October 2022

Dear Praying Friends,

“Use hospitality one to another without grudging.  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”  1 Peter 4:9-10

HOSPITALITY

              As a family we have always sought to practice hospitality.  Our first visitor, dear Mrs. Arla Roberts in Ohio, suffered through the meal I (Cheryl) prepared with her cheerful smile.  Thankfully, with her help and that of the Denson family, we learned how to host people in our home.  We appreciate all the godly examples the Lord has placed before us down through the years. 

              Now we have had a blessed opportunity to practice extreme hospitality!  When the Santander family came back from Santiago, they needed some assistance getting their home into habitable shape (their house can be seen in the picture above), so Rocio’s parents and brother and sister came to help.  For the entire month of August the Santander family of six (some of them are pictured at left) slept in our living room while the others slept in the girls’ room and Julio slept in the boys’ room.  Even though we are used to feeding 10 to 13 people every day (depending on whether our students are here), it was a new adventure to feed between 18 and 21 people every day for a month.  Just know, that if a missionary does not get their prayer letter in on time, it means they need more prayer!

CHILE

              Praise the Lord with us for Chile’s recent vote to reject the text of a recent proposal for a new constitution.  It was fully approved by the Communist Party of Chile.  Yet grave danger remains as the left continues its push for a new constitution.  Recent years have greatly advanced the agenda of the globalists who seek oppressive manipulation and total control, especially here, so please continue to pray for the Lord’s mercies, grace and liberty here.  The Lord is not oppressive, but man is.  Liberty, including freedom from tyranny, is a very blessed gift of God which must be valued, and God’s Church needs to seek its preservation for its own sake and the Gospel’s, and in love to others.  True liberty is found in Christ’s salvation from sin, and tyranny is incompatible with God’s law.  “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty . . .” (2 Cor. 3:17).

MINISTRY

              To the right is a picture from one of our regular Lord’s Day class openings at 4 p.m. when we sing, have a time to memorize a verse together, and learn more about a book of the Bible (we are currently in Psalms).  The morning and evening services have been blessed as Paul continues his series through baptism and God’s covenant.  Juan and Susan have become convinced that their children ought to be baptized and have recently requested that they receive the sign.  It is a great blessing that “those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever” (Deut. 29:29) and that “the promise is unto you, and to your children . . .” (Acts 2:39)!  We rejoice in God’s Word:  “But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children . . .” (Psalm 103:17)  Paul is meeting with them this week in preparation for this joyful event which should take place soon, Lord-willing.

              We thank the Lord for our son Josiah’s faithfulness to keep up with the young people from the Resource Center, getting to know many local people through his interactions in the community and bearing a good Christian testimony before them.  Two of those with whom Josiah has spoken and whom he has invited, Nick and Denise (an older sister of Abraham), have attended our evening services recently.  Both are very open to hearing the Word of God; Paul and Cheryl had a Bible study with Denise a few weeks ago.  PLEASE pray for the salvation of Nick and Denise.  With some of the others, Nick has also sat in on our family devotions at times.

              Our daily devotions, which we have with our students when they are here, have been in Proverbs lately.  Please pray that the Lord would bless His Word to each heart.

              Please continue to pray regarding our long-delayed furlough, ability to visit family in Colombia and the U.S. and see you.  Pray for guidance, wisdom, safety and everything with respect to travel, for Geneva and Isaiah who are with their grandfather Marv, and for him.

                                                                                                In Christ our Lord,

                                                                                                 Paul and Cheryl

                                                     Geneva, Isaiah, Josiah, Anna, Sarah, Katie, Faith and John-Baptiste