Oaxaca Events: October 26 through November 13, 2009 

In honor of Native Heritage Month, we journey to southern Mexico to host intercultural learning experiences.   Our Teams will be teaching at the "Fiesta Grande" Conference in La Ventosa, host a Christian Festival in Lachiguiri, and help with Dr Luis Palau's Evangelistic Festival in Oaxaca City.  

Oaxaca is home to over 100 distinct tribal linguistic groups!   We encourage believers young and old, partnering directly with Indigenous Christians and their leaders.  

If you might like to participate in these interactive and educational projects, please contact Mike Hendricks at mhendricks9@msn.com or by phone at 505.453.7959

Here are some memories from the past few years of "Native Heritage Month" Celebrations...

Enjoying a needed break after several hours on the road and a great meal at Restaurante del Camino.

Overall, we only blew out 2 tires, and the van's fuel pump went out 3 hours off the highway. No bad problems really at all.

Beatríz, Helen and Reyna got to spend time getting to know each other.

Being a mentor and an example to young people is quite a blessing - even trans-culturally!

Gathering for a beach retreat or focused event gives us time to hear the hearts of Indigenous people, young and old. The purposeful friendships that grow are so valuable!

Previously, Mitchell La Plante, Blackfoot, (left)also came all the way from Brockett Reserve in Alberta! We were blessed to have Sara Hendricks (right)for the first time on this trip too! We all climbed the Pyramid of the Sun and enjoyed a fantastic view.

As we all climbed higher spiritually, God helped us all see a lot of new things on this trip: about ourselves, third world indigenous peoples' needs, making friends among different cultures, and making a difference in some young lives because of what Jesus has done for us.

Our team was given time to greet everyone and share with about 400 Mixteco youth at this Church in Tlaxiaco.

There were several tribal groups represented on our team and each village we visited. We were blessed to have members travel with us from Navajo, Hopi, Blackfoot, and Mixteco tribes!

Just taking a few moments to have a Coke means a lot to kids!

When you go to a "Youth Conference" in Oaxaca, there will probably be 'kids' there from about 8 to 30 years old!

Learning songs together is always fun, especially in a couple or three languages!

We spent about 3 weeks with Bible School Students in Tamazulapan.

Getting together informally in the evenings, outside, provided times of singing, worshipping Jesus, who brought us together across many miles.

We were able to visit a new area, San Pedro Amuzgos this year, home to a special group of Indigenous people, the Amuzgos.

We participated in a couple of church services and visited local Christian families, who offered us FRESH coconuts right off the tree!

Urias and other Zapotec young people are growing as Christian leaders in their community.

We are encouraged and blessed every time we visit Lachiguiri to see them take more responsibility, and develop positive vision for their lives.

"Rancho Soledad", in La Ventosa is the site of a Bible School and also "La Fiesta Grande" annual Pastors & Leaders Conference - attended by over 1000! Mike Hendricks leads a team-development workshop for youth leaders.

John Lansa has made two trips with the teams to Oaxaca, sharing Christ through teaching and practical helps.

We have known Joel and Judith (with Joy) for many years now; God uses them as recordists and distributors with Gospel Recordings/Buenas Nuevas.