By Joe Widick
Dear brothers,
Every time I get up, I thank our God for His great mercy towards me. I feel very privileged to be called His child.
Thank my God, my family and I are fine. I had some pains in my right hand much like my right leg but God is helping me to improve along with the medicines the doctors prescribed me. As for my wife, she is recovering from cesarean and start function in her work. Also our little Elaine is growing very well by the grace of God, having a normal weight of around 6 kilos and 60 centimeters.
About the Church here in Cartagena, God continues his work on it. We had many activities in which the brothers have demonstrated their commitment to the Church in this place. The offering the last Sunday of every three months is designated to fund pro-temple (thinking in the building of the Church itself later if God permits). Now we are about two thousand dollars for this purpose. We know that we will need more to do it but we have to begin.
The brothers of the church every Sunday are bringing their families to our meetings. This has meant that we are growing every day. I continue to share Bible studies with the people here and also with the people from Clemencia a town about 24 kms southwest of Cartagena.
For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 1 Corinthians 9:16. God gives me the opportunity preach His gospel and I have to do it every day of my life.
Thank you to help me to continue preaching of Jesus. May God continue blessing you all time.
In Jesus name,
Desil & family
By Joe Widick
Blessed be the God our Father forever. we are joyful to receive many blessings from Him. My family and I are fine by the mercy of God and our daughter is growing every day. She has increased the joy in our home, it’s the reason to give all glory to our God.
The year is benning with many blessings for the church and all Cartagena. Several people received Jesus Christ in their life. In this month nine people were baptized for the remission of sins, of which two are where I attend cell group in India’s urbanization.
On January 9th and 23rd there were seminar one and two for the new people of the Church by Gary Hall. Please continue praying for the church, the team members and all people and Cartagena. My family and I love you very much in the Lord. Thank you for all things.
In Jesus name, Desil and family
By Joe Widick
Happy New Year. May the God Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and poured us many more blessings on all of this year 2011. For the great mercy of God my wife, my daughter and I are fine. We start this year with big goals and emotions in the Lord. Remembering what Ephesians 3:20-21 says: “God is able to do much more than what we ask. We cannot even imagine what God can do to help us! All who belong to the church of Christ, we praise him forever. Amen.
One of my wishes at the beginning of 2010 was to win more souls for the Lord, to have a car because the many rain sometimes makes impossible to mobilize me, to marry with Deisy. But never was a priority for me to have a baby in that year this happened or that we are today. The power of God is so great, He made a very large gift, something I could never imagine, is what He has given me, blessed be His name.
This year I still have high expectations again but not according to my will, but according to the will of God. My plans would go to visit the brothers in Mixco, Guatemala, spend time with them together with my wife and daughter. I do not say it is a reality, if God’s will all be given if not when He wants because I’m learning that it acts on me.
The year of 2010 ended with good step for the church where several people were baptized for the remission of sins. Which we can mention Jairo Rios attends cell group where I am working, was baptized on December 22 and Oscar Carmona was baptized on 27 December. The brothers of the Church continue to grow by supporting existing ministries especially ushers, finance and the Lord’s Supper.
Thanks to God the rain has stopped here, although there are many victims in the country especially in the department that we are by the floods that have occurred during most of 2010. The government is making an effort to rehabilitate the roads that are largely damaged and relocate those who lost everything they had. Whole families who have been disappeared by the landslides and floods. But thank God protected us all these adversities.
We are praying hard for you in the winter that affecting you much further. I’ve never been in a situation of so cold and snowy, but I know that God will have mercy on you and deliver you all.
I love you in the Lord and thank you for everything.
In Jesus,
DeSil
By Joe Widick
Many of you will remember Ken Burn’s documentary on the Civil War. I enjoyed the different pictures that were shown, I listened to the comments and was intrigued with the music that was played. All in all it was a wonderful series about a very dark time in American history. One of the episodes featured a letter by a soldier killed in the battle of Bull Run. Sullivan Ballou realized the peril he faced in the looming clash, so he wrote a poignant letter to his wife. In part he said, “If I do not return, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I loved you, nor that when my last breath escapes me on the battlefield, it will whisper your name.”
Many times it is much more difficult for men to express deep emotions. For some reason or another we try to squelch the impulse to put our tenderest feelings into words. I have always known that my father loved me. That was never questioned. Even when he made me cut the grass, or when he had to discipline me, I knew that he loved me. I don’t recall ever hearing my father tell me he loved me until about one year ago. I had been visiting and daddy walked me to the door and for some reason said “I love you.” This Father’s Day, many men will receive expressions of love, but they may have trouble voicing their love in return. It is important to understand that there is nothing more masculine than to express love to our loved ones. That’s true not only for fathers but for all of us. We can bestow no gift more precious to those who are wrapped up with us in the bundle of life. Reflect for a moment on the words of John, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear” (I John 4:18). Part of what John is telling us is that we need to boldly declare our love, not only for our loved ones but for the One who gave His life for us. I think that with this in mind, we can make more strides in being the father, son, man that we need to be. Wouldn’t it be powerful on this Father’s Day to emulate that courageous fallen Civil War hero and give voice to your love.
As many of you know, my father is no longer able to speak. The dementia that he is dealing with has taken that ability away. When I visit with him now, he will try to say things to me, but it comes out as simply gibberish. As I leave I tell him that I love him. He will look at me and in my heart I know that he is telling me that he loves me also. I am truly thankful for my father, just as each of you are of yours.
By Joe Widick
Usually I can get little children to play with me. I have always had a good time with our grandchildren, playing silly games, making them laugh. The silly games are just silly games to my older grandchildren. Josie who is three still laughs at the silly games. For the past two years I have tried in vane to get one of our missionary children to play with me. Andres is three years old and lives in a dangerous part of Tegucigalpa. He has no yard to play in. He shares a bedroom with his parents Ricardo and Ericka. I have been in his home, and tried every trick I knew to get to play with him, make him laugh, but to no avail. He will have nothing to do with me. I know I am a stranger to him, only seeing him once a year. I can ask him how he is in Spanish and I can count to 10, but after that communication becomes a struggle. He loves cars and trucks, just as John Derrick did at that age. All I want to do is just get down on the floor and play with him.
For the past two weeks, Elaine and I have been on SKYPE with Ricardo and Ericka. We visit and talk about various things concerning their work. It is a rewarding time. I am so thankful for technology that enables this. As we start our visit, Andres is always with his parents. We see him on the computer screen and he sees us. Ricardo always tells him to “look, hermano Joe and hermana Elaine” You can tell that the names mean something to him. He sits for a while in their laps before going to play. I told Ricardo that maybe by doing this he will get use to us and that will enable me to play my silly games with him when we go to visit in December. Ricardo said, he knows who you are, we have your picture and he prays for you and Elaine every night! WOW!! I have been so blessed through the years to have people pray for me. I cherish each and every prayer, including the prayers of a little three year old boy in Honduras. How rich are the promises that God makes to us concerning prayer. Jesus said; “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will given you.” (John 15:7). There is a promise from a God who is “not slack concerning His promises.” My prayer today is that more and more young parents will spend time with their children teaching them the importance of prayer. That prayer becomes a real part of their daily life. That those who spend time in prayer will experience the joy of knowing God has heard the prayer and will answer it as He and He alone knows is best.
By Joe Widick
Our beloved brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,
Once again it is a joy for me to share with all of you what is going on here in Bogotá, Colombia. As every day of our lives Jesus Christ has blessed us with every heavenly blessing according to His riches.
Church has entered a new stage about leadership this year. We glorify the Lord for this dream become true and for His mercy to this congregation. This month we appointed our elders and we are glad for the congregation has recognized the love, faithfulness and labor of these two brothers and their families at the Church.
These brothers are our new elders in the Church. We are so grateful with God the Father for these men who have been so faithful and loyal to God and at Calle 13 Church of Christ. We believe that this is Alfonso Guevara just the beginning of a new growth of this Ahilton Hoyos
congregation since our next step now is the appointment of deacons. We already know who would be our deacons in this church. There are three guys that have already been serving with much love. We had the joy of having the presence of three brothers who were visiting us. Brother Boz Arezina and Math Davis from Bammel Church of Christ; and brother Carlos Camacho from Mexico who was our speaker Sunday morning. We thank these brothers for their time and share with us this beautiful time.
We regret the absence of our sister Rocio Hoyos, Ailton Hoyos’ wife. Her absence was due to a surgery she underwent three days before the appointment.
Please keep these brothers in your prayers as they are leaded by the Holy Spirit in this very noble work. Also, help us to pray for a building for the Church, that’s our next goal. We want before we leave to left at list a building for this congregation that we see is growing in many aspects. We are in the process of studies with a building which is on sell at the same block where we are right now. It is in a good price, at list we think it is an affordable price that, with your help will be able to reach. The invitation remains for every one of you who would like to help us with this task. Your help will be welcome.
New Brethren
We praise the Lord for our new brothers and sisters that this month gave their lives to Jesus Christ.
Four more souls were added to God’s Kingdom this month. With these, we already have had 15 baptisms so far this year and many others are coming to visit us and are studying the Bible with us. We are so glad for the results and pray for these new members for they grow every day for now on. The attendance has been about 150 each Sunday. The Youth are working very well and evangelizing to their friends.
Our Family
As you know my brother Hugo Tercero and his family have been doing their internship with us since January of this year. Their work has encouraged the congregation has taken them very fond of them. The ladies of the church decided to celebrate Adriel’s first birthday (Hugo’s son). It was a very nice time of rejoice and communion for all of us.
Moreover, health hasn’t been the best nowadays. Gisela has been sick during three weeks now but hopefully she will get better with the treatment the doctor prescribed. Do you remember that I told you last time about a surgery for Gisela? Thank God, it seems like it won’t be necessary. The specialist said that he will try with another treatment. We pray God it works. Sarita got sick also, but she is doing much better now after nebulization. Anyways, Raquel and I have been fine and taking care of the other two.
Now that this is our last year here in Colombia, some opportunities of work have come to us. We are praying for God let us know where would be the best place to work and where He wants for us to be. There is a chance to go to Arlington, TX; and we think it is a very good project and a good opportunity that God is putting in front of us. I’ll let you know what we decide since the other option would be go back to Guatemala.
Thank you very much for your love and care toward us. We love you and keep you in our prayers. God bless you so much.
Because He lives,
Marvin Tercero and family.
By Joe Widick
Our beloved brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,
God’s work is going on and every day we see His powerful hand making wonders in the lives of the members of our church in Bogotá. Many souls have return to Christ their creator and have become part of His body. We celebrate that in this month we have had many new brothers and sisters for God’s glory.
Our National Youth Gathering
Getting Ready!!
This event was a complete success!! We thank God for the support we had from Him. There is not a doubt that his blessing made all this possible and the disposition of all the guys who were involved was very important, too. Since the very begging of last year (2010) we were working hard to reach our goal and be prepared with many things until the day everything start. We are so proud for the entire good job our youth made.
We got an attendance of about 170 in ages since 15 years old until 25 years old. Honestly, we were expecting more attendance but it seems that the heavy winter season here caused many struggles on the roads around the country and it made difficult that many of our brothers could travel. But anyways, the ones who came were so blessed by God trough all the activities and preaching we had.
We had classes and many activities that helped the guy to fellow each other.
As a result of this event we got 10 baptisms which 7 of them are now part of the church here in Calle 13 Church of Christ.
Hugo Tercero’s PAM
I’m glad of having my brother doing his PAM (Mission Apprentice Program). This the program that Baxter Institute has for every student who is in his last year of studies. Baxter send them to different places to practice as preacher but they are in an internship. They have been here since January 4th. They have been a big blessing for the church and they have helped us a lot in many areas of the church. When they just came started the hard job helping us with the National Youth Gathering, and so on, in many classes for the church, for children, for ladies, son leading, and preaching.
They will be here with us until April 1rt. We have plans for them to send them to Cartagena and share with the church up there, and be able to have another experience. They have to be at Baxter on July 4th and graduate on December. We pray God bless them in their ministry wherever they are and that God uses them for His glory and growth of His kingdom.
Elders Appointment
We are excited and ready for the ceremony on March 6th. One of our goals is becoming reality, to have our own elders in this congregation. Every one of you is invited to come and be with us for this very important day.
The attendance to the church has been an average of 140 people every Sunday. We thank God for that and hope to increase our membership. We continue studying with some friends who have come to visit us at church and they are very interested in the Gospel. Continue to praying for them as the Holly Spirit convinces them.
Now we are just asking God helping us to have our own building. We have been working in a plan to be able to buy it. We ask for your prayers please to reach this goal. We hope to be able to buy it before we leave Colombia.
Our Family
God the Father has been so faithful to me and my family. Raquelita just turned 6 years old on January 5th. Now she is in her 1rt grade at school and she is trying to adapting to the new school, but she is doing very well. It seems like the other school was good since the teachers of this new one say that she is very prepared for this new stage.
Sarita is starting her scholar carrier. She was very excited with the idea of going to school. She is learning many things and happy getting to know new friends.
This month was Gisela’s birthday. We thank God for his mercy and love during all this years to our side.
Now that we are in our last year in this mission we are starting to think about what is next. I thank God because wherever He want for us to go, will be serving Him and working to make His kingdom grow. Thank you for everything. We love you so much and wish that our Lord bless you all with a lot of blessings.
Because He lives,
By Joe Widick
Mother’s day Celebration at home
My wife’s family is very united so this year all they agree to celebrate Mother’s day at home, we really had special time together and I gave a little devotional about proverbs 31.
Baxter’s lectureships
In May 12 started Baxter lectureships and this year was based on Galatians 4.19 “until Jesus be formed in us” it was a nice experience but the attendance was few and maybe was because the economy situation.
Youth group meeting
After Sunday worship in May 15, then we went to have youth meeting with Villa Union Church of Christ youth Group and it was a very beautiful meeting and we hope that they are going to visit us soon to Guanacaste Church.
I have been working with the youth group visiting others congregation to motive them to grow up not just in number but spiritually.
The next Wednesday I am going to start to give the bible classes, I am going to be teaching about the unity at Church. I ask for your prayers.
The last Friday happened something terrible at our neighborhood, Ericka send an e-mail to you to give more details about it. It use to be a quiet neighborhood but actually the delincuence increase I ask for your prayers for my family and our neighbors.
On Saturday I stayed the hole night with Juan carlos Santamaria to encouraged him and help him to drive because he was not doing well, Ericka´s sister stayed with her while I was helping Juan Carlos.
Sunday morning May 22nd I went with Juan Carlos to the audience that he had with Carol and his daughter.
I called brother Javier Laínez to let him know about it, I couldn’t atended morning worship but I did it at night with Ericka, Andres and Juan Carlos.
Thank you all for all your care, support and love to me and my family.
I ask for your prayers for all the trials we had face, thanks God we are doing well phisically and spiritually I trust God that all things happened for good to us.
I hope you have a nice evening!
In Christ
Ricardo Guerra
By Joe Widick
March 26 we went to Ojojona, this place is about one hour by bus, to have a youth meeting in Elena Pérez’s house (Noé Perez’s daughter.)
we were singing, praying and taught about called to be and influence.
March 26, Guanacaste Youth Group, after been in Elena’s house in Ojojona we left to Santa Ana to the youth night. The invitation was for the most of the youth groups of Tegucigalpa we were there 120 youth people. It was a very blessed experience!
April 3, I traveled 4 hour by bus to La Torre, is near to the border of El Salvador, I went to preach to the Church of Christ in La Torre, they were happy to see me so do I, I was assigned to preach there when I was a Baxter’ student.
April 10, I was invited for Jairo Quiroz (the preacher) to Talanga Church of Christ to preach and it was a blessing day, we were there about 16 people (children and adults) and I stayed that night there to comeback to Tegucigalpa next day.}
This is the building that they are renting to have worships and also to live Jairo and his family.
I have been teaching about courtship during the last two month and for April they want me to teach about social networks (Facebook, twitter, etc.) the influence. They are excited about this and pitifully this is something that is absorbing the mind and hearts of young people.
The average of attendance to worships is in 100 (adults, children and young people.)
Some Sundays are less than that others more than 100.
On Wednesday the average of attendance is 10 adults
On Fridays is 6-8 adults.
In April 22 we had the vigil with the church in Guanacaste and also we invited to Villa Nueva Church of Christ, we had a very special time together remembering Jesus’ resurrection.
Yesterday we had a special day, after worship we went to Valle de Angeles with brother Noé, Javier, Cesar and I with our families. It was a blessing to spend time together!
To God because He bless me every day with this wonderful work; and keep safe my wife and son.
To all of you mission committee for your prayers, love and care for Andres, Ericka and I.
To Maple Hill Church of Christ members that make possible this ministry and are a blessing in my life!!
God Bless You All
