How much we need your prayers!
Just a two months ago we concluded our third furlough in 17 years of ministry in Venezuela. We are deeply grateful to the Lord for the blessing of visiting churches that have been faithful allies for years. Also, what a bonus to see God miraculously orchestrate the opportunity to visit and share His ministry with new churches.
I would like to share my heart with you about how necessary your prayers are for families returning to the mission field...
THE STRESS OF TRAVEL: Dealing with airlines on trips that can take between 3 to 5 days from start to finish; spending the night in airports; losing luggage or having to pay for extra luggage when the rules of some airlines are not standard... we need prayer!
WEATHER READJUSTMENT: Leaving winter conditions and arriving at constant summer, although a welcomed factor, can directly affect our health... WE NEED PRAYER! (Thank God, the heat completely relieved the nagging cough I had during the cold months in the USA.)
DOMESTIC READJUSTMENT: Vacating a house on the mission field for months, demands a deep cleaning. Then there’s the organizing of suitcases/boxes brought back, when, honestly, we only want to chill for 3 days to regain strength and mental clarity after sleepless nights... WE NEED PRAYER!
DIETARY READJUSTMENT: For some missionary families, the new diet is usually another challenge... in our favor, fruits and vegetables in tropical countries always have an extraordinary flavor and we are already counting down to the mango season... WE’LL PRAY FOR YOU!
MAINTENANCE REESTABLISHED: It’s almost amusing to see how every day since we arrived something in the house or car needs regard, repair or replacement. The funny thing is that there is a daily challenge to face that can change our schedule. To complicate matters, many foreign missionaries don’t have access to Walmart, Home Depot or Lowe's, so ingenuity expands! YouTube trains us “professionally” when we have no idea what to do, or else, we have to wait very patiently for a repairman... WE NEED PRAYER!
EDUCATIONAL READJUSTMENTS: Gabriela and Santiago had to dive into school activities 2 days after landing so that might have a fair chance of passing the current school year, along with necessary preparation for Nataly's university studies... WE NEED PRAYER!
MINISTRY READJUSTMENTS: Our greatest joy has been returning to churches (Puerta Abierta (Open Door) in Sanare and ANCLA in Barquisimeto) with many new faces, and those we left here are in their place, still faithful to God. To Him be the glory! We have had to immediately jump into activities such as baptisms, conferences and Discipleship that characterizes the beginning of the year... WE NEED PRAYER!
Every missionary encounters very particular struggles, from the shortcomings and difficulties typical of third world countries, to the physical and mental adjustment to the climate, culture, and schedules of each country.
As your missionary family, we need your prayers so much, as we learn from each process to trust the Lord even more and to depend on Him beyond our strength, abilities, contacts or resources. Every missionary family needs your faithful prayers, because we fight every day against an enemy that hinders us and who will do whatever it takes to keep souls captive in darkness. Our family needs your prayers so much to continue loving the Lord with all our mind, soul and strength, to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, and to love and share the truth of His word with the people around us! We need your prayers to continue being ambassadors in the name of Christ in the place to which He has called us and where He, by his pure grace, has brought us and kept us standing!
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