Whims Family Discipleship Update - Pinotepa Mexico, February 2025
Our team returned from Pinotepa, Mexico on February 17, 2025 after spending just under two weeks working alongside Rafael and his team including Pastor Jose and his father who look after multiple churches in the area.
We worked alongside six different churches, partnering to do door to door evangelism and training for follow-up through discipleship training. We also partnered to share at two recovery homes and at the local hospital. It was exciting to have my youngest son Jordan accompany us on the trip as well as my sister-in-law and nephew. The team of eight from Canada worked very well together. We were originally a team of nine but one of our team members Eric came down with a nasty flu that forced him to stay home.
Our core Canadian and Mexico team travelled on day one in Mexico (the team expanded as we joined with the local churches).
Upon arriving in Huatulco, Mexico we drove halfway to Pinotepa and stayed near the Roco Blanca ministry centre. We have worked at this ministry centre in the past which has a Bible school, medical centre and soon to have an onsite garage. We picked up two of our translators Jessica and Tabitha before heading the rest of the way to Pinotepa the next day.
In Pinotepa we spent time each morning sharing our quiet times and testimonies before heading out to different churches ranging from ten minutes away from where we were staying to two and a half hours away. We would then break into teams of five or six depending on the amount of people joining from the local church and go out for a day of door to door evangelism. We would return a few hours later to share our experiences and have lunch together. Often we would go back for a rest and then continue again in the evening returning around 8pm. In the evenings we would often end the day at the local taco stand with members of the team sharing and praying together about the day's experiences.
When we go door to door there are many different experiences that take place. A couple that stood out to me are: being at the home of one family for almost two hours sharing the gospel and answering questions about the Bible. Often multiple generations live in the same house or on the same property and the grandma was listening intently but was discouraged because she couldn't read the Bible herself. Our team had brought some audio Bibles donated by "InTouch" ministry so we were able to present one to her as a gift. The sheer joy on her face of hearing the Word of God being spoken to her was exciting and we left that house rejoicing that we could give her the Word of God to listen to.
The other opportunity that stands out to me was sharing outside the hospital where many families stay in the courtyard as they cannot stay in the hospital and dont have the money for a hotel. The father and grandmother that we shared with had been there 20 days as his 18 month old daughter was having seizures and the medical staff couldn't find out why. We prayed with them for her healing and were able to provide some food and drinks for them as well as sharing the gospel, about the only One they could put their trust in during their difficult circumstances.
I personally really enjoyed having my son Jordan involved in the trip, often writing out the bridge diagram on a white board while another team member or I shared the gospel. Tadeo, my 13 year old nephew was also a blessing and his Spanish is quite good so he was helpful in translating. Monica, my sister-in-law, helped lots with translating so it was a real family affair.
Tadeo in left picture and Jordan on the right sharing door to door with the bridge illustration being drawn on whiteboards
Another highlight was meeting with those who we have shared the gospel with years before. Since we first started going to Pinotepa in 2011 there have been many we have seen come to faith and join the local churches over the years. One man, Aldo, heard we would be at church and came to spend the day with us. He is the spiritual child of one of our retired staff members Belinda who shared the gospel with him years ago. Pastor Filemon pulled out a Bible I had given him in 2013 that he is still using and was excited that we could do Kingdom work together again after such a long break.
Filemon drove three hours from his area to help us with translation. He came with his wife Marta and a member of their church Jazmine. Aldo on left who came to see Belinda and the team had come to faith 13 years ago.
A young man reading one of the gospel tracts that we handed out while going door to door
On our way back to the airport we stayed in Huatulco for two nights and joined with the local church to do door to door evangelism. Nancy, who was on holiday with her father and has been involved with Discipleship International as a disciple and volunteer for many years, was able to join us for a day of church and evangelism. It was God's perfect timing to have her join us and taste and see what door to door evangelism is like.
Nancy (centre) was in Huatulco on vacation and heard we would be in the area doing door to door and was able to join us
You can view more pictures and videos at this link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/pzaA6ArnSUjfWUWP7
Please pray for Pastor Rafael, Jose, Filemon and for Jessica and Tabitha as the work continues in Pinotepa and surrounding areas.
In other news:
On Friday I met with five members of our East Africa team preparing for my next trip to Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to visit with the discipleship groups and participate in graduations in each country. Please pray as plans come together for this opportunity. It will most likely be from August 11 to September 1, 2025.
Locally, Zach who has been living in our basement suite is moving to Kelowna on Wednesday. I first met Zach after one of our team members shared the gospel with him when he was street preaching in Vancouver. Zach and I met for coffee and he has been growing in his faith ever since partnering with his local church and other like minded Believers. Pray for him as he begins this next chapter in Kelowna serving at Living Hope church and faithfully sharing the gospel with every opportunity he gets.
Thank-you for being such a big part of these many opportunities locally and abroad as the Lord grows His church through intentional discipleship.
Until all are discipled,
Travis & Jennifer Whims
