Weekly Ministries

We are attempting to make as many relationships with people as possible. This has proved daunting, since we are still learning the language. However, we have learned a few ways that we have been able to connect with our neighbors. On January 19, we had a party at our house, where we served everyone barbeque pork and chicken with rice, refried beans, and potatoes. This was a very good opportunity for us to meet our neighbors, because everyone showed up for free food! And since over 45 people showed up, we now have a large number of visitations that we can make. During that particular party, we shared worship music and a gospel message. It was very encouraging to see one of the head Catholics in our village drive his car down the road, stop in front of our house, and listen to the gospel message from inside the protection of his vehicle. He, like many Catholics, never want to be seen at a Christian function, but are interested in the Christian faith.

We are making regular visitations to the believer’s homes, participating in Bible studies and answering questions as they bring them to us. This has been a challenge to our language skills, and we have accepted it with open arms.

Lacy has begun teaching piano to two students: Carmen, and Fernanda, who is the oldest daughter of Pati and Uriel. Both enjoy the lessons very much, especially Fernanda, who is excited to learn the keyboard, and who has a natural ear for music.

We will have a clothing sale next week, from which the procedes will be used to start a construction project for one of the brothers in the church. Two weeks after this event, we are planning on holding a revival in our village, to which several other missionaries and pastors will be coming. We look forward to this opportunity to work with them and meet new faces!

Our neighbors proclaim to be Christians, but are not currently attending church anywhere, and have asked us several times when we can start a church in Victoria. There is one other church here – an apostolic church (specifically, a church that requires long dresses, headcoverings, and believes that there is no Trinity, only Jesus, who acts as all three parts of God) – and they do not have a desire to attend there. We have been leary to begin Bible Studies for our lack of the language, but lately, feel it impressed upon us that we should start one soon since there is interest. Please be in prayer about this.

Lacy is still working on websites for two ministries, and improving our own. It is a desire for us to able to switch website hosts to bring down our monthly costs going out of our ministry funds. Please pray that we can effectively switch soon.

Please be in much prayer for us. Spiritual battles are not uncommon here, especially in our marriage, and it has become increasingly difficult as we learn more of the language and delve deeper into Bible Study and conversation about the Word with people. At times, it seems with every victory of speaking to someone about the scriptures or the way of the Christian faith, we find that we are attacked even stronger. But our faith remains firm in that calling to which we have been called, and in the Lord, who we know can preserve, keep, and protect us.