Dear Brothers and Sisters, Supporters of our ministry:

It is with great pleasure that I write this report to share with you all that God has allowed us to do here in Guatemala. I want to thank you for the time and the resources that you invest in the work that God has called us to carry out here. May God bring joy and encouragement to your heart as you participate in the enhancement of God’s Kingdom among the Quiche people.

Although the Lord has graciously blessed our ministry this period, we also have encountered some opposition from the enemy, mainly thru health and extended family issues. In relation to health, David and Ginny are the ones who have suffered the most, especially David. At his age, he has dealt with so many health issues. It seems like it has been one thing after another. We are thankful to report that he seems to have recovered for the most part from the stubborn infection he has had since January (thank you so much for your prayers for him). But last week we discovered that he has dental problems—cavities and problems with his bite that will require orthodontic procedures. Last week our dentist worked on his teeth for two and a half hours! Needless to say, that procedure was painful but also it was a very discouraging experience for him. On the other hand, Ginny is battling with stomach problems as well as muscle pains. She doesn’t think that are not serious problems, but they zap the energy she needs for her daily responsibilities.

Seeing my son and wife in pain has made think a lot about suffering. I think the Lord is helping me to understand its role in our Christian walk. As much as I want the Lord to remove it from my life, I have come to accept it as part of our human experience and I have tried hard to look for what the Lord wants to teach me thru it. This is one of the hard lessons to accept in my spiritual development. As I have come to understand its role, it has been a little bit easier to accept it.

This is also a difficult time for Ginny because her mother has been in an assisted living facility this last year and it seems that she is in need of more help to remember things. My brother-in-law is the only family member that is in the area and issues have come for which he has needed Ginny’s help. Ginny feels bad because she is so far away and cannot provide the needed help.

Lastly, due to the economy, we have lost some of our monthly support since last April and will lose more next month which creates some adjustment in our ministry budget as well as some anxiety in me. I know that God is in control because He has been faithful to provide for this ministry and our family all these years and yet as a human being I need your prayers.

MINISTRY ACCOMPLISHMENTS SO FAR THIS YEAR:

EVANGELISM:

Evangelism has been accomplished first of all thru our radio broadcasts at six different radio stations. The response of the audience has been very positive especially among the Catholics. They have expressed to the local radio directors that they like our program for three reasons: the content is Biblical, it is done professionally and we do not there condemn them as most Evangelical Christian programs do. These coming months we will have the opportunity to triple our time in one of the most well known radio station among the Quiche people. Our programs will be broadcast mornings, afternoons and evenings.

Secondly, evangelism has been accomplished among the Quiche youth. This has been the sole responsibility of my wife, Ginny, and our son David. A month ago 6 young ladies accepted Christ. What a blessing it is to see more Quiche young people come for the Bible teaching than the English class we hold before it! We thought that the English class would be an incentive for the youth to come, but we have discovered that more young people come to the devotional time than the English class. Every Saturday afternoon, an average of 22 young men and women gather consistently at our headquarters.

Lastly, evangelism has been accomplished through the different opportunities that I have had as I speak at different churches that have invited me to preach the gospel in their special celebrations, such as anniversaries, birthdays and funerals and one on one contacts David, Ginny and I have had with people in the community.

DISCIPLESHIP:

At this time, discipleship has been carried out mainly by Ginny and David who meet weekly with the new converts. David does it by meeting individually once a week with the different individuals. Ginny, on the other hand, meets with one, two or three people once a week as well as the youth of the youth group board of directors. We praise God for the way that He is blessing this ministry. We have seen the young people mature in their spiritual walk with God.

Isaias has began to disciple a Christian lawyer. Although for different reasons, they have not met consistently. There is another person that our Board has assigned Isaias to begin discipling. This responsibility will begin next week.

Although Jorge, our former assistant director, is no longer working full time with our ministry, he is continuing to disciple 8 pastors in Nahuala. He meets with them as a class every Tuesday morning. These pastors requested that he continue the discipleship class and he gladly accepted their invitation.

BIBLE TRAINING:

At present, we have 15 teaching centers opened. Our 3 levels of courses are being taught. Seven classes are studying Panorama, five are studying Synthesis and three are studying Analysis. Our total student population is 170 trainees taught by 8 itinerant teachers.

BIBLE TEACHER TRAINING:

We have recruited 6 young men among our student body to be trained as itinerant teachers. There are requests to open new teaching centers so we need new teachers. The selected ones are excellent students and excited to teach the word of God. We have held their first training session and the second session will take place at the end of this month.

HELPS:

Our ministry has opened 5 libraries at different locations on the church properties of our graduates. Having a library at the church has been a stretching experience for the pastors, but they also have seen the blessing that this service has brought to the community. An average of 150 students uses each library every month. It has been encouraging to see the young people come to research and study.

The ministry also provides scholarships to different students who lack the money to study our courses. Although we do not charge, they still have expenses for traveling to the teaching centers and they have to buy a lunch on their way.

The ministry also provides a traveling allowance to each member of the Board as we meet every other month. The greatest investment that we have is the monthly allowance that we give to our itinerant teachers that travel to the different teaching centers. Without our help, they would not be able to travel.

SPECIAL PROJECTS:

1. Christmas baskets for widows and orphans: this is a tradition that we carry out each year. Last Christmas we did not do as many, because of the economy but we distributed some to the most needy people in our area.

2. Ruth Kennedy, our library sponsor was here for three weeks doing an evaluation at each library location to see if we have reached our objectives. She also taught English at two different public schools for three weeks.

3. The president of CHIEF has asked me (Isaias) to help with the Latin America ministries. I have expressed to him that I would be willing to help because I see the need. At this point, I am not accepting the position of Latin America director, but I will help Huron when he sees that my intervention necessary. CHIEF would pay my traveling expenses. I believe that this would be a good arrangement for the present time.

A. MINISTRY GOALS FOR MARCH 15 THRU APRIL 15, 2012:

1. To complete the evaluations of our five libraries. Ruth Kennedy evaluated three of them while she was here and Isaias will finish evaluating the last two this month.

2. To open two new Panorama classes—one at our headquarters taught by Isaias and one in the rural area taught by Manual Guarcas.

3. For Isaias to hold another training session for our new itinerant teachers.

B. PROGRESS OF MINISTRY GOALS FOR DECEMBER 15 THRU JANUARY 15, 2012

1. December 19, for Isaias to meet with the Ministry Board to make the necessary adjustments due to Jorge’s leaving our ministry.
ACCOMPLISHED SUCCESSFULLY.
I was so thankful for our Board, they not only helped me to find alternatives how to carry the ministry but also they were so kind in helping Jorge in his new ministry.

2. December 20 thru the 22, for Isaias and Jorge to continue the recording of the Radio programs so that Jorge can train the new administrator to help with the recording ministry next year.
ACCOMPLISHED.
Jorge has decided to continue helping me do the recording to the end of the course.

3. December 23 thru January 2, headquarters will be closed for the holidays.
ACCOMPLISHED

4. January 3 for Isaias to hold a half day of prayer with the staff.
NOT ACCOMPLISHED

5. January 4 for Isaias to meet with the staff to plan for the new year of ministry.
ACCOMPLISHED

6. January 9 thru the 13 for all the centers to be opened for pastoral training.
ACCOMPLISHED SUCCESSFULLY

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1. Please pray for our son David, who has gone thru a lot of health problems in the last 3 months. We believe that the enemy is attacking him because of his ministry. He is a passionate young man and Satan discourages him thru sickness or the feeling of not being good enough to minister.

2. Please pray for Ginny’s health condition. She has not feeling good this past year. Family and ministry issues have affected her health.

3. Please pray for safety as we travel to the different teaching centers. Guatemala is not a safe country at the present time. Although the new President is trying to get control over the country, the gangs and the drug traffickers are testing his leadership by committing horrendous crimes everywhere.

4. Please pray that the Lord will raise churches or individuals who will become part of our financial supporting team, since our main supporting church has decided to stop their monthly support for our work, beginning in May. This church was providing $1600.00 a month. We need your help for contacts.

5. Please pray that we find someone to replace Jorge. In the meantime, please pray for Isaias so that he can juggle all the work that needs to be done.

6. Please pray for Jorge’s new ministry. He is having a hard time adjusting to the new organization and the new pace of work. We desperately need a good Quiche Bible and the enemy is creating problems in the translation team.

7. Please pray for Maridalma, a young girl from our youth group, and her family. Her young mother (age 32) is suffering from terminal cancer and her father has basically abandoned the family. Pray that God will comfort them, protect them, and provide for their needs.

PRAISES:

1. We praise God for the new opportunity that we have to expand our radio ministries.

2. We praise God for the six young men who are in training right now to become our new itinerant teachers.

3. We praise God for Jorge’s opportunity to lead the Quiche Bible translation team whose assignment is to produce a good Bible for the Quiche people.

4. We praise God that David has been accepted at The Master’s College for the Fall of 2012 which begins in mid August. Please pray that God will strengthen him physically so that he will be ready for the rigorous academics there. Also, please pray that he will receive adequate financial aid to help with the costs.

5. We praise God for another year of life that He has given Annie!

 

Can you imagine 500 Nations giving glory to God? It was the prayer of David Brainerd over 200 years ago.

He prayed, Friday, December 21, “Towards noon visited my people, (Native Americans), and spent the whole time in the way to them in prayer, longing to ‘see the power of God’ among them…”

Plan now to attend the 2012 Native Women’s Spring Conference with our guest speaker,Mrs. Carolyn Hopkins, on March 30 – 31, 2012. It is always a great time of fellowship, praise and worship, Bible study, and crafts.

Download Letter and Registration Form

Nearby Hotel Rooms Available 

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