This quarter the school of preaching students
have been studying about evangelism. I have taken several
classes on this subject and one thing that I have
learned is that the only way to learn about evangelism is
to do it. The students have learned a few biblical principles
about evangelism in class, but their grade is based
completely on doing. This quarter they had to: make a list
of ten people they wanted to try to study with, invite at
least ten people to church, write and preach a sermon
that encourages the audience to get involved with personal
evangelism, participate in one personal Bible study
and participate in two door knockings. This month we
have been going door knocking as a group and it has
been great. As most of you know there are two congregations
on Pohnpei. One is on the north side of the island in
the town of Kolonia. The other is on the south side of the
island in the small village of Mand. We decided that it
would be good to go door knocking in both areas.
In Kolonia we met one Wednesday morning at the church building. The building is close to the center of town
(which is not very big, but is well populated). We set off on foot and separated into two groups. Charlie and Christian
worked one side of the area we were in and Valerio and I worked the other. We had 200 tracts with us. Our purpose was
to pass out the tracts, invite people to worship and set up Bible studies. I was not sure how well Valerio would do, because
he is fairly shy. I thought I would wind up doing most of the talking, but I was way wrong. At the very first house I
introduced us and invited the family to worship and told them a little bit about the church. They took our tracts and said
they would read them and then we went on to the next house. This is where Valerio took over. At the next house, and
most every other house Valerio did all the talking. He told the people which church we are from, where the church is, our
service times and that we would like for them to come and worship God with us. Since Pohnpei is such a small island Valerio
knew many of the people we came across. He was not shy or ashamed at all about what we were doing. I was really
impressed. We walked down a densely populated road together. Charlie and Christian were supposed to walk down one
side and we were going to walk down the other. However, after
we left the first house I noticed that I did not see them. It turns
out they misunderstood what I asked them to do and door
knocked in another section. That was no problem at all. After a
couple of hours of door knocking I got a call on my cell phone
from Christian. We told each other where we were and they
said they would come find us. They had passed out all of their
tracts. We met back up and door knocked a few more houses
together until we were out of tracts. Just then the sky opened
up. The men were saying how great it was that it did not rain
until after we had finished. All in all it was a good day. Two
hundred tracts were passed out, the church was introduced to
many people and one Bible study was set up. Afterwards Valerio
told me, “Scott, this was very good. I think we need to do
this once a month.” Well, I don’t want him to lose any of that
momentum so I think we will.
The next week we went up to Mand (Mand is south of
Kolonia,
but in
Pohnpei it is “up” from Kolonia) and did the same thing. Except this
time I was with Christian and Valerio and Charlie were together.
Mand is a smaller village so it was easy to cover the entire thing.
The church in Mand meets in Christian’s house. Christian had a
reputation of being a drinker and not a great person before becoming
a Christian. However, in the year or so since his conversion he
has done a lot to change that reputation. During our door knocking
Christian did a great job of taking the lead. He did most of the talking
and introduced me to many of his old friends and relatives.
One of his friends, whom he had not seen in a while, said, “Are
you a religious man now?” Christian answered proudly, “Yes!” I
told the friend that Christian has grown a lot and continues to do
the right thing. After we finished our section we met with Charlie
and Valerio who told us they met a woman who said her son goes
to the church of Christ in Guam. His name is Zero (yes, that is his
name) we met him last year and will follow up with his mom very
soon. The second day of door knocking was just as encouraging
as the first. Afterwards we all went back to Christian’s house where
Asko (his wife) had prepared lunch for us. Charlie, Valerio and I went back “down” to Kolonia worn out, but greatly encouraged.
Please pray that we will be able to do more things like this and that we will get studies and visitors as a result.
Dec
31
Dec
31
Blessingsdearsiblings:
ThankstoGodtheselasttwomonthshavebeenofgreatblessingforourfamily,thedayAugust26Abbycompleted29yearsandthedaySeptember16itwasmybirthday,thankstoGodforthisnewyearoflifeandanewopportunityofservinghiminitschurch.
ThismonthwasalsothearrivalfromtheteamtothecityofMexico,itissomethingverygoodandagreatchallengebeingcohabitingagaintogetherassiblings,friendsandpartnersintheworkofGodandsharingourcultureandMexicanfoodwiththem.
Thismonthwehavededicatedourdaystovisitthepossibleworkareas,excitedwhenfindingthedifferentplaceswithgreatnecessityofGod.WehavebeeninEcatepecandCuautitlanIzcalli,weliketwoplacesandwehavecarriedoutsurveysandvisitstodifferentpeoplethatcanhelpuswithinterestingdataoftheplace.Whenwedon’ttraveltothisplaceswehavedevotionalsandmeetingsinthemorningtospeakoftheresultsofthevisitsaswellasofthenecessitiesandpansoftheteam.
As part of the Mexican culture, the day September 15 had a Mexican night in the church from Toluca to which attend the Family Mendez and our family, it was a good experience for the family Mendez like part of knowing our culture.
And like part of our time of companionship, the day September 19 attend the men to a conference of Max Lucadoin the city of Mexico, it was something good and different to that accustomed.
We request yours prayers for:
* Wisdom for the correct election of the work place.
* Physical health of the team members.
* Attitude of service, humility for members of the team.
* Goodtakingof decisions.
We want to share with you the new logo of the church that if God wants in little time it began…
Means:
Churchof Christ
A familyof faith
Yourhome isimportantforGod
Dec
31
Report of at Work at Guanacaste Church of Christ – 09
It is a joy for us to report you our work during September, and we pray when you receive this e-mail, all of you are doing very well being blessed by God.
We are growing as a Church and every meeting that we have, is even more getting better and better; you can perceive it once you get into the building, well you know better what I am talking about. You have this experience since long time ago. It is wonderful the way that God works with the people.
Lately we have to use another deposit of cups for grape juice for the Lord’s Supper because we have more brothers and sisters coming and also we have new visit every Sunday and we understand very well that all of this is for the mercy of God, because He is the only who gives the grows to the church.
WORK
Sundays are very especial and busy; we have many programs to do this day.
Now we have a Data show that one brother who lives in USA(he is from Honduras, and also he was baptized here in Guanacaste Church) gave the half of the money to buy it and the other half Guanacaste Church. So I have to be earlier on Sunday s because I have to prepare the songs that we are going to used to praise the Lord, it is a nice work and now all the church sing! It is wonderful. I already used when I preached the last Sunday of September. Good tool.
09:00 am – 10:20 am Worship
10:30 am – 11:30 am: Classes
Bible Classes (Selvin Monterroso)
Youth Group (Ricardo Guerra)
New Visitors (Javier Lainez)
New Members (Noe Perez)
Sunday School (Celeste, Mayra, Lesbia, Martha)
Ericka will start next Sunday with baby class (0-2 years old)
Saturdays
We go to evangelize starting at 09:00 o’clock in the morning and we finish at noon and for the glory of God the fruit of this work is a man called Marco Tulio, he is visiting us and we hope he takes the decision to get baptized soon, also his son is very interesting in the gospel. We have been evangelizing the zone called El Reparto but we are going to look for another place soon.
At 04:00 o’clock in the afternoon, I have meeting with Youth Group, and we use this day for learn more about Jesus, but also we keep busy doing different things like the Board (in Spanish we call it Mural) it is where you place news, projects, prayers, etc. one Saturday of these, we are going to fix the room of sound, we have the computer, the sound equipment, books and some others stuff right now looks like store room but we are going to fix that soon.
Also we want to spend time playing some deport to know more each other and in that way we can fortify the group to prepare for the growth that God will gives us.
Wednesday
I am teaching the Bible study and I am talking about The Worship to God, and my method is interactive class where the brothers and sisters feel free to ask anytime. They said that they like it, I do too. The attendance for Wednesday is around 10 brothers and sisters.
Friday
We sing and pray and also we have a portion of the Bible, we pray for all needs of the children of God have, also we pray for the world situation and for the gospel of God keep reaching people. The attendance is almost the same, some other days are more some other not.
Tuesday
We go to visit different brothers and sisters to their homes starting in the mornings until afternoons. Also at 06:00 o’clock pm we have a home meeting with the purpose to fortify the brothers and sister and invite to our neighbors to preach them too at the end we share some food. Nice experience. For the moment these meeting we are having in the Zone where we live. Some times in our home, other Tuesday in my mother in law house and some other Tuesdays in Brother Armando’s house.
Thursday
In the mornings of Thursdays and some times of the Tuesdays we work in the bulletin, and some others stuff what need to be printed to show to the church. Lately we have been working creating ways to get founds to the makeover of the building as a USA program says: Extreme Makeover. The Church is very happy for this project and we trust in the Lord that we are going to have our new building because is for His Glory. We hope to finish this project in 7 years just like the time that it took to Salomon finish the Temple of God. I am going to send you some ideas that we already printed.
By the afternoon we go Sister Paola Antunez’ house to have group of growth and we have a new contact there thanks God, his name is Rodolfo Ruiz and he receives us every Thursday in his house to learn more about the Bible.
Monday
It is the free day to share time with Ericka and Andres, sometimes we go out to walk of buy food and some other we decide to stay at home all day. I try hard to give them quality time, I love to work for the Lord but also I love to have good time with my family. I help Ericka to clean the house, to bath Andres, change diapers and all of that. I really enjoy.
Let us pray for:
1. Remodeling of the Church’ s building
2. The growth and ministries of the Church
3. The elders, deacons and ministers of the Church
4. The situation of Honduras
5. My family in El Salvador
6. Mario Lara and Family
7. The Oneness of the Church
If you have any question or suggestion, please I would love to hear them to answer you as soon as possible.
We always pray for you that God takes care of each of you everyday. God bless you and remember we love you all in Jesus Christ.
Ricardo Guerra
Dec
31
And I know than it is the same feeling than you have for my, and this friendship encourage to my every day to continue working here in the God’s kingdom in Tuluá city and around of this city, my brothers this is my activities report of the September month.
I always talking about the growing of the church through baptisms than we have every month well in this opportunity allow me show you how we are growing but not thanks of my preaching or evangelistic work, the three of September thanks God was born Manuela Monrroy she is daughter of sister Jenifer and Esteban Monrroy, thanks God Manuela is a strong babe and is growing in the church, we are preying for this new home because here and in all world the family is attacked every day by the evil in special the young couple like this more now with a big responsibility like is, her new babe.
I was with them in the clinic and I see the happiness of all family around of this family and it is good because I know than the member of the church look to me no only like preacher of the church their see like a member real of his family and always I teach about it because I think than it is the real communion in Christ Jesus than we may fell the pain of every brother, and in this case the happiness of all the family, God Bless Manuela, and I hope see grow in years and in the fear of our Lord.
Well now let me talking about the work in La Union north of Valle, this month I invited brother Luis Felipe Capiro and we has been there brothers and people than visit us was very happy, you know brother Capiro is from Miami and always is good in special to this brothers see and know brothers from other places and best other country, because he talk with brothers about the church in United States, and other places than he was visit, also about the different cultures, but the conclusions is in Christ we are only Christians, he preach to and he talk about the Christian life, in the life of humanity and after we share the lunch and brother Capiro also was very happy and he say us than he will go all times than I go to La Union; and other Sunday I was and I teach in class in Power Point about foundation of the church and I use the tool than you gave to my like is the computer, and in the next month I will go and show them the cd’s than you send to my and I know than brothers and visits will learning so much, thanks brothers again for this wonderful help and tool for work.
Well while I may, I will help this brothers in La Union, because like in many places in Colombia many people wish listen about Jesus but is difficult may preach in all Colombia because is big, but we together put our sand grain and God give the growing.
I was talking you Than I am preaching since some month ago in a place near to Tuluá name of this place is El Guayabal, well Brother Luis Felipe Capiro is a man very strong and he go with me to all this places and he say than if we have some baptisms here in the Guyabal he may came every Sunday morning and make the worship for this people so this people not have to go to Tuluá in the afternoon than is the time than we have for our worship, I say him well we need time but maybe this is a project for the next year, for now every Wednesday in the afternoon we have a meeting in a home of Lucia Unas, she is a student of one biblical curse and she is happy opening her hose for study the Bible with others persons, and we wish to show the evangelistic Cd’s than you send to my, every Monday at night please pray for fruits in this little place.
In Congregation in Las Americas we continue working with the meeting in brothers home Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at night also we have biblical class Wednesday, and Saturday, our worship continue Sunday afternoon. We are very happy because it many people have questions and this is the opportunity than we have to preach and teach, almost every day in the morning like in the afternoon I have biblical studies with people than visit us, and also I use the curse “What the Bible Say?” and every lesson I take again the bat answers and since there we begin to study, and also about the questions than the people have about not only of Bible also about many theme than their have, always I say than I do Not have all answer but the bible have the answers necessary for all about we need for our salvation, I also visit this person and first we are friends, and I know than very soon Jesus will be us brothers in HIM. And members of the Christian Family.
My dears this is my report of this month the activities than you see here is thanks you, because you encourage to my to follow ahead, thanks for you prayers I feel it in all moment, I believe than this is my impulse every day, God Bless you in all your activities like HE is with my.
In Christ Jesus your servant.
Carlos Julio Zuluaga V .
Dec
31
Dear Brothers and Sisters at Maple Hill,
We have had a busy month, as usual. Preachers using the free Internet has often had all available computers occupied and requests for Sunday School lessons keep Maryuri and the copier machine busy. On one day we hit a record 26 visitors to the Center (for a non-class day)! And on another occasion we were asked by Mission Lazarus in Choluteca to host a young man coming to town overnight to take the entrance exam at the national agricultural school here in Catacamas. We continue to enjoy meeting new preachers, song leaders and church leaders who come in for the first time to see what the MPRC is all about.
We have started corresponding with Let’s Start Talking
(LST) organizers through a coordinated effort by Predisan, the Church of Christ founded medical facility here. The MPRC seems the ideal host for such a program of evangelism targeted at individuals that desire to increase their conversational English skills because we have contact and rapport with all of the local preachers and also have facilities to host the guests. Our own Jim and Debbie Murphy from the A&M congregation have been LST leaders in the past and are considering the possibility of leading a team to Catacamas. We hope to host at least one team next year and perhaps more.
Through the extensive efforts of Mission Lazarus, some 9,000 magi boxes were distributed throughout Honduras last year to children ranging in age from newborn to 15 years. But to our knowledge none of them came to the department of Olancho. This year, Jarrod will be helping us to distribute over 1100 boxes to 28 different congregations here. We have also submitted the names of the children from the Special Needs orphanage here and the names of the students at the Escuela Buen Samaritano overseen by the Metro church in Orlando, FL. We look forward to sharing photos of the recipients with you closer to Christmas.
Joanne is writing part of this monthly report from College Station, TX. She made an unplanned trip there Tues., 10/13 for several dr.’s appts. after she started having strange physical symptoms. The eye doctor was the most helpful in diagnosing the most distressing situation: very dry eyes can account for drastic and sudden decrease in vision. Besides that, she needs glasses or contacts now. So she will be using eye drops several times a day to keep her eyes moisturized and will wait in College Station for the glasses and contact lenses to come in.
Bendiciones y Risas en JesuCristo, Dwight & Joanne Tomkins Alégrese
siempre en El Señor.
Dec
31
Dear brethren,
We hope that you all are well and are enjoying the great blessings from our Heavenly Father. It is a pleasure and a joy to write to you and tell you about the advancements and growth of the church. Even though we are not worthy to be in the work of the Lord, it is a privilege to serve Him and love Him until He comes again.
In the month of October, the Church of Christ in San Borja had an evangelistic meeting in which the subject was “Is there Life After Death?” This campaign took place over three nights and was a great blessing and very edifying for the membership. It is good for us to remember that we have the hope of life after this earthly life, that all of the earthly things are temporary, and if we continue faithfully here, we will have eternal life in the heavenly places with Jesus Christ.
We want to tell you also about a person who was baptized. His name is Giancarlo Laurente. He is a young man who is 26 years old and is a professor of math and physics. He lives 45 minutes away from the church building. He had been attending each Sunday service until he decided to make the decision to be baptized. He is now very excited to learn more about the Scriptures. We ask that you will keep him in your prayers.
We would like to let you know that we have also begun using a new method of evangelization. It consists of 10 lessons. These lessons were written by Don Iverson and translated by Moisés Pinedo. This Bible course is very interesting and will be very useful for evangelism. We currently have five people signed up and three of these have already begun these wonderful lessons. We had used these lessons with Giancarlo. The first lesson helped clear some doubts that he had concerning the existence of God. Juan Benites and Oscar Bonilla are always helping in these evangelization efforts. We trust in God that He will help us through these lessons to reach more people!
We also had a youth reunion in which we talked about music and its influence on our minds. The young people were very interested in this subject and asked many questions. They were able to put away some doubts that existed in their minds about the music that they should or shouldn’t be listening to.
We pray that you will continue praying for the work of the Lord here in Peru, for the work we do and also for the methods of evangelism that we are utilizing.
Your servant and brother in Christ,
Yahyire Pinedo
Dec
31
And I am sure than HE have our crown of glory because, every day our purpose is to serve our God and Lord, my dear brothers here my report of this month let me write you about than activities of this month.
We continue with the meeting in brothers home Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at Night and the Thursday we has been our meeting in the afternoon, and now thanks God we have a song class with a music teacher than is friend of a Church member and he decide help us in this ministry, he have a one of the best music school here in Tuluá, also he give music class in the university and now this teacher is help us in the church and some brothers is taken class with him, and so also we has been talking him about the Gospel, since he is a good men and to decide to help us maybe very soon he will be also our brother in Christ, but now he is a visit than have a big collaboration in the Church.
Through e-mail and some time talking through the telephone with brother Desias Besil in Cartagena but I don`t have so much communication with missionary in Bogota, and with brother Jairo Badillo We has been a good communication the last October 18 he was here with us, of curse he is in Cali this city is near to us this is the reason than we may be better communication, this month of November his son, brother Jairo you know him, he was preacher in Kentucky, when I was in Maple Hill he visit us there, well he came to Colombia for some time maybe for Winter time, I will talk you about the activities than we will do together.
In November begin many members of our local Church to emigrate for vacation with his relatives and to do others activities with her families, while we continue with many projects and no only for this end of year also for the next year when we have many perspective and hope.
Brothers let me talk you than this month I has been some health problems and I visit the doctor and my problem is with the Cholesterol and it are very high and has produce problems in my body, the doctor say than I need physical exercise and he gave some medicine than I need take every day after every eat, I am very sad and in the last days I has feel bad, doctor say than is don´t worry but since now I need for all my life have control because this problem can be worse, and I need learn to live with it, please I need your prayer for God continue help us like He be until now,
My brothers it is my report of this month God continue blessing you like he bless to my every day, because than are in my life and know you is a big bless.
In HIM.
Carlos Julio Zuluaga V.
Dec
31
This has been our first month at home, thanks to God we have been blessed with a good and beautiful house and good neighbors. We have worked to adapt the house to our necessities and to make it beautiful for us and to share it with the other ones.
We have already found a good one local, if God allows it this week they will give it to us so the plans in this week it will be to work strong in it, for next Sunday to be able to meet there.
In this month I have had the opportunity to know brothers that work close in churches to our work area and this Sunday they invited me to preach, moment that we also occupy to request their moral and spiritual support in this new road.
Abby is working with a small group of 5 women elaborating christmas things and this way to be able to be friend of them and in a future to be able to share with them the gospel.
We have also had the visit from Javier León and Manuel of the Church “Always Family” we share with them a rich Mexican dinner and very good advice that helped us in great way in the new church.
The Men every day we have meetings , in the morning for plan the activities of the week and to evaluate the best options for the church. In the afternoons we have devotionals in each house so that the neighbors can see us and they know that there we are. This week we have invited a lady her name is Sonia (we request yours prayers for this woman so that soon she will be our Sister in Christ).
The days Tuesday and Thursday afternoons we are playing basketball and this had helped us to you know young people for which we also request their sentences.
This month will be a month full with emotions and big principles, we request yours prayers for our physical and spiritual health, so that we can enjoy all this as friends and brothers and leaving everything in hands of God.
Give greetings to the brothers from us and thank you for your support.
Luis, Abigail & Mia Navarrete.
Dec
31
May God’s grace be upon your lives and families, blessing your ministry and everything you do in His Name.
we want to share with you a few things God worked among His people. Our “Christian Growth Field” seminars are active once again, and this time we started Seminar #1 with a new group of people, some new members and new people that have been visiting the church (13 people in total). This seminar is a welcome to our church, and the people can learn about the importance of baptism and the Lord’s Supper’s meaning. It is also about our purpose as a church, and the meaning of being a member at our congregation. Each of the seminars is given by one of the missionaries; in this case, Gary Hall is in charge of seminar#1.
Also, our communion groups have been on the go. Each missionary is in charge of one communion group, and each one has the purpose more interaction, friendship and sense of partnership within all the members to one another.
We had the joy of receiving the visit of our brothers that work with Continent of Great Cities (Calvin & Linda Henry and Ken Lewis), which was very encouraging for all of us. The night before they left Cartagena, we gathered a few of the members of the church at Sebastian’s house with our visiting brothers, so we could have some fellowship, since they weren’t going to be able to be with us on a Sunday. It was of great blessing. We had “arepas” to eat; sung some songs, and had a moment to meditate on Scripture regarding the beauty of being together and in harmony (Psalm 133).
On the other hand, we had our team work meeting to evaluate the work done this year, and to make the plan for 2010. So the team is getting ready to continue hard work in the year to come.
For God’s glory we had another baptism for remission of sins. Maribel, who is a person that was reached through the cellular groups, had been visiting the church from early this year. After a not so small health issue she was not with us, but she returned with her decision made to put on Christ in baptism.
Now the children have a better condition, because when it rained, even though the metallic structure was set up, the water would accumulate in the whole area where they were suppose to receive classes. Thanks to the Lord this problem was corrected in great manner with the floor that was fixed.
One of our key goals for the church is for it to be self sustained. Aiming to achieve this, we have challenged the church to prepare so it can be able to acquire its own building in the future. For this, two brothers were appointed to be in charge of the church’s new temple fund. So the church has already begun to give to reach to this. Also, there is a group of brothers that has begun to be involved in the administration of the collection.
I believe we are on the right track regarding the work of the church. There certainly is much to be done, but the members are getting involved in the work, which is a blessing for the church at this point.
With help from the Lord Gary will be spending some time off with his family during the month of November. I think that is a blessing to him to be with their people again.
Thanks to God my health is being better. I continue putting in practice the medical instruction every day.
Thank you for your support brothers and prayers, may God abundantly supply for all your needs. The Lord bless and keep you at all times.
In Jesus Christ
Desil Besias, Missionary of Cartagena, Colombia
Dec
31
Our Dear Family and Friends,
How Fun
One of the fun things about living here is the visitors that come to our front door. We have several boys
that come to the door with plastic tubs of fruit (whatever is currently available) to sell to us. Sure we
could buy them at the market for a little cheaper, but we enjoy the interaction with them. And 10 cents
for a nice fresh tangerine or tangelo is not too bad. One of the things that Joanne noticed as we were
walking home from church yesterday, is how most of the people here walk which allows for time for
conversation or, at the least, an exchange of greetings. That is hard to do from car to car, even if you
could get someone to roll down their window to talk with you.
Joanne Returns
Joanne returned to Tegucigalpa on Tuesday, the 17th of November, where I met her at the airport. She
has accomplished all she planned, including finding out what the pain was in the back of her skull,
starting thyroid medication, receiving new bifocal contacts, having dental work done, and having her
heart TIA diagnosed. While in Texas she also made use of the much higher speed internet access to
complete her major academic projects for this semester and, of course, do her weekly projects. She
also had the excellent opportunity to get to know our new son-in-law (Lydia and Chris live in
Bryan/College Station), see Rebecca almost every day, and see all our children and grandchildren at
least once during the time there. She also took the opportunity to visit with many of our supporters in
the B/CS area and to have at least one Java Chiller (which Dwight does NOT think is a new type of
cool software). She also did mention how good Blue Bell ice cream tastes (as if any of us had any
doubts). And she has her boatload of books for her next semester.
Joanne finished her first 12-week quarter of her Public Health doctorate through Walden University and
is taking a week-long break before the next quarter begins Dec. 8. She finished with two high A’s.
2 Tragedies
We have had 2 tragic accidents in the last month. The 8 yr old son of one of the preachers from the
Juticalpa area was thrown from the back of a pickup and died on the 2nd of November. Then Friday, a
few weeks ago, Jorge Vargas, the MPRC evangelist was involved in an accident in which a 23 year old,
young lady from Las Casitas was thrown from the back of a pickup and died. Dwight attended the
mourning and the funeral of the boy. He said it was very different than any funeral that he has ever
attended. Both the mother and an aunt were truly inconsolable. It reminded him, with the wailing and
the emotion, very much of the funerals mentioned in the time of Jesus. To say the least, it was much
more emotional than the normal funeral in the states. But as inconsolable as the aunt was at the time,
she was her normal, sweet self a few days later when Dwight talked with her. He very much
appreciates how the Latin culture deals with grief very quickly. (You can read more about the funeral
and the boy at <http://mission-point.org>. It is one of the top stories on the page.)
For the second death, Dwight volunteered to take the body and casket back to Las Casitas, but on the
way, he was called and asked to return back to Catacamas. There he was advised that it would be better
for a Honduran to return the deceased to the village where she had lived. Because of the emotional
nature of death in Honduras, it could easily turn to vengeance with him (as a North American and
external to the community) being the recipient. It did not take much thought for him to comply.
Normal Busyness at the MPRC
Other than those tragic events, things have been going well at the Center. The MPRC (Mission Point
Resource Center) now has 8 usable computers, though several are very limited in their capacity (mainly
because of faulty memory and slow CPUs). Thanks especially to JD for the money for the computer
desks. We are hoping to find the funding ($200) to add more electricity outlets (and breakers) so that
we can add more stations. Are you able to help? If you would like to see a list of other equipment that
we need, please see <http://mission-point.org/wishlist.html>
The photo we have here is of a lady who came today to find a pair of reading glasses. She loves to read
her Bible, but has found it very difficult
because of her deteriorating vision. We are
very thankful that we were able to give her a
pair. That is one of our many works; to be
the central point of contact for those who
need free glasses. Thanks to all of you who
donated them. Maryuri is on her left and
Joanne is on her right in the photo.
Container Shipping Soon
We are continuing to gather Bibles, literature,
school supplies, and equipment to send in the
container that is slated to be shipped in
January. If you have an older computer or
peripherals or work for a company that
donates their older computers to charity,
please let us know immediately. Nothing
older than a Pentium 3, please. The computers will fill up the extra spaces in the lab. Once that is
done, we will start creating mini-labs in the outlying areas from where it is difficult for the students to
come to the MPRC on a regular basis.
Or …
if you would like to donate for Bibles and songbooks, that would be even better.
Update on Magi Boxes
Jarrod Brown at Mission Lazarus told us last week that they expected the magi boxes any day and they
would have the 1,100+ delivered to us before Christmas. We expect to have a garage full of boxes to
deliver to happy preachers from over 30 congregations. They will then deliver them to 1100 children
who otherwise would receive little or nothing for Christmas. Thank you to everyone in the states that
helps to make those shoe box presents a reality.
Political Situation
Last month we mentioned that a compromise had been worked out between the current president and
the deposed president. That compromise had to be approved by the Honduran congress, which voted it
down. So we are still in the same political situation. New elections were held yesterday (Nov 29th).
We hope and pray that this will resolve the crisis.
Your Prayers
Please continue to pray for the political situation in Honduras. It appears to us that the opposition is
turning to more and more violent means. For instance we have heard that an army colonel was
assassinated and some of the records (birth certificates, etc) for the state of Olancho were destroyed by
unknown persons.
As we see the moon grow full and the constellation Orion rising in the evening sky, we fondly
remember our dear friends and recall that we all are children of the same wonderful Creator. Thank
you all for your help and prayers on our behalf.
Bendiciones y Risas en JesuCristo, Dwight & Joanne Alégrese siempre en El Señor.