MEXICAN BIBLE SEMINARY

year OF SERVICE FOR AN INDIGENOUS MEXICAN CHURCH

Western Mexico Christian Mission

MAIL: APARTADO POSTAL No. 350

OFFICE: CALLE TLAXCALA 109 PTE.

HERMOSILLO, SONORA. MEXICO.

GERALD D. BOWLIN, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR

-MRS. GENEVA S. BOWLIN. DISPENSARY-CLINIC

ALEJANDRO JULIAN. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

MRS. ESTHER M. JULIAN. BIBLE SCHOOLS

* * * 1966 * * *

ICT YEAR is a time for "abrazos" for all your friends, acqi:i=intaiices

and almost everyone

you meet on the street after the Nev; Year, To each one, you wish "Happy New Year", Ibr
your close friends, you go to see them any time from midnite thru the next day. One might
as well goas there is so much noise you can't sleep anyway. We have become very Mexican
in the 11 years we have lived here and follow the "good" customs of our friends^

This New Year's we stayed home, our Veva had been sick for several days, a fever, not
feeling good, we su^ected measles, but could find no confirming spots,.. finally she began
to break out. Then Dr. Ernesto Galindo got worried about Becky, her with all her allerar
problems, then perhaps measle rash on top of that. ..Oh No! So Gamma Globulin was pre
scribed, and our darling had an allergic reaction to that! Not only that, but after eight
days of taking Benadryl, had a rer.ction to that and passed out completely, Kathy was baby
sitting and as of then, has refused to sit \nth Becky againj Fortunately, Gerry and I were
at Br, Ernesto's and a neighbor brought Becky to us, where she and I spent the next week

in the hospital. Sure am glad I keep our ho^ital and Doctor bills paid in advance, (by
helping him in surgery) othervdse we would have terrible esgiensen.not only for ourselves,
but for all the others that Dr. Ernesto treats.,. just because they have no money and I
ask him to do it,

Gerry remarked: Of all five of our children, Becky has been the only problem child, but
such a worthwhile problem,., such an interesting and entertaining one!
V^e

had to postpone our annual "Mexico Day" at Maryvale

(Phoenix) until Jan,

Becky

and Teva took turns entertaining Bible School and Junior Church? their tunes were on the

"Crying Scale"!

Then the following Tuesday the Women's groi^ had a program for us with

late Christmas presents for us and the little girls,

Becky got a laugh out of everyone,

she hadn't said a viord ( she is our little wooden Indian most of the time with strangers),
until she opened a packageheld up
I dot another pair of britches!"

the contents and said in a loud voice: "look, daddy^

We decided to go from Phoenix to National City,(near San Diego) Calif, to see about Gerry's
mother, found her c^uite ill, asked her to come home with us, she refused. When we were
getting ready to leave she said; "Well, DeDe? v;hat are YOU going to do vdth me?" tly answer
was: "Take you home v;ith me, what did you think I was going to do with you?" She came,
withstood the trip well, even tho we had car trouble out on the desert and had to call Don
Dillard to come get us. He got A1 Fields, who had a pick-i5> aad they came from Phoenix to
near the California border to pull us into Phoenix, My "Trusty Kombi'' is still just as
trusty as overtrusted to give trouble that is! Eombi repaired, and we came on home in
time for Gerry to interpret for Murray Postles, minister of the Hillcrest Christian Church,
San Fernando, Calif, , who made a trip into Mexico with Mr and Mrs Cade, members of the
Hillcrest Church.

They arrived about an hour before the combined service was to begin.

Hurray began asking questions alout hov.' to preach thru an interpreter.. .1 told him: "Look,

* *2* *

Murray, I am going -co -cell you how to preach your sermon touignt,

f-ai of children 3 to S.years old.

i^ne front benches will be

You make your sermon so the littliest of the children

will understand you an.d everyone' in the building will think: you are the. most wonderful prea Cher they have ever heard. " He said later that I made him inrite a new sermon, but my advice
served him well everywhere he had a chance to preach while he was in Mexico,

Most of our

adults have not had the background for sermons like people are accustomed to in the States.
Our ''International Hotel" was a honeymoon stop-over for a pair of newly-weds from Canada, on
their way to Mexico City. They slept in their camper in the back yard, and on Sunday even

ing he brought greetings to the Church groiip at Colonia Olivarez, thru Gerry as interpreter,
of course.

The group was thrilled to know he was from so far away, yet serving the same

Lord as th^,

MAHCH 3 was a big day for Veva, she started Kindergarden, the same one that Bob and Kathy
attended some 10 years earlier and even some of the very same teachersi VTe had tears, of
course, but she came home happy. It was so satisfying to hear her say: "But Becky, you don't
Imow" when she tried to show Becky something she had learned at Kinder (as it is called in

il0Xico)Even tho she is a little younger, Becky has always been the leader.
Mom Bowlin gave us a scare, she woke up having trouble expressing herself. I rushed for Br,
Ernesto, and after examining her, he dia^iosed her problem as hardening of the arteries. He
.prescribed a vasco-disilator via hypo, day and night. Mom B. was calling me "a sure-shottail gunner" long before the shots were gone, but she inproved almost immediately and felt
better than before.

Mr and I'drs Lloyd Clark came from far-away Rockford, 111,; they are members of the church
where John Tigaer, son of Dr. C. B. Tigaer, director of W.M.C.M., ministers.

March 25th was Teva's Uth birthday.

We had a party conplete with pinata, birthday cake, and

take-home clowns made out of ice cream cones, Vfe try to keep our childrens parties within
the a,ge groiqpbut it is almost in^ocsible to do it here in Mexico, where every type of
gathcx'-jng is a "fiesta" for the old as well as the young.

Our tack yard took on the a^ect of a classroom when Oscar decided to overhaul the old 1952
high^wheeled Plymouth,. He enlisted the help of all his friends, his mechanics teacher at
Secondary school and even an electrical engineering teacher from another school, Oscar gives
Kathy some competition on being "boss". He manages to have plenty he?.pers on every project
lie starts, and somehow remains the bossi One thing for sure, all v^ho helped know what a
Plymouth looks like on the inside.they had all its insides out and vra.shed every piece in
gasoline before they put them back jn.,.we knew where to find all the neighborhood boys
for several weeksl You should see the way they take care of that carj It was worth it,

APRIL brought Easter and all its events, customs and church going in Mexico. Each day has
its special meaning during the we^ before Easter Sunday, and we take advantage of it by
having week-long services too. This year Augustine and Lala Ortega of Colegio Biblico came
to hold services. Poor Lala got sick on the way over and ^ent most of the week in bed \ath
a threat infection, but enjoyed the days she was out of bedl

I had promised to take Kathy and her friend/shadow, Ofelia Loya to the border the first
time they had a vacation from school. Part of Ofelia's 15th birthday present (Dec.25) was a
promise to help her get her passport. Coveted papers in hand and a hurried trip to Tucson
to ceo Bob and to show Ofelia '=the other side". Bob had Friday and Monday off from school

so came home ^ri.th us, (Returned to Tucson with the Ortegas as they went home to Texas.) Each
year v;e hold a Sunrise Service on a rocky hill overlooking Lake Rodriguez, it is a new
custom in Mexico, one that is gradually taking hold. It will take time- but the people
enjoy it.

* * J * *

Ray and Carol Strong and Betty "brought another "honey-moon" couple to see us, Ray's uncle
Hubert and his new wife Esther, (Esther was Ray's school teacher back when...) We enjoyed
them very much, our friends who met them still ask me about the "recien Casadosi " and when
will they come back?

MAY 5 is a big day in Mexico, one of her independence days.

Everyone from Sonora who can,

goes to the border, Gerry had planned to start to Rational City \"d.th his Mother that day
but realized what day it was, and delayed his starting date one d^ to miss the traffic,

HogaleSjAriaona/Mexico go all out to celebrate, with parade, bullfight, etc^ You join the
parade, or stop and they didn't want to become a part of a parade vdthout the benefit of a
decorated car and a chance to win a p'rizel

liay 13th was our Bob's 18th birthday, so I sent him a cake all decorated vdth the theme
closest to his heart at the moment.

He had just bought his own car, had saved his money

from cutting grass and trimming hedges and bought his o\m 1957 Eord Fairlinel So a cake
decorated with cars] He spent weeks r^airing it, but did a good job of it, he too Icnows
what the insides of a car is like and r^airs his own. He looks like an animated grease

Can when he is working on one, tho manages to clean it off in time to ^ see his girl friendl
Gerry got home from Calif, in time to go to Bob's graduation. He graduated from Rincon Hi
with a four year average of 1,6, the 68th from the top of his class of 59^ students. Not
bad for one who has bounced from schooling in English, to Spanish, then back to Englishl
Graduation theme was: "^'^hen I was a child, I ^ake as a child, I understood as a child, I

thought as a child; but now when I became a man, I put away childish things." (l Cor. I3:ll)

We were si;5)rised one Sunday afternoon to hear familiar voices, Pop and Mom Hatcher had

finally found us. (Friends since P.C.G. days when Gerry did student preaching at Escondido
Calif. ) They had finally found someone who knew Kathy and brought them to our house. They,
like everyone else, came v;ith the idea that everyone living in a city of 120,000 should be
listed in the telephone book]

V/e will be listed. ..in the next onel

I made a statement early in the year:

under control,"

"This summer I am staying home and keeping ray work

That is just what I DIHT'T doi Kathy and Oscar were allowed to enroll a

week late in a reading class in i^ish. (They were not out of school in Mexico until a week

late,) They finished exams on Sat. and entered school on Mon. in Tucson. Katny had only
been gone a fev; days v^hen Ofelia's dad passed av/ay, Kathy had "visited him in the hospi"bal
but no one realized he was so near the end.

Ofelia is number 6 of 10 children.

It was

quite a shock to lose her best friend to schooling on the"Gther side" and her dad both withr-

in a week.

Even tho Kathy is not here, Ofelia spends much of her spare time with us.

Aphone call from Tucson; Helpi a "chief Cook" was needed for Senior Week of Southern Ariz,

Christian Service Camp, Would I qd vp and take charge of the kitchen? I had already been
asked to teach a class and be Missionary ^eaker. Beclcy and Veva decided to stay home with
Paddy while Ofelia and I went to camp. Kathy finished her reading class in time to go to

caji^.

Ofelia realized that her school "book English was helpful. She was chosen friend
She v/anted to go to school in Tucson v/ith Kathy, but that proved inpossible,

liest camper.

A friend in Tucson learned of her desire to study nursing, gave me a check to be used for

her expenses here in Hermosillo.

School of Nursing,

She came home and enrolled in the Ifiiiversity of Sonora'0

We are proud of her, she is studying hard and is going to make a good

nurse.

AUGUST... Bob and Kathy both came home with Ofelia and me. Bob to get papers ready to enroll
for one year in Ozark Bible College, Kathy for a"last vacation" before Senior year at Rincon

Highl While everyone was home we decided to take a trip to the beach, .60 miles from us is

Kino Bay.

We borro-i^ed a key to. a cabana, took our lunch and went s\^imming. No one gD t

sunburned, but I did get stuhg by a sea animal, (it hurt all ni^tl Next day not a signi)

Jl * Ij. * *

Back on the road again, to take Kathy and Boh to "school", Oscar stayed to take an exam
he needed to make vcp. Boh did the finishing touches on his car repairs and he and a friend
David Brockus, started Bast to Joplin, Mo. They visited vdth friends in Deming, N. H. and

with my elderly aunt and my sister in Sayre, Okla. (Bree over-night stops, so very in5)ortant to Missionaries' college kidsi)
The Gene Staffords,(5756 E, Rosewood, Tucson) asked
to lave Kathy stay vdth them to he a con^anion to their l6 year old Carol.,,so Kathy settled
in vdth them. They have two other children, Joel 12 and Julie 4, (another Becky, even to
coloring]) Oscar stayed with the Johnston Elliotts, (807 So. Jerrie) the same place v/here
Boh lived.

The girls and I decided to do something "just for fun" for a fev; days, so went to Phoenix.,
had a reason too, a girl from Mexico was visiting friends of ours, and needed medicine
that Was available only in Mexico, So to Phoenix in time to attend one week of T.B. S. at
I^aryvale. Veva attended classes very h^pily, Kathy helped \-dth the recreation, hand vrork
and told stories ahout life and work in Mexico. Becky k^t
the tune she started in Jan.

when I was out of sight. (She howled),

Becky is everything I have always disliked in a

child, ..a mama's hahy, one that won't, answer when spoken to hy someone a little strange,
foiled, stuhhom, etc..hut at the same-time, she is the most, darling little thing you
ever saw. Poor Veva is just a plain, sweet little girl, loveahle to everyone,.yet Becky
gets all the attention.

"Asi es la vidal"

SEPTEMBER 1, home again, it rained off and on all the way home, they told us they had a
real, rain vfhile we were gone, wind too, as one can have on the desert. We got home in
time to make Gerry's birthday cake on the 5l5h, no party this year, neither of us felt very
good. Two days later we called Dr. Ernesto to see me..he insisted I stay in bed, that I
had a simple case of pneumonia] Sure glad I had him come to the house, he would have put
me in the hospital had I gone to e him. I ^ent 8 days in bed, didn't feel very had, hut
didn't feel like getting vsp either.
School problems were not over, Juan and Martin Mendiola were to he enrolled in school, Juan
in 3rd grade and Martin in 1st. Becky and Veva in Kinder and we had Martha Chairez with us
too, to put into Kinder ^vith the little girls. Our tv/o complained because Martha was not
in the same room with thempoor teacher having Becky and Veva in the same room is had
enough, had she had the three of themthere would have been a munity sure]
Becky went

to Kinder each morning, hut came home vdth Boni (who took them).

Binally I woke ip, Becky

was having a "hall" at home all hy herself, she likes being alone, and was making the most
of it. I told her one Briday: "look, Becky, I am fed up v/ith you being home while all the
others are in Kinder, .Monday, you are going to Kinder, and YOU are going to stay, cry if
you want to, scream if you want to do that, fall on the ground and

kick if you wait to,

no one will care a hit ...hut you are going to stay at Kinder on Monday." By Monday I had
her well brain-washed, she went to Kinder and stayed, and hy the middle of the v/eek was

telling the teachers how to run the place]

That's our Becky, anoth^ Kathy100^.

Western Mexico Christian Convention has etlways been held the first week of OCTOBER, this
year I only attended one nightthe rest of the time spent helping at the hospital where
we operated on Vicki'a brother. A work of charity not only on the part of Dr. Ernesto, hut
of t^vo other Doctors who gave of their time and ability to repair a rare conginital defect

in this young man, so he could work and help svpport his family.

Dr. Ernesto

said: "One

thing ahout the cases we have out here, they are not the common run-of-the-mill type; we
always find interesting cases," This is the second one that I have taken to him that have
been of the un-heaird-of type, liana and her puss filled tumors was the first one.

Earlier Vicki brought me Josfe, (horn March l^^-) sick. She had her two hoys in a day
nursery where they had been more or less (mostly less) taken care of. Josfe had the beginn
ings of pneumonia. Dr. Ernesto said keep him warm and dry, so we dusted off the crib, the
play pen and the junp seat and kept Josh here. Vicki came after she got off wrk with

Marcos (age 2, Nov. 22) and slept here to take care of the little boys at night.

Vie not

only have what my sister oaUs our "fallif crop of children, hut are helping raise our ^dchildren'i too.
Vicki has heen at our house from overnight to months at a time since she
was g years old..who could he more like gi'andchildren? By taking these extra needy child

ren in, we show Christianity in action, and have made .juite an impression on ^he neighbor oo
hy our acts of Charity. Of course it is mighty hard on our food budget, hut then what would
YOU do, if you were in our place?

October 27th was Kathy's all important l6th hirthday.. that is, important in the

she had celebrated her most in^jortant one in Mexico the year before-lucky gal. ^e m^.

have a pretty cake (Mexican style), so mama HAI to go do it, so she

So Cuca,
Ernesto's nurse) Becky, Veva and I went to Tucson to be on hand for the birthd^.
kinds of help, we made a tiered heart shape cake, a doll standing under ^
and "S'./eet 16" hanging from a cha..n orffthe dolls head. It was beautiful, and good "^ste.

Oh yes', tall candles. iG of them were placed ai'ound the base of the cake. The ^tertaining
feature of the party was a "pinata." Plus some games that were "favorites when I was I6,
HOTEMBER I and 2 is day of the lead in Mexico.

Blowers are taken

for d^arted children and the 2iid for all others. The days take on
^ fill
friends gather around the graves to v-isit, exchange gossip and in general have a good time.

Jill gatherings, even funerals, take on the aspect of fiestas in this country.
Becky had her hth birthday on the 6th, she had picked out a Homan Castle
conplete vdth soldiers on horseback.. the Homrn Soldiers looked mighty like

InSans, but our little gal was happy. Kathy got to come home for Bec^ s
Johnston Elliots came down to see his sister who lives here J;"
to come with them

iSst

Hei' overnight stay seemed to cure mos. of her homesickness, or at lefs

lecreaLd iV The birthday p^ata was asuccsss..-but Becky got si^nes 0e^med
her when he came to give her her birthday ahraso.. (ho delivered

.^irth-

allerrtes all her life)., and told mo he had some sample medicine lor her. Jif tei the blrtn-

S; us Lrfinished, i werit to get the medicine-arrived just in time to help Mr. Stork.

'.-.roSJ!
nrf^t of UlECUIBER and time to slart v/ork on Christmas pr^arations.

r.4v.s.rafr..t?rtrs^
helped me was "back to borrow some cookie cutte-Ssne was goinfe
Dec 6was a day we had long looked fon-ard to-promises finally became^a reality and^earl^y
that morning "Telefonos do Meioco'^ installed en-

the operators all spealc English(sorry, no direci; dialing

r.?ir,-si7.s S! SpS
She
one

Erl- r essL

KrjiSkr:-IS,iss isir"rLrrf

* * g *

On the trip, home, Caca decided we should have a dinner at the Hospital dining room on the
night of the 23rd. Thanks to an electric roaster given me a number of years ago, Mr.Turkey
roasted himself and it was a good thing I had done most of the other pr^arations ahead of

time as v/e spent until 8:30 P.M. in emergency at the Hospital.

Dinner was to have been at

8]
I left before all the "mess" was cleaned up, came home, got the dinner, Kathy and Gerry,
and rushed back and at 10 P.ii. v/e sat dov/n to our dinner. After dinner Dr. Ernesto asked

Gerry to tell us why we celebrate Christmas, how we should celebrate Christmas, and what
Christmas should mean to us.

the spur of the moment.

You should have heard him, I was real proud of his ^eech on

Comments later were very gratifyingl (There ^fere 21 at the dinner).

Christmas Eve there was a dinner at the Villa de Seris Church, I baby sat with the little

ones ?nd let the younger v/omen enjoy the dinner. Christmas morning v/e enjoyed opening our
presents with all our family home once more, plus the extra ones that malce up our household,

gathered around the Christmas tree, V/'e wished Ofelia "Happy l6th Birthday" and everyone
took off to see their special friends and to v/ish them a Ilerry Christmas, Bob had to leave
to be back in Joplin to work on New Years Day, Oscar and Katl^ left on an early A.H. bus
Nev/ Years Day, and we v/ho v/ere left here visited our friends to give them a Nevr Years

"abrazo" (hug) and wish them"Happy Nev/ Year."

BECICT and VEVA are in Kindergarden this year, and love it. They are learning songs and
regional dances.. get the songs mixed up with the Bible School Choruses, and tell about
teaching those at Kinder the songs th^ sing in Bible Schooll OFBLIA took over teaching
Kathy's Bible School class each Sunday... studying nursing, but still runs in and out of our
house almost as much as she did when Kathy was here, doesn't sleep here anymore, KATHY is
studying hard to make as ^od grades in English as she did in Danish.. .hopes to enter the
U of A School of Nursing next year. BOEBY enrolled in Ozark Bible College for one semester.

Goes to school from 7 A.M. till 2 P,H, then works from k P.M. till midnight..don' t knov/ v/hen
he studies, but guess he does, OSCAR v;on't be able to finish High School in one year, but
is learning English. He would like to immigrate then go into the U.S. Armed Services after
he finishes High School, to learn a trade. VICKI and her boys sleep here, she works as a
maid for $U.OO a week to help buy food for her boys, BONI and LOLA and their boys live in
a small room in the back yard. Boni is the 'fetch and carry' man for the Seminary as v/ell
as for the Bov/lins, and preaches in the Village of La Mesa each v/eek end. They are the
coiq)le we found living under the bridge 9 years ago. GERRY still bosses the mission, teaches,
preaches, writes, translates, acts as guide, teaches liiglish, and does the weekly shopping

v/ith the help of the two little girls.

They are sure he could never do it without theml

He

Quired a nev; job this fall..parent representative at the Kinder. His health is iirproving
and his jobs are increasing. Me (GEITSVA) well, I try to keep home running on a more or less
even keel, drop everything and run when the Doctor calls me to help, and vriLll "con el favor
de Dios" (v/ith the favor of God) take on another job in the next fev/ months. "The Tinker

Memorial Fund" made a dov/n payment on an x-ray machine for Dr. Ernesto with about enough

on hand to pay for import duty and transportation.

Three notes of $3^0.00 each are yet to

be paid. I am to remember v/hat 1 learned before Bob was bom, learn more and take conplete
charge of all X-ray at "Haternidad del Prepetuo So corro"!

V/e celebrated

"wedd^^^^i^iversary this past July 20, (my birthday v/as just 10 days

before that, so gST^cT'at^;ea^on this year) nearly 11 of those 20 years have been spent in
this same house, .we hone to build our oV'/n home before our next anniversary.

dream come true by remembering us v/ith your prayers and offerings.

Help us see our

V/e need $1,700 to finish

paying off the lot, so v/e can borrovr the money from the bank to build, (80'xl20'cost .52,800)

The ov/ner of this rented house is still making problems for us, insists he is going to -iTreck

it and put apartments v/here it nov/ stands.

So one vra.y or another v/e have to get out of here.

It is less expensive to build our ovni, We ask that you remember us in your prayers, that we
may have the health and strength to continue working for our Lord here in the land of our
choice, and that v/e may see many souls v/on to Him thru your and our efforts. Come to see us
^andlet us shov/ you v/hat v/e are doing, ...better yet COIfE HELP US DO IT'.
Yours in Him,

9^

SltEVA (for all the Bowlins)

MEXICAN BIBLE SEMINARY

I ^TH YEAR OF SERVICE FOR AN INDIGENOUS MEXICAN CHURCH

Western Mexico Christian Mission

MAIL: APARTADO

POSTAL No.

350

OFFICE: CALLE TLAXCALA 109 PTE.

HERMOSILLO. SONORA, MEXICO.

ALEJANDRO JULIAN. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

MRS. ESTHER M. JULIAN. BIBLE SCHOOLS

GERALD D. BOWLIN. FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR

MRS. GENEVA S. BOWLIN. DISPENSARY-CLINIC

May, 1966

^6^
Dear Friends of Mexicot

Easter is now some weeks in the past, but we here in Western

Mexico are still savoring the fine services we had during the
"Semana Santa" (Holy V/eek), as it is know in Mexico- As an

example, I had over 100 present both Friday and Sunday nitea
at the "Colonia Olivares"(Westslde) mission where I preach,

here in the city of Hermosillo.

Usual evening attendance is

30-401

Enclosed is a picture of some of the Christians who attended

the Easter Sunrise Service-

Boni Mendiola, the man we found

living with his family under an abandoned highway bridge 10

years ago, and now minister of our "La Ttesa" village congre
gation, Is leading the singing- Geneva and our two little
girls, Becky and Veva, are seated on the rocks in the fore
ground- After the service the Bowlins served everyone hot
coffee and sweet rolls-

In contrast to our preaching of Christ, the Risen Lord and'

Savior, during the Easter holidays, I quote from "The Hews,"

Mexico City's English language newspaper of April 9, 1966,
concerning one Roman Catholic "festivity":
"For the third consecutive year a youthful mystic yesterday
submitted himself to at least in part of the torture which
Our Lord Jesus Christ underwent during the crucifixion-

Jaime Castellanos, 23, had two nails measuring 10 centime

ters in length(5 inches) and 8 millimeters In diameter
hammered through his hands. 'I asked Father Roberto Cueto
of Poza Rica(Veracruz) for permission to carry out my promise,
and he agreed,' Castellanos explained- The nails were blessed
by Father Cueto in Poga Rica."

Thank you for your continued help in preaching the Living

Christ in Old Mexico.

Yours in His Service,

Gerald D- Bowlin, Director.

GDBrmam

MEXICAN BIBLE SEMINARY

7th year of service for an indigenous MEXICAN CHURCH

Western Mexico Christian Mission

MAIL: APARTADO POSTAL No. 350

OFFICE: CALLE TLAXCALA 109 PTE.

.-r-

HERMOSILLO. SONOKA. MEXICO.

GERALD D. BOWLIN. FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR

MRS. GENEVA S. BOWLIN. DISPENSARY-CLINIC

1966

y---

.f-

&|,

Tfi)
U'

MERRY

CHRISTMAS

AND A

HAPPY

NEW

YEAR

Dear 'Pellow-Christlans :

Yes, It is already that time of year

1966 Is almost over and we do
wish for you and yours a Very Wonderful Christmas Season at the side

of your loved ones, and a Joyous e^Veflj,

Service.

The 18th of this month marked tift' 11th annfversary"5?^our arrival

here ia^Hac^osillo, Mexico, a f t i n Nogales,

the Mexico--U.S. Bord er

mi" OT^^1i!^lvtng-Lihk

churches ^ked for a summary of what had been, accomplished in those

17 yeara/on this Mission Field. After I prepared the summary and
sent ijf^'to my Living-Link church, I thought perhaps all the rest of

yQ^,^^^o so generously support the Bowlin Family and the work of

Astern Mexico Christian Mission would appreciate such a report too.
I hope it will not only inforn, but stimulate interest and prayers

for the needs of the Christian churches and the Bowlin family here
in Old Mexico.

Thus a copy is enclosed for your perusal.

As December is a time of such frenzied activities in the U.S., and

most of you are overwhelmed by the volume of Christmas cards, we
will not mail to you in December, but rather our next mailing will
be another of Geneva's famous "Year End" letters about the Bowlin

Family Activities, to be mailed in January, 1967.

Again our Best Wishes and prayers for the Holiday S e a s o n .

Your Missionaries in Western Mexico,
THE BOWLIN FAMILY

By Gerald D.

GDB:mara

Bowlin

Western Mexico Cliristian Mission

MAIL: APARTADO

POSTAL No. 350

OFFICE: CALLS TLAXCALA 109 PTE.

HERMOSILLO. ^ORA. MEXICO.

WOV . T966
DEC

SPECIAL REPORT

(MRS)

WON ^

1960

OF ACTIVITIES

OP

MISSIONARIES GERALD D. AND

GENEVA 3. BO\LIN AS PREPARED FOR THEIR LIVING-LINK: CHURCHES.

CHRIST THRU THE EFFORTS OF G. D. BOWL IN AND CO-WORKERS.

Over 600 baptized since 1950,

2.- Approximately 300 church members, Nov. 1966.

(NOTE:

Several members have died; many have moved away to

other regions in Mexico or immigrated to the U.S.; a few

have backslidden into the world; but none, to my knowledge,

have returned to the Catholic churcht).
PREACHING AND EVANGELIZING m

G. D.

BOWL IN.

1.

G. D. Bowlin presently preaches in Spanish for an Hermosillo

congregation, Colonia Olivares.

2.

When he must be gone over Sunday visiting and supervising the

mission work in the State of Sonora and Sinaloa, his adopted

3.

G. D. Bowlin evangelizes among the growing middle class which

includes or has included such luminaries as; The State Superintendent of Pre-Schaol(Kindergarden) Instruction; and the

Mexican son, Oscar, fills the pulpit for him.

Director of the State Health Dept.

4.

G. D. Bowlin evangelizes among his neighbors and friends,

and among those with whom he does business.

5.

G. D. Bowlin interprets for visiting American evangelists(in

cluded are two County -Vi^ide meetings with nationally known'

U.S.evangelist, Jack E. Boal of San Jose, Calif.).
GONGRBr'ATIONS AND MISSION ESTABLISHED BY G. D.

1.

Nogales

2.

Benjamin Hill

building

3.

Ranchito(Hermosillo)

BOWLIN.

mission.

lot

mission.

'

building

chapel

self-supporting.

4.

San Senito(Hermosillo)

5.

Colonia Olivares (Hermosillo)

mission.

6.

Villa de Seris(Hermosillo)

7.

La Mesa del Seri(village, 20 miles, Hermosillo)

lot, building under construction

local expenses except minister.

8.
9.

Giudad Obregdn
Eacobarapo
lot

building
local expenses except
minister's salary.

member supplies meeting room

self supporting.

building

mission.

mission.

10.

Los Mochis , State of Sinaloa

11.

Various villages, where one or more believers live, visited

for evangelism,

meet in member's home

tract and Gospel distribution*

mission.

PAGE TWO

CHURCH BUHDIWGS BIJILT m

1.
2.
3.
4.

G. D. BOWLIN.

5.
6.
7.

One adobe(mud brick) building, seating capacity 125.

One adobe(mud brick) building, seating capacity 140.
One brick building, seating capacity 100.
One reinforced concrete building (basement unit),
seating capacity 120.
One brick cbapel, seating capacity 50-60.
One brick cbapel under construction, seating capacity 60-70
Three adobe(mud brick) Sunday school rooms for No. 3.

8.
9.

Three-room minister*s home for No. 2.

Minister's room and kitchen for No. 5.

10.

Two more lots purchased for church buildings.

.MISSION ACT 17 IT IBS OF

1.

G. D .

BOWL IN.

Bounder- of Wes^terri-^Mexico. ChrIsjtIan Jlis,s 1 on, and f irst

Christian missionary in Western Mexlco(NOTE: G. D. BOWLIN

is the first, and to date,
C>^ig4^4AasdrBlaaQnary in

Mexico to get out

2.

the "j^gupist** status and beeome a

p^ermahbht res id ent, of

Sl^^^TT^'e'^'o^erril^Mission work. (This entails trips to churches

and mission stations throughout the state of Sonora and the
neighboring state of Sinaloa
485 miles. North to South).

3.

Trained nine(9) adult missionaries, who have successfully"

opened three(3) new fields in three(3) different states in Old
Mexico; plus one in the U.S. among Mexican-^^Amerloans (This
after 8 years in Mexico, and due to health problems).

4.

5.

Operate Mission bookstore.

Obtain and/or print tracts and have supply on hand for

distribution.

6.
7.

.8.
9.
10.

Operate Bible depot.

Keep Mission records.

Answer inquiries concerning Mission activities.

Prepare special reports of activities (such as this one).
Prepare yearly financial report to maintain Federal TaxExempt and Ariz. State Non-profit status of Mission Corporation.

11.

Print 1,000 letters semi-nionthly for contributors and friends

12.

Write/edit quarterly publication, "The Western Mexico Christian".

13.

Plan program for annual "Western Mexico Christian Convention"

(First week in October of each year).

of

Mission.

SEMINARY FOUNDED BY G. D.

1.

BOWLIN

Mexican Bible Seminary founded 1950 in Nogales, Ariz., USA.

by G. D. Bowlin.

2.

Seminary incorporated as an Arizona Non-Profit Corp., 1950.

3.
4.

G.D. Bowlin obtained Federal Tax-Exemption for Seminary, 1950.

G.D. Bowlin has served as President, Dean, and of course
teacher in Seminary.

5.
6.

Seminary has trained approximately 150 students.

Graduates of Mexican Bible Seminary have pioneered in six(6)
new fields in Mexico: Three(3) in Western Mexico and three(3)

7.

G. D. Bowlin built brick classroom, boy's dormitory and

houseparent's home for Seminary.
Seminary did not open doors, Sept. 1966, due to; 1., lack of
young men interested in the ministry, and 2, sufficient

in North-Central Mexico.

8.

scholarships at $30. dollars per month. (NOTE: this se.ems

PAGE THREE.

to be an area-wide problem, as the Free Methodist Bible Insti

tute of Hermosillo, whose usual enrollment is three times ours,

did not open either this Septemberl)/

BIBLE. NEW TESTAM^, GOSPEL AND TRACT DISTRIBOTION BI G.D. BOWLIN.

1.
2.

Over 1,000 Bibles sold(or given at baptism).

Over 7,500 New Testaments placed in the hands of interested

Mexicans who had already received tracts and Gospels.

3.
4.

Some 25,000 Gospels(Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) given away

1,000 "Life of Christ Visualized III" sold or given away.

5.

Tracts in the tens of thousands each year(G.D. Bowlin mails

6.

border that they may distribute them and evangelize).

New Testaments placed in each room of our Doc tor*s private

tracts to believers as far south as the Central American

hospital.
7.

Seventy-five(75) copies of three color, bi-monthly magazine,

JlEl-Verbo"("The Word").,--distributed to a select group of friends who have shown an active interest in learning more
abput Christianity.

PRINTING AND PUBLIC AT ION MINISTRY OP G. D. BOWLIN.

Translated and printed, "The Bible For Youth" by C.

Transleted and printed, "Personal Evangelism" by
Translated and printed, "Acts Workbook" by Mo Garvey.

Sharp

Authored book on N. T. Archeology.

Authored book on Book of Acts.

Edited translation of book "How To Prepare an Expository

Sermon" by Knott.
Translated and revised the chart

in the Scriptures."

"The Church Revealed

Authored numerous tracts such as

"Instrumental Music, a
"A Brief Summary
of the Doctrines of the Church"; etc., etc
ALL IN SPANISH

Command," "iivhat is the Church of Christ?",

OF COURSE.
9.
10.

Print Sunday School literature for state churches each year

Print Vacation Bible School literature for 400-500 pupils
each year.

11.
12.

Designed and printed Ordlnation.Ceftificate.

.
Designed and printed Membership Certificate for newly
organized churches.

13.

Wrote and printed organizational material for churches

Biblical prerequisites for deacons and elders, with modern

Spanish explanations of archaic terms; membership application
cardst financial pledge cards; etc.,etc.

14.

Write/edit and print,^"El Aguila",(The Eagle) with articles

16.

Now being written by G.D. Bowlin

of interest to Mexican Christian workers, pastors and evangelists

Spanish Minister*s Manual.

CIVIC ACTIVITIES OP G. D. BOWLIN.

1.

Officer, Benito Juarez federal Kindergarden Parent Teachers

Association(This is the NUMBPR ONE kindergarden of Mexicol)

2.
3.
4.

Member, Hermosillo Gun Club.

Co-founder, Hermosillo Ministerial Alliance.

"Patrdia", that is, councelor, for the suburb of San Benito,

in the Capital City of Hermosillo, where he has lived these

eleven(11) years.
Confidant of various government officers.

PAGE POUR.

CLOTHING AND BEDDING DISTRIBUTED

1.

MRS. GT^NEVA S. BOWL IN

Approx. 100 tons of used clothing distributed to needy

Mexicans, 1950-1966, by Mrs. Geneva S. Bowlin.

2.

Several hundred hand-made quilts distributed to needy Mexican

families.

3.

Gospels are placed in each box of used clothing distributed

by G. S. Bowlin.

MEDICAL AND SURGICAL WORK m ]es. G. S. BOWLIN.

1

Mrs. Geneva S. Bowlin caused Bowlin home to be named as *a

State Health Dept. Center for polio and three-in-one vaccines.

2.

Mrs. G. S. Bowlin obtained the services of a fine Mexican doctor &

private hospital for church members and friends of the Gospel.
A. Free office calls for needy.

_B.
C.
D.

3.

Free S^gery when needed (several operations already).

Free hospital care when needed.
Free maternity care.

Mrs. G. S. Bowlin has obtained the following equipment for

the small, private hospital mentioned above?
A. Child's pulmotor(Iron lung)
B.

4.

Steam sterilizer

C.

G. E. X-Ray Unit (Yet to be delivered from Idaho).

D.

Miscelaneous surgical instruments.

E.
F.

"
"
supplies each year.
Sample medicines each year for use with all needy patients.

Mrs. G. S. Bowlin scrubs for surgery for all major operations to

help our Doctor keep his fees low as most of his patients are
working class people with incomes of only Two to four dollars
per day.

5.

In October, 1966, Mrs. Geneva S. Bowlin spent two weeks in

Mexico City at the "Planned Parenthood" Latin American Head^

quarters as their guest, attending a Seminar with special

emphasis on the new, plastic I.U.D.
SUNDAY BIBLE SCHOOL' AW D .V.B.S. WORK BY MRS. G. S. BOWLIN.

1.

Mrs. Geneva S. Bowlin designs Sunday Bible School literature

for the Christian Churches in the state of Sonora(Now 3 years

in advance).

2.

Mrs. G. S. Bowlin also designs literature for Daily Vacation

Bible Schools in the State of Sonora(400-500 pupils).

3.

MTs. G. S. Bowlin paints duplicate backgrounds for flannelgraph

to accompany S.S. (Hermosillo churches) and D.V.B.S.(Sonora)
lessons.

CHRISTMAS gifts OBTAINED BY ms. GENEVA S. BO^^'XIN FOR MEXICAN CHILDREN

1.

In the fall of each year Mrs. G.S. Bowlin arranges for U.S.,

churches and Bible schools to supply funds to purchase candy,

fruit and a small gift for Mexican Christian Bible school pupils

(gifts, candy & fruit), and their parents and friends(candy only).

19 6

BO^'VI IN FA MILY" 'CHR 1ST MS

(Prepared at the request of various churc aes and groups)

SOX

NAME

DATS OF BIRTH

GERALD

Sept. 5, 1921

11-heavy weight

BOB

May 13, 1947

11-heavy weight

SHIRT

PANTS

UNDERWEAR

16-34

36-29

36 boxer shorts
42-44 under shirt

29-33

32 shorts (Jockey)

14 1/2-33
Dress-tapared

Med. T-shirt.

small short

OSCAR

Hov. 26, 1945

I large-stretch
HOSE

14 1/2-30

29-32

Dress-tapared
small-sport

30 short(Jockey)
Med T-shirt
BRA

UNuER-

DRESS

mm

GENEVA

July 10, 1922

10 1/2

KATHY

Oct. 27, 1949

10 l/2

38-C

18

(Covton)
14 (Kathy is
Long-Waisted

34-A

34

material best

for her)

BECKY
VEVA

8
8

NOV. 6, 1961
I-'larch 25, 1961

4
6

11 shoe

13 1/2 shoe

The little girls, i^eckyiand Veva, need long cordoroy pants for Klndergarden.

We seldom

use wool here as winters are mild, and besides, Becky is Miss Allergy: we are afraid of
it...also It is hard enough to get a nylon or cotton sweater on her even in our coldest

weather t

Send Gifts for Gerald(Gerry), Geneva,

Oscar, Becky and Veva:

Send Gifts for Bob and Kathy to:

Robert Bowlin

c/o Fran Tinker,

Kathy Bowlin

A^^ent, Western ?!exlco Christian Mission

P. 0. BOX 146fe, Nogales, Arizona, 85621,

Tucson, Arizona, 85711,

U. S. A.

5674 E Eastland
U.

S. A.

DO MOTiSS^'D PACKAGES TO 'MEXICO, SEND ONLY TO U. S. ADDRESSES ABOVE