January 2005
Dear Friend of YPM,
Many of you may have first experienced the Yucatan through the ministry of Ramon Celis. As a young Mexican pastor in the 1960s, Ramon established personal relationships with several American pastors, and his ministry grew to include church planting and building throughout the Yucatan peninsula. When his niece Bettina was born with Down's Syndrome, Ramon helped his sister to found and establish a Therapy Center for Down's Syndrome. As he traveled to villages preaching and teaching, his wife, Nady noticed the girl's who could never receive more than an elementary education. Their response to this need was to bring the girls to Merida to live and study in their own home, and Casa Hogar (The Home for Female Students) was born. Lastly, in the 1980's upon Ramon and Nady moving to Cancun a Medical Clinic to serve the poor was begun and opened later as the House of Hope Presbyteian Hospital.
For more than thirty years Mayan/Mexicans and Americans have partnered together in various construction projects, cultural exchanges, medical interventions and ministries that have enriched the lives of many Mayan/Mexicans and Americans along the journey. While Ramon Celis has retired from Yucatan Presbyterian Ministries, he continues to work on his own within personal relationships.
In an effort to continue the Yucatan Presbyterian Ministries begun through Ramon, we have formed both a 501-C3 in the U.S.A. and an Association Civil in Mexico. Since the name had to be registered in both countries, and Mexico refused to allow the words "Presbyterian Ministries," the name was changed to Yucatan Peninsula Mission in the U.S.A. to match Mexico... and the YPM continues to support most of the ministries you already know along with new directions in ministry.
YPM, Board of Dirctors.
December 19, 1999
Dear Mark,
Mark, it was good for me to have seen you in Colorado, and especially to be able to chat of the many possibilities of ministering together. We want to thank you also for all the work you have been doing within the Yucatan Presbyterian Ministries in the U.S. As you know I have been praying to the Lord to raise new elements to serve with us in behalf of YPM, so when I am gone the ministries will have someone to keep them going. I believe your Organization is God's element.
Because of the things we have shared together, I want to formally invite you to be part of Yucatan Presbyterian Ministries and share the burden of our hearts in benefit of people.
I do not know what this will imply to you personally, your family, especially Sandy will have to walk with you in this path. I know it will be leadership, work, prayers, trips, speaking to people, travels to Mexico-Latin America, and a different life style of what you have been used to. This is of the Lord, He will provide, and give you whatever you need.
Prayerfully consider our invitation and may the Lord guide you.
Yours in Christ,
Ramon Celis G
February 16, 2003
Dear Friends,
I want to express my gratitude to the Lord for the years you have been praying for us and faithfully supporting our ministry. Nady and I have trusted the Lord for our needs and those of the ministry. It has been many years since we began to pray for some one to take over the leadership of the whole ministry and also working to that end.
Eight years ago Mark and Sandy La Gree came to work with a group from their church in Colorado and the Lord began to lead them into full time Christian service. Three years ago we invited them to come and work with us. They prayed and God led them to come to the Yucatan and work with us that they might be the new head of YPM. Since their coming Mark began to work to institutionalize the ministry, not depending on one person only, but to have a group of Mexican Nationals in Association Civils to represent our ministries. At the same time YPM was formed as a Corporation in the United States within a non-profit organization with a board of directors. Both will see that the ministry might grow healthier and be able to offer accountability for the money sent to the ministry. I thank you for your trust and confidence in the past.
I would like to ask you that, because of my retirement all monies that your church or you send for the YPM's ministries be sent to the U.S.A. office:
YPM, Inc.
P.O. Box 345
Ouray, CO 81427
I also invite you to visit the web page, http://www.ypminc.org, often as it continues to grow; you will be able to see the new organization that came on the Lord's time.
Keep praying for the ministry and us.
Love in Christ,
Ramon and Nady
