Dear Friends,
Hello there, we are sending out this email to specifically ask for your prayers concerning the different situations here in Mexico. As you all know, the violence in Mexico has been escalating and now here in Samachique where we live; it is hitting very close to home. The drug cartels are totally out of control and are literally at war with each other as well as with the government authorities. In the past few weeks there have been killings within a 10 mile distance of us, and many of the villages that our hospital works in, are now too unsafe to travel to. There have been pick-up trucks with heavily armed men going in and out of Samachique on their way to the other villages and they know that they can do whatever they want. One missionary has reported that there are killings everyday out in the village where he is stationed, but he cannot leave for fear of traveling on the roads to bring him back to the main road where we are at. We know that a few days ago there were 13 people killed in this drug war- and that is just here in our region. This is grievous to us, as many of the people in these villages have been our patients here at the hospital and the birth center in times past. Unfortunately, they have not learned that growing drugs is NOT worth it. This year marijuana crop did not do well in certain parts of the canyon, and so now the Tarahumaras are starting to grow cocaine and opium instead. This is very frustrating to us.
There are no military soldiers out here and the news is not reporting any of these things. In the big cities there continues to be many people killed every day. Right now, there are more people dying on a daily basis in the drug war here in Mexico than in Afghanistan. The cartels are very powerful- even better armed than the Mexican army, and they are threatening and have even killed some of the candidates that are running for different offices here in Mexico. This system here is very politically corrupt.
Will you please remember to pray specifically for this situation here? We do not feel any direct fear of being targeted by the cartels, but there is the travel situation- especially for Edwin as he needs to use the roads to transport patients from our hospital to bigger city hospitals. Also, the concern has been raised that Americans would be a very easy target to be kidnapped by the cartels for ransom. The hospital also has to treat the drug traffickers when they come into the hospital wounded, and that makes for a scary situation at the hospital- especially if/when the other cartel members come by, looking for them. The villages that we have been going to are no longer safe to travel out to. National missionaries that have been here for more than 20 years are saying that it has never been this bad and things are going to get a lot worse.
We know that the safest place to be is in the center of God’s will. We just want to make sure that we remain in the center of His will. We greatly appreciate your prayers. We value you and your friendship and thus would appreciate any words of wisdom, encouragement, or your thoughts about this. We normally do not mind our newsletters, emails, communication being shared with other people, however, at this time we’d ask you not to do so. We value your input and spiritual covering and support.
Love in Christ,
Edwin and Shelley
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Thank you for your love, your friendship, your prayers and support.
May God continue to lead you and bless you in all you do!
All our love,
Edwin, Shelley, Joy, Abby & Evelyn Rivera.
www.riveraministries.org
www.mexicomedical.org
