September, 2026
Dear brethren,
It is with joy to write to you again, this time, from the field in Chile!
THE UNITED STATES: Deputation
The middle of July and the beginning of September I spent traveling to several churches as a part of my deputation, making ten missionary presentations. It was a blessing to be able to worship and fellowship with those who ever pray for the advancement of God’s kingdom! Your prayers are part of the means God uses to grow His church.
In the Missouri area, I was able to spend time with my family and grandfather, followed by a brief trip out to Glendale, California, to visit the church there. Afterwards, in Greenville, SC, I spent a little over a week visiting with a friend, Mr. Behlow, and then presented my work in Charlotte, Greenville, and Lancaster. I was able to visit the Philadelphia area, spending time with other missionaries, fellowshipping with Stephen Zimmerman, his family, and other friends and brethren, along with visiting several churches. I helped with the IBPHM’s Flight 93 National Memorial Outreach on September 12th, as we handed out many tee-shirts, tracts, gospels, and children’s catechisms. There was more I would have been happy to do, but the time was quite short; I returned to Chile on the 14th!
KENYA: Bible Camp
We thank God for a wonderful time at the ICCC World Congress. Sarah and I were able to get together with brethren we knew from Chile, from the US, and also from Kenya, and met others with whom it was a pleasure to fellowship. Both of us helped with English–Spanish translation throughout the Congress, and I taught the children on Sunday at Christian Brotherhood Church.
We invited several of those children, including Praise, Favour, Gabriel and Prudence to come and stay at Arokyet, so that they could attend our Bible Camp from August 10 -21; and we also had three young people from Nakuru who joined us to assist and translate (Eann, Sammy, and Junior). Moses also joined us for the first week of camp.
It was incredible that God helped us to have everything ready after just a week in Kericho county for our two weeks of Bible Camp! We gave out Bibles and New Testaments during the camp, and helped encourage the children to read their Bible daily, gave regular Martial Arts classes, and also held devotions all together, every evening. Sarah did a little cooking. The family hosting us was so kind and hospitable. The Rotich family made room for everyone, although they had five of their own children with them already, and did a lot of cooking, cleaning and organizing for the three weeks we were there! Our camp’s theme verse was Micah 6:8, and all of the lessons were about Walking With God.
We had one class for everyone together, and then we would teach catechisms, Bible memorization, and some writing. After that, Sarah taught the younger children for one week, and I taught the older ones, and then we switched. During the second week, we also taught a variety of classes for other VBS programs that were running at nearly the same time. So, our camp lasted during the second week from about 11:00 AM into the afternoon. However, although attendance was a little lower after lunch, and rain was troublesome when we were unable to use the building, it all worked out, providentially, for the best.
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:8
CHILE: Future Ministry
Would you pray for the beginning of our Cooperative School? My mother has returned to the US, due to grandfather’s declining health. Please pray for his salvation, and for her safe return towards the end of September.
As I have come to Chile this month for the first time as a teaching missionary, I would like to name particularly those children I have taught in Santiago, Kenya, and Santa Clara, as well as a few that I hope to teach in the future, so that you can remember their names in prayer, if God lays it on your heart.
The children in Kericho, Kenya: Lessan, Abel, Delinda, Dorine, Hiscah, Brian, Brighton, Braidon, Memorandum, Kodokodo, Catelyne, Bravin, Rhoda, Magdaline, Raphael, Bruno, Owen, Jabez, Arnold, Amon, Titus, Chepsir.
The children from Nakuru that were with us: Praise, Favour, Gabriel, Dorcilla, Denis, Princess, David, Selina.
And some of those I know best from Nairobi: Precious, Gift, Levis, Peter, Gift, Melizah, Lemuel, Adriel, Pistos, Dan, Effie, Melvine, Nancy, Daphney, Michelle.
My former students from first grade in Santiago: Trinidad, Paulina, Andrés, Victoria, Manuel, Isabel, Salvatore, Lucas, Lucia, Leon, Gloria, Caleb, Clemente, Gabriel, Maria-Victoria. (They are now in fourth grade!)
Those I hope to be teaching in Santa Clara: David, Pablo, Nelson, Isaac, Emilio, Sarita, Rebeca, Josefa, Samuel, Felipe, Katie, Faith, Navarre. And possibly at some point, Moises, Abigail, Paloma, Juan Cristobal, Aurora, Lemuel, Susanna.
Please pray for all the children we minister to, and the families, and the young people: that each one would really give their heart to Christ and live for Him. Thank you all so much for your prayers!
God be with you,
Josiah Durand