Agustin speaks out
An uneventful trip to a Southern Tepehuan village provided an opportunity for a Southern Tepehuan man to share his faith.
Over the weekend, missionaries Barry and Candy Wingo and Andrew Ferguson went to the village along with Agustin, a Southern Tepehuan believer who is helping with Bible translation, and a Mexican doctor who usually has to travel to the village alone, “so it's nice if it works out for her to travel with one of us,” wrote Barry and Candy.
Barry and Candy are working on translating Exodus 2, and needed to check Genesis.
“It just means that Candy or I read the passage to someone and then ask questions to make sure that they understand what they heard,” the Wingos wrote. “We record these times in case they have a better way to express what they heard or detect something that is not right. It's a long process, as we do this with at least two to three people for each passage.”
On the way to the village, they took a break for lunch and started chatting about where they’d be in 25 years.
“I just commented that I'd be in Heaven by then,” Barry wrote. “The doctor asked me how I am so sure about that.” To people who practice the predominant religion of Mexico, it seems presumptuous and prideful to claim to know you are going to Heaven.
As Barry began to explain the Gospel to her, Agustin jumped in and shared his testimony.
“It's unusual for him to talk with an educated Mexican lady, as he's usually very shy, plus Spanish is not his mother tongue,” Barry wrote. “I wish you could have seen the joy on Agustin's face as he very clearly shared his faith, quoting verses he has memorized.
“He freely shared about his life of being involved in drugs and alcohol, and coming to faith in Christ while in jail. The doctor was impressed, and we trust that she will come to know Christ and be assured of her place in heaven one day as well. What a joy it was to see Agustin's boldness in sharing his faith.”
Pray that the doctor comes to know Christ, and that the check of Genesis in Southern Tepehuan turns up all the issues that Barry and Candy need to find.