Give Ye Them To Eat

GYTTE was founded in 1977 as a social outreach project of the Methodist Church of Mexico to combat hunger and poverty in the rural sector. The purpose of the "Give Ye Them to Eat" program (GYTTE) is to strengthen the capabilities of marginalized people and communities to meet their basic needs, and to determine and sustain a just and integrated development process. Participatory methods and development tools are used to create conditions in which change can take place from within the communities.  GYTTE uses people-centered approaches to development.

Old Mission has a long-standing covenant relationship with the missionaries at GYTTE, Terry and Muriel Henderson. We have helped to pay their salaries for many years.  The project began as a part of Heifer International, and became an independent mission with some of the same core programs represented by Heifer at a later date.  The mission trains Mexicans to live on their land through a program of sustainable agriculture and animal husbandry.  It also provides a health program that provides training in basic health care like disease prevention and immunization and sends them back to care for the villages. The bottom line goal is to provide Mexicans with a means of remaining on their land in their own country ...with a livelihood.  Faith and learning about Christ is the basis for all that is done there.    

As missionaries, we worked alongside the Mexican people, preparing materials for the composting toilets, caring for the animals and building (our 2005 team built the frame and roof of a now-completed teaching building).  The 2005 team also built a lasagna garden so the GYTTE site could grow their own herbs and vegetables.   In addition we taught some of the women to sew aprons.    Everyone can find a meaningful and rewarding function.  There is time for worship, prayer, rest and learning about the country.   We also found time for sight-seeing in the beautiful city of Puebla.

Old Mission has sent teams in 2005 and 2007.  The next trip is currently planned for January or February of 2009.

The pictures shown on this page are a “montage” of both trips.