lUth MEXICAN BIBLE SEMINARYYEAR OF SERVICE FOR AN INDIGENOUS MEXICAN CHURCH

Western Mexico Cliristian ,MissionMAIL: APARTADO POSTAL No. 350 OFFICE: CALLE TLAXCALA 109 PTE.

HERMOSILLO. SO^ORA. MEXICO.

GERALD D. BOWLIN, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR . ALEJANDRO JULIAN. ASSISTANT DIRECTORMRS. GENEVA S. BOWLIN. DISPENSARY-CLINIC ' 1 9 6 U ^^THER M. JULIAN. BIBLE SCHOOLS

YSAH'S a time for an inventory of ones-nelf end a time for needed resolutions. InMexico it is also a tine to give all your friends rnd acquaintances an "aliraso", Ca "bear-hug) and '.rish them a happy and prosperous Hevr Year, That you do in Feh, or !Iarch if youhave not seen them since the year '"began. Me have lived in Mexico over S. years, and.inthat length of time one adopts some of the customs of the-country. So our "a"brazo",hand shake, healthy pat on the "back and a v/ish for a prosperous Hev; Year is coming toyou v.'ith this year-end letter and foto of the Bowlin Family, '/e hp.ve not grovm, in numberthis year—"but in s-i-z-el

iTev; Year I963 found m '" mother, step-dad.and aunt visiting us and joining in on the tamaleeating, the fire cracker popping, and the "abrazos". Vfe' spent the next day talcing themto Guaymas. Mother had been to Hermo^illo twice before, but didn't "loiow" Guayraas. Mehear they are peeved at themselves for not mailing the same trip again this past Chrictnasi

The.Bob Winters (Hin.Sierra Vista, Ariz) also cane by viith their three youngsters. Monthslater they "sheepishly" asked me if v/e got measles in Jan,—no, no measles. Said theiryoungsters broke out the next d^ after they left here. We. have no such luck with ourkids, Bob and Kathy waited until they were 10 and 8 years old to get measles! Ho doubtthe little ones v/ill too!

Ben and Maudie Singletary have had their trailer parked in our back y£«.rd for some time,and came and went throughout the.year. Ben shov/s film on the Life of Christ and encourages students to sign, up for a Bible Correspondeiice course. He and "Gerry showed his filmin the Churches and preaching points near Kermosillo, A, wonderful viay to get the x^eopleto read the Scriptures.

Other "ev; Year visitors viere Bob Robertson and his daughter from Palmdale, Calif, Bobcame several times throughout the year. Les Foote came viith him, they go to Alamos,about 200 miles south of here, a famous mining town! . Sam and Sonia Swinford v/ere herea number of v/eek-ehds. The "winter" in Tucson and Guaymas (fishinrg) escape the cold,vret, and doctor bills of I-ilinois.

FnDRUARY brought confusion at its best (or v;orse). I had promised to mal:e and decoratea wedding calce for a neighbor girl to be ready for the v/edding on Sun, Feb. 3* So-o-oplenty ahead of time I ctart making butter-cream frosting to store in the referigeratorto be ready to use v/hen the 3^ boxes of calce mix were balced. • Thursda;;.'" noon I v/as happilyma.king frosting when the nevrs arrived; "Bsther (Julian) just v;ent to the ho^ital, herbaby is coming e'arly! " I drop everything, even forgot to cover the nearly finishedfrosting, grab a uniform and dash a.cross tovm. to "ilaternidad del Perpetuo Soccoro"(Maternity of perpetual Help) oxmed and operated by our friend, Dr. Brnesto Galindo,spent the rest of the day and all nite vdth her "waiting". Fri. morning I dash home,balre more cakes, and a U P.M. ds.sh back to the hospital. The baby girl was.born aboutdark, lived about an hour. Her lungs v/ere not strong enough to do tHeir job. Burialv/as immediate, even tho it was nite. We go back to see Bsther for e, fev; minutes, thenhome and start baking calces again.

Midnite, and I am just getting into "bed, when I hear the Doctor at the door. EilSRGMCYsiirgeryi Esther^'s sister iiad "been hrovight up from l}er home 1200 miles .^o.utli witfc a rupturedappendix. (Soriie/sort of a fiesta in their yillage'^d rto, surgery was Ije-in^ dohe.) Homeagain and into "bed at U A.II. at 9 to'finish "baJcing cakes, finisli 'malcing frosting andstart putting it together in time to allov;- everyone time to enjoy it "before the vredding.l/edding cakes in Mexico are something to see, they "are put together on separators made ofply v;ood, the "bottom "plate" ahout 6 inches off the floor is U to 5 across. The devidersare 12 to IS inches high, and the final height is 5 more. All sorts-of things "adorn"the cake, Svrans, horns of plenty, sprays of flovrers, cupids, church "buildings as v/ell asthe traditional "bride and groom. All this made out of "gum paste" tliat dries rock-liard.The calce v/as "beautiful v/hen it was' finished, the v;edding v:as nice, and the reception vrasalmost as fabulous as the cake.

Eeb, 17 v;as Missionary Day at Valley Cliristian Church, Tucson, Gerry spoke, the tv/o littlegirls "entertained" the nursery, Zenaida Galindo (our Doctor's v;ife) and I 'supervised aMexican dinner. It was her first time to visit an American Church, She came av/ay verymuclily impressed. Was tiirilled that "They introducedlier before the v/hole Church." Shedoes not spealc English, but everyone loved her just to meet her, she is a v/onderful person.

On the v;ay home my Kombi motor decided to burn up, Gerry caught a ride into Hermosillo,v/oke Alex and they came in his pick up and pulled us home. Vfe v/ere about SO niies-out,thought v;e would freeze to death waiting in the car-; ""Got home in time to v/alce the schoolkids at 6 A,M, for 7 A. M. classes. I vras glad to see i-iAROK come.

One afternoon v;e looked out the vrindov; to see a nam getting out of a'taxi at our gate. Honeother tlian Wilbur Mulcaliey from Arcata, Calif, We found him (about 7 years ago) vrith a"frozen" motor-cycle about UO miles from ITogales, Arizona, on the Mexican side. We pickedhim—and motor up and hauled him to "Tinkers", he has visited us and them several timessince.

On March 17 v;e. had the pleasure of seeing our neighbors, Begnino and Erancisca Anaya acceptChrist and foliov; His command of baptism. (They are'Vicki's parents, she became a Christianabout a year ago). Two others were baptized with them. When we arrivedfor the baptismwe were suprised to see Fna. Lolita (iTana) from Benjamin Hill, (Church property care-takerthere). She had come to Hermosillo to be excuniiied in the State Hospital.

Our friend Al Moray arrived from Pacoima,-Cali-f, -Mexican passport in hand, on his .way toGuadalajara to start a v;ork among the retired English speaking people there. He and Gerrygo to llogales to get the final stamps, seals- and ribbons on his "little book" and seehis furniture thru customs and on its v/ay'soutli. In S months Al and Billie liad proven tothemselves that it v;ould take at the very least 20 years to establish a self-Supporting'"v;ork in Guadalajara. The Americans seem to retire to Mexico from everything, Cliristianityfirst Of alll

iiaryvale Christian Church,' Phoenix, Ariz, did things different™they invited a Mexican,Alex Julian, to preach their pre-Easter meeting and Gerry went along to interpret, V/ehad -planned to go™the'v/hole family, but the little ones chose tliat time to-get sick-andMama" had to stay-home. • Bob-went to-; Sierra Vista to v/ork for Bob, Winters,. (Ken Gaff TrailerSales), Kathy v/ent with Ifeddy to Phoen'i-x and Oscar decided-to go to ilogales, Sonora. Alex,Esther and their tv/d boys enjoyed the v/eek in the Phoenix area very much.

You remember, last s'ummer Gerry had an argument v/ith a cow coming home from Summer Camp?The covj v/alked away, the insurance company paid for the YJ sedan. (Gerry got a peeledshoulder, Oscar had a cut Icnee) Gerry finally found another Y\I he liked and used theinsurance check (plus) in time to make the trip to Phoenix and to find out it needed mainbearings and crank shaft, A.bout nov/ v/e v/ere readv*- to trade all cars for iiexico's mostfaithful mode of travel, "the burro".

-3-A-oril 26th and Gerry left for the Hational Cliristian Convention, Long Beach,. Calif. viaCincinnati, Oliio. heft me his uork, pins all of mine v;hile he vra's on vacation (?). :Yacat-ion means a "change" doesn't it? He traveled, loresented the v;ork of Hestem-liexico. to .nev; "olaces as well as telling "old" friends of the ^TOgress.

Hay 1st. is Lahor Bay in Ilexico and a holiday. That's the day we chose to find out whatw«s "inside" liana. She liad heen told at the State Hospital that she had a tumor and itImd to come out "tomorrow". She was afraid she could not live tliru surgery, {she is moreor less 70 years old). I took her to have Dr. Galindo .give us his opinion. After -many,ouestions, he finally asked me "Vihy does she want to he operated in jthe State Hospital? |f told him she nor I had money for an operation. His answer was: Sehora, that is the. -mdof people it is our duty to help, we-vrill operate herei" V/e spent^5 1/2 hours cleaningher outi As for standing the operation, she didn't go into the slightest shock, nor o.idshe have any temoerature. Five days later I brought her horae, Br. sayst "Uhat a J-Jdna.Clinically speaking it is in^jossihle, hut there she is!" liana sayfi: 'Hell, its sinmle;The Lord v;asn't ready for me up there yet!"

In JUITE Gerry va'ote that he would like to liave Katiiy meet him in Phoenix and go to^theConvention and . visit his folks with him. So to Phoenix we went, nuLu, the tv;o hahies,

and I. 'Said good-hye to ICatliy and Daddy; they went/one direction and v;e the otnor.llien thev iktus they said —"See you on your birthday (July lO)," Says I, "Oh yeah, youwon't even he home for our ISth wedding anniversary (July 20)"* They arrived in Kermosillojust before midnite July 27thj

Hhile Gerry was gone, the ovmer of the house we live in (and* have lived in since we moyeato Hexico) sent to tell me he had to sell the house and did we^want to buy it? ..ant to—yes, at least v;e didn't v/ant to move, hut nothing to buy it v^ithj

•AUGUST came, hot as usual, not much rain, so we were" glad it was camp time in SouthernArizona. Dsther Julian, LuLu, Becky, Veva and I v;ent to do our part at Senior Camp.:3sther helped in the kitchen, Lulu kept an eye on the hahies; the little s.cu)ri:s wouldoorve up to the garhage cans at nite, and Eeclcy wanted to catch a Kitty , ojid Xserredas iiission teacher. LuLu had never heen to a Cliristian, Service Gamp hefore. .and enjoyedit very much. Boh was in camp too; Katliy was working for Doctor Galmdo; Osc^ was visiting in Calif,, Gerry was doing his work and nine too—for a cliajige. The mydie o tog.it started raining and in one hour four inches-fell on Hermosillo, some 7 to 10 incheseast of Hermosillo and almost filled the lake! It had heen so dry that y^was dry enoughto clow hefore the rains started, even in the lowest spot! Ray ana Carol oorqng and ag..Uncle came dovm to go fishing at Guajcnas. Gerry alv/ays likes an excuse to be aninterpreter on a fishing trip!

alv/ays brings the beginning of "school end the trips that, one has to make toget'everv pacer signed and everything in order is trying! Ue heve three of our o\in insecondarv school, plus another three neighborhood kids we try to help. The oose endstied u-D,"and Gerry and Xatliy go to Tucson. Gerry's birthday is Sept. 5 and he had to renew hi's Arizona driver's license. He v/as to be home 7:or his birthday party, (I adv^cedthe day one day to be sure, and even then thought we would have to liave his partj. withouthim') They returned "just in tine" for the party. Tacos, salad,cake and sodas, inathas become an annual neighborhood event! LuLu's birthday was the gth, so I managed toEuprise her with a "heart-cake". She was IS, spends more time v;ith us than any where.

Bob and Gretchen 'Jintens brought Bobby hone in time to start to school, (thqy ^excuse to go fishing too). Seminary classes began too. nite classes tnis year to allovworking men to attend, hathy began teaching a "reading and writing class .for_adults.Hana had a cliance to visit "home" (Benjamin Hill)," returned saying: "You Imow, B. Hill isnot nearly as pretty as ,I thought it was!" She. returned in time for our Jestern aexicoChristian Convention held the first few days of 0CT0B5E.

0CT03jiH aiid. Ka.tliy "begins thinicing about her birthday. (She v/as 1^- on the 27th). Ue decidedoil a "back-yard" party similar to her dadd;j/'s. Her's resulted in about 100 people, (youth,parents" and children) and vjould liave been a shortage of tortilla's for tacos, but thereliad been a v/edding across the street the nite before and they had left over tortillas^saved, by left over tortillasi

I had promised to make the v/edding cake for -the v;edding, just a little one, only 10 packe.gesof prepared miz v/ere used. Sight in the middle of it all a telephone call came from ourForv/arding Agent, Mrs. Fran Tinker. Her husband had suffered pneumonia again (the thirdtime since his "heart attack a year ago) she "v/as exhausted, could I come up and help a fev;days? I finish decorating the v/edding calce, balce ICatliy's birthday cake, leave our friendSlsa Bermtidez (our lav/yer's v/ife) to decorate ICathy's cake and to supervise her birthdayparty, Ifeifanio Chairez to do the"biria" (taco filling) and off I go to the border to takecare of "Pappy Tinker". I hear the party v/as qydie a success, someone said "ICathy got moregifts than the bride didj" Katliy v/as happy.

"Papiy" had been planning to cone to Hermosillo as soon as the v/eather cooled a bit, so assoon as he v/as able to be moved (the 11th) Fran and I loaded him into my Kombi and broughthim to lov/er, v/armer Hermosillo, He arrived about S P.il, and as soon, as Dr. Galihdo v/asnotified he carne to check him. T\-/o da.ys later v/e move him to Dr. G's hospital v/here heseemed to steadily improve, but on Hov, 19th at 12:20 (noon) Pappy peacefully v/eiit tosleep. 'Hien Fraav had me ask the Doctor for his bill for S days care, he said: "For me topresent her v/ith a bill at this time v/ould only serve to make her heavy burden liarder tobear. There will be no billj"

Arrangements v/ere made to move the body back to ITogales, and Fran and I leave early thenext morning to return to the border, Alex and Dsther Julian and E^ifanio Cliairez come •v/ith Gerry on the day of the funeral. Gerry left the three girls v/ith the lav/yer and- hisv/ife, laiov/ing he v/ould be late getting back. He load planned to return the same day—but.,k'liile v/e v/ere v/aiting to go to the ceraetary v/e hear the horrible nev/s of our President,kexico v/as as shocked as the U.S. over the presidents death and as a sympathy measureclosed the border crossing completely for about 6 hours and dt v/as sometime the next ds.ybefore traffic v/as back to normal. One can hardly describe the effects of the "closing"of the border. Like v/ar or natural disaster, Red Cross set up soup kitchens]

Ray Strong, his father-in-lav/, Floyd DeForrest and his Uncle ca/ne dov/n to g.o fishing.Ray vov/s he v/ould come once a month if he could afford the insurance for his car] (Costsabout a.-dollar a day),. .They enjoy the fish and sha.re it with their many friends in Tucson.

DSCDIiBER and the usual Christmas rush, I promised myself that I v/as going to get everythingdone "ea.rly" this year, I did, early-Christmas-eveJ Park Avenue Christian Church,k'ontebello, Calif, chose Western kexico Christian Ilission personnel to receive their"Clvristmao for Others" project, and wanted fotos, letters, anything to create interest.He kept our cameras v/orking for "days to "catch" everyone. What a programi How happythey made everyone dov/n here

Cliristmas dinner, (?,s usual v/as at our house. 1/e enjoyed "^rc, Turkey" a gift from Boband Gretchen '.'inters v/hen they brouglit_ Bobby home in September. She had been in the deepfreeze-just v/aiting. Gerrj"" got out of bed to"eat", he liad the flu and iiad a hard timegetting over it, • . . •

December 26th is Alex Julian's birthday. He insists no one remembers it, as it is soclose to Christmas. I malce a special effort to see that someone does remember. So madehim a "Ilonogram Cake" and dscdrate it. Has quite nice...and as usual, (so it seems)dashed for the border as soon as I finished the cake! Desti nation, Maryvale ChristianChurch, Phoenix, Jack Boal minister (on vacation) for the annual Ilexico Day. Gerry v/asto have gone but v/asn't over the flu, so v/e took Fpifanio Chairez ( v/e being all the kidsand l). Everyone enjoyed "Glis.irez" and he chatters constantly about the trip, the size

"5-01 the church, the size of Phoenix, nnd ahove all the friendliness and fellov;ship of thepeople. Gerry had conpojiy v;hile v^e v;ere gone, the Asa I-Iurrov/s, Tucson, finally made goodtheir promise aiid came to hexico; sorry the kids and I v/eren't around to enjoy them, hutthen—one can't he everywhere!

BOB nov; l6 is just a fraction under 6 ft. tall, and is beginning to give his da.ddy "clothestrouhle". He is still about as big around as a match sticky if he ever fills out he v/illbe a good size man! He has been a Jr. Traffic Policeman this past year; says they don'targue v/ith him v;hen he stops a car—they think he is a regular policeman! Fills in v;hereneeded in the Churches here and even gives sermonnets once in a v/hile. Placed in sermonnetcontests in tv/o summer camps, one against first year Seminary Student, He finishessecondary school here this spring and hopes to attend high school in Tucson next year andearn a high school diploma. Very concerned about getting a job for the summer. Heworked for Bob '^'inters last suramer. He lias a reversed opinion of girls, even to ASJCIiTGhis sister to go soraev/here with him novr and then. Hov; opinions BO cliangel

OSCAR now IS, is not much shorter than Bob. He grew taller than v;s expected. Spent the.summer v;ith the Jolinny Williams Family in Bedlflov/er, Calif, and is making much bettergrades in Fnglish. He still plays base ball, but spends more time on his studies thanhe did, Talces his "church duties" quite serious, still ha,s one more year of secondaryschool, -^hinks he v/ould like to. study engineering.

ICATJ-T is quite groim up for her ik years, in actions, (at times at least) is very capablev;hat she WAISTS to do, Worked for Dr. Galindo some this past summer, still teaches

Bible School and has taken on an adult "reading and writing" class this year. Thinksshe v/ants to be a nurse, but really she is a natural teacher.

The Bj\BII:S—Little' Geneva (VBVA) will be 3 on iiarch 25th. BFCICY v;as 2 the 6th of ITov. —are seldom apart, When they are apart for half an hour or more, you should see the kissingand hugrging that goes on—and such chattering telling each other v;hat they saw and did!Veva is more serious, more loveable, but stands back and v;aits for you, is extremelystubborn at times, and somevdiat pouty, but v/hen she gets over her "mad" she comes and'makes up' by climbing up in your lap or asking to be picked up. Becky is a littlecyclone, turns tears on and off like a. faucet, does things she loiov/s merit punishment,but does them just the same! i/ith her big black olive eyes, gets what she v/ants. Peopletliat do not loiow them v;ill talce one look at the tv/o of them and say—"tliat one is the onetliat gives you grey-hairs! "

he (GFiTEVA) the usual hectic routine (constant confusion); I'd be bored to death withanything less. I help in surgery, (Dr. Galindo has been Imov/n to refuse to operate if Icouldn't help. .Makes me feel important, at least!) Office v/ork still tal:es much of mytime and to keep a closer eye on the little ones, I have moved my office back to ourcrov/ded bedroom. House, kids, meal plauining, back yard clinic, treating burns, and sinceI had nothing else to do, decided to enroll in an adult education program sponsored bySocial Security and learn how to decorate cakes! Class meets three days a week, 4 to 6 Ph^I've missed more classes than I ha.ve attended, but have learned a lot, and have enjoyed itimmensely. Calce malcing and decora.ting in liexico is like everything else, extreme: themost fabulous things you ha.ve ever seen. There are tv/o expositions each year, one inDecember and one in IIa.y, you should come aovd see one of them.

TTSPY still does the grocery buying once a v/eek, but he nov/ has an assistant—Beclcy, Heca.ys she chatters constantly to the girls in the market, and they v/ere shocked to learnshe v;a,s onlj'' 2 years old; they thought she v/a.s at least 4! Veva doesn't like going with. ..T—unless ICathy v/ill go to:! Gerry still spends many hours at his desk, our days some

times start late in the morning, but they keep on until very late at nite , He has talcenon the job of preaching in Colonia Olivares until they can locate a minister. He teaches

-6-Bi"ble School in the morning £uid preaches at nite. Says he had forgotten hov/ much v/ork itv/as to hold dovm a regular preaching johl

I. said earlier'iv.'e have not grov/n in number this year " but v/e have added "ilAlTA". Hohexican household is complete v;i,thout a "Hana". (Hana means grandmother, but is usedfor a loveable elderly person,' relative or not). Hana is very much a j^art of the family.Sees to the needs of everyone, especially that their" coffee cup is alv/aj'^s full. She"putters" —has all the, animals, as v;ell as the kids spoiledi Becky v/ent thru a stageof blaming Hana for 'everything, but shadovjs her]

He are still, living in the same house, but faced v;ith the possibility of having to move"any-day". Over S years in the sane spot--v/hat a horrid thought]

The v/ork is grov;ing, the natives are talcing more responsibility all the time, v;hich makesus very iiappy: v/e a.re stillshort of native v/orkers , 'le never have enough to send toall the places \-iho have asked that "someone bb sent", Hemember us daily in your prayers,and come ta see us. Vfe enjoy having visitors, v/ill try to shov; you an enjoyable timeas V7ell as vdiat a mission field is really like. , . "

Love 'n prayers.

Uu, /vt/3^

Us BQULINS

MEXICAN-BIBLE SEMINARY

J4-TH YEAR OFSERVICE FOR AN INDIGENOUS MEXICAN CHURCH

Western Mexico Christian MissionMAIL: APARTADO POSTAL No. 350 OFFICE: CALLE TLAXCALA 109 PTE.

HERMOSILLO. SONORA. MEXICO.

GERALD D. BOWLIN, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR

MRS. GENEVA S. BOWLIN. DISPENSARY-CLINICALEJANDRO JULIAN. ASSISTANT DIRECTORMRS. ESTHER M. JUUAN, BIBLE SCHOOLS

Hay, 1964.

Dear Friends of Western riexico?

This month we feature our other missionary family, ALFX JULIAJTS.Brother ALFX has been with the ''ission since the founding of the originalHexican Bible Seminary in Arizona, in 1950, and serves as its President;Hrs. FSTT-IBR Julian joined the staff shortly thereafter.

ALBX is a secondcestory. He wasthe Hexican state

Ue call her "The white Indian"ther, Hacario !Iartlnez, an oldter), is still associated withALEX, Director or President ofyoung people but hates theof his time(who doesn't?).

generation Jfexican Christian of Arab-Spanish-Indianborn and raised in a American mining "company

of Coahuila, about 1,000 miles east of here.

an-

town" inand thus

understands the peculiarities of his American fellow-missionaries betterthan most Hexicans. His father was a zinc dept. foreman for the AmericanSmelting Co. of and thus ALEX grew up in a middle class home, unusual in his generation. His father was a leader in the local Chrislianchurch.

EST^TER, also a second generation Christian, comes from the next statesouth of Sonora, Sinaloa, of Spanish-German-Indian ancestcry(Regionalmusic is provided by a "German oom-pah band with a Hexican accenti").

because of her light complexion. Her fa-time, self-trained evan'^elist (church plan-Hestem Hexico Christian Mission.T'Texican Bible Seminary, loves to teach

details of administration that take so muchFor several ^rears he has also served as Hi-

nister of the Villa de Seris congregation (Hermoslllo, southside).iiiVhenever it is possible to get away, he checks on his student ministers.He has actively supervised all of our church and Seminary construction.His hobby is collecting artifacts from old Spanish mines(Anyone haveand extra metal detector?).ESTHER is a homebody, but always manages to have a large children's Bible school wherever her husband ministers. S^e also supervises most efthe area DBVS. Her hobby is sewing, and after completing a governmentsponsored sewing course, she now cuts her ovm patterns IPEDRO 11, ESAU 9, and MERCEDES 2(a niece), complete the family, Overweight PEDRO is trying to run off the extra pounds playing baseball;ESAU is the diplomat of the family; and MERCEDES, the overindulged queenas might be expected.

If you are not already supporting some project of V/ESTERH r.ffiXICO CHRISTIAN MISSION, we suggest you prayerfully consider a pledge to the - - -JQLIAN FA'TILY.

Yours in His Service,

Gerald D. Bowlin, Director,

THE WESTERN MEXICO CHRISTIANVul. XVI-2 Including Mexican Bible Seminary News Sinnnier, 19()4

"Upon this Rock..."

"Confirming the Soulsof the Disciples"

By Gerald D. BowHn

As we missionaries go beyond the "Gointo all the world, and preach the Gospel"phase of the Great Commission, little seemsto be understood by the U.S. churches concerning our activities. I have attempted tobreak tlie mission work down into phases.

Phase one I call the ideological phase,of perhaps a generation or two in length.This is the era of the Bible seller, thecolporteur, the Bible women, the wholesaletract distributor, the real pioneer who])rcparcs people's minds and hearts for theGospel.

Phase two I call the "preach" phase—pcrliaps another generation. This is thephase of the itinerant evangelist, who goesfrom place to place sowing the preciousseed of the Gospel. This is perhaps thebest known phase.

Phase three, the phase we are workingin liere in our Western Mexico Churches,is the "confirming the souls of the disciples", stage. We estimate this to last anothergeneration yet. It is at this time that theconverts are formed into congregations and"confirmed" in the Faith—taught theirrcsj)onsibilities in the Lord's church.

Phase three is the slow phase, and perhaps the least romantic of the three. It's

(Continued on page 2)

We Saw It"

All along the way we marvelled at iiowmuch the missionaries did with so little. Butmany things are not yet being done simplybecau.se of lack of funds and personnel. Themyth that living is cheaper on the missionfield evaporated ciuickly when we saw thel)rices in the stores and heard how much itcosts to rent a house or apartment. .As awoman I especially marvelled at how uncomplainingly and naturally the missionarywives accepted inconveniences that wouldcause most of us at home to write a "letterto the editor". Even in the more modernplaces there is always the fight againsttropical diseases. Too. the parcels that wesend are often taxed with as much as 100%duty. We learned that gifts of money arefar better.

In many places there arc no other North.Americans. In even fewer are tiicre Nortii.American Christians. To us the absence of.such friends would leave an awful void.

(Continued on page 3)

jR ' ^

Missionary Nurse Mrs. Geneva S. Sowlin

BURNS FOR CHRIST

.A strange title? Missionary nurse Mrs.Geneva S. Bowlin has become famous inthe state of Sonora for her burn therapy.I'wen had her name in the newspaper inthis city of 115.1)01) the other day! .A andD ointment for the i)iiysical burns, and J.C ointment for the burned soul!

THE WESTERN MEXICO CHRISTIAN Summer, 1964

DIRECTOR'S COLUMN

Gerald D. Bowlin, Doctor of .SacredTheology

MISSIONARIES — OUTSTANDINGCITIi^ENS OF THE WORLD.

We often wonder if our readers realizewhat outstanding people many of our missionaries are? How many .American companies. with liiglily trained personnel engaged in worldwide commerce, can boast ofmen with the accomplishments of ourlunnblc Christian missionaries who serve forI.ove? How many have...

(1) Men who not only live among, butwith the natives, and are highly resi)ectedin tlie native community? (Mark Maxey.Japan, who like other veteran missionarie.s,spends many hours per week counselingnative neighbors, friends and fellow-workers,once said. "We also serve who sit andlisten.")

(2) Men who speak the language soperfectly the natives believe them to be anative also? (Charles Phipps. Italy, wasasked a number of years ago by an Italiangovernment t)fticial. "Sir. which provinceare you from?")

(.1) Men who are scholars, musicians andcomposers as well ? (E.T. Westrup. Me.xico.has over a hundred published hymns andrecently completed a modern Spanish translation of the New Testament from theoriginal Greek!)

(4) Men whose children, rather thanattetuling private, .-\mcrican colony. Englishspeaking schools, attend native publicschools and are outstanding among theirnative schoolmates? (The Bowlin chihlren,Mexico, have already won so many scholarship. sportsmanship, and popularity awards,one wall of the livingroom is covered withpictures and certificates.)

(5) Men of great vision, who generationsbefore tlie surging movement of "nationalism" showed its head, began to train nativeleaders to take the responsibility of the workof Christ in tiieir own land? (During WorldWar II the Philippine Christian churches,trained by Leslie Wolfe, family, and others,not only survived Japanese occupation, butgrew!)

(6) Men who not only speak several languages, but who have minds which actlike ta])e recorders and computers of typesyet to be invented, who listen in one language. record what they hear, then laterspeak the same thoughts in another language? (One Mexican missionary inter-preted a 15 minute message by OrenHardenbrook, with only 3 breaks. 5 minutesof speech recorded and translated eachtime!)

(7) Men who are highly respected andaccepted in the government circles of theforeign countries where tliey reside? (MaxWard Randall. So. .Africa, has been a confidant of government officials for manyyears.)

Christian Missionaries outstandingcitizens of the world, we salute you. GDB

"CONFIRMIN^G" (from ])age 1)just hard work, blood, sweat and tears, andthe results are not immediately visible asin the case of phases one and two! Notmany baptisms as the changeover is madefrom missionary and preacher evangelismto lay evangelism. No attacks by thefanatics with machetes and rocks, norspectacular conversions at the preachingof the Gospel. I repeat, just hard work.

This is not to say that we here inWestern Mexico are laboring only in phasethree—a whole state, much less a wholefield, cannot be lumped into one singlecategory. Tracts. New Testaments andBibles are still being distributed, and the(jospel preached and men and women andboys and girls baptized of course. Ratherit is that the major emphasis is beingplaced on phase three—confirming the soulsof the disciples—and ordaining elders—andcommitting the believers unto the Lord onwhom they have believed. (Acts 15:21-23).

THE WESTERN MEXICOCHRISTIAN

Published four times each year, fundspermitting, by the Missionaries associated with Western Mexico ChristianMission. ."Kpdo. Postal 350 (Office:Tlaxcala 109 Pte.). Herniosillo. Sono-ra. Mexico.Gerald D. Bowlin Editor

Summer, 1%4 THK WESTERN MEXICO CHRISTIAN

NEWS OF THE CHURCHES

Here in Hermosillo the various congregations—San Bcnito. Villa de Seris, LaTriguera and Ranchito average about thesame in attendance Sunday evening—30persons, with morning Bible School a littleheavier due to the smaller children.

The village church of La Mesa averages15-20 in attendance with much oppositionfrom the Catholic seminary students—asmany as 6 each Sunday! Benjamin Hilland Nogales are on a "visit when possible"basis, but a number of families remainfaithful to His Church ("Pray ye thereforethe Lord of the Harvest...."

Mrs. Martinez is busy with Bible Schoolin Bacobainpo and brother ilartinez divideshis time between the new work in CiudadObregon and Los Mochis, Sinaloa.

SEMINARY GRADUATION

Due to a very busy schedule of construction by brother Julian, the recruiting ofstudents for Mexican Bible Seminary amongthe youth of the Sonora churches has beensomewhat curtailed the last couple of years..Mso. we have had only a very limitednumber of scholarships to offer (S3(J permonth). However, two young men receivedcertificates the evening of May 24. 1963—.Alfonso Carrillo of Nogales and HumbcrtoPortugal of Hermosillo.

Brother Harland Cary, president of oursister school, Colegio Biblico of Eagle Pass,Texas, gave the graduation address. .At theclose of the program bro. Cary was])resentcd with a special Diploma honoring him for his many years of servicein behalf of the churches of Me.xico.

Two of our students c.xpect to receiveDiplomas this June, a three year and atwo year one.

During the school year 1963-64 niteclasses have been held to benefit thosewho wish to preach but whose familyobligations compel them to work at secularcmi>ioyment during the day. .Among thesubjects taught was Spanish Grammar I.by Kathy Bowlin. age 14. One of the niteschool students is already preaching.

AS WE SAW IT (from page 1)But this is commonplace on the field. .Addedto the loneliness is the difficulty of livingin a totally different culture. These adjust--ments coupled with Satan's opposition tothe spread of the Gospel made us realizeeven more how very much the missionariesdejiend on our prayers.

The Central AmericanBulletin. .April. 1962.

Kathryn Ann Bowlin

QUEEN KATHY

Kathy Bowlin did it again! Readers mayremember that in I95S. at the age of 8,she. in her second year of public grammar school in Hermosillo. was electedSpring Queen, the first foreigner to beso honored, according to one U.S. pressservice.

Now she has been elected Spring Queenof her high school! She is in her secondyear in this school of 1,000 plus students.

RISING COST OF LIVING

Central .American Mission, with missionaries in Me.xico also, has announced:"Due to the rising cost of living on thefield, the C.AM Executive Committee hasraised the basic support level."'

CHOIR ROBES

Mexican Bible Seminary is in need ofblack choir robes to use as academic gownsin its graduation ceremonies.

AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE

.All know the high cost of automobileinsurance—pity the poor missionary, hel)ays double! Once for the Mexican policyfor each auto and once for the .Americanpolicy. .At the present time brother Bowlinowes the .American agent about $ .300. Couldyou please help?

OFFICE RENT

Rental for the Mission office is $36.00per month. The last two months bro. Bowlin

•has -paid it out of his Living-Link fund,l^erhaps some class or group would careto underwrite the rental of the nerve centerof the work of Western Me.xico ChristianM ission ?

THE WESTERN MEXICO CHRISTIAN Summer. 1964

"Jtist: a Dime"Wliat will a dime buy? Not very niudi,

but a thousand will buy quite a bit. Ifevery evangelical believer in America (itis estimated that there might be twentymillion o! them) were to give just onecent a day, or three dimes a month, intoa common bank account it would amountto .$20(),UOy a day or $73,000,000 a year!That would support 48,666 more missionariesat S1.500 per year each! Just skipping thatcup of 10 a.m. coffee for one day out often would do the job. We haven't really.schooled ourselves in self-denial, in doingwithout, and it doesn't dawn on us to giveup things for Christ's sake. Before we wereborn again some of us .spent far more ontobacco, the tiieatcr, drinking, dancing andgadding about than we would ever give tothe Lord if we tithed regularly. Moneyfor everything else and scarcely a dimetor God. So for want of a dime opportunitiesare lost, precious souls die without Christ,Christians go unnurtured, the work of Godsuffers, and much is lost.

Let us. by the grace of God, put valuesin their proper place and perspective andrealize that only as we store our goods onthe bank of heaven will they be oursthroughout all eternity. .And not really oursfur we will place our all at the nail-piercedfeet of our blessed Saviour.

—The I. F. M. A. News, October, 1963.

• • -fa -• . .-

Veva and Becky Bowlin

BOWLINS' ADOPTED GIRLS

The two babies the Bowlins adopted in1959-60 are no longer babies. Little Geneva(Veva) has had her third birthday andElizabeth (Becky) her second. Veva ispartially supported by the Palestine, Texaschurch. Becky does not have Living-linkas yet.

MEXICAN BIBLE SEMINARY

In an attempt to further the indigenouswork in Mexico, bro. .Alex Julian, Directorof Me.xican Bible Seminary, is spendinga large part of the summer visiting theestablished Christian churches in all ofilexico recruiting students. The indigenouspart? Each congregation is asked to paythe food bill for her students!

Scholarships will still be needed forstudents from the newer fields such asM'estern Mexico.

BOB BOWLIN GRADUATES

Bob will have graduated from his Me.xican high school by the time you readthis._ His plans call for a diploma froma U.S. high school in Tucson, .Arizona,then Pacific Christian College, Long Beach,Calif.

BOWLIN FAMILY ALL IMMIGRATED

^Missionary Gerald D. Bowlin completedhis 5 years probation in 1960 and is now al)ermanent resident of Mexico. Mrs. GenevaS., Bob and Kathy are in their third yearof the 5 year period. Note that this doesnot mean the Bowlins lose their Americancitizenship, but it docs mean they have allthe rights and privileges of the Mexicancitizen (including ireedom of worship andparticipation in worship activities) with thee.xccption of political activities and militaryservice.

OFFERINGS—Church Checks

Living-Link and Service-Link sent viachurch check may he made payable to theindividual missionary. Project checks-Seminary, Benevolence. Evangelism. Construction. and GENERAL FUND—shouldbe made payable to tiie .Mi.ssion. Mail to.Mission address.

OFFERINGS—Personal Checks—Income Tax

Make all your personal checks pavahleto MEXIC.AN BIBLE SEMINARY," ourFederally Tax-Excmpt con)oration.

MAILING ADDRESS—LETTERS

Mestern Me.xico Christian Mission-Apdo. Postal 350Hcrmosillo. .Sonora, Mexico

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FORWARDING AGENT—PACKAGES

Western Mexico Christian MissionP.O. Box 153UNogalcs, -Arizona. U.S..A.

MEXICAN BIBLE SEMINARY

I 4 th year of service for an indigenous MEXICAN CHURCH

Western Mexico Chiistian MissionMAIL: APARTADO POSTAL No. 350 OFFICE: CALLE TLAXCALA 109 PTE.

HERMOSILLO. SONORA. MEXICO.

GERALD D. BOWLIN. FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR ^ ALEJANDRO JULIAN. ASSISTANT DIRECTORMRS. GENEVA S. BOWLIN, DISPENSAKY-CLINIC NOVEMBER, 1964 # MRS. ESTHER M. JULIAN. BIBLE SCHOOLS

Dear Eellow~Ch.ristians•

Mere it is fall already there's even a snap in theearly-morniny air here on the Sonera "Hesert.

It seeras that the sumner just evaporated 4 weeks ofcamp in the ^Tnited States thousands of miles of travel my^father's death in August and of course the D.V. B- Schools hereon the field, not to mention the routine.

I spent September and most of October in bed (a fev/ daysin the hospital) with an impacted colon and liver damage long-ran'-e results of amoebic dysentery contracted here in Mexico 207/ears ago in 1944'. Am slowly recovering my strength.

No pictures during the hot summer months (and not evena letter during ray illness), but 7fou were faithful and I muchappreciate it.

fhls month I enclose a picture of our fine freshmanclass at Mexican nihle Seminary. These, without exception, aresecond generation Christians, known to us as children in ourBible Schools here in Sonora and Lower California. Me are proudof them and we hope you are too. They are vlsable fruit of oui>15 years on this field for Christ.

Only tivo scholarships have been made available, so youguessed it, the president, bro. Alex Julian is digging down inhis pocket to help feed the students. And even with a boost pov/and then from the ^-eneral "^und and some tithes and. offerings fromus, his fellow-workers, he is hardpressed.GOULD YOU help VITK A SPECIAL LOVE ^^lET?

Thank you for your help and your prayers. T-Ta7r m-odbless and keep you.

Your servant and His,

Herald D. Bowlin, Director.