The Ross Family
Ross Family June 2014 Update
Dear Parkside Friends,
Thank you for partnering together in the Gospel with us here in Oaxaca, Mexico. We count it a privilege to live here and to serve some of the neediest. Our flying with Mission Aviation Fellowship has opened doors for the Gospel in isolated indigenous communities and continues to provide opportunities to encourage the new believers in the face of opposition.
As a team we continue to do multiple flights on a daily basis. We team up with the Oaxacan government to move critically ill patients to the hospital in the City of Oaxaca. Our Chaplin who is a trained Social Worker accompanies the patient in the ambulance from the airport to the hospital and advocates for the patient while praying for and witnessing to the family. We often receive invitations to visit the patient in their home back in their communities once they are released from the hospital.
One of the special opportunities we have is to work alongside indigenous pastors like Pedro, Galvino, Ciprio and Gaudencio. They are able to speak the heart language of the people and share the Gospel in culturally appropriate ways. Since ESI started in Mexico we have desired to find a way to use it to help these men. Recently we were able to start meeting with them on a regular basis using a modified ESI program to encourage them in ministry. (picture of Pedro on the motorcycle)
Seven years ago we were invited to help participate in a new church plant. We are thankful that evangelistic Bible studies have borne fruit and it continues to grow. Over the last year it has become an independent church. We started out meeting in a back yard then moved to renting a party center on Sunday mornings and just moved into another facility which we can use throughout the week. Pray for opportunities to reach out to our new neighborhood. We hope to start a new church plant soon.
Pray for our aging parents who are at the point in their lives where they need assistance. We are so thankful for family who step up and help out in our absence. We are thankful for our boys (Steve, Ben and Aaron) and their families.
Love in Jesus Christ,
Mike & Joan
