Leading Redeemer's first mission team to Mexico in 2001 remains one of my favorite ministry highlights. From that point we established a great relationship with the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico through our denominations mission organization. There were three local churches in the Juarez area we did multiple construction and outreach projects for. In 2009 we were unable to send a team to Juarez because of violence in that city. This year we sent a team to a different border city because certain quarters of Juarez have become a virtual war zone.
Have you watched what has happened in Mexico over these last four years? Various media outlets report over 29,000 drug war related deaths mostly in Mexican border cities since 2006! Juarez is the the most dangerous of all cities in Mexico. This violence has seriously burdened the churches on the border. We recently heard a report from a missionary who told of the great difficulty the church is undergoing in Mexico because of the drug wars. These wars effect the morale of the citizens with threats to personal safety and a massive loss of legitimate businesses and employment. Things seem to be spiraling out of control in Mexico.
I am praying for Mexico more fervently these days. They are our neighbor to the south with many Christians living in perilous circumstances. Let us all keep this country in our minds and prayers.
5 comments:
I personally do not think that we should legislate sin into being acceptable but let me pose a legitimate question . . . Do you think legalization of those drugs would curtail some of the this violence and murder? It seems to me that a legalized narcotics trade, in which the product is regulated and taxed, while being personally deplorable in my mind, could potentially stem this violence. From a philosophical (not necessarily "Christian") point of view, would that be a "greater good?" I'm with you in thinking that prayer is the answer. Only the Holy Spirit (through the Gospel) can open hearts and bring revival and restoration. May God be merciful to the Mexican people (and to us).
On a side note, besides the tragedy of mission efforts being hindered, we have some dear friends that we met on one of our many trips to Mazatlan. Jose Vasquez is the manager of the Hotel El Cid and when we were robbed in 2002, this one man went way out of his way to take care of us while we waited for money to be wired. Anyway, though this providential tragedy, came a beautiful friendship.
The tough reality is without Gringo’s from America coming to their resort, they cannot keep the doors open. Locals come but Jose says they just don’t spend the bucks. Now everyone is afraid to come to Mazatlan and these beautiful resorts are feeling the indirect pain of the drug lords.
William: I think changing the drug laws in a false argument, because as of yet, most of the drug violence isn't in America. So, if America got rid of all its' drug laws tomorrow, that still wouldn't stop the drug carnage in Columbia, etc., or even in Mexican-American border towns; and, to America's folly, it would end-up with unreformable potheads and worse on every street corner.
Brother Titus,
I appreciate your response. I think that the response is operating on the assumption that I am referring to legalization in America. I was not intending to be that narrow in scope. Regardless, I do not believe that you substitue "one wrong for another." It was simply a question.
I read this blog as Reepicheep posts on a Wizards one I also follow. Im not very versed in the majority of this blog outside of what I picked up studying art history, but I do know a bit on this issue.
As the #1 consumer of drugs on the planet (per capita and total), the US makes the demand for the drugs being smuggled in. In the case of say weed, you can get massive amounts in Mexico for the price of a small bag in the states. It being illegal, and the risks of transportation/smuggling are what drives that cost up, make the trade very profitable to cartels.
Portugal decriminalized drugs in 2001 and it has caused considerable decrease in drug use as well as the spread of HIV.
All this information is very easy to find, I urge you to go take a look before you make assumptions and speak in absolutes.
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