A Time For Everything
- Yucatan Helping Hands
- 22 hours ago
- 7 min read
Dear Friends & Family,
It’s so good to greet you once again. We are well and alive! We apologize for our absence from the blog.
It's been a productive season both with ministry work and resting from fatigue and ailments.
So, in our weakness, we apologize for the delay in writing to you. And in Christ’s grace, we boast of his goodness. You see, just as we began writing about the water plant project in Muna that was completed, we received a wonderful gift from our two translators, Josue and Aldo.
As students at UADY, the public university here, they chose to make their year-end project about their work with our ministry, focusing on the water plant where they translated for U.S. youth teams and during training sessions. Through interviews with those who operate the plant today, they tell the story of the project and reflect on their role as interpreters, helping build connections between U.S. church teams and the communities we serve.
We are honored that they chose to highlight this ministry and are thankful for their sincere desire to serve Christ through the gifts He has given them. Now this is the goodness of God at work!
We are thrilled to share their video with you later in this update.
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9
Our summer is heating up—not just in temperature (hovering at 101°F this past week), but also as we prepare for summer mission teams. FPC North Palm Beach will arrive this evening, and Mitchell Road Presbyterian will be here in July. We invite you to read more below about the projects they'll be helping with during their time in Yucatán.
As we look behind us and ahead, we are mindful that none of this would be possible without your faithful support and prayers. Know that we carry your partnership with us as we serve on the mission field. Thank you for your generosity of resources and time, encouragement and interest in our life and ministry in Yucatán.
Blessings & Aloha,
Inez & Byron
Inauguration of Water Plant in Muna, Yucatan "Jaim"
Thanks be to God—there’s clean water in Muna!
Through our partnership with Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church, La Trinidad Church in Muna, Mitchell Road Presbyterian Church, and Living Waters for the World, we celebrated the new "Jaim" water plant’s inauguration in February.
The celebration was especially meaningful as we witnessed the Lord strengthen a weary and grieving church after Pastor Geronimo’s unexpected passing during the project. For 20 years, La Trinidad had trusted and loved him as their teacher and spiritual leader. Having known him over the decades and working closely with him on the plant, we felt that loss deeply as well. We continue to miss his humble, patient, loving guidance—and his playful sense of humor.
Remembering Geronimo's long-held desire to provide affordable, clean water for his community gave us renewed determination during those difficult months. And as La Trinidad continued to work to raise funds and work on the plant, his son Joel stepped forward to help fill the leadership gap left by his father. He worked diligently with us and Pastor Freddy from the local civil association of Living Waters to complete the building.
In addition to organizing church members to assist with construction, Joel and church leaders helped recruit participants from La Trinidad to receive Living Waters for the World training led by a team from Rolling Bay Presbyterian and Inez. We were blessed to work with the local civil association of Living Waters consisiting of pastors and their wives. Each of them played an important role in getting the plant operational and equipping educators. This preparation enables La Trinidad church volunteers to serve in key areas of the ministry, including administration, operations, and community education.
We also witnessed God's faithfulness when the Emaus Presbytery assigned Pastor Elmer to serve as La Trinidad's new pastor. Elmer also pastors a church in a neighboring pueblo that operates its own Living Waters for the World plant. As a result, he was able to provide valuable guidance to La Trinidad's leaders, particularly in navigating the legal requirements and municipal paperwork needed to begin operations.
A shout out to Laura Alonso who lead the Rolling Bay Presbyterian implementation team of trainers who invested months and "sweat" in working with us. Lori, Iris, Brian, Dan, Elsa, and Bob, thank you. As well, the youth team, led by Molly and Cory, who did a fantastic job not only with VBS, but also with painting the building, cleaning the property (and washing the pastors' cars!), hanging banners, distributing invitations to the inauguration and getting everything else ready for the inauguration.
Once again, we saw how God orchestrates His people, bringing together individuals with different gifts and experiences to accomplish the good works He has prepared for them to do.
Since the inauguration, local schools have visited the plant for educational tours, giving students and teachers an opportunity to see the purification process firsthand. Meanwhile, La Trinidad has been promoting the ministry on the street and at the public market, distributing free water samples along with information about the plant and its WhatsApp ordering service number. According to Joel, these efforts have been very effective.
Translators Present Us a Video Gift
And now, here’s the wonderful video we mentioned earlier that was created by Aldo and Josue along with a few of their classmates. Even Kawika, who also translated for this project even before the first stone was laid, makes an appearance. Be sure to watch all the way to the end where a little toddler sings “Usa Esta Agua,” which was part of the community education program. Hearing her sweet little voice is truly precious! Click the link below to watch.
Thank you Josue & Aldo!
Summer Teams
Please join us in prayer for two upcoming mission teams serving in Yucatán alongside us this summer. Today, we will welcome a youth team from FPC North Palm Presbyterian. Partnering with El Verbo Church in Mérida, they will begin constructing the footings for a covered sports court. As rain and extreme heat become more intense, churches throughout Yucatán are building these multipurpose spaces for events such as church anniversaries, quinceañeras, conferences, Vacation Bible School, and other community gatherings. El Verbo will also use the structure for parking.
A week after the Florida team departs, we will welcome a youth and family team from Mitchell Road Presbyterian Church (Greenville, SC). Partnering with El Divino Redentor Church in Chapab de Flores, they will help install new roofs on the church and water plant annexes, as well as complete tiling, painting, and pouring a concrete pavement.
We are grateful for these teams and the opportunity to serve alongside them as they share Christ’s love through both their physical work and testimony of faith.
Future Projects
We are also developing proposals for future ministry opportunities. Recently, Pastor Freddy guided us through several Living Waters for the World water plants to assess their needs. One plant is being considered for a future project, along with a home construction project in Akil.
Tidbits in Merida “Old School”
One of things we love about Merida is that it’s a modern city that still keeps the “old.” It’s not too unusual to pass by stores that still grind their own corn to make tortillas the old fashion way, stores that still sell just wood and even just screws.
Some of these old timer stores still have counters with stools, including for ordering car parts. You might not think much about it, but they provide something that big chains don’t: community. Not just a place to sit while you wait for your order, but a place to chat to the next person about the project they’re doing, maybe give or receive a referral of a mason, plumber, electrician or mechanic. Which is something Byron prefers over the big chains or ordering online. Come to think of it, we can’t remember if he has ever ordered anything online!
Special Thanks and Request for Continued Prayers for Cristino's Family
Muchas gracias to all of our friends who were able to contribute toward the medical expenses for Pedro, the son of Cristino (our former ministry mason), who was involved in a hit and run accident back in March. We cannot describe the gratitude and tears that flowed from his parents' hearts to receive your love and care. Pedro continues to heal and has returned to most of his normal routine and work. Cristino says he expects that Pedro has a couple of months of recovery to go. Please pray for Cristino's wife, Ana, who just underwent surgery this week as well.
Prayer Requests For:
The health, safety and spiritual growth of our summer teams.
The same for our translators, ministry cook Cheli and her husband Jose, and the churches we will serve in Merida and Chapab.
God’s continued guidance in our ministry and the churches we partner with.
Our health. That God will supply the strength and wisdom we need in serving here.
God's leading in Kawika's life as he continues to work full-time as an interpreter and assists with our ministry whenever his schedule allows.
The health of special friends in Yucatan who are in recovery from recent sugeries:
Jean Legters (Merida)
Pastor Armando (Akil)
Ana y Pedro (Chapab)
Muchas Gracias Amigos for Reading!
Blessings on your journey!
Thank you for your support in prayer and financial giving
For contributions toward our ministry & personal expenses:
Tax-Deductible Donations:
Go to MissionDispatch.org
→ Find our missionary page or click “Giving”
→ “Donate” (yellow tab)
Or mail a check (payable only to Mission Dispatch, not to us) to:
Mission Dispatch
PO Box 641
Edmonds, WA 98020
Include “Inez Ahina” in the memo line.
You may also set up automatic bill pay through your bank.
Non-Tax-Deductible Donations:
Mail a check (payable to Byron Ahina) to our U.S. address:
1918 214th Ct SE
Sammamish, WA 98075
To support food relief or construction projects:
Follow the same steps above depending on whether your gift is tax-deductible.
All gifts we receive from Mission Dispatch are considered as income to us.
Therefore, we will set aside a portion of that gift to cover for IRS taxes.
For non-deductible gifts (up to $15,000), please send to our U.S. address above and include a note:
“These funds are to reimburse Byron and Inez Ahina for [specific purpose]. Byron and/or Inez did not have any financial gain from this gift.”
For Personal Gifts (non-tax-deductible):
All personal gifts are non-tax deductible and must be sent to our U.S. address:
Byron or Inez Ahina
1918 214th Ct SE
Sammamish, WA 98075
Or via Zelle through our email address: ahinabk@gmail.com
Questions? Please contact us at:
Email: ahinabk@gmail.com
Call or WhatsApp Message: +52 999 129 6227
We can also call you (unlimited U.S. calling). Just leave us your number please.
Thank you again for your support!
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