Todd Luke - April 2020 Update

Campeche, Mexico

Note from Outreach: Even during these unsettling times, Outreach partners continue sharing God’s love around the world. We received this update from Todd Luke in Mexico:

Dear friends,

We had a great January and February. At the request of over a dozen families, we took our cistern building ministry to the village of Guillermo Prieto—an eighty-minute drive south of Xpujil.

We built fourteen cisterns with fourteen local families. But COVID-19 forced us to cancel a mission team scheduled to arrive on March 21.

Our master builders from Castilla Brito led the way. They were: Victor, Raul, Isaias, Ezequias, and Lucas. As always, unexpected obstacles popped up. Victor’s truck and the concrete mixer engine both had mechanical trouble. Also, the construction materials were delivered days later than promised. Nevertheless, the crew’s faith, patience, and expertise made things run smoothly despite the challenges. The way those men combine peace, hard work, and joy inspired the members from the three mission teams that visited from Chicago, Detroit, and Memphis. In all, twenty Americans were deeply blessed to have the opportunity to work side by side with our partners from Castilla Brito, and our new friends in Guillermo Prieto.

Each mission team worked on four cisterns. For 2020, we decided to reduce the number of cisterns we build per week from six to four. This takes some physical strain off our Mexican partners and reduces fundraising pressure for our American groups. Our cisterns now cost $2,000 U.S. dollars each. It is easier for a five to nine-member mission team to attempt to raise $8,000 instead of $12,000 for the cisterns they will help build.

Twelve cisterns were completed by early March. As I mentioned above, the fourth mission team had to cancel due to the pandemic. That group would have included several student-athletes from Arkansas State University. Four families from Guillermo Prieto were waiting to build their cisterns with that group. When the trip was canceled, I contacted our construction materials distributor to cancel our order for construction materials. (No mission team visit. No cistern funds.) However, the construction materials for two families had already been delivered. That was great news for two families. So, Victor, Raul, Isaias, Ezequias and Lucas worked with those families to build the two cisterns.

Currently, our friends in Mexico are dealing with closed government offices, closed schools, and orders to shelter-in-place. So far, there are no reports of virus-related deaths in the Xpujil region. The families that live off the land will continue to work in their fields and care for their animals. If they don’t work, the family won’t eat. It’s that simple. For them, work is essential.

Here is a mission moment. One mission team had only tall dudes. The shortest member was 6’2”. The tallest was around 6’7”. Two little girls from Guillermo Prieto approached the big guys and offered them mandarin oranges. You know the line, “No man stands taller than when he kneels to help another.” Those guys experienced almost the exact opposite. The impact was immediate. Powerful. Enduring.

We experimented with a five-day trip. A mission team flew in on Monday and was back home by Friday evening. The team was sore and satisfied after three days of service/work, had plenty of time to meet and speak with local workers, and visited the ruins and bats. There was no Sunday worship, no fourth day of work, and no overnight stay in Playa del Carmen or Valladolid. But it still packed a punch. The cisterns were built, and long-term relationships were initiated with the new cistern owner families. Now back in the U.S., the team members continue to think, talk about, and act upon what they experienced. It sounds like they hope to return to Xpujil and encourage others to join them. I give the short trip two thumbs up. We’ll try it again for those that are so inclined.

As for our five scheduled summer mission trips: three have been canceled and two are in jeopardy. As a result, we will build fewer cisterns than we planned for 2020.

I can never thank you enough for your continued interest in and support for our little clean water ministry. Please keep talking about us to your friends, and most importantly: keep us in your prayers.

Pray for us as we pray for you. Stay safe. Thank you.

Todd Luke (224) 808-9825 (PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS MY NEW CELL NUMBER)

Read more about Todd Luke’s ministry HERE.

THE NEED
The Outreach Foundation is seeking gifts totaling $50,400 for Todd Luke's support and $2,000 for the cost of one cistern. You may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.