Here are some pictures from our Bridge Builders class lunch today. We had a great turn out and even adopted a few new members. We had the special honor of having Carmen’s mother with us. She lives in Lima Peru and is in town helping Carmen while she heals from her hang gliding accident. The Bridge Builders meet at Vision Baptist church on Sunday Mornings at 9:30. We invite you to come enjoy this exciting class with us.
Reading a stack of missionary prayer lettes this morning I came across the list of Bibles that Beams is trying to raise money for. Beams is an organization that translates, prints and distributes bibles to missionaries around the world. The current list of bibles needed includes 30,742 in various languages. Much of what makes up the number is a request for 50 or 100 bibles on a monthly basis. They also have recently shipped over 32,000 bibles in the languages of Africa, Mexico, Thailand, France, Togo, Nicaragua and Honduras. This is an amazing work and has my admiration. There is nothing more precious that we can give someone than the Word of God.
I also read the “blog” which is my daughter Kristen. She has had an especially diffiuclt week while being sick and trying to tough it out. I know that the Lord is working in her life while she is in Morocco. She talked in her blog about the importance of her devotional time. The time she spends in the Bible and how important it is that we make that time each day. It is preparation for the day when we need to draw upon its power to rise to the task that God calls us to.
That led me to wonder how many have bibles never get read. If you read the Beams letter you will see that there is a great need for Bibles all around the world. If you read Kristen’s blog you will see that you need to read your bible daily to preapre for what is coming. Maybe a read or donate program would be in order.
This was on Julio Soncco’s blog today. He is one of many missionaries working in Peru that is a member of Vision Baptist church. He is married to Austin’s daughter Joy and they have two children, Benjamin and Lelia. You can keep up with them on their blog.
Getting Ready
As you know, during summer we have groups come and visit the ministry here in Arequipa. My brother in law, Missionary David Gardner, is bringing a group of 15 people down. They will be arriving on Tuesday morning.
We have been working on the national airline tickets, hotel reservations, transportation while here, etc., etc., etc.. Pray for my wife as she has been preparing the menu and everything while they are here. This time she will be on her own, taking care of all the meals.
We are excited to have them come and visit. Pray that the Lord will bless each and every one that comes. Pray that we may be a blessing and of good testimony to them.
Julio Soncco
That is the title of Kristen’s blog. I know she agonized over what to call that. You would have to know Kristen to appreciate that title. It doesnt surprise me that she drank the three day left out milk. She is a pretty tough young lady. I hope she is bringing some recipies home to try out on dad. We will keep the milk cold.
Getting involved in missions is one of the greatest things you can do. Shortly after I accepted Christ and joined my first Baptist church, my pastor taught me the importance of supporting missions through my prayers, my giving and my time. He made sure that we had plenty of missionaries coming through the church and we got to be very close to them. He made sure that I understood how important it was for people to hear the gospel. You may think that is pretty fundemental but I was a brand new Christian.
Pray for all our missionaries in Africa. You can get information on all they are doing from David Lundy. Plan to visit a missionary family that has an exciting ministry. Kristen already told me she does not want to come back. That is the feeling I get everytime I go. Its wonderful and worth the cost of the travel. Pray about giving to missions, then while you are waiting on the answer, go ahead and give. Trust God that His will is for you to help out financially.
Today is my oldest daughter’s birthday. I want to wish Kristen a happy birthday and let her know that I am very proud of her and all she does for the Lord. Kristen turns 20 today and is a super special young lady.
She is on a 6 week trip to North Africa working with some of our friends there. I am so very glad that she has such a desire to be used of God and to use her talents for the Lord. It has been several years now since she came to me after a mission conference and told me in tears that she felt like God would have her in missions in some way. What a thrill.
God has blessed me with wonderful children that have been a blessing to Sandy and I. This is not much of a business blog but since there are so many miles between us today, I just wanted to wish Kristen a wonderful birthday.
I love you very much,
Dad
One of the men that shaped my life is my dad. I have called him one of the greatest encouragers I know. He has always been there for me and has taught me most of the basics that I use daily.
How to work: Dad never let work be an option. You worked and you liked it. You got up at a decent hour and went to bed that way also. Probably one of the greatest things you can teach your children is how to work. Dad has had several businesses in his career and modeled the diligence that it takes to be successful.
To have the courage of your convictions: Dad is big on convictions. I can remember him saying that phrase and still does. It means that if you really believe in something that you will have the courage it takes to live it. Sometimes that means the cost is higher than you thought. You still pay it.
No half way jobs. If you are going to do something, do it well. Don’t sweep a room and leave a pile of dust in the middle of the floor. I know that one because I did that one time when I worked at his furniture store. Only once!
Dad was born in 1929 and turned 79 last April. He works as hard as ever volunteering at the hospital and several other community outreaches. I want to wish him a happy Father’s Day and tell him that I love him and am grateful for all he has done for me.
In case you missed it, this just in from Morocco
”I just got back from the airport with all of the students. Talk about a long trip for everybody.
Their flight, which shoul have arrived at 7:30 A.M. Tuesday morning, didn’t land until 6:00 P.M. last night. It took another 3 hours for them to get through immigrations and actually let me know that they made it. Their luggage didn’t make it so it took another hour and a half to report it and work it out to where they will send everything to us here in the next couple of days.
We were able to catch the last train leaving the airport, buy more tickets at the connecting train station, eat a quick meal, and then jump on the overnight train at 12:30 A.M. Seven and a half hours later we made it home.
Just as a side note, I haven’t been able to get online for a while. This is absolutely ridiculous, but, according to every single airline company and taxi driver I talked to over the last two days, there isn’t a single form of internet within 15 miles from the international airport! I tried everything that I could think of and still couldn’t get online if my life depended on it. Talk about frustrating!
I just got back from showing all of the students where they’ll be staying for the next six weeks. We meet for lunch in about an hour and a half when we’ll go over the schedule together.”
Pray that God will give these young people a life changing trip.
One of the most exciting ministries I have ever been involved in is the Peru Bible College. This year, 66 students are studying for full time ministries and 12 will graduate this December. The director of the School is Miguel Murillo, pastor of the Hunter Baptist Church in Arequipa, Peru. Our missionary Chris Gardner, along with his family are in the states raising support for the Bible College as well as the TV station in Peru.
I would ask you to pray for Brother Chris, brother Miguel and all the students in Peru.
That is the missionary motto. I just talked to Kristen in New York. Their plane was delayed getting to its gate so they are not going to Morocco tonight. This reminds me of my first trip to Peru. She is sitting on the floor in the airport right now. The plan is to make camp there and leave tomorrow night at 8:00 p.m. On this trip is Kristen, Kathy, Jamie, Paul, John, Miranda, Maria, Cole, Amber and Beth.
Pray for them that they can get on tomorrow’s airplane.
The condition of every believer in Jesus is very similar to that of the landlubber on board the ship who, when the sea was rather rough, asked, “Captain, we are in great danger, are we not?” He received no answer, and so said, “Captain, don’t you see great fear?” Then the old seaman gruffly replied, “Yes, I see plenty of fear, but not a bit of danger.” It is often that way with us; when the winds are blowing and the storms are raging, there is pleny of fear, but there is no danger. We may be greatly tossed around, but we are quite safe, for we have an anchor of the soul that is both sure and steadfast and will not move.”
From the book “Prayer and Spiritual Warfare” by Charles Spurgeon.