Our Missionaries To Mexico: The Christenson's
Conference held in Bro. Esteban's church in Chiapas a couple of years ago.January-February, 2006
Dear Praying Friend,
Greetings again from south of the border. It was good to make the quick trip to Florida to celebrate Pat's mom's 90th birthday. It was the first time since we were married 28 years ago that everyone plus their spouses were together at the same time. It is also a great privilege to be back and serve in the work of the Lord and His churches here in Mexico. Since being back, besides the regular activities, I have been concentrating on getting materials together for the camp season. Pat and I will be in the state of Chiapas for two camp sessions as well as one-day meetings in seven other churches. That will take care of the "Holy Week" vacation period as it is called here, a two-week school vacation the week before and the week after Easter. Please pray for these meetings from April 9-23.
A special blessing in both Sunday congregations has been several visitors to the services after a long "dry run". From the letters sent out with Julia's help last Summer and Fall, we also continue to receive renewed contacts regularly for the correspondence school [see attached picture], some with amazing testimonies. One man, who never had any formal schooling because he was an orphan, found the "Help from Above" tract in the street in 1997. It may well have been from a trip we made handing out tracts in his area in southern Mexico. Since at the time he could not read, he stopped a man walking behind him and asked the man if he would read the tract to him! He heard the truth of John 14:6 and accepted Christ. He has
taught himself to read and is not only studying the courses himself, but sent in the names of ten others to receive courses. Another young man gave this testimony: "I am a believer in Christ; I have received Him in my heart and the change in my life shows it. I was gay and I left it. I am now married and have children. The power of the Lord changed me."
Two special medical needs have come up for which we would deeply appreciate your prayers. Perhaps someone may want to help financially as the Lord leads. Brother Esteban Encinos is one of the ordained ministers and key leaders in the church work in the state of Chiapas. Besides his pastoral work, he travels quite extensively in the ministry, teaching, counseling, and encouraging many pastors and congregations in at least two different languages. Many years ago he lost one of his legs in an accident but has been restored to mobility with the use of a prosthetic leg. Because of wear and tear it has to be replaced from time to time, although he generally gets a few years' extra service from each unit. He told me a while back that it is time for the prosthesis to be replaced again at a cost of around $3,000.
So that you can get an idea of how expensive that is for him according to his income, it would equivalent to someone in the USA spending $30,000 for the same thing. I'm sure that any help that would come in towards this need would be greatly appreciated.
Attached are pictures of Bro. Esteban (on the right) translating a message being preached from Spanish into the Tzeltal Indian language, and of a conference held in Bro. Esteban's church in Chiapas a couple of years ago. The last weekend of February, Pat had a sudden bout of extremely severe pain which kept her awake all night. The following morning we met with our family doctor who ordered an ultrasound exam which confirmed the suspicion of gall
stones. She was hospitalized for the weekend to take care of the pain. She is presently at home doing well and surgery is scheduled for March 9th to remove her gall bladder. The laparoscopic surgery here will cost about $2,500 which we have been able to borrow.
Our sponsoring church is getting up a new website which we invite you to visit: http://pleasant-valley.baptist-church-online.us
That pretty much brings you up to date on our past, present, and future activities. We are very grateful for your regular prayers and financial support. God has been so good to us through you over many years.
Co-laborers for Christ,
Dave and Pat
Dear Praying Friend,
Greetings again from south of the border. It was good to make the quick trip to Florida to celebrate Pat's mom's 90th birthday. It was the first time since we were married 28 years ago that everyone plus their spouses were together at the same time. It is also a great privilege to be back and serve in the work of the Lord and His churches here in Mexico. Since being back, besides the regular activities, I have been concentrating on getting materials together for the camp season. Pat and I will be in the state of Chiapas for two camp sessions as well as one-day meetings in seven other churches. That will take care of the "Holy Week" vacation period as it is called here, a two-week school vacation the week before and the week after Easter. Please pray for these meetings from April 9-23.
A special blessing in both Sunday congregations has been several visitors to the services after a long "dry run". From the letters sent out with Julia's help last Summer and Fall, we also continue to receive renewed contacts regularly for the correspondence school [see attached picture], some with amazing testimonies. One man, who never had any formal schooling because he was an orphan, found the "Help from Above" tract in the street in 1997. It may well have been from a trip we made handing out tracts in his area in southern Mexico. Since at the time he could not read, he stopped a man walking behind him and asked the man if he would read the tract to him! He heard the truth of John 14:6 and accepted Christ. He has
taught himself to read and is not only studying the courses himself, but sent in the names of ten others to receive courses. Another young man gave this testimony: "I am a believer in Christ; I have received Him in my heart and the change in my life shows it. I was gay and I left it. I am now married and have children. The power of the Lord changed me."
Two special medical needs have come up for which we would deeply appreciate your prayers. Perhaps someone may want to help financially as the Lord leads. Brother Esteban Encinos is one of the ordained ministers and key leaders in the church work in the state of Chiapas. Besides his pastoral work, he travels quite extensively in the ministry, teaching, counseling, and encouraging many pastors and congregations in at least two different languages. Many years ago he lost one of his legs in an accident but has been restored to mobility with the use of a prosthetic leg. Because of wear and tear it has to be replaced from time to time, although he generally gets a few years' extra service from each unit. He told me a while back that it is time for the prosthesis to be replaced again at a cost of around $3,000.
So that you can get an idea of how expensive that is for him according to his income, it would equivalent to someone in the USA spending $30,000 for the same thing. I'm sure that any help that would come in towards this need would be greatly appreciated.
Attached are pictures of Bro. Esteban (on the right) translating a message being preached from Spanish into the Tzeltal Indian language, and of a conference held in Bro. Esteban's church in Chiapas a couple of years ago. The last weekend of February, Pat had a sudden bout of extremely severe pain which kept her awake all night. The following morning we met with our family doctor who ordered an ultrasound exam which confirmed the suspicion of gall
stones. She was hospitalized for the weekend to take care of the pain. She is presently at home doing well and surgery is scheduled for March 9th to remove her gall bladder. The laparoscopic surgery here will cost about $2,500 which we have been able to borrow.
Our sponsoring church is getting up a new website which we invite you to visit: http://pleasant-valley.baptist-church-online.us
That pretty much brings you up to date on our past, present, and future activities. We are very grateful for your regular prayers and financial support. God has been so good to us through you over many years.
Co-laborers for Christ,
Dave and Pat
posted by David | Thursday, March 23, 2006
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