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08/26/08 August 26, 2008 Dear Prayer Partners, Fall is in the air! Well, not exactly here, although the calendar tells us that September is fast approaching. As vacations come to an end in Venezuela, Mike and I are excited about what the Lord has planned for us in the upcoming months. Please continue to pray with us as we make plans to reach out to professionals this Fall. As I mentioned in my last prayer letter, Mike and I had the privilege of having a VBS team from Red Lane Baptist Church in Powhatan, Virginia. This was the 6th year a team from this church has come down to help us and we are very grateful for their continued support of our ministry. Together we did two VBS programs in the towns of Pueblo Nuevo and El Hato. Our friend, Elias, had begun two cell groups in these towns. There were about 50 kids in each VBS and we saw a lot of enthusiasm in their faces as they learned about Jesus. Elias recently told us that they now have a place to meet for a celebration service on Sundays. Please continue to pray for this new work. The last day of the VBS Elias baptized five young people who had come as helpers. It was a special time to see how these teenagers came to make a decision for Christ as they listened to their friends from Venezuela and the US give their testimonies during the week. Mike and I are especially excited about one young man named Jesus. He is the boyfriend of Blanca, one of our youth leaders in Punto Fijo. We had been concerned that she was dating an unbeliever and had talked with her about being "unequally yoked." The situation was very difficult for her, her parents and us. However, the Lord worked in this young man's heart and he accepted Christ in a sincere and humble way. His testimony was very moving. Please pray for Jesus and Blanca as they grow together in the Lord. I am excited about an open door the Lord has given us using the teaching of English. Mike started teaching a conversation class a few months ago at The Language College, an English language institute behind our apartment. After the class finished, several students wanted to continue meeting informally in our apartment over the summer. Two students have been very faithful in their attendance, Leo and Rudy. They have begun asking spiritual questions. Please pray for these two young professionals as we use English to discuss spiritual things. Mike and I need the Lord's wisdom as we introduce Bible verses into the class and address their questions. Finally, I want to share a very important prayer request. It concerns a young man name AngeloManuel. He is the 22 year old nephew of Maria, who is the owner of our apartment. AngeloManuel was a typical fun-loving young person, living the good life. His parents, Angelo and Giselle, belong to the upper class and the family enjoys all the comforts of having money. About three months ago, AngeloManuel went with some buddies to a street party and ordered a whiskey. A few hours after drinking it, he began to experience a terrible headache. He was taken to the hospital where the doctors diagnosed that something had been added to his drink that was poison. (We have been told that it was Methanol) His physical condition deteriorated to the extent that he lost all strength in his arms and legs and went blind. After over a month in the hospital he is back home. He is now receiving physical therapy and has regained some movement in his arms and legs. However, his is still totally blind. Maria asked us to visit AngeloManuel and his parents last week. We felt the Lord had given us an open door. As you might expect, his parents are devastated and don't know where to turn. AngeloManuel seemed in better spirits than his parents. We had a chance to speak with everyone and have prayer with them. Mike is going to return this week. Our prayer is to cultivate a friendship with this family and share with them the hope that comes through knowing Christ as Lord. Please pray for this young man, his parents and us that the Lord will be glorified in all that is said and done in His name. Always, JAN |
