This past Easter, my wife, Commissioner Marilyn, and I had the awesome privilege of ministering in Mexico City, along with the world-renowned Canadian Staff Band.

Band members are volunteers and come from a variety of occupations including sales managers, university students and teachers. They are dedicated to The Salvation Army’s prime task of winning men, women and children for Christ. It is in His name that they serve.

This trip was especially meaningful since the 2008 Canada and Bermuda Salvation Army Partners in Mission campaign is raising funds for the work of The Salvation Army in Mexico. The target for this campaign is $2.15 million, which will ensure that The Salvation Army can continue to fulfill its mission in Mexico where enthusiasm is high, but financial stability is challenging.

When we arrived in Mexico City, a small group of Staff Band members were completing a week-long music institute conducted at the Army’s children’s home. This was the first ever held by the Mexico Territory. Band members gave freely of their time to 75 students, providing leadership in various areas.

Students received instruction in music theory, brass, vocal and various other gospel arts. Only four students had previously played a brass instrument. Classes were also offered in timbrels, guitar, percussion and mime. Marilyn and I were able to witness first-hand the outstanding accomplishments made by each student, with only a few days of instruction.

Throughout our visit, we had a wonderful time getting to know the Mexican young people, overcoming barriers of language and culture with the heavenly language of love.

Mexico is not just a vacation destination. It is a country where the needs are overwhelming. Ongoing economic and social concerns result in low wages, unemployment and few opportunities for advancement. An estimated one in five Mexicans cannot afford adequate housing or food. With almost 43 percent of the population under the age of 18, there are many hungry children.

Mexico is a source, transit, and destination country for persons trafficked for sexual exploitation and labour. Women and children are lured through fraudulent offers of employment or threats of physical violence for sexual exploration.

Because of your generous financial and prayer support, The Salvation Army is making a difference in Mexico through its anti-human trafficking initiatives, children’s homes, street outreach and vibrant church ministry. Yet there is still much work to be done.

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2 November 2007 – Mexico – As families in southern Mexico battle against rising floodwaters, Salvation Army relief teams are assisting those forced from their homes. Colonel Olin O. Hogan, leader of The Salvation Army in Mexico reports: ‘From the earliest stages of the emergency in Tabasco’s capital, Villahermosa, Major Margarita Alemán and her soldiers have been assisting those affected by the rains.

With 70 per cent of the city flooded, The Salvation Army children’s home has been converted into a shelter for displaced families. From there, relief teams are preparing and distributing food to people trapped in their houses. The home itself is not affected by the floods.

Salvation Army personnel from around the country are supporting their colleagues in the affected areas. Major Manuel Padilla, Regional Coordinator for the South East Region, and a team of workers has deployed with their emergency canteen to Villahermosa to help those affected. Officer cadets studying at the training college, under the leadership of Captains Luís Camarillo and Eric Ramírez, are deploying to the area with two more canteens.

Major Mike Caffull, International Emergency Field Operations Officer at International Headquarters in London, reports: ‘The state of Tabasco is suffering its worst flooding in more than 50 years. With 300,000 people trapped in their homes, and more rain forecast, we expect the situation to become even worse.’