Dan Harvey & Family - Mexico

from Chihuahua to Pachuca 

My father is a man of many sayings, never losing an opportunity to speak to someone about their soul.

One starter I remember from childhood is, "Well, the last move I make will be up!" Amen to that! After two years in Chihuahua, the Lord has opened the door and directed our path to the state of Hidalgo and the work connected with the assembly in Matilde, just outside of the city of Pachuca and the work in Mexico City, in Nezahualcóyotl.

We learned much in our time in Chihuahua and value so much the friendship we enjoyed with co-workers, Gilberto and Alicia Torrens.

God blessed and planted a local church in the city in December, 2007 and leaving the work there is no easy task. Our hearts are very much with the believers there, but we are encouraged to know the work is the Lord's, and He carefully plans every move He makes in our lives.

My good wife is at the wheel and we are en-route to Veracruz where we will be spending about three weeks helping the new assembly there while John and Rebecca Nesbitt go north to visit family in the U.S. and Canada. The first half of the trip is on a good highway system so it affords an opportunity to do a little computer work prior to hitting the rapid mountain descent with all the twists and curves! Just thinking of that reminds me of the last four months with all its rapid pace and changes! The first week of June was the culmination of much work and beginning of many changes. By God's goodness and grace we finished and moved into the new hall in Chihuahua after an intensive three-month drive to do so. We remembered the Lord in the new hall for the first time on May 31st, still missing a few windows and the front door, but with joy, nevertheless. In time, the believers hope to be able to complete the upper level, but for now it is more than adequate to satisfy the needs of the saints.

That week also gave us the joy of witnessing four believers obey the Lord in baptism, giving public testimony to the inner reality of new birth. The following day we left for Pachuca, a caravan of three vehicles and a trailer in tow! It was almost two years to the day since we had arrived in Chihuahua. One of the many amazing aspects of the Lord's Work is how God accomplishes many things at the same time. While doing a work through us, He did a work in us, and that work continues still! We have learned much and yet still have much to learn!
After the two-day trip we arrived in Pachuca on the very northern edge of the City of Mexico. In some respects the city is a "bedroom community" for the City of Mexico, with many folks travelling in daily to work and returning home in the evening.

The majority go in small buses or vans and leave as early as 4:30 a.m. to enable an on-time arrival at their work. Then, after a long day, they fight the return flow of traffic and arrive in their homes between 8:30 - 10:00 p.m., only to do the same thing the following day. I can honestly say that I admire their work ethic.

This area of the country has seen two assemblies formed. One of them is in Matilde, on the southern edge of Pachuca as you leave towards the City of Mexico, and the other is in Nezahualcóyotl which is a sister city to Mexico, and indistinguishable in terms of its borders. Both assemblies are small, with around twenty in fellowship in Pachuca, and mid- teens in Neza. Harrys Rodriguez and his wife, Rebecca, have worked much in this area but, due to health reasons of their eldest son, Noel, they have moved to Arkansas to take advantage of better and more advanced medical treatment and therapy. Their departure left a very large hole in the work here, and it was about seven months ago when God first began to give us indications of a possible move to this area. In fellowship with our brethren, and peace with God, we have made the move and trust now to be able to continue to work in this area and see its spiritual borders expanded. Our five children have proven themselves to be very adaptable to our frequent moves and the move to Pachuca has been no exception. Even the robbery in our home, the week prior to our arrival, has not unsettled them and, in short order, they have moved out into the local community, made many new friends, and feel quite comfortable here. Truly God is using them to help open doors for the work here. Tim had a new friend to meeting on Sunday.

Our arrival here was just in time to start preparation for the annual conference from 17th to 19th July. We painted the hall inside and out, set up a sound system, remodelled the pulpit, and painted the home we live in too and installed a new fence around it.

We had a few days of "downtime" prior to the conference so, with the help of Eleonor Mosquera, we held a week of special children's meetings in a little place called La Raza, a rather poor area on the other side of Pachuca. There has been an ongoing work in the area on Saturdays for many years but the numbers had fallen off to the low teens and often even less. By the end of our special week of meetings we were up to over eighty-five kids and for that we give thanks.

Our conference was a time of real blessing, with about one-hundred-and-ninety in attendance, a record for Pachuca. On the Saturday night we had the baptism of two sisters and a brother. The food was great, the ministry was appreciated, and we trust it will have its desired effect in the lives of all.

An appreciated visit by my parents, Bob and Bertha Harvey, came to an end the week following the conference. They had arrived in Chihuahua, and worked tirelessly with us through the move. We miss them and their witness in the community. With a repertoire of less than fifty Spanish words, my father witnessed to more local Mexicans that I am able to count and only eternity will reveal the result. Following their departure for Canada, we packed and headed to Veracruz for our planned visit there.

Right now we are back in Pachuca and are glad to be home. There is much to do but we are encouraged to see a good number of believers here who are ready and willing to put their shoulder to the work. The work is God's and we are simply workers together. Please remember to pray for the believers here, the preaching of the gospel, and for us personally for wisdom in the work, and preservation in every aspect of our lives.

Dan & Joan Harvey

Apartado 1-46, C.P. 42001, Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico
Tel: 771.710.0808 Internet: 416.848.3715

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