Sept 2010

"How can God forgive what I've done?" His voice sounded unsteady as he sat there with reddened eyes and a bowed head.
"Because He loves you. Just for being you." We sat in a corner listening to the jungle rain falling from a misty sky and the drone of other youth coming and going in the church in Mecatlan, Veracruz. "Do you remember what the father spent his time doing in the story of the prodigal son?"
"No." Blinking, he looked up.
"Waiting in the doorway of his house. Straining to see if he could see his son returning. And when he did, stammering about his not being worthy and unsure of his father's forgiveness, his father pushed it aside. He was just overjoyed that his son was there with him."
With my arm across his shoulders and tears welling in his tired eyes we prayed. And as the depth of God's love and forgiveness for him began to sink in he decided to give his whole life to the Lord.
At this camp in Mecatlan, Bible teaching, music, group sports, and adventure activities kept some 40 staff and around 150 participants moving from morning to night. Most of the teens were from surrounding villages mostly of the Totonac tribe. What is amazing is that it was organized by a team of young people with a minimum of training and only one previous year of experience. We worked with them a year ago and were able to partner since then to help them learn how to train their staff.
Now after the busyness of summer camps in Oaxaca, Hidalgo, and Veracruz (other members of the Cumbre team worked with camps in Jalisco, Mexico City, and Guanajuato) there is follow-up work to do. We are thankful for the Lord's safety over us traveling and during the camps. We are thankful for having had the opportunity of sharing God's love and God's word with hundreds of youth. We are thankful for the privilege of being part of seeing them give their lives to Him. Now the follow-up labor begins. Pray with us as leaders in the different states where summer ministry took place continue to teach, disciple, encourage, and reach out to the youth in their areas.
This semester we will be working with the local youth and our church here in Puebla (among other things we have a church retreat in October), continuing the training of our instructors, and helping my sister and brother in law move down here (they will be working at the Bible seminary here in Puebla.) Thank the Lord with us for a fabulous summer and Pray with us for the coming challenges and opportunities.
Thanks again for being part of the team and part of the ministry.

For His Kingdom,

Victor, Martha, Ana and Laura Magallon

July 2010

So tomorrow I say goodbye to my own bed for 3000 kilometers.

Summer camps kick off with basic training for climbing instructors in El Punto Oaxaca with kids from the Mixteco and Chatino tribal groups, then a week of youth camp there, then in Tasquillo, Hidalgo for a week then Mecatlan, Veracruz for a week.

Pray for safety, for the hearts of the youth as they hear the Word of God and as we have opportunities to Love them as He would. Pray for the leaders we have been working with as they carry out camp ministry in these areas as well as Michoacan, Morelos, and Jalisco.

Thank you all for being a part of this summer through your prayers and support. We'll be back in August with some good stories and pictures.

For His Kingdom,

Victor, Martha, and Laura Magallon (Ana is with some friends for the summer)

March 2010

Nothing like hitting bottom after a mountaintop experience. I kind of like it. That is if you're talking about exploring a deep vertical cave a couple weekends after climbing a snow capped mountain. We began the semester working with the local youth and training staff. The end of February had us enjoying an extraordinarily heavy snowfall on Ixta (17,000 + ft) with some staff from Campus Crusade. Yesterday (March 15) we returned from Cuesta Colorada where we spent a few days doing hands-on training in cave exploration and teaching how to apply adventure activities in day-to-day ministry. While peeking in crannies and holes all over the countryside, we were lead to an unexplored cave. It turned out to be over 120 feet deep and gave the instructors a great opportunity to practice anchoring, rappel, and rope ascension. In the evenings they would practice linking the day's activities as illustrations to passages and concepts of the Bible.

This coming Friday (March 19) we will head to the state of Guerrero with youth from Puebla Christian School for an overnight camping trip and a hike through Chontacoatlan. Here we will have the participation of youth that we have been training in adventure activities as well as some of the Campus Crusade staff we climbed Ixta with.

The weekend after that we head to the small remote village of Tezonquilillo in San Luis Potosi (north of here) for a regional youth camp. PRAY with us for staff. We are expecting more than 100 teenagers from the surrounding villages and we are still short -staffed.

From there we will be heading to Oaxaca for basic training for climbing and rappelling for the region and then preparing for summer camp season.

PRAY for safety and more importantly, for spiritual growth both in the participants as well as the staff; that God may use these experiences to stretch us all and draw us closer to Him. PRAISE Him for the faithfulness of the youth from different areas in seeking and serving Him.

Thank you all again for being part of the team; part of the ministry.

Victor, Martha, Ana, and Laura Magallon

marzo, 2010

No hay nada como tocar fondo despues de una experiencia de altura. De hecho, me encanta. Eso es, si hablas de explorar un sòtano un par de fines de semana despues de escalar una montaña nevada. Empezamos el semestre trabajando con los jòvenes locales y capacitando personal. Al final de febrero nos encontràbamos disfrutando una buena nevada en el Ixta con personal de Cruzada Estudiantil. Apenas ayer (15 de marzo) regresamos de Cuesta Colorada en Hidalgo donde pasamos algunos dias en una capacitaciòn avanzada para nuestro personal en exploraciòn de cuevas y como aplicar actividades de aventura en el ministerio. Entre todos los pequeños agujeros en los que nos asomamos, nos llevaron a una cueva previamente inexplorada. Resultò tener una profundidad de mas de 40 metros y diò a los instructores una oportunidad de practicar anclajes, rapel y ascensiòn por la cuerda. En las tardes buscaban formas de vincular las actividades del dia como ilustraciones a pasajes y conceptos de la Bìblia.

Este viernes que viene (19 de marzo) nos iremos a Guerrero con jòvenes de la Escuela Cristiana de Puebla para acampar y explorar las grutas de Chontacoatlan. Participaràn nuestros instructores de Puebla asì como los amigos de Cruzada Estudiantil con los que subimos el Ixta.

El fin de semana despues de eso nos vamos a Tezonquilillo, San Luis Potosì para un campamento con los jòvenes de la regiòn. OREN con nosotros por el personal pues esperamos mas de 100 participantes y nos falta personal.

De allì nos vamos a Oaxaca para un curso en escalada bàsica y luego empezar a preparar para los campamentos de verano.

ORA por seguridad y mas importantemente, crecimiento espiritual en los participantes y personal; que Dios use estas experiencias para estirarnos a todos y acercarnos a El. Dale GRACIAS por la fidelidad de los jòvenes en diferentes àreas que Lo estan buscando y sirviendo.

Gracias por ser parte del equipo; parte del ministerio.

Victor, Martha, Ana y Laura Magallòn

 

December 2009

Someone stole our backpacks! Martha's face was pale and Laura looked disoriented; shocked. Stunned, I paused where I was and my mind raced over the contents of the packs: a radio, compass, leatherman pocketknife... Then I remembered one backpack had been full of Laura's beloved stuffed animals. She took them everywhere because she cared for them as if they were real. She was going to be devastated. I took off at a sprint down the wooded hill; searching, pausing to listen, hoping to catch sight of someone fleeing with the stolen packs. After zig-zagging uselessly all over the mountain, I returned to the spot where I had begun and tracked, looking for bent foilage, broken branches, or debris which might indicate where they might have left the trail. By the second day, I had tracked the person who had taken the packs all the way to the village where he lived. And caught him. And recovered ALL the stolen objects. AND, most importantly, had the opportunity to share the gospel with him and see Emilio give his life to the Lord. Now Laura, whose stuffed animals he took, prays for Emilio. God is GREAT.

This unplanned adventure was part of an advanced training camp we planned during November which was attended by youth leaders and adventure instructors from Veracruz, the state of Mexico, and Hidalgo. PRAISE the Lord for the discipleship and technical training we were able to do during this time and the ongoing leadership of these young men and women in their places of service.

PRAISE God also for wonderful times of teaching and challenges during our church retreat and our "Commando" youth camp which took place during October.

PRAY with us as we plan for another opportunity for technical training in cave exploration for youth in the mountains of Hidalgo planned for January as well as the strategic planning we are working on with local leaders for the church in Puebla.

Thank you all for the part you have in what God is doing here in Mexico. Merry Christmas and may God bless your new year.

For His Kingdom,

Victor, Martha, Ana and Laura Magallon

 

diciembre, 2009

Alguien se robò nuestras mochilas! Martha se veia pàlida y Laura estaba desorientada. Sorprendido, pausè y mi mente empezò a repasar el contenido: una radio, una brùjula, una navaja... Luego me dì cuenta que en la otra mochila estaban los preciosos animales de peluche de Laura, quienes trataba como si fueran de verdad. Siempre los tenia con ella. Iba a estar devastada. Salì corriendo a toda velocidad bajando entre el bosque de la montaña; buscando, pausando para escuchar, esperando ver alguien huyendo con las mochilas. Despues de recorrer el cerro inùtilmente regresè al punto donde empezè y comenzè a buscar un rastro; una rama doblada, follaje rota, alguna basurita que me pudiera indicar donde habrà salido del camino. Para el segundo dia habia rastreado alguien hasta un pueblo cercano. Y lo atrapamos. Y recobramos TODOS los objetos perdidos. Y más importantemente tuvimos la oportunidad de compartir el evangelio con el y ver que Emilio le entregara su vida a Cristo. Ahora Laura ora seguido por Emilio.

Esta aventura imprevista tomò lugar durante un que fuè atendido por jòvenes de Veracruz, Estado de Mèxico e Hidalgo. DA GRACIAS a Dios por el discipulado y capacitaciòn tècnica que se llevò acabo durante este tiempo y por los jòvenes en sus lugares de servicio.

Tambien da GRACIAS a Dios por los tiempos fabulosos de enseñanza y reto durante el retiro de nuestra iglesia en Puebla y el Campamento Comando que tomaron lugar durante octubre.

ORA con nosotros mientras planeamos unas fechas de capacitaciòn tècnica en exploraciòn de cuevas en Hidalgo durante el mes de enero asì como la planeaciòn estratègica que estaremos haciendo con lìderes de nuestra iglesia en Puebla para el trabajo de 2010.
Gracias por la parte que tienen todos ustedes en el ministerio. Feliz Navidad y que Dios bendiga su Año Nuevo.

Para Su Reino,

Victor, Martha, Ana y Laura Magallòn

 

 

septiembre, 2009

Tres mil kilòmetros, selva, bosque, desierto, cerca de quinientos jòvenes, mas de veinte instructores entrenados en dos capacitaciones distintos, tres campamentos en tres estados, y todo esto nada mas durante julio y agosto. Ahora que nos estamos recuperando del verano, nos rebosamos de gozo y quedamos atònitos al haber visto lo que el Señor esta haciendo en diferentes partes de nuestro pais. Es hermoso ver jòvenes entregar su vida a Cristo y comprometerse a seguir y servirle.

En Oaxaca e Hidalgo nos tocò participar en campamentos que tienen ya 12 y 25 años respectivamente. En Veracruz tuvimos el privilegio de ser parte de su primer campamento.
Ahora el reto es el seguimiento. En Hidalgo, donde empezamos a capacitarlos en 2002, el ministerio de aventura ya es independiente con Neftali, el màs experimentado de los lìderes capacitando nuevos instructores. En Veracruz, entrenamos personal nuevo y supervisamos en lo que ellos llevaron acabo su primer evento. Y en Oaxaca hay peticiones de entrenamiento en mas de 5 àreas distintas.

Asì que por lo pronto, habrà capacitaciòn avanzada para todo el personal existente en Hidalgo durante noviembre y capacitaciòn bàsica en Oaxaca a fin de año. Ora con nosotros en lo que planeamos estos eventos.

Aquì en Puebla estaremos arrancando un ministerio de secundaria asi como seguir apoyando el ministerio de prepa y universidad que esta acargo de Christian. Nuestra hija mayor, Ana, ya tiene los 13 y serà parte del grupo de secundaria (como vuela el tiempo). Le damos gracias a nuestro Señor por lo que El esta haciendo y por todos ustedes que son parte de este ministerio.

Para Su Reino,

Victor, Martha, Laura y Ana Magallón

 

September 2009

Three thousand kilometers, rainforest, pine forest, deserts, around five hundred teenagers, more than twenty instructors trained in two different workshops, three different camps in three different states, and all this just during July and August.

As we regroup from the summer we are overflowing with joy and astounded at having seen first-hand what the Lord is doing in different parts of Mexico. It is beautiful to see young people give their lives to the Lord and commit to seek and serve Him.
In Oaxaca and Hidalgo we participated with summer camp programs that have been going on for 12 years and 25 years respectively. In Veracruz we had the priviledge of being part of their first summer camp.

Now the challenge is to follow up. In Hidalgo, where we began training in 2002, the adventure ministry is independent, with Neftali, the most experienced leader training new instructors. In Veracruz, we trained new staff and oversaw their first event. In Oaxaca there are requests in more than five remote areas to receive first-time training.

So for now there will be advanced training for existing instructors in Hidalgo in November and basic training in Oaxaca around New Year. Pray with us as we plan these events.

Locally, we will be starting a junior-high outreach as well as continuing to support the high-school / university outreach which is lead by Christian. Our eldest daughter Ana is 13 now and will be part of the new junior-high ministry (crazy how time flies). We thank the Lord for what He is doing and thank Him for all of you who are part of this ministry.

For His Kingdom,

Victor, Martha, Laura, and Ana Magallon

 

(English text below)

julio, 2009

Una tierra tan virgen que es mas común ver osos hormigueros, loro verde y boas que vuelan de arbol a arbol que el venado. Terreno tán escabroso que puede tomar cuatro horas viajar menos de 50 kilómetros. Un rincón tan olvidado que la mayoria de los adultos hablan idiomas mucho más antiguos que el español. De esta área llegaron a Puebla para capacitarse en el uso de la escalada y rapel como herramienta de ministerio. El miercoles pasado terminamos con el entrenamiento y regresaron a sus áreas para buscar un sitio para usar con alrededor de 100 jóvenes que se esperan para un campamento en agosto. Para nosotros fué una bendición compartir; no, mas bien, ser infectado por su amor por el Señor y su pasión por alcanzar los jóvenes de la sierra que los rodea. Gracias a Dios por la oportunidad de arrancar un programa de ministerio de aventura en esta área remota.

Ora con nosotros ahora que empezamos nuestra temporada de campamentos de verano. Quisieramos invitarlos a que vivan con nosotros el verano con las fotos e información que subiremos a la página cada que podamos. Es una oportunidad increible de capacitar líderes y trabajar junto con ellos en lo que alcanzan jóvenes y niños con la esperanza de Jesucristo.

Mañana partimos para una semana de capacitación y luego una semana de campamento en Tasquillo, Hidalgo. Despues una semana de campamento en El Punto, Oaxaca y luego una semana en Mecatlán, Veracruz. Gracias al Señor por las puertas que El esta abriendo.

Vean el itinerario en nuestra página cumbreexp.com para ver las fechas de los eventos. Gracias a todos por ser una parte activa de este alcance. Dios los bendiga a todos.

Para Su Reino,

Victor, Martha, Ana y Laura Magallón

 

June 2009

A land so wild that it is more common to see anteaters, green parrots, and boas that fly from tree top to tree top than deer. Terrain so punishing that it can take four hours to travel less than 30 miles in a motor vehicle. A corner so forgotten that most adults speak languages older than spanish. From this area, six youth came down to Puebla, to learn to use climbing and rappelling as a ministry tool. This past wednesday they finished their training, and full of excitement and vision returned to their villages to scout out a site to use in August with 100 youth that are expected to gather for a week-long youth camp. For us it was a blessing to share; no, to be infected by their love for the Lord and their passion to reach the youth of the mountains around them. Thank the Lord for the chance to start a wilderness program in this remote area.

Pray with us as we launch thus into our summer camp program. Nothing at all like what you might imagine summer camp would be in the US, we would invite you to live the summer with us as we upload info and photos on our website as often as we can. It is an incredible opportunity to train leaders and work alongside them as they reach children and youth with the hope of Christ Jesus.

Tomorrow we are off to do training for a week and then a week of camp in Tasquillo, Hidalgo, north of here. Then a week in the mountains of Oaxaca. Then a week in the village of Mecatlan, the area described above. Thank the Lord with us for the doors he is opening.

Check out the itinerary of our webpage cumbreexp.com to see the dates of our comings and goings. Thank you all for being an active part of this outreach. God bless you all.

For His Kingdom,

Victor, Martha, Ana, and Laura Magallon

enero, 2009

Ya nerviosos, el grupo se entraño aun más en la obscuridad. Puntos de luz amarilla rebotaba debilmente en el espacio en frente de ellos en lo que tropezaban con trozos de piedra volcánica. De repente el tunel se abrió en una caverna espaciosa donde chillidos de alta frequencia se escuchaban claramente.
¨Victor, hay que regresar.¨
¨No, quiero que vean esto.¨ Dirigí su atención hacia arriba, al techo arqueado donde formas sombreadas revoloteaban en la penumbra. ¨Aquí es donde habitan los murcielagos.¨ Les dije en voz baja. "Ahora todos apagen sus luces." Uno por uno se extingieron las lámparas y la invisibilidad de la obscuridad total nos acobijó. Con los ojos inútiles la sensibilidad de nuestros oidos incrementó y el sopleteo del vuelo de los murcielagos se escuchaba mas fuerte.
¨¿Apagamos las luces para que no se estrellen con nosotros?¨ preguntó una voz titubeante junto a mi codo.
¨No, es para que se acerquen más.¨
Gritos resonaron en la cueva y las lámparas volvieron a brillar.
¨Victor, porfavor, hay que regresar.¨
Regresamos

La experiencia en la cueva fué parte de un campamento que armamos para un cumpleaños. Ocurrió algo así. Hace un par de años, empezamos unas excuriones para niños. Por medio de esto conocimos a familias qun no asistirian un estudio Bíblico. Una de esas familias nos pidió que organizáramos esta excursión. Fue el del cumpleaños, su papa, su tio, primos y amigos del colegio. Fué una oportunidad excelente para compartir de Dios y su amor mientras caminabamos en el bosque o estuvimos alrededor de la fogata. Dale Gracias a Dios con nosotros por esto.

También le damos Gracias a Dios por la oportunidad que tiene Ruben Marroquín, quien ha estado entrenando y trabajando con nosotros desde el 2003 , de ir a Irapuato a arrancar un ministerio de jóvenes alla en conjunto con una iglesia local.

Gracias a Dios por el crecimiento continuo de la iglesia local aquí en Puebla.

Ora con nosotros en lo que tratamos de equilibrar las oportunidades de ministerio con el tiempo disponible. Ora por líderes- tanto los que ya están trabajando con nosotros así como los que el Señor va a levantar para seguir compartiendo de Dios con los que desean conocerle.

Que Dios los bendiga en esta temporada que celebramos Su primera venida,

Para Su Reino,

Victor, Martha, Ana y Laura Magallón

 

January 2009

Already nervous, the group pressed further into the darkness. Weak yellow beams of light from the small flashlights criss-crossed the inky space ahead of them as they stumbled over the uneven shards of lava rock. The tunnel suddenly opened into a cavernous chamber where high-pitched chirps and squeaks could be clearly heard. "Victor, let's go back."
"No, I want you to see this." I directed their attention up to the vaulted roof where shadowy forms flitted through the gloom. "This is where the bats roost." I whispered to the guys as they gathered around. "Now, everyone turn off your lamp." One by one the flashlights were extinguished and the invisibility of total blackness enveloped us. With our eyes useless, our sense of hearing heightened and the whooshes and flutters of the bats were clearer.
"Did we turn off our lights so that the bats won't collide with us?" A shaky voice asked near my elbow.
"No, it's so that they'll come nearer."
Screams echoed in the cave and the lights flashed back on.
"Victor, please, let's go back."
We went back.

The cave experience was part of a camping trip that we put together for a birthday. It happened something like this. A couple years ago, we started doing weekend outings for children. Through this we had the opportunity to meet families that would not necessarily go to a Bible study. One of those families has continued to go with us over the years. Now they asked us to organize a camping trip for their son's 13th birthday. Along with him went his brother, father, uncle cousins and friends from school. It was a great opportunity to share the gospel with them while hiking and around the campfire. Thank the Lord with us for this.

We are also thankful for the Lord opening doors for Ruben Marroquin, who has been training and working with us since 2003, to go to Irapuato (6 hours NW from here) to begin a youth outreach in cooperation with a local church.

Thank the Lord for the continued growth in the local church here in Puebla.

Pray with us as be try to balance opportunities with the time to take advantage of them. Pray also for leaders; both those we are already working with and new leaders that the Lord would raise up to meet the need of those who want to know more about God.

God bless you all in this season of celebrating His Coming.

For His Kingdom,

Victor, Martha, Ana and Laura Magallon