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As we were preparing for our time in Greenville, SC we were looking to confirm housing. He used the persistent searching of a friend to find a house for us just a couple days before we arrived in South Carolina last week. He knows just the right way to provide for our needs and stretch our faith in Him.
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Prayer Request - Spanish Language Proficiency
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Spanish is the primary vehicle we will need for clearly communicating biblical truth in Peru. With that in mind, we want our Spanish to sound as close as possible to that of a native Spanish speaker, so our way of communicating does not present a roadblock to a person's understanding of biblical truth. God's grace has been evident over the years as He has given us many opportunities to learn and practice Spanish in various settings. There is so much more to learn. We want to be wise stewards of our time and resources now, so when we get to Peru we can more effectively communicate the clear truths of Scripture.
Pray that God will give us many opportunities to progress in our Spanish comprehension and communication in the coming months. Pray specifically that God will give us consistent conversation time with educated, native Spanish speakers that can help us root out any grammatical and pronunciation errors that have crept in over the years and give us insight to the nuances of the language. Pray that God will give us humility to admit when we make mistakes, the ability to laugh at our mistakes, and a commitment to press on for God's glory.
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"You will be my witnesses . . ."
Acts 20:21
"testifying to both Jews and Greeks about
repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus."
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The other week, on a Wednesday night, we hopped in our van to head to Harvest Bible Church, one of our partnering churches. We had enough time to get there about five minutes early, then we noticed that we needed to put gas in the van. No problem - we don't have any specific responsibilities at church, it'll be quick; and we should still get there on time. As we pull into Citgo, we notice that all the pumps are full and a vehicle is waiting in line. I look over at the Sunoco and all the pumps are open. No problem, we drive over there. I hop out, unscrew the gas cap, and notice a sign saying the card reader is broken; so I'll have to pay inside. To this point all these things seem like unfortunate delays . . . until I get inside. I recognize the young man behind the counter. I met him several months back and was able to share a brief gospel overview as I told him how God is directing us to Peru.
As we talk, I realize that he remembers me and a little bit about Peru. He thinks, however, that we are going there to do humanitarian aid. Our work, though, is much more than than that. It is to be ambassadors for Christ pleading with people on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20). We chatted for a couple minutes and then I asked him about his religious background. He has grown up in the Hindu religion and now he teaches classes to youth at the Hindu gatherings. He describes some of Hinduism to me. It claims to present paths to God, but it does not offer a solution for the problem of sin and the consequences that sin brings. For the next fifteen minutes God gave me opportunities to answer this man's questions and objections with clear biblical truth. No other customers came in until our conversation was about done.
Now I can see that all those "unfortunate delays" were God's providential way of getting more gospel truth to a young man. It's amazing and humbling to realize that God earnestly searches for sinners like a shepherd would search for a lost sheep (Luke 15). Pray that this young man will repent of his sins and believe in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
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Other Prayer Requests
That God would provide:
1) For us to be moved to Peru by February 2016 (God seems to be pushing this back a little. We will keep you updated as He gives us more direction.)
2) Direction for where we should travel to in the spring of 2016
3) Strong, long-term partnerships with 10-15 like-minded churches.
4) Long-term ministry partnerships with individuals and families.
5) Spiritual faithfulness, safety, and financial provision as we travel.
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Future Travels
Early November
Cleveland Park Bible Church in Spartanburg, SC
Iglesia Bautista de la Gracia in Hendersonville, NC
Mid to late November
Revisiting churches in Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Early December
Grace Baptist Church in
Wilmingon, NC
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