Our Library

"Why are there no libraries?" was the question of a very concerned Nora in February of 2022. Going to the library to browse, play with some creative toys, and pick out a large stack of books to take home was a favorite activity for our family. Even in the summer of 2020, when we couldn't go inside the building because of the Covid pandemic, we could still call the library to request a kid's bundle, and the librarian would hand select a bundle of books. She even took requests; "some books about princesses please," Nora's request, "and some about skunks," Hudson's genre of choice at the time. So when we were preparing to move to Mexico and discovered that there were no public libraries where we would live, we were all a little saddened. Nora was outright worried. But God had something in store for Nora.

Meet Rachel and Katie.

Cargo delivery of groceries and supplies

They are missionaries serving in a very remote village in the Sierras. Nathan frequently flies into their village, bringing people in and out of the mountains or delivering supplies and groceries. Their ministry among the Nahuatl people group consists of bible translation work, church planting, discipleship, and much more. They also help maintain the airstrip and give weather reports by radio to the aircraft before landing. An additional part of Katie's ministry is teaching. A few years ago, there were two other families with young children serving with them in the same village, and Katie was their school teacher. Those two other families have moved to different locations for various reasons. Katie, however, is still there - along with her (as it turns out) boxes and boxes of children's books.

In December, Nathan was in their village with a short-term team from California for a few days. They worked on the missionaries' houses, other buildings, and the airstrip. Airstrip maintenance consists of dirt work, filling in holes and ruts, replacing windsocks, trimming and cutting down trees that encroach on the runway, painting edge markers, etc... If not done regularly, the airstrip could become unusable, leaving the surrounding area without airplane support. One evening after a long day of working, the team sat at the table eating supper and chatting. During the conversation, Nathan mentioned that one of the things that Nora missed most about the USA was libraries. The next day while packing cargo and the team into the airplane, Katie handed Nathan a drawstring bag with about ten children's books inside. And a library book exchange program was born!

Now, whenever Nathan flies into their village, he takes a bag of books back and returns with another bag filled with more books - which the kids eagerly snatch away as soon as he walks

through our door. The last time he flew to this airstrip was to take Rachel and Katie to Mazatlán, where they would board a commercial airline and leave for a few months. Katie sent two bags of books to hold us over until she returned!

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31.

These verses come in the middle of Jesus' instructions to his disciples when he sends them out to minister. He makes it clear that it will be challenging. Ministry always is. It could even be dangerous. Judging by the surrounding verses, very dangerous. But in the middle of all this, he reminds them, and us, that God cares for even the sparrows. He even knows the number of hairs on our heads. The God who sustains the existence of all the galaxies of the universe also takes note of tiny details. And when he sends us out to minister in a challenging and dangerous world, he promises never to leave or forsake us. Not all suffering will be avoided, and not all challenges will be removed. Still, God proves His faithfulness through all things, and sometimes in His grace, He cares for us by providing small luxuries we might think too unimportant to mention to Him. Like a library.

“'Let not your heart be troubled,'

His tender word I hear,

And resting on his goodness,

I lose my doubts and fears;

Though by the path he leadeth,

But one step I may see;

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know he watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know he watches me."

The opportunity hasn't come along yet, but one of these days, Nora plans to fly in to meet her librarian.