This weekend we are launching Dennis and Lucy Smith as missionaries to the people of Mexico. When I sat down this week to talk with Dennis he explained how God has been preparing him and Lucy over the 20 years of their marriage for their mission. Dennis can see now that their experiences in leading home Bible studies, participating in building projects on the Navajo Indian reservation and ministering to Alaskan, Eskimo prisoners in the Florence prison have prepared them to be effective in their cross cultural mission in Mexico.
In 2001 Dennis and Lucy began attending Pantano Christian Church and quickly became involved in the Mexico life group. In June 2004 they took a trip to Penasco, Mexico to build homes and God began to work on their hearts. A few months later they returned to Mexico with Dave and Patti Piper and met several of the local Pastors and ministry leaders who call themselves “Samaritans.” They fell in love with the Mexican people and began to pray how God could use them in greater ways to share His love in Mexico.
Dennis explains that God had blessed them financially through their home business to enable them to begin their mission to Mexico. Being self-employed allowed them to set their own schedules and give them the time they needed to take trips to Mexico. They soon purchased an RV and stored it at the Playa Bonita RV park in Mexico to live in on their weekend trips. Through these trips God began to reveal how they could be his hands and feet to assist the local “Samaritans” in their ministry.
In 2006 they began to see how their home business was getting in the way of mission work or was it the mission work getting in the way of the business? They knew something had to go and they decided it was time to sell the business and focus full time on their mission in Mexico. They were told it would take at least two years to sell the business and they would need to lower their asking price but when God is involved big things happen and the business was sold for their asking price within 4 months.
Now able to focus all of their time and energies into their mission they have created a non-profit agency Manos De Dios, which means the hands of God, to support the mission. Dennis explains that their mission is to get their hands dirty and the feet dusty as they support the “Samaritans” in Mexico. Following the advice of the Samaritans, they have worked together on building relationships with the people in Mexico as they discern their spiritual and physical needs and put together a plan of action on how to best meet those needs. They have built credibility and trust among the people through being there in the freezing cold and extreme heat as well as the more mild touristy times of year.
Working alongside the local church through the leadership of the Samaritans they have been able to make a huge difference in Mexico. They have started two new food banks in El Diamonte and Desomboque and support three others in Penasco. They have provided clothing and blankets for prisoners to stay warm in the winter and continue to provide food and plastic cups. They are working to open a library and at the request of the prison warden are planning to create a medical team to provide medical care at the prison. Lucy has been active in the women’s prison leading Bible studies and providing clothing and feminine products which are not provided by the prison.
Recently Dennis was able to purchase a 2001 bus with 65K miles for only $5500 at a local auction. Dennis raised the funds literally overnight through the support of the Mexico missions and Serve and Be Served life groups. The bus was donated to Pastor Ruben who plans to use the bus as a part of his youth ministry. The youth plan to travel throughout northern Mexico ministering to other youths and sharing the love of Jesus Christ.
God has truly blessed Dennis and Lucy and their desire is to be a blessing to the people of Mexico. This spring, along with the Serve and Be Served life group, they will be building another house for Pastor Manuel that will also be used for his church. They are also planning to build a community center to provide a safe place for children and youth to meet and for people to create and sell goods. They have a dream of providing a mobile medical vehicle and are investigating potential micro-enterprise projects.
Dennis and Lucy’s passion for the people of Mexico is making a difference in the world! To find out how you can support their mission, visit their website www.manosdedios.org
View Dennis and Lucy’s launch video here:
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