Your Gifts Make a Difference
Each month some of your donations are redistributed to the Tapachula Jubilee Circle, where Edman and Rosy Orel Lόpez minister to
small, rural congregations near the Guatemala border and to many migrants crossing that border into Mexico. Edman and Rosy always tell us how grateful they are, and this gratitude is expressed by all of JEM’s ministries in Mexico.
Your donations do so much and here are three reasons why:
- Because the participants in our 4 Jubilee Circles are fully dedicated. Everyone senses a holy calling to what they do. Rosy says clearly, “We teach our children that calling, not treasure, is most important.”
- Because Mexico’s economy in which the average salary in Mexico is just above $10,000, and people influenced by JEM make less, some far less. You can see why your donations matter so much for all the people benefiting from the activities of the three Mexico Circles.
- Because the ministries in Mexico are managed locally. Circle participants know their people and the needs, politics, faith relationships, and economics of their communities. Each Circle knows how to make each dollar go far.
To illustrate how your contributions facilitate effective local decisions and ministries read on:
San Cristobal (Alter Nativas)—Isai and Lindsey Mercer-Robledo of the San Cristobal Circle implemented the Tumín to complement the peso and put money in the hands of people with few pesos. The Tumín promotes local ownership, raises up lives, and strengthens the local economy through spending at over 100 participating local businesses as opposed to chain or “big box” stores. Isai and Lindsey now oversee the use of the Tumín in the San Cristobal region.
In both San Mateo and San Cristobal (Na’Xajobal) —Women’s savings groups bring participating women into a sense of power. The women have too few pesos for banks to serve them. One woman testified, “The experience is transforming.” She had never imagined being able to be part of a savings structure to benefit herself and other women.
Tapachula and San Cristobal (Yobel)— Pedro, the director of the Yobel School in San Cristobal and Edman, pastor and theological educator in Tapachula, are training leadership for remote, rural congregations who have been meeting without trained leadership.
San Mateo—The Dan Swanson Cultural Center has been building trust between non-Catholics and Catholics as townspeople come to the Center’s activities and also benefit from community projects such as sharing fruit trees for fresh produce and chickens for eggs and income. Angeli-ca, a physician, treats people left out of the healthcare system and without regard to religious affiliation. People trust her for healing of body and spirit, and pay only when they can.
San Mateo—A vital child-parent program at the Cultural Center provides free training for young parents who feel inadequate parenting their infants and toddlers. None of these parents have money to pay a therapist. They love this program where they can bring their children with them as they receive help from a highly skilled trainer.
Please receive these stories as gifts to you. These stories and your donations make for a reciprocal relationship in which benefit flows to one another.
The summer months typically see a significant drop in donations. Please contribute what you are able to help sustain the work of Jubilee.
The Mighty Presence of the Spirit be with you,
