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Missions Newsletter
October, 2008 - Number 70
BIRTHDAY/ANNIVERSARY–October
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Day
2
22
27
28
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Celebratee
Tim Mills
Joshua Cochrane
Thomas Schepian
Davor & Sandra Kukec
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Ask Virginia Carrell for an up-to-date “Lake Crest Presbyterian Church Missionaries” directory, for details concerning address and age of the celebratee.
Virginia Carrell, Correspondence Secretary
LCPC YOUTH MISSION EFFORT
The LCPC youth will be helping serve dinner and clean up at the Jimmy Hale Mission, Birmingham, AL on the following 2008 dates:
- November 19
ADDRESS CHANGES
PIERCE, RHONDA
URB Park Gardens
Calle Tolima 1-2AB
San Juan, PR 00926
Ph: 787-525-5409
Email:rpierce@ileadprogram.org
MISSIONARY NEWS—
LOPEZ, JOSHUA & BERTHA
“I am ministering among poor people of Hispanic back-ground. There are many challenges. Education, immigra-tion status, substance abuse, missing parents in homes (broken families) and consequently good paying jobs —in these areas of life many people in my area are found. Spiritually speaking, many look to the occult. Many are uncommitted to a particular church. Many need the Lord.
“Apart from teaching the Gospel, we have taught some how to read and do math as well as play music. These are social elements that even though the country we live in may give thousands of dollars to take care of, are not taken care of unless someone with love shows them how. I’m looking forward to strengthening relationships with those coming to our church service. The benevolence needed in the area is great. We have provided some benevolence to those whom God has brought into His fold entrusted to us.
“In addition, I am helping an established Spanish speaking PCA church in another area of Miami as they seek to grow the Spanish speaking congregation and begin an English speaking worship service. We have had two English speaking services as of today in this other PCA church that I am helping. They are also supporting our work in Miami River Church.”
TRIPLETT, SUZY
“A quick update on the national level. For those of you who have noticed Thailand in the news lately, I want to assure you that we are safe here. The past month has been filled with political protests in Bangkok, a few of which did turn violent and resulted in one death and many injuries. We are thankful that things were not worse. The elected Prime Minister who took office in February was deposed by a court of law two weeks ago and the parliament installed a new Prime Minister last week. There has not been a military coupe, nor do we expect one, but it is still unclear exactly how this political situation will be permanently resolved.
“On a personal note, my life is also in transition and promises to remain so for several months. Thank you for your continued prayers for me as I learn that all of these changes and unknowns are God’s way of directing me and teaching me to wait upon Him.
“Prayer Requests:
- That the current political instability would help open the hearts of the Thai people to the Gospel message and cause them to seek their security in Christ.
- For friends Knock, Nook and Kim—that they would become Christians.
- For God’s leading and my resting as I continue to make decisions about living and schooling arrangements for next year.”
SMITH, STEPHEN & BECKY
“Pete and Terry Rich would appreciate your prayers as they prepare the Manchineri New Testament for printing. It is all translated. Praise the Lord! Now they are making final corrections before it goes to press. The Manchineri Christians asked Pete if he would, please, translate all the Old Testament for them also. They desire to have all the Word of God in their language.
“Our new coworkers have arrived from Brazil. John and Carol Pierce have accepted to be part of our Member Services team. We are excited!! Please pray for them as they get settled and learn their new ministry.
“Thank you for your part in our lives!! It is very encouraging to know you are praying and cheering us on to victory in Jesus! Thank you for praying.”
REYNOSO, PAUL & PEGGY
Our Ministry:
“Our ministry assignment has changed since we completed our sabbatical, but Peggy and I continue to be involved in the Hispanic ministries of The Navigators, which has a new name—NavVida. We divide our time between five areas of ministry.
- Shepherds of the Hispanic Staff
- Hispanic Ministry in San Antonio
- Coaching Staff in Minority Ethnic Ministry
- Resources for Ministries in Latin America/Mexico
- Navigator Women’s Network.”
BAAS, MARTY
“I have received two blessings recently. One of our work-ers came into my office to invite me to her Presbyterian church, which is now being formally accepted by the Presbytery. Then she told me that one of our 9th grade graduates was coming to her church and had excitedly showed her the new pink skirt for singing in the choir. I was shocked. Cecilia did not like Colegio Renuevo [Marty’s school] since her mom had put her here in the 7th grade. In that year, I learned this family was going through a divorce and that explained this shy spaced out girl. Her second year, she didn’t attend school very regularly either, but by the 9th grade in my class, I bribed her, called her home and did everything to get her to attend. She came more often, but still didn’t like our school. She did not even come to her graduation and had a very poor excuse. On her testimony written in June, she said that it was good to know about God, but that she was not serving the Lord. Could a summer away from us or the entrance into the pub-lic school be the trigger for going to church and taking her mom and grandmother? I told our worker to hang on to her. Maybe seeds of faith have taken root and we have one more chance to teach her God’s word and His love. Please pray for this little nuclear family in our city. I praise the Lord for faithful teachers, especially in Bible and English classes where our textbooks help the teachers to really integrate faith and learning.
“The other blessing that I was gifted to hear happened at the Church (Puerts de Salvacion) dinner after worship on Sun-day. The last Sunday of the month is Missions Outreach and we packed the church so much that they let the children leave early for Children’s Worship just to have enough chairs. The young man near me at the dinner was invited by his professor of his biology internship. Right across from us was Rodolfo, an architect, who is our construction manager in our school project with the new wing. He al-ways comes on visitor’s day to bring some of his workers and their families. Thanks goes to an USA team pastor who shared the Gospel with them at break. You can remember, I wrote about Rodolfo’s testimony. He had gone to Canada to work in construction, but was surprised to find the Lord in the process. I just listened and prayed that his testimony would bless this young man and give God the honor. Isn’t this exciting that one of our guests does not hesitate to evangelize our other guests? Please pray for Ezekiel as our follow up team visits with him.
SIMMONS, PAULA
We have received correspondence from Paula, but since she requests that it not be copied or posted, if you desire to read the letter, ask Virginia Carrell to provide you with it.
COCHRANE, STEVE & BECKY
“Checks, Balances…Fairness. 3 lovely little words to this lover of justice. I never really knew how fond I was of them until moving to a country where the words friends or money mean more as a means of getting things done.
“Take for instance ‘The Hardware Guy.’ He is a Muslim man that sells his wares just on the outside wall of our property in downtown Bamako. We have come to know him over the past few years as a very kind, honest man, just trying to be and do his best to get to heaven. We have each had opportunity to share with him on several occasions. Then one day a woman hit him accidentally as she drove by, putting him in the hospital with severe leg damage and more bills than any average Malian could pay. She actually tried to help pay the doctors for a month or so, then realized it was becoming too much of a burden and left Bamako. Six months later, our friend is finally able to walk with a cane to get to his little boutique each day. Not only is he shamed by his handicap, he has bills that he cannot pay, and he has lost six months income as well as some of his merchandise. He has shared with us that this just doesn’t seem fair..
“And then there is the issue with the local government as to who is going to build on the outside of the wall just behind our house. Many small businesses like to build on the outside of others’ properties. Usually there is no problem with this, but we have said ‘no’ to metal workers who bang and clang steel all day and into the evening. One of these guys on the perimeter of our yard is already more than enough. Typically, these entrepreneurs come to the property owner to ask permission to plant themselves on the outside of the wall. However, last month one group of people decided to go about things rather deceptively, and in the end they turned out to be ‘friends’ with a government official. We lost out, and they got their stall. This month, we have been informed by the same government worker that had earlier made promises to help us that he has decided to give another chunk of our wall to none other than a metal worker, Never mind the fact that it is our property. Never mind the fact that we had been in communication with a medical ministry that was seriously considering using that spot. It looks like we have lost again.
“Pray for Jonny (7th grade), Josh (5th grade) and Danny (4th grade) that they would work hard, stay organized (oh please!) and be good friends to others.”
Email - lcpca@bellsouth.net
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