March/April 2012
Dear Pastor and Praying Friends,
Since we have been back, we have had much happen in our lives. In March we went to Connecticut to have the opportunity to meet
Fred Bambico’s parents. Fred and Danica-Lee had been getting more serious. They had told each other they loved each other, and
they we wanted to use Spring Break as an opportunity for the two families to get to know each other.
During the course of the week, Fred asked for my permission for Danica-Lee’s hand in marriage. So 23 years to the day that I
proposed to her mother, Fred proposed to Danica-Lee in his parent’s backyard. He had a beautiful white gold, diamond encrusted ring with a solitaire setting. Andrea’s sister Faith Ann, my brother in-law Wes, and our niece Dyanna were there to witness the happy occasion.
We headed out to Jeannette, Pennsylvania, and visited with one of our supporting churches, Heritage Baptist Church. They are always very good to us. I taught the Adult Sunday School Class. During the main service, a teenager by the name of Randy came forward for salvation, and I had the honor of leading him to the Lord. In between services, Andrea asked me to come into Josiah’s room. He was in tears. He said that for so many years he had felt like a liar because at service time he always raised his hand during the altar call when the preacher asked if everyone was a 100% sure they were saved. We thought he had gotten saved at the age of six, but it had just been a prayer to him. Then as he became a pastor’s kid and then a missionary’s kid, he felt ashamed and kept up appearances. But at the Youth Rally at Northeast Baptist Church on March 16, he could not stand the guilt anymore. He said he felt like his head was going to explode. He went to the men’s room and asked for salvation, asking Jesus to become his Saviour. I am so glad you can have an altar anywhere. I was so proud of him.
That night I preached “What Kind of Man Are You?” and many decisions were made. Heritage voted to increase our support, and they were so kind to us. We stayed at the Bjunes’ home while we were there, and if you have never met them, you are missing out!
We went next to Bible Baptist Church in Tyrone, Pennsylvania. We had been introduced to Pastor Patterson through DL. Kimmy, one of her good friends, had invited DL to her home during the Christmas break, and from that we had been given an invitation to come and present our ministry in Peru. I taught the Adult Sunday School and in the main service. They had a morning attendance of around 105 people. This was amazing! Just two years earlier, they had 9 people, and they had been without a pastor for three years before Pastor Patterson came. During the altar call, one of the young men who had been raised in the church came forward for salvation. He said he had questioned his salvation for many years and wanted to put it to rest. In the evening I preached again, and there were 53 in the service. During the altar call, many of the young men came forward and made decisions for Christ. We had a great time there and made many good friends. Last week Pastor Patterson called and told us they had voted to
take us on for support.
This past Sunday was a big day for us. Josiah had spoken with Pastor Schaap and told him he had gotten his salvation settled and wanted to be baptized. Pastor Schaap told Josiah how proud he was of him. So on Sunday night Pastor Schaap baptized him. During that same altar call, Fred and Danica-Lee came forward to publically dedicate their engagement to the Lord. As parents we were
so proud of both our children, and we felt like we were floating on Cloud 9!
For the rest of this month, we will be staying around Northwest Indiana. I have some projects I am getting ready for the team, and then in May the team will be having meetings as we plan out our team launch that begins in June. The Foust family will be the first family departing for Peru at the end of May. Please keep them in your prayers. We know what it is like to leave your home for another continent, and it can be scary and exciting at the same time.
We want to thank you for your continued prayers, support, and love. With the upcoming team launch in June and the upcoming wedding in December, there is much to get done, and I could sure use a couple more hours added to each day.
Our prayer requests are as follows:
Some have asked how they can be of assistance to us. We are scheduled to head back to Peru around the 17th of July and we need to procure tickets. They will cost around $2000 for the three of us and any assistance you can give would be greatly appreciated.
We have personal possessions in Alberta we would like to get so we can send them to Peru in the container. Please pray that we can either go to get them or somehow they are sent to us here in NWI.
Thank-you again for all that you do on our behalf,
Paul, Andrea, & Josiah Szabatin
Ezra 8:21-23
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