MPM Outreach Mexico

An Update from Rev. Herschel

Mexico City: Jan. 2008 Reverend’s Herschel and Monty are busy in service in Mexico City, Mexico. They are holding Course in Miracle classes 4 nights a week and on Saturday’s. The Hospital Infantile has asked them to teach English to the interns/staff and work with the children, including teaching the healing aspects of the Course. Herschel is a supporter of the American Benevolence Association, which helps Americans left destitute within Mexico, and have no one to look after them.

Social Workers are also learning English at a local university in their classes. Many miraculous healings are occurring, both physically and emotionally, as the Light of Jesus is shared among all who join together.

Mercedes Heredia has returned to prison work, after a time when she only worked as a ‘healer’. She and Kim, her assistant, manage over 100 volunteers who teaching The Course in Miracles in prisons in Mexico. Reverend Michael will be traveling in January to Mexico and meeting with Mercedes and teaching with Herschel & Monty.

As you know I spent most of 2005 here at the New Christian Church/Academy and loved participating in teaching in the prisons here in Wisconsin------especially at the New Lisbon facility, where I had the great pleasure of seeing first hand the incredible transformation of a group of inmates that had the opportunity of spending a whole year with our “A Way Out” class. Needless to say, it is I who benefited most. Also, it is always a privilege to be involved as a Sponsor/Guide in the MPM Spiritual Recovery Correspondence Course, where I saw my first inmate complete our year long program and receive his certificate of completion. These diplomas are kept in the inmate's file for use with the parole board, early release hearings etc.

So, here is my latest update on my ventures into Mexico and South America, representing MPM in these third world countries:

January and February of 2006 began with a trip to Mexico City and where I met my old friend Mercedes Heredia and her husband Carlos. Mercedes, as you know, established the teaching of A Course in Miracles within the prisons of Mexico. From her initial efforts, the Course in Miracles program has expanded into most of the prisons of Mexico and has gained the enthusiastic support of the government.

Thousands of inmates have completed at least one year; and many have gone on to become Teachers. Because the recidivism rate of the previous graduates of this Program is 0(nada), a certificate of graduation can be valuable in earning parole for an inmate. Besides the obvious impact on individuals and society as a whole, an inmate returning to the general population with an attitude of healing and forgiveness, will become an asset to his or her community rather than a threat.

Both Mercedes and Carlos went on to describe the war that is going on between the government and drug lords and how that war has impacted the prisons. Amoloya, the most secure prison in Mexico, is in continual lockdown after the murder of two assistant wardens.

Mercedes has agreed to work with me in making a documentary movie based on the success of the A Course in Miracles program within the Mexican prison system. We will use this movie to promote the program using The Course in Miracles throughout the prisons of the world. I expect to start filming in March.

In Columbia, the prison programs using A Course in Miracles and our “A Way Out” curriculum are now under study by prison authorities in Bogota. They have indicated that they desperately need addiction rehabilitation programs such as ours. I hope the video will be completed and instrumental in their deliberations.

I will end with a story told me by Mercedes: One of her students in the Amoloya Prison is one of Mexico's top drug lords. Because no one can enter the prison because of lockdown, he had his son call Mercedes and order 17 copies of A Course in Miracles to give to his friends as Christmas presents. Who says there are no longer Miracles?
Te Amo, Herschel


Prevention and Re-Adaptation
General Administration Office


Mexico, D.F. July 14, 1994

To Whom It May Concern

I would like to inform, through this letter, that the teachings of A Course in Miracles, facilitated by Dr. Mercedes Heredia, in the Penitentiary Institutions of this country, have been a highly efficient support in the Social Re-adaptation of the inmates that usually find themselves in a very defined low emotional state, which doesn’t facilitate the process of social reintegration.

Through the teachings of such a course, new frontiers are reached in their lives, which effectively help them accomplish their reintegration in society.

We, unconditionally and completely support “Proyecto Luz A.C.” (Light Project) in whichever way is needed.

Sincerely,

Dr. Joan Pablo de Tavira y Noriega
El Director General

Rev. Michael with Mercedes Heredia,
founder of "Proyecto Luz A.C." (Prison Light Project)
and her 1st graduate, who now assists Mercedes
in bringing the program into other Mexico prisons.
Please read:  “A Miracle Letter from a Former Mexico Inmate”

Reverend Herschel in Mexico

Reverend Hershel has made numerous extended visits to Mexico over the last 4 years, working with Mercedes and her staff, to introduce A Course in Miracles into the Federal Prison System. He divides his time between Asia and Mexico, spending as much time visiting prisoners in each country, as he can.

Thank you Dear Teacher!

www.peaceofgod.net  
Reverend Herschel, of MPM, now has a website where you can follow him 'on the road" as he travels to Venezuela, Thailand, Mexico, California etc. Herschel travels extensively. You can contact him through this site if you wish to write to him directly, or if you want him to contact you when he visits your area. Thank you Herschel, for taking the Word with you....everywhere!

Miracles in Mexico-An Introduction

A Teacher of God
Dr. Mercedes Cruces Heredia is a dedicated Teacher who successfully introduced A Course in Miracles into all 21 federal prisons in Mexico.During 1991, Mercedes took an introductory course of A Course in Miracles from a Professor Lopez. During that time she received a very plain message from Jesus to take the Course into the darkest place on earth. To Mercedes that meant the Mexican prison system.

Mercedes went to the nearest federal prison and asked to teach a class. An army general who was the administrator at that time refused. She insisted and kept coming back. After filing almost a hundred forms and waivers, permission was finally granted. Mercedes' persistence paid off and she began to teach the first A Course in Miracles class.

Mercedes set up a one year program for the prisoners to participate in A Course in Miracles. She befriended and taught one of the most dangerous criminals in the Mexican prison system, who was otherwise seen by no one.

Prison officials, seeing the success of this program, encouraged her to set up programs in other prisons. The administration began to notice the prisoners in this program of forgiveness were more peaceful and accepting. They received earlier paroles. Mercedes said that she never heard of a prisoner who had completed the one-year program in the Course who had ever returned to the prison.

Mercedes has had a large influence on training other teachers. One of the teachers she instructed, was a woman named Megali. Megali began to offer this message of healing, in Puerto Vallarta, to the prisoners there, twice a week.

She made her first contact with inmates by bringing and offering bread to them in their cells. Bakeries had donated loaves of bread to her for her teaching dedication.

In a large cell, she then began teaching 50 inmates the divine scripture of A Course in Miracles. All who volunteered to hear this message of love and forgiveness were invited. She continues to offer prisoners in Puerto Vallarta A Course in Miracles video mind training series videos produced by A Course in Miracles International.

Ishmael, an accused murder, became another teacher. Accused of murder, his mother and mother in law began to teach and instruct him in the Course in Miracles. Herschel had met Ishmael in Puerta Vallarta. Ishmael has now been transferred to Guadlahara, and is teaching the Course in English and Spanish.

Another Teacher of God, is Jorge, had been taught A Course in Miracles for two years in prison by Mercedes. Jorge, upon leaving the prison system, went to a radio station and was given a radio program to teach the Course. He has aired over 13 classes in and around Mexico City.

Upon the year graduation, Jorge rented a ballroom for one thousand people to celebrate each individual's one year graduation. That is dedication! (See graduation picture below.)There is a no death penalty in Mexico. This situation promotes a dedication to work with the prisoners. These men and women do not escape the consequences of their thoughts and actions. Only forgiveness and healing provide them relief from their circumstances.

The opportunity to participate in the miraculous "undoing" of their old thought systems, empowers them with a new, positive attitude toward life, themselves and the world around them. And most certainly, an end to a lifestyle of drugs and crime!!

Word of Mercedes' wonderful results with prisoners in Mexico, spread to India.

Renowned Dr. Bedi, who administers the largest prison in India (and in all of Asia), was the first policewoman in India. She completely revolutionized the entire system within that prison. Dr. Bedi invited Mercedes to come to teach A Course In Miracles in the prisons in India. (See picture below.) The effects of this offering of A Course in Miracles in India continue to grow.

What are some of the results of offering A Course in Miracles to prisoners in Mexico and how will they benefit other prisons in foreign countries?

This course includes a one year study and application of the Workbook contained in A Course in Miracles, along with the Text and Manual for Teachers. The individuals who have registered and dedicated themselves to this training have undergone a tremendous change of mind and heart. It requires perseverance, determination and patience. And most of all, a burning desire to change one's life.

Not only did these men and women graduate from this course with a diploma (which went onto their record), but also most of them received early probation as a result. They began to become peaceful, interested in service, and stopped their cyclical victim/victimizer behavior, as a result of their taking responsibility for their actions. Sound unlikely? It is truly miraculous.

The recidivism rate is almost zero. Many ex-inmates are now teaching A Course in Miracles to other inmates still incarcerated.

What was the real result? A true change of mind. A change of purpose in their life. The contagion of Light and Love, which they experienced as a result of their commitment to practicing the tenants of A Course in Miracles, began to change THEIR lives and the lives of those around them, in a most dramatic way.

These inmates began to experience their Healing and would undergo experiences of God Contact. Other inmates would experience the Light and Love they brought back with them and would experience healings and miracles in THEIR lives as well !!

Remember, MPM is not just for the incarcerated.

A personal note from Herschel:

"The MPM staff is available for help, for teaching, and always appreciates your love and support. Contributions are greatly welcomed and appreciated. We have a very successful Spiritual Recovery Correspondence Course going out to prisons all over the world. Your help will allow us to continue to answer every request. God Bless Us, Everyone!"