19 years ago....

How did we hear about New Tribes Mission?

 

Machelle had gone on a short term mission in Papua New Guinea through New Tribes. Tom Lotz, her high school volleyball coach, had told her about it.   It was there they she was introduced to the many people who have no Bible in their language.  There she was challenged to go to Bible School. 

 

Dennis had been in South Carolina doing V.S. (Voluntary Service) work with a Terry Reed.  Terry Reed had also gone on the same mission in Papua New Guinea that Machelle had gone on.    Terry called Dennis and told he what a great time he had and that now he was on his way to Bible school.   Dennis said, “Good luck to you” and he was glad he wasn’t the one going to Bible school.    But the Holy Spirit had other plans.   He could not sleep at all (and farmers usually have no problem sleeping) and all he could think about was that Bible school.     He finally asked Terry to have a brochure sent to him about the school.  When the brochure arrived and it had a picture of students sitting in the classroom he was disgusted.  He was never going back to school.    But God wasn’t giving up and convinced Dennis that is was His will for him to go to Bible School. 

 

Dennis and Machelle, how did you two meet?

 

We met in Bible School in Jackson Michigan.        The first day of Bible school we had both heard a prayer request to pray for Terry Reed since his car broke down on the way to Bible School.  Somehow we figured out that both of us knew Terry.   So that was our first conversation.  3 weeks later was our first date and one year later we were engaged. 
 

 

 How did you know that God was calling you to live with the natives in Mexico?

Our reason for moving to Mexico doesn’t sound very spiritual!    When we going through missionary training we were told that the number one reason people leave the mission field is because they can’t get along with their co-workers.   Well,  we decided that instead of picking the country to go to we’d pick partners that we can get along with.  We picked Terry and Renee Reed and they were headed to Mexico so away we went to Mexico.   I also remember a motivational speaker saying, “You can’t take the Gospel to the wrong address.”   We figured one unreached people group was as good as the next!  Plus, I’m sure it was how God was leading us. 

 

Have you always lived in the town of Chiltepin as missionaries?

We first moved to a town called Tojiachi.  These folks were also Guarijio and we began learning language there.  After 3 years we felt God calling us to relocate to a different village – but still the same language group.  We moved to Chiltepin and built our house and we haven’t regretted it once!