Village Evangelism In Mexico

Address Correction Requested

:!i
Dear Friends,
nELD ADDRESS
Apartado Postal 111
Mate huala, S. L P.,
Moclco
3:\?Te>
January, 1975
Non-profit Org.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Bluffton, Indiana
Permit No. 206
1^13 4
FORWARDING AGENTS
Bill and Ruby Leamon
527 W. Ohio St.
BIuRton, Indiana 46714
God has continued to bless the work here in Mexico. The services here in Matehuala
are being very well attended. At the Wednesday evening prayer service there are
usually at least JO people present; the Saturday evening Bible study hour 80-90
attend; the Saturday evening class for young teens has an attendance of 30-ij.O; 100
children usually attend the Sunday afternoon Bible classes; and our Sunday evening,
first .day of the week, worship and communion service averages about 80. Following
the Sunday evening worship service we have study with the older teens and around
20 attend that meeting.
As you can see this schedule keeps us quite busy. Besides this, Garnet treats
close to 100 patients a week. She also delivers 2-3 babies a week. The doctors
have forbidden her to travel on the back roads so I take a nurse and her helpers
to the villages once a week.
The political situation is getting worse all the time. Two or three things have
happened lately that might help you to understand. First of all, as many of you
may know, I have been teaching English in a night school for the last 2 years.
This Fall another school asked me to teach there, too. I took on the class of 70
from 12 noon to 1:00 P.M. 3 days a week. On various occasions I was able to wit
ness to them. Then after 2 months the director called me in and told me that it,
had become prohibited to allow English class to be taught in that type of school
from then on, so they would have to let me go. The director said that my English
class had been very well taught and that they were sad to let me go. When the
students fouuid it out, they were all very sad about the situation. The students
said that the reason was that I was a Christian and that the counseling that they
received from me was very good and that they appreciated it very much. But the
other people involved with the school knew that the answers that I gave to the
various questions were better than theirs and they were afraid that I would con
vert the children to my 'religion'. They said, "Your 'religion'is better Idian
ours," and they thanked me.
Then yesterday as we were at the ranch, we learned that an airplane had had an
accident about 7 miles from Sandia Chico. It had just been discovered the day
before. The plane had made a landing on a crudely built landing strip. Some
people who passed by at a distance had seen boxes being either loaded or unloaded.
It had definitely had something to do with contraband. Arms are being shipped in,
in preparation for a revolution. The plane had been unable to take off because of
the soft dirt, and crashed and burned. We were cutting some wood to bring home
with us when a truck full of men drove up and surrounded us. They had various
weapons and the official who did the talking stood about four feet from me with
a machine gun leveled at me. He said that the plane had been an American plane
and wondered if we had anything to do with it. After some discussion I was finally
able to convince him that we didn't have anything to do with it.
About a month ago reports were being rumored that people from the U.S. were going
to different villages giving the children shots to sterilize them. It broia^t on
some very strong anti-American feelings here. The papers even reported that the
same program was being carried on in Puerto Rico. It was later learned that the
shots were only water and that they were being administered by some anti-Ameri
can people from Monterrey.
Then, I learned today in the newspaper that Mexico is threatening to pull out of
the "organization of American States" if the organization doesn't recognize Cuba's
present government and establish trade with them. Then Mexico severed diplomatic
relations with Chile. The former Chilean president is being heralded as a martyr
and a hero.
God is still at work here and we are determined to remain to continue His work.
We are now sponsoring a fifteen-minute program on the radio both Saturday and
Sunday. There are already responses to it, and these people are being enrolled
in a Bible study class conducted by correspondence by Brother Clinton Looney.
Garnet's health has been much improved over last year although she still has some
real bad days. Please pray for her. She has been a real good wife and mother and
a tremendous servant for our Lord.
Also you may remember the boy that had the bad motorcycle accident, Vicente Picon.
He is well now and has taken on the job of evangelist for the congregation in
lfe.tehuala. He is doing a very good job. Please pray for him, too.
During the final few weeks of 197i|-> souls were given to Christ and baptized
for the remission of sins. Three of these were Americans! How we praise the
Lord for iiie victories!! Thank you very much for your concern, prayers and fi
nancial support. You have been very important in the winning of over ^00 sotiIs
in the 9 years that we have been here, away from the Homeland we love.
The work is going qiiite well in the village, too. Please write to us.
Love in Jesus Christ,
The Larry Ciayler family
Please send all packages to: Larry Cuyler (be sure his name is on all boxes)
% Colegio Biblico
261j. Brazos Street
Eagle Pass, Texas 788^2
Checks should be made payable to: Village Evangelism in Mexico. If you are an
individual contributor and desire to use your canceled checks for income tax
purposes, make "tiiose checks payable to: First Church of Christ. Send checks to:
M/k Wm. E. Leamon' (Forwarding Agents)
527 W. Ohio St.
Bluffton, Ind.
You may add to the list of needs we sent with the last newsletter, Spanish Bibles
(old and Hew Testaments) and garden seeds (all kinds of vegetable).
PLEASE send address changes to the Forwarding Agents. Each letter returned to
them, costs the mission 10 cents. From the last mailing, nearly 100 were re
turned because of address changes.
Village Evangelism In Mexico
FIELD ADDRESS
Apartado Postal 111
Matehuala, S. L. P.,
Mexico
FORWARDING AGENTS
Bill and Ruby Leamon
527 West Ohio Street
Bluffton, Indiana
46714
SPONSORING CHURCH
First Church ol Christ
Spring St., at Clark Ave.
Bluffton, Indiana
46714
LARRY AND GARNET CUYLER
Larry & Garnet
Tim, Martha, Vickl, "Poodles" Lisa, Richard, Kimber
Larry and Garnet Cuyler are missionaries toMatehuala,Mexico, in the state
of San Luis Potosl. It is a city of opproximately 35,000 people.
Lorry was born in Battle Creek, Michigan, attended high school at Climax,
Michigan and Kellogg Community College at Battle Creek. He was planning a
career in professional baseball, when just 2 weeks before he was to play his
first game, he injured his leg in a freak basketball accident. That ended his
baseball career before It began. InJuneof that year, 1960, he married Garnet
Bell. Garnet's place of birth was Plainwell, Michigan. They began to study the
Bible intensely together, with prayer. Inthisway, they learned more and more
about what was necessary to become a Christian. While attending a revival
meeting, they gave their livestoJesusChristin Christian obedience. The evan
gelist for that meeting was Brother LeeDoty, Dean at Great Lakes Bible College,
Lansing, Michigan. They moved to Lansing, and Larry began his studies at the
college. There they became interested in the Mexican mission field. They con
sidered this mission for some later date.
In the spring of 1964, Garnetbecame very, very ill. The doctor advised, be
cause of the condition of her lungs, that she move to a different climate - and
he said the climate Innorth-central Mexicowould be better than anywhere in the
States. After visiting the field, they returned to the States and by working very
hard, were able to take care of all their bills by February, 1965. Garnet's
health was steadily getting worse, so they leftfor the field, arriving there March
9, 1965, with their two sons, Kimber - age 3, and Richard - age 1 year.
Larry and Garnet began to study the Mexican language. Soon people were
asking for headache remedies and things ofthat nature. In 1966, Garnet began
delivering babies and had many other medical chores. Many people were be
ing helped by her effortsand thisopened doors into villages that had previously
been closed.
They moved to the ranch called Sandia El Chlco and bought 1100 acres of
land for $4000. Since their third son, Jimmy, was born in Mexico, they were
able to purchase land in his name. This area was very primitive-no roads, no
electricity, no doctors, no schools higher than thethird grade. The nearest road
was 18 miles and 50 minutes of hard driving away. On this property, they
built their home and in the early years, it was also used as a medical clinic.
Later, another clinic was built and also houses for the workers. They farmed
the land and raised cattle, but because of the conditions and lack of rain, what
they could do in this area was very limited. Many illnesses were suffered by
the whole family. Garnet had 13 operations, two of the boys almost died: Ki
from scarlet fever and Timmy from food poisoning. Lorry was very ill with
typhoid fever. The whole family nearly died when one of the workers failed to
turn off the gas stove, and they were overcome with gas fumes.
At first, the people resented North Americans and were extremely hostile -
especially to the Gospel. Several threatened their lives for preaching. One
day they were called to help a sick boy. After he got well, word was spread
that the Cuylers could help with the medical problems. Although they had no
previous medical training, a doctor from the States gave them many supplies
and instructions on how to treat many diseases. Many began to come for medi
cine. They found the Mexican people to be very proud and would insist that
they pay insomewayfor the medicine,especially when a life was saved. Since
they never charge for medical help, they toldthe people all they wanted was to
be able to have worshipservices intheir home. Many were frightened because
of their oncestoral teaching, but because of their pride, they consented to hold
services in their homes. As a result, there have been approximately 500 souls
won to Christ, and 13 congregations meet around the Lord's Table each week.
They began to look for leadership among the nationals and taught 10 men to
assume the responsibilities of the evangelist.
Once they felt that the Nationalists could carry on the work, they moved to
the city of Matehuolo to begin a newwork and to put their children in school
there. At about this time, the Lowell Tote family arrived, and they moved to
Sandia El Chico to help establish new congregations in the rural areas.
The work conHnues to do well in the villages; Lorry tries to moke weekly
trips to them and help wherever needed. They moved to Motehualo in 1971
and began holding services in their home. At first, there were only 9 Chris
tians and most of them werethe Cuylerfamilyl But, the Lord continues to bless
the work there and with steady growth, they hove been able to pay a full-
time evangelist and most Sundays there is standing room only. Larry holds
classes for youth, adults and training sessions for the men. He also teaches
English at the local high school. Many times he uses sports activities to open
doors to the Gospel.
They hod not planned on continuing the medical work in town, because there
were already 7 doctors and clinics. Later they found that the doctors refuse to
treat the poor unless they con pay. There is no aid for widows and dependent
children and the poverty and sickness inthecity is as bad, if not worse, than the
villages. Some mothers have almost no means of income, and others try to
moke it on .50 a day feeding many children. Many mothers have asked them
to adopt or take their children to keep them from dying. A few of these hove
been adopted by families in the U.S. The Cuylers always have foster children
to core for, most of the time there are about 10 children living with them. They
have adopted 2 little girls, Lisa who was born in 1971 and Vicki born in 1972.
Because of these extreme conditions, they began a small clinic, with the full
cooperation of all the doctors in Motehualo. It is a legally registered clinic.
When someone is too sickto be helped, or surgery is needed, they take these
patients to the hospital. All patients in the clinic who are not directly conta
gious, attend all services. Asa result, many have heard the Gospel for the first
time and will often take itbocktotheir own villages. They have reached people
in over 150 rural villages in this way.
The Cuylers built a home at the edge of the city of Motehualo on 8 acres of
land. Larry raises a few registered beef and mild cattle. They have sent sev
eral bull calves to the rural villages to help up-grade their stock. Then, the
loaned animals are sent to another underdeveloped village.
No matter what area of service the Lord leads them, the Cuylers first
purpose is to teach the people God's plan for salvation. They always live in
the same manner as the Mexican people and speak with them in their own lan
guage. Please remember them in your prayers, especially that many souls
will be won for Christ through their efforts.
(Please see the back ofthis brochure for needs, etc.)
The Cuyler Birthdays:
Larry -
Garnet -
Kimber -
Richard -
Timmy -
Lisa -
Victoria -
January 12,1939
April 30, 1942
April 7, 1961
April 30, 1963
February 2, 1967
April 21, 1971
April 13, 1972
All packages should be sent to: LARRY CUYLER
o/o Norland Gary
264 Brazos Street
Eagle Pass, Texas 78852
(Do not send packages to Mexico-Lorry mokes periodic trips to Eagle Pass to
pick up supplies). You may send for a list of their needs from their forwarding
agents. Items they con always use ore garden seeds and Spanish Bibles.
You may write to the Cuylers at their field address listed on the front page.
All financial gifts should be sent to the forwarding agents:
Mr. &Mrs. Wm. E. Leamon
527 West Ohio Street
Bluffton, Indiana 46714
Make all checks payable to: Village Evangelism in Mexico
This brochure doted 3/17/75
MISSION StRVICES PRtSS
MX 177 KfittfON KMAIU 44Mf
FIELD ADDRESS
Apartado Postal 111
Matehuala, S. L. P.,
Mexico
FORWARDING AGENTS
Bill and Ruby Leamon
527 West Ohio Street
Bluffton, Indiana
46714
SPONSORING CHURCH
First Church of Christ
Spring St., at Clark Ave.
Bluffton, Indiana
46714
Village Evangelism In Mexico
LARRY AND GARNET CUYLER
May-June 1975
Dear Friends,
We're sorry we didn't get a letter out in May^your support and
prayers are always needed and appreciatedeven when we do not
adequately express it!
So much has happened since we wrote last. Garnet was hospitalized
in April (in Mexico) with severe back pain. At first the doctors
thought she had a ruptured disc, but tests showed this not to be
the case. They now believe it to be arthritis of the spine and
she still suffers a great deal of pain. She was able to come to
the U.S. with Larry and U of their children (and a Mexican girl to
help with the little ones) for a few weeks. We certainly enjoyed
the few days they were here and we are so enthused about the way
the work is growing. So mai^ people are attending services that
they are too crowded in their building and are looking for a larg
er one. Will you please pray about it?
Several young people from the U.S. plan to spend a part of the
summer helping vrith the work. There are at least 9 already there
or leaving soon. They will have many experiences there and be a
tremendous help with Vacation Bible School and other activities.
The Lord willing, Larry and the 3 boys will return to the U.S. in
July to fill speaking dates and attend the North American Christian
Convention in Detroit and the Northmen. Because Garnet's health
is much worse when she is up here in July or Auguast and because
there is so much to do there, she will not be coming this time.
Please pray for them this summer as Larry and the boys travel, for
Garnet's health and all phases of the work they do for the Master..
Pray especially that they will know God's Will for them and that
many Souls will be won for Christ,
In His Service,
Bill & Ruby
P.S, PRAISE THE LORD!! We, the Leamon's, are proud to announce
that our Arnie is now a U.S. Citizen. After 6 years of legal work,
he became a naturalized citizen on April 22. Only because God open
ed doors that had been tightly closed was it all possible!! Now
he's a Leamon and an Americanthe greatest day of all will be when
he steps out for Chiast and becomes a CHRISTIAN!
Village Evangelism In Mexico
Mailed by Sponsoring Church
First Church of Christ
Spring St. at Clark Ave.
Bluffton, Ind. 46714
Address Correction Requested
//-
FIELD ADDRESS
Apartado Postal 111
Mate buala, S. L P.,
MalCD
Non-Profit Org,
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Bluffton, indiano
Permit No. 206
FORWARDING AGENTS
Bill and Ruby Leamon
527 W. Ohio St.
Bluiitoa, Indiana 46714
October, 1975
Dear Christian Friends,
Larry & Garnet Cuyler and their children have faithfully served our
Lord in Mexico for over 10 years. Their efforts were very fruitful
with many souls won for Christ and Churches established. So it is with
great sadness that we write to you now.
On September 23, Dr. Max Wilson (an Elder--Cuyler missionary board
member) and Bill Leamon (Cuyler forwarding agent) flew .to Mexico to
meet with Larry and Garnet. It was decided that a joint announcement
would be made that their missionary efforts have been terminated, due
to personal problems. The announcement comes from:
Larry & Garnet Cuyler--missionaries
Bill 8c Ruby Leamon--forwarding agents
Elders of Sponsoring Church, Bluffton, IN--Cuyler Missionary Board
The announcement is made with great sadness, but with love and no bitter*
ness or hard feelings by anyone.
Your financial support is desperately needed until April 1, 1976*' so that
all financial obligations can be met and they can re-establish them
selves. Please continue to help, if you can. Send all checks payable
to Village Evangelism in Mexico to: M/M Bill Leamon, 527 West Ohio
Street, Bluffton, IN No more supplies should be sent here or
to Eagle Pass.
Though the Cuyler family no longer serves as missionaries, the Gospel
will continue to be preached. Larry trained several Mexican preachers.
Three of them, Sebastian, Margaro and Antonio have served the Lord for
several years and proven faithful through many trials and hardships.
Some of them have depended on the Cuylers to help them (by selling the
used clothing you send etc.) and it will be very hard for them now.
If you care to help them continue the work, we will see that they get
all the money sent after April 1st.
At this time we cannot tell you what the Cuylers plans are, because
they are not sure themselves what they will do- They will appreciate
your prayers as they make these decisions. Please also remember their
children and the new converts (there have been 30 baptisms in the past
8 months) as well as the congregations they leave behind. The departure
of the Cuylers as missionaries will definitely leave a void for them
and also in the community itself. Remember that Satan works over-time,
so your prayers are needed.
'We hardly know how to thank you all for your wonderful su{)port
through the years. We could tell you of times your check came the
very day it was neededl Times of discouragement when your letter or
prayers eased the pain and put joy into serving. We know many of you
sacrificed to send money and we want you to know it was not in vain.
It has been all pleasure corresponding with you--we love you--we thank
God for you--we believe you to be the very best of God's people. We
will never forget you!! God never failed to supply the Cuyler's needs.
They never had any extra, but their needs were always met--and God used
you to supply them.
On that Great Day, when we stand before the throne of God, you'll see,
face to face, the Mexican brethren Larry & Garnet won to Jesus. They
could not have done it without you--and that Day you'll receive your
blessed reward. May God bless you and keep you in His Great Love.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Larry & Garnet Cuyler
Elders of Bluffton Church of Christ
Bill & Ruby Leamon