Dear friends and family,
Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.
Deuteronomy 4:35
(Need to print this letter? Click here to download a PDF!)
These have been an eventful two months here at Efata and in Peru. We are thankful that we serve the One True God! As the verse above states, “There is no other!”
Ministry News
We had a wonderful Mission Conference in June. James (our second son) came down to preach the conference for us, and he did a great job. We had three churches participate in our round-robin conference, and it was such a blessing to our people and to the other churches. We had several of our missionaries here who gave updates, and we enjoyed spending time with them.
The week after the conference, we had a wonderful visit from one of our supporting churches–Berean Baptist Church from Raleigh, NC. What a blessing they were! Their youth group led by their Youth Pastor Philip Rabon came down and did a work project installing hashtag-shaped pavers (#) to add parking next to the street that grass can grow through and help to beautify the area. Our neighbors really like it as well. Three preacher boys who came with the group were able to preach here at Efata and at some of our satellite churches around Lima. Their team also joined our young people to help at another church with a small work project and go soul winning. Several people were saved. We are very thankful for the blessing they were.
We have had the joy of both deaf and hearing following the Lord in baptism recently in our services. Please pray for them to grow and for more fruit.
As I write, Lima is hosting the Pan-American Games. We are thrilled to be hosting a large group of soul-winners, who have come down from four different churches. Fargo Baptist in ND, Victory Baptist in Wichita Falls, TX, Lehigh Valley Baptist Church in Emmaus, PA and Metropolitan Baptist Church in Bloomington, MN–26 people in all. They, along with members of Efata Baptist Church, have already distributed about 250,000 gospel tracts of the 300,000 we have, and they still have several days left. What a great blessing. We have already received phone calls and inquiries from the tract distribution.
If you are following our issues with the municipality regarding the tax issues, it is still no closer to a resolution. We are still waiting for our appeal before we can further address this with the city. Please pray as we work on this and investigate every available avenue to solve this issue.
The mission plant in Chancay now has a permanent missionary! Our missionary Henry Vasquez has taken up the mantle and has moved to Chancay to minister full time at that location. Please pray for him and his wife Mirian, especially for her health as she has some chronic heart issues. If any of you who have been faithful supporters and friends would like to help them financially for this church plant, I know it would be a real blessing. They do not have a great deal of support, and now on top of their regular needs, they have extra ministry expenses and living costs of rent, utilities, etc. that they are facing. If you would like to help them on a monthly basis for any amount, just designate that to Henry Vasquez when you send in your support and every dollar that you designate to them and the Chancay project will go directly to them.
Family News
All is well on the family home front. The kids enjoyed celebrating their Peruvian Independence Day on the 28th of July. Both Jessica and Jennifer wore beautiful red and white dresses, the colors of the Peruvian flag. My youngest is getting older! We celebrated Jennifer’s 9th birthday on the 22nd. Thank you to those who send notes and cards on our special days. It is an encouragement.
Jared and Judson are well, serving in their respective Services and churches. Judson’s Pastor, a dear friend of mine whom I mentioned in my last prayer letter, Ray Warren, went home to be with the Lord. Please pray for his family and his church, Liberty Baptist Church in Holly Springs, NC. I will greatly miss this choice servant of God, but I look forward to seeing him again in Glory! He loved Peru and ministered here on many occasions.
Please keep Joseph, Zulema and their two little ones, J.J. and Esther, in your prayers while they are on furlough, asking that God would continue to supply their needs and give them just the meetings that He would have for them to be able to raise the needed support. Pray that God would use them as they travel.
Also please pray for James and Ann and little Elsie that God would supply their every need and encourage them as they are also on deputation. Pray that God will use them as well and lead them as they go. We’re missing the grandkids!
Once again, thank you for your prayers, support and care for us as we plant churches, train deaf and hearing, care for orphans and widows and see people saved and baptized here in Peru and beyond.
Blessings,