lean-to shed built of tree limbs and felt tarp as a kitchen and another room made of mud bricks with a dirt floor used as a bedroom. They use an outhouse as a toilet. The woman was his wife and though she fussed at him for being gone for several hours just to buy tortillas, it was easy to see she was happy he'd arrived home safely. She was grateful to us and called God's blessings down on us. The old man thanked us, asked God to bless us, and gave Luis and me a warm smile. 

Later, when Luis told his wife Letti about the old man, she did not believe him, but thought we were teasing her. The "mean old man's" reputation held sway over her acceptance of our story. 

Two days later, I brought groceries to the old couple. I found them sitting at a little rickety table under a guava tree in their back yard having breakfast together, the scraggly dog was eating crumbs they fed him. I found that the old man's name was Leonardo and he was 98 years old. His wife's name was Julia, I didn't ask her age. They had been married for 76 years and both had lived in Mezcala their entire life. They have no children, having lost them to illnesses many years past.

Our gratitude

To our dear friends, Al and Margaret Steane, the people of Mezcala have been blessed mightily through your donations of food and clothing over the last two years. Thank you for standing with us in our effort to aid the poor of Mezcala.

Thank you, Judy Jacobs, Marlys Anderson, and Marcee Smith, for your donations of food for the widows and children of Mezcala, may God bless you in all that you set your heart to do.

Thank you, Al and Kathy Jones, for the use of your Soriana points to buy food for the people of Mezcala. We are grateful that God has placed you in our lives.

We are sincerely grateful to Lake Chapala Baptist church for the donations of food and clothing for the people of Mezcala. We are pleased to be associated with Pastor Bob Hendrick and his wife Judy. Thank you for your friendship and pastoral care.

Joyfully in His Service, Barry and Madeliene Brumfield