NOTES FROM THE RODNEY G.

NORTHRUPS
FEBRUARY I, 1966

APARTADO POSTAL 306

SALTILLO COAHUILA
MEXICO

EVANGELISTIC

MEETINGS

<

.V

Those who like adventure should be with us in our pioneer evangelistic meetings which take us
over back country roads and trails among some of the "ranchitos" within the "40 Village Area". This
was the area covered this last year with "40 Weeks of Prayer" in preparation. Among other things,
our preparation included the printing of a songsheet to serve as a hymnal.

The preparation of sermons,

sermonettes, and all visual aid lessons were based on a background of the acceptable known religious
knowledge of these people in light of their Catholic influence this last generation. All visiting at the
homes was in consideration of their custom that the man is the one to make a decision whether that
family could or could not be talked to or invited to the services. This meant a late afternoon visit

after the man had come in with his flocks.

Usually this coincided with the regular afternoon dust

storm. Those who helped with the "casa to casa" evangelism were Guillermo, Esteben and Narciso.
All have received Bible training at Saltillo Christian School.
It was in a carpenter's two-room shop that services were held in Trinidad. It happens that the
owner also lets these rooms be used for showing the Cine (Picture Show) when it is available. He not

only would not charge rent for the rooms to be used for services, but he even moved his carpenter's
bench to one side, scooped the pile of white lime to one corner, took several of his big planks and
fixed makeshift benches and brought a kerosene lamp to help light up the room.
As Maysel began playing the accordion, the men moved in quickly and took the better seats. Some
of the men remained with their sombreros on until the speaker mentioned the need for their removal.

It was to be accepted that nearly all were carrying their knife either concealed or openly. Some still
carried the machete they used during their day's work in the fields.

The room was lit with two bulbs

on an extension from the car battery. This meant that the mission car was fairly hugging one side of
the entrance. At the same time it served as a wind barrier. With the exception of those two or three
women who might have heard the gospel by chance outside of the village, all other women and children
kept to the back and to the corners of the two rooms.

There was some embarrassment to be overcome at first, but, as the singing got underway, all
were so involved trying to read and keep up with the words on the songsheet that they quite forgot
themselves. One hymn was sung as much as four times in one service so that the people would go
away humming that tune. That this method worked was seen on the second and third nights as the vol
ume, quantity, and quality of the singing improved.

It was with great joy that two women accepted Christ that first week.

Only one of the two was

from Trinidad. . .the other lady is from Sandia.

In San Juan the attendance ranged about 75. We held services in one home for three nights until
the man said his Catholic sisters were giving him so much trouble that he could not allow us to con
tinue to hold the services in his home. We then continued the services in another house where there
was a great deal of interest but no confessions of faith. Continue to pray for Trinidad and San Juan

since we plan to return to these villages soon for other evangelistic meetings.

THREE NEW PREACHING POINTS

Most of our evangelism is the strawberry runner type-. That is to say we go to villages where
some Christian from another village has relatives who wish to hear the Gospel. So it has been in
the Mesa de Gonzales. One of the students of Saltillo Christian School has many relatives there, and
we went to visit them. We found that most of them were Jehovah Witnesses, but one of the former
students of Cedars Christian School invited us to hold services in his home. Our attendance has been

averaging well over fifty.

From Mesa de Gonzales, Rodney and the Christians who go with him to hold the services in
Mesa de Gonzales walk the four miles of trail down over the mountain to the highway and San Vicente.

In San Vicente they hold another service and wait for the mission car to pick them up.

The services
were begun in San Vicente in the home of a lady who is the married daughter of one of the Christians
in Ranches Nuevos.

This lady made her coiifession of faith during the first service. We took her fifty^ miles to be
baptized in the church building in Raices on Sunday afternoon. That very evening she had fifteen
gathered to hear the Gospel in her home.
The other night we asked another lady in San Vicente how she liked the Gospel. "Oh", she said,
"I have so longed to hear the Gospel but never thought it would come to our poor ranch. I wanted to
know what the Brethren said and did and taught. You may not believe me, but when I hear them sing
the hymns, I want to cry for joy. Now each Sunday evening we watch for your lights as you come
down the trail from Mesa de Gonzales, and I hurry to finish supper so we can be to the service on
time. "

Incidently, we hold the services in a little open-aired courtyard about ten feet square. Our
light is furnished by a rag stuck in kerosene in a can that used to hold motor oil.
I get cold in my heavy coats, but the barefdot children do not seem to notice the cold. We
simply do not have the time nor the personnel to call in this village, so this one-month-old Christian
who cannot read, has been taking tracts and portions of the New Testament to the people in the
village of San Vicente. Please remember the villages of Mesa de Gonzales and San Vicente in
prayer.

The third new preaching point is El Refugio. It is a village which seems rather indifferent to
the Gospel except for some ten persons. Recently, we had quite a discussion with one of the men as
to whether the Catholic baptism of an eight-day-old baby is valid, and if one would need to be bap
tized when he is grown. He seems to be convinced now that he needs to be baptized, and he is try
ing to get several other men to be baptized with him at the same time.

_
Recently, it has rained in Mexico, and we have gotten the mission cars stuck. Sometimes one
person pushed, and we did not get very far; however, when ten or more students pushed, something
had to give. Financially, we need your help to move the following burdens:
1. Four congregations want to build or buy their church buildings. $160 each would move the
barefoot, ill-clad children of Salero, Santana, Sandia, or Conception del Ore off of earthen floors into
comfortable adobe buildings.
2. Special offerings would move us from the uncomfortable position of owing our Mexican faculty
of three at Saltillo Christian School two months of wages.
3. We would like to move into new evangelistic meetings with ten thousand Spanish tracts at $10 a

thousand; 100 Spanish Bibles at $1.00 each; 200 Spanish New Testaments at 30^ each, and 100 Spanish
hymn books at 40^ each.
4. We would like to move the two mission cars. $150 a month is needed to move the two mission
cars the 4,000 miles a month they should move in the Lord's work.

5. To accomplish all of the above, we need each of you to help us financially and in prayer.
you cannot give, please pray for us.

If

Mr.G Mrs. Rodney G. Northrup

Easter 1966

Apartado Postal 306

Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico

APR
EASTER ANNIVERSARY OF CEDARS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL PROJECT.

During Easter week 1963 Rodney G. Northrup and others drew up the plans and Cedars

Christian School Project was initiated in an isolated area of Mexico. An area where nothing
above a third grade education was available at that time.

The building of the project was to provide a school

where

prospectve

leaders of the

church from the 40 village area could receive their primary education, a trade to. help sup

port themselves and most important of all, have access to Bible classes and preacher train
ing. This leadership would then be available to help the young churches being established
in the area.

In the first three years:

1. Primary classes have been in session as the project developed.

2. There will be a graduating class from the Primary School for the first time in June 1966.
3. The buildings for 4th and 5th grades are up and in use.
4. The two apartment teachers' cottage, the dining hall and kitchen are up.

5. Carpenter's Shop tools for 25 boys aiid 4 sewing machines are part of the trades equip
ment on hand for use at the project.

6. This summer will be the third year for Vacation Bible Schools to be held at the project.
7.

Part time Bible classes have been taught by the Larry Cuylers and staff.
What is now being done? The Mexican Forestry Department is:
Building the 6th. grade room and library.
Furnishing three more shops.

Putting in the plumbing.

Putting in a shoe factory where students can work.

Building 35-mBes-o^gravel road into- the area primarily to benefit the school.

6. The Forestry and governor are bringing electricity into the area and for the school
What is yet to be done for the preacher training?

1. Build and furnish the dormitory for the Bible students.

2. Build living quarters
for the family pf
the Mexican Bible teacher.

3.

Build the church building and

Bible class rooms.

ISISI

Front

View

WffAT WILL YOUR SACRIFICIAL EASTER OFFERING MEAN?

It wUl mean:

Cedars Christian School will be able to function as planned. The potential ministers of

the 40 village area will be able to prepare themselves to minister to the congregations in the
area, open new preaching p(^ts and rapidly evangelize the area.
There are foiur types of national leadership needed in the Mexican church.
1.

Elders and local church leaders.

2. Evangelists and ministers of village churches.

3. City ministers, Bible college teachers and national leaders of the church.
4.

International church leaders.

Your prayers and offerings will help prepare the first two types of leaders.

, Mr. G Mrs. R. G . Northnip

x'^ipartado Postal 306
I Saltillo, Coah, Mexico
'Tafasct ADouiocouA

^QCORREOS

PRAYEROG
from

A^M
Technicians needed (or the Cedars Chrisitan School Project.
1.

A mechanic

2. An industrial arts shop instructor.

Requirements or qualifications

1. You must love the Lord and the Mexican people.

2. Know your profession well. You will be working in a Federal School but
do not have to have a teaching degree.
3.

Be a member of the New Testament church and have the recommendation

your local congregation. You can learn Spanish on the job.

you
of

4. Have a support of $ 100.00 per month per person.

5. Have your own car and a trailerhouse or camper if possible.
6.

Retired persons gladly accepted if you are in good health and like to work with

young p^ple between the ages of 10 and 18.

Also needed: Diamond saw to cut fosilized rocks and all types of shop tools write
us if you have them.
Prayer Requests
1.

Continue to pray for the 40

2.
3.

Pray for the ten thousand dollars needed to finish the Cedars Christian School
Project and that it might be given or pledged by this Easter.
Pray for the young people who want to attend if the school is finished.

4.

Pray for the ten congregations in the area.

5.

village area around Cedars.

Pray for the five new preaching points of Puentes, San Juan, San Vicente Mesa
de Gonzalez and Refuglo.

'

6.

Pray that God might interest capable Christian technicians and Bible teachers

7.

Pray for us as we prepare for Spanish V. B. Schools.

8.

Pray for us as we continue in evangelistic meetings.

9.

Pray for the students of Saltillo Christian School as they minister to eleven
congregations and over three hundred people in the villages.
Remember the Larry Cuyler family as they carry on the day by day work m

to work in the school.

10.

and around Cedras.

11.

Huun citu

Remember the Northrups as they work with Saltillo

School.

and Cedars

Christian

NOTES FROM THE NORTHRUPS

Rodney G. Northrup

MJINY THilMS to all of you ohlldren and

adults in the United States who are helping with the expenses and supplies for this

Apartado Postal 306

Saltillo Coahuita

season of Vacation Bible Schools in Mexico

-

with the Northrups,

co

Tour help plus the efforts of a dedicated set

0^ V B S "crew" members is making this one of those busy, busy

summers when there is always one more place to go, another invitation to a place we had not expected to reach, more treat sacks to

^9H fill, more handwork to prepare, another pifiata to buy

and another

suitcase to pack

Two new tires were put on the Mission Dodge Van from
V B 3
offerings This should assure transportation as far as tires are
concerned for six more T B Schools and the rest of the summer

While returning from the V. B 3. in Trinidad, on the paved

Central Highway, we had a blowout on the front let-tire Driver Pranciso-o Lum got
the car under control and wo were fortunate there was no traffic for a few minutes.

Our spare was so poor we fairly crawled back to Mountain View Ranch arriving the next
morning nearly exhausted.

We had been traveling only 12 hours but under a set of

different and difficult conditions The starter button was not working and it had

rained making the bush country driving a mess To top it all there was a gasoline
shortage and we were towed on a cable using the tractor the first few miles to get us
out of the bush country to "better" roads Maysel says it was a fitting anniversary
day Just one year ago on June 24, 19^5 "th Dodge had turned over in New Mexico,
causing injuries to Jfaysel and Oelostina

Both are recovered from the 1965 accident.

The 1966 Vacation Bible 3ohGol season has been ons

of the most challenging so farl At least 1,000 child-

ren and
reached
efforts
Mexican
^

Lri 1

an unknown number of adults are expected to be

and taught the message of Christ through the
of V B 3 and preaching services in sixteen
villages up to the end of August 1966
bhere had been 596 children in V. B. 3.

^ different
Mexican villages. The first nine schools
held in a variety of oramped and crowded oircun^

stances but with a most enthusiastic enrollment in the

villages oft Jesus Maria, Trinidad, In Rosa, Hedionia,

3an Vicente, 3anta Ana, Sandia, Mesa de Gonzales

and

3alero A lOth place was visited by a student of the

school and ho daily gave classes to 5 children in Oanelo.

"ho attandod the V. B. 3. in the new preaching

Villagee
first and
V. B.Oruz,
3, Sylvia
Northrup, 9.
as a olasa member for the week, aocompaning
Oeleatina
the teachers.

of

in thT

breaking of a colorful "piSata" and the dietribution

11.1
f 'season would
that VT
V. 3 3

sandy animal oookiea and peanuts. The "PiHata" mn

for V.
last all yearl"piaatasGood ideal

B. 3. that he probably wial^

IN THE LA3T TEN MOlfTHJ YOUR PRAYSRi Al MISSION D0LIAR3 HAVE1. Opened five naw preachix^g points
2*

'

12 baptized into the Lord

^96 children were taught

4 Supplied Bibles and tracts for evangelistic meetix^s.

5* Moved seven youx^g men one more year nearer to the trained ministry.

!Sf7

NOTES FROM THE NORTHRUPS

Rodney G. Northrup

Apmrtado Postal 306

OOTOBER 1, 1966y

Saltillo Coahuila

Between clasaes at
SALTILLO

Mexico

CHRISTIAN

lEED

SCHOOL

PROJECT?

The monthly amount of

provides a half scholarship

During the weeK, ail of these

for a

men study God's Word in preparation

for the circuit to

student of

SALTILLO CHRISTIAN-SCHOOL*

the

villages on the weekends

(Back row, left to right)t
Rodney Northriip,
Guillermo
Carcaho 3r., David Sanchez, Efren Saucedo,

start on the I9S7 VBS season*

Efra^n Aguilar, Abel Samchez,

ITEM jj'l} Squares of oloth, the size of a man's

Puentes and Francisco Luna*

Isidro

Front

row>

Javier Carcamo, Guillermo's son; Primitivo

Ovalie and Sfrafn Garca
Teaching this term are i Francisco Luna,
Guillermo and Rodney*
Students at SALTILLO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

attend Bible classes each morning, have work

and study in the afternoons and then attend

Secondary School in the night classes in the
city of Saltillo*

Their day ends at about

LIKE TO SEW?

The Northrupa are starting now to get a headNeeded}

handkerchief of white, solid colors or muslin,

hemmed* Embroidery thread and needles* Thia
will be a Tortilla Oloth to be embroidered in
V.B*S* in Mexico*

Goal 1 1,200 aqioaires*

ITEM #2} (Animal Toys) Out out cloth puppies,

camels, ducks, donkeys or other from any odds
ard ends of cloth. Out only. Ifandwork in VBS
will be sewing and stuffing* Include eyes,
thread and needles.

ITEM 0 ! To collect t Any amount of Sweetheart

10 jAO p*m* after returning the 5 miles from

soap, lt''lon net, any color; Elmer's Glue, Motel

Saltillo to Mountain View Ranch in the school

Jeep#

soap. New combs. New tooth brushes, tooth paste,

skin salves, band aids and aspirin; towels and

David, Abel ard Javier are sons of men who

graduated from SALTILLO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL.

wash cloths; felt tip pens, crayons, construct

Efra^n Aguilar is the son of a iinaioa

ion paper and scenic pictures such as in Ideal.

ITEM
t Package mixes, canned meats, jjanneJ^

minister who died of hepatitus*

f^ult and canned vegetables*

These young men represent four states in

Mexico} ^catecas, Sinaloa, Nuevo Leon and

MOUNTAIN VIEW RAK3H NEEDS t

Coahuila*

doors.

white paint for the

SALTILLO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL needs a shower of

1 pressure canner, 1 large stainless steel mix

ing bowl, table cloths for 10 tables, a Revere
frying pan, sauce pan, 2 good butcher knives,
aprons, tea towels and misc. utensils. The
dorm needs : bedspreads for 14 bunks, each two
alike, if possible, sheets and pillow cases*

Boys socks, pullovers and ^eaters.

HOW TO MAIL INSTRUCTIONS t Jpirst, do

mail

packages to Mexico.Duty is high. Do not

collect clothing, other than that listed*
There will be just 2 trips during the school
year to Laredo to collect any items sent to
the Nortlirups, So, be ready to mail by the
first week of November 1956 or wait to mail

In the ^village of Texas in the state or

Nuevo Leon, Mexico, summer of 1966*
Part of over 1,000 who attend V. 8, 3* in

15 villages. Write Mrs. Northrup if you're

interested in preparing handwork for the
1967 VBS season in Mexico#

until the first week of May 1967* -Please

-write the Northrups in ialtillo, informing
them briefly of what you are sending. They,
will sand you the Laredo receiving address,

acknowledge your efforts and will be look

ing forward to your package*