Hundreds of Hondurans began walking towards the United States last week, hoping to pass through the Guatemalan and Mexican borders. Nazarene Compassionate Ministries in both Guatemala and Mexico mobilized to meet the needs of these children, adults and elderly people.
Field NCM Coordinators Edi Montejo (Mexico Field) and Damaris Kellogg (Northcentral Field) met on Oct. 18 along with representatives from five churches of the Nazarene located in Ciudad Hidalgo, Chiapas, Mexico. Ciudad Hidalgo is a border town on the Mexico side of the Guatemala-Mexico border. Four of the representatives were pastors. The participants discussed the difficult situation and the call of the Lord to be compassionate towards strangers. In the evening, they met with Mexico South Border District Superintendent Roberto L. Fajardo to make a plan of action for how to serve in Ciudad Hidalgo.
The coordinators also met with Mexican authorities who coordinate government shelters to offer their help, for which the authorities expressed their gratefulness. They also met with district NCM coordinators in order to be responsive along the migratory route.
On Friday, Oct. 19, in Tecun Uman (the Guatemala border city), members of the Guatemala West District brought food for the people waiting to cross into Mexican territory. Approximately 1,500 people received hydration drinks, sandals and clothes. “The people were tired and desperate to enter Mexico,” said Damaris Kellogg.
On Saturday, Oct. 20, a new group brought breakfast and were gratefully received by the migrants. A group of pastors from the Joshua Zone in the same district met to pray and plan more visits in the following days.
“We beg for your prayers for the inhabitants of Tecun Uman, the inmigrants, the government and all of the volunteers from our Church . . . and that God would bless the donations that are coming to help meet this need,” added Kellogg.
In Mexico, the church’s of the South Border District have organized to open a community feeding center. The Ciudad Hidalgo Second Church of the Nazarene is hosting the dispensary and kitchen. They began to share food with the large numbers of people along the Suchiate River on Friday, Oct. 19. The Nazarene Medical Brigade arrived on Sunday, Oct. 20 to serve in the government shelter. Everyone involved asks for prayer for the immigration situation and that in this time they would be able to share Jesus Christ with those they meet.
Source: Damaris Kellogg, Northcentral Field NCM Coordinator and Edi Montejo, Mexico Field NCM Coordinator
