March 2012

NEWS FROM SUSIE

(Susie Frerichs, local Presbyterian Missionary in Mexico)

Dear Friends at First Presbyterian Church,

Though my service with the PCUSA ended on December 31st, 2011, I continue to minister as a missionary member of the Santisima Trinidad Presbyterian Church which I joined by transfer of membership in early January. During its January meeting, the Presbytery of the Huastecas named me as lay pastor of the Diving Savior PC of La Laguna, Orizatlan, Hidalgo for the coming year. Our goals for this coming year are to see more families come to Christ in the community, encourage spiritual growth among members, increase and diversify our membership, elect a leadership team, and build an annex to be used for classrooms and fellowship area. In August our congregation will host the next ordinary meeting of Presbytery of the Huastecas. Abraham and I are excited about recent purchase which will allow us to travel for ministry engagements as well as farm work for a fraction of the cost of the use of our truck – our 2011 Honda Bros 150 motorcycle. In addition to my responsibilities with the church in La Laguna, I also guest preach when invited by other congregations, women’s groups, and youth ministries in our presbytery. But, I am also enjoying my work as a farm wife, preparing meals for my husband and his workers, tending to the beginnings of my own garden on another piece of land we own within the community, feeding our pig, “Lola”, and other projects around the home. I was recently given not one but TWO sewing machines so I guess that is a hint that I need to start on those mending projects that have been piling up on me as well as drag out my Jr. High sewing skills and actually create something of my own. We shall see how that goes….. As to the farm, the corn fields are at a variety of stages, but all have tasseled and we are likely to begin harvesting dry corn in another month or so. The sugar cane will be harvested later this month and our bees are busy making honey from the orange blossoms which will also be harvested in the next 15 days…..never a dull moment on the farm or in ministry! For all of you who have been supporting my salary through the PCUSA, I remind you that my severance pay (called re-entry grant) will end April 30th, so any gifts to the PCUSA beyond that date will be diverted to other missionaries serving the denomination. Thank you for your faithful support over the years and for your continued prayers.

Future Giving to the Presbytery of the Huastecas

During its January meeting, the Presbyery of the Huastecas agreed to maintain its partnership with Presbyterian Churches in the United States with whom they have been working for the past 6 years, as long as these partners did not support the constitutional changes which led to the break in the relationship between our two denominations. If your congregation is interested in visiting us and participating in construction, evangelistic or educational ministries, just let me know. We look forward to your visit. Also, the Board of Directors of Proyecto Amistad of Laredo, TX (one of the former Presbyterian Border Ministries which now operates as an independent Presbyterian educational ministry) has agreed to be a channel for future support for the Presbytery of the Huastecas. If you desire to support the work of the Presbytery, please simply send your gift to Proyecto Amistad at PO Box 17866, San Antonio, TX 78217, with a note that it is for the Huastecas. Funds will later be forwarded to the Presbytery of the Huastecas. If you do send a gift, please be sure to email me with that information so I can inform the Presbytery of your gift and we can thank you in due time. Thank you for your generosity and love for the Lord’s work in this region of Mexico!

In Christ’s love,

Susie Frerichs de Hernandez