Dear praying friends,
We started the month of July on Sarah’s uncles’ farm in Georgia. One of her uncles, Pastor Heck Davis, is also one of our supporters. Pastor Davis helped us earn some extra money by letting us pick corn during their corn season. Upon leaving the farm we journeyed out to the West Coast as far as Washington visiting churches along the way there and back. We ended the month helping in a Vacation Bible School in the mountains of Colorado with Pastor Darryl Reeves. During the month we presented the vision for Peru in 12 churches, preached 11 times, and saw 11 saved through personal soul winning. While picking corn, traveling across our great country, and participating in Vacation Bible School, we were reminded again and again that GOD IS SO AWESOME!
We could write a book if we shared all the blessings and stories of the great fellowship from church to church, souls saved along the way, and Vacation Bible School; however, because of time we will share two. While out soul winning in Colorado with Elijah Reeves we had a man answer the door. As I was introducing myself, I completely forgot my partner’s name. Please forgive me. I didn’t want to look dumb so I instantly made up a name. I introduced him as Bob. The man invited us into his home and I had to confess that I had lied about my partner’s name. Thankfully he found it humorous. We continued talking and found out he was a Navy Seal with many kills. He was doubtful that God could forgive him for his past deeds. We then talked about the omnipotent power of God’s forgiveness. A half hour later he put all his trust in Christ for salvation. In spite of being a bad soul winning partner, God still saves! Hallelujah! Our next story is about two children. Irene and Angel came everyday for VBS from one of the homes Sarah got to visit and invite. Irene, a second-grader, raised her hand for salvation on Monday. Her teacher, a mother of four small children, gave her the gospel; however, she seemed hesitant to pray and trust Christ. Two days later she raised her hand again and went out with
the same teacher. After the teacher reviewed salvation she invited the children to pray and receive Christ. Irene spoke out and said, “I did that already.” The teacher asked her, “Where and when did you do this?” Irene answered, “Yesterday, in my room, I knelt by my bed and asked Jesus to come into my heart and wash away my sins with His blood.” Testimonies like Irene’s make the extra effort it takes for moms of small children like Sarah Rader and Christy Spillman to go out and invite children to VBS and teach in VBS so worth it!
We cannot thank you enough for your love, prayers, and support. Please continue pray for our van and our safety on the road. Please pray for our team members already in Peru doing a great work. Please pray for our support and travel needs. Our plans are to leave the first week of December for Peru. We have 50% of our monthly support coming in presently. Thank you to all who are helping us along the way. We count it an honor and a privilege to represent Christ and you to the lost of Peru. Thank you, and God bless you.
His for souls,
Mark, Sarah, Savannah, Paul Rader
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
July Prayer Letter from the Foust Family
Dear Praying Friends and Supporting Churches,
We are not starting the church until September. At least, that is the joke that is
going around the team right now. Although we did not plan to start Iglesia Bautista
International until we’re all settled, we decided to rent a storefront in which to hold services in the same neighborhood as our future property. We printed one thousand tracts and spent a Saturday soul winning and inviting people to church. The tracts were gone in a few days and we filled all of our chairs the first Sunday. We now have several faithful families who call IBI their home church, and each service brings new visitors. This last Sunday, we had 66 in attendance. (And, yes, we had ten thousand tracts printed the next time!)
The business of not starting a church has kept us very busy. We have been able to purchase 2 vans to move our families around. We also rent a combi (small bus) in
which to have Sunday school for the children. I teach the adult Sunday school class each week called the Common Faith class and we now have many adults who come faithfully to learn more about God’s word. It is so exciting to be a part of this amazing work, and watch so many people trust Christ as their Savior.
One of the greatest sights is watching new Christians bring their own visitors to church.
A man named Mateo goes visiting with me each Saturday. Many of the people have brought their family and friends to services. Jorge, a teenage boy, brings friends to
be saved at almost every service. Zach, Jr. led a boy named Clayton to the Lord (his first in Spanish) as he was watching the service thru the open doorway. The next service Clayton returned, bringing a friend with him! A man named Pablo trusted Christ and took Bro. Hubbard to the homes of many of his family members asking him to give the Gospel to his family of whom several were saved. There are too many stories of God’s grace to give them all in this prayer letter. More than 70 souls have been saved this month.
While Satan’s attacks are certainly in evidence, God’s blessings are around us
every day. May you continue to feel God’s blessing and goodness in your life. Thank
you for your investment into this ministry and into our family. Please know none of the blessings we see here today would be possible without your help and prayers.
Please continue to pray for the great vision God has put before us. Please pray for the families who are still stateside raising support to join us. Safety on both sides of the pond is of great concern. Pray for our families getting settled in Peru. God has been so good to us.
His for Souls,
Zachary and Karin Foust, Zach, C.J., and Logan
We are not starting the church until September. At least, that is the joke that is
going around the team right now. Although we did not plan to start Iglesia Bautista
International until we’re all settled, we decided to rent a storefront in which to hold services in the same neighborhood as our future property. We printed one thousand tracts and spent a Saturday soul winning and inviting people to church. The tracts were gone in a few days and we filled all of our chairs the first Sunday. We now have several faithful families who call IBI their home church, and each service brings new visitors. This last Sunday, we had 66 in attendance. (And, yes, we had ten thousand tracts printed the next time!)
The business of not starting a church has kept us very busy. We have been able to purchase 2 vans to move our families around. We also rent a combi (small bus) in
which to have Sunday school for the children. I teach the adult Sunday school class each week called the Common Faith class and we now have many adults who come faithfully to learn more about God’s word. It is so exciting to be a part of this amazing work, and watch so many people trust Christ as their Savior.
One of the greatest sights is watching new Christians bring their own visitors to church.
A man named Mateo goes visiting with me each Saturday. Many of the people have brought their family and friends to services. Jorge, a teenage boy, brings friends to
be saved at almost every service. Zach, Jr. led a boy named Clayton to the Lord (his first in Spanish) as he was watching the service thru the open doorway. The next service Clayton returned, bringing a friend with him! A man named Pablo trusted Christ and took Bro. Hubbard to the homes of many of his family members asking him to give the Gospel to his family of whom several were saved. There are too many stories of God’s grace to give them all in this prayer letter. More than 70 souls have been saved this month.
While Satan’s attacks are certainly in evidence, God’s blessings are around us
every day. May you continue to feel God’s blessing and goodness in your life. Thank
you for your investment into this ministry and into our family. Please know none of the blessings we see here today would be possible without your help and prayers.
Please continue to pray for the great vision God has put before us. Please pray for the families who are still stateside raising support to join us. Safety on both sides of the pond is of great concern. Pray for our families getting settled in Peru. God has been so good to us.
His for Souls,
Zachary and Karin Foust, Zach, C.J., and Logan
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
July Prayer Letter from the Martin Family
August 6, 2012
Dear Praying Friends,
I am overwhelmed and amazed at the awesomeness of my God! I wonder every month how I should begin this letter. I have thought and thought what the first sentence should be. So as I compile all my thoughts and emotions and begin reflecting on the last four weeks, I can really only say that God is great, and I am so humbled to be His servant!
Seven weeks have passed since we arrived in Lima. During this time Jessica and I have been able to move into our permanent home and purchase all of our necessary appliances and furniture. We will continue “equipping” our house little by little each month, but I am thankful that God has given us such a beautiful place that my wife can call home.
As I stated in our last letter, we started the Iglesia Bautista Internacional the day after our arrival. We spent the entire month of May planning how to launch our church and make an immediate impact in our community. Our plan is to do this in the month of September, once the majority of the team has joined us. However, as you could imagine, we were very eager to get busy doing what God has called us to do. We decided to simply start a church in the home of Bro. Dan Hubbard and see where God would lead. Since our arrival, we have been walking through the streets of Chorrillos praying for God to open a door for us. After walking several miles one Saturday, we “stumbled” across a small storefront for rent. Then God blew a door open for us! After only one phone call, the building was offered to us for only $270 a month! Four weeks ago we held our first service in the Villa Marina neighborhood. The corner that was once covered in graffiti and known for drugs, gangs, and drinking is now a church!
God has truly blessed our church. We have since already begun to look at property for sale to give us a more permanent location and to accomodate the crowd in the building we have already outgrown! In the month of July, God brought a total of 94 different people through the doors of our church and allowed us to see a total of 54 trust Christ as their Saviour! Praise God! Oh for more time and space to tell all the stories of what God is doing!
God has brought many precious people into our lives. Julio, Veronique, and Kenya were our first visitors! Veronique got saved and has become our biggest helper and volunteer around the church. They have such sweet spirits, and we are excited for what God is doing in their lives.
Cecilia also came to church our first Sunday and got saved. Right away she brought her mom and younger sister to church, and they, too, accepted Christ. The Naupari home then became the site of our first weekly Bible study! There is something special about the hunger they have for the Word of God. When we arrived for our first Bible study, Olga (Cecilia’s mom) was walking outside her home with her Bible clutched to her chest. She said, “Pastor, I wasn’t sure if you were going to make it, so I told my children that we would just sit down and read the Bible.” Oh, if we all still hungered for God like that! So far, six members of her family have trusted Christ and are faithful to church.
We knew that any endevour for God would be met with resistance from Satan. The Devil did not disappoint. But I am so glad that Jesus said of His church that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Please do keep us in your prayers. The Devil has attacked us on the homefront, here, and by attacking our people. With a church full of new converts, we have many hurting people in need of big things from God. I am so glad that “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
Thank you for your love, prays, and support. Jessica and I and the people of Chorrillos owe a great debt to each of you. Please keep us in your prayers. We are trusting God to continue to do great things in the church; plus this week we are planning on launching six in-home Bible studies. I know that God has a great plan for our people and our district. After a few services in our new building, a lady walked by and asked, “Is this THE church? The church that EVERYONE is talking about?” I cannot wait till the buzz going through Villa Marina travels throughout Chorrillos and then Lima and all of Peru!
Excited about what Jesus is doing,
Junior and Jessica Martin
Romans 9:3
Dear Praying Friends,
I am overwhelmed and amazed at the awesomeness of my God! I wonder every month how I should begin this letter. I have thought and thought what the first sentence should be. So as I compile all my thoughts and emotions and begin reflecting on the last four weeks, I can really only say that God is great, and I am so humbled to be His servant!
Seven weeks have passed since we arrived in Lima. During this time Jessica and I have been able to move into our permanent home and purchase all of our necessary appliances and furniture. We will continue “equipping” our house little by little each month, but I am thankful that God has given us such a beautiful place that my wife can call home.
As I stated in our last letter, we started the Iglesia Bautista Internacional the day after our arrival. We spent the entire month of May planning how to launch our church and make an immediate impact in our community. Our plan is to do this in the month of September, once the majority of the team has joined us. However, as you could imagine, we were very eager to get busy doing what God has called us to do. We decided to simply start a church in the home of Bro. Dan Hubbard and see where God would lead. Since our arrival, we have been walking through the streets of Chorrillos praying for God to open a door for us. After walking several miles one Saturday, we “stumbled” across a small storefront for rent. Then God blew a door open for us! After only one phone call, the building was offered to us for only $270 a month! Four weeks ago we held our first service in the Villa Marina neighborhood. The corner that was once covered in graffiti and known for drugs, gangs, and drinking is now a church!
God has truly blessed our church. We have since already begun to look at property for sale to give us a more permanent location and to accomodate the crowd in the building we have already outgrown! In the month of July, God brought a total of 94 different people through the doors of our church and allowed us to see a total of 54 trust Christ as their Saviour! Praise God! Oh for more time and space to tell all the stories of what God is doing!
God has brought many precious people into our lives. Julio, Veronique, and Kenya were our first visitors! Veronique got saved and has become our biggest helper and volunteer around the church. They have such sweet spirits, and we are excited for what God is doing in their lives.
Cecilia also came to church our first Sunday and got saved. Right away she brought her mom and younger sister to church, and they, too, accepted Christ. The Naupari home then became the site of our first weekly Bible study! There is something special about the hunger they have for the Word of God. When we arrived for our first Bible study, Olga (Cecilia’s mom) was walking outside her home with her Bible clutched to her chest. She said, “Pastor, I wasn’t sure if you were going to make it, so I told my children that we would just sit down and read the Bible.” Oh, if we all still hungered for God like that! So far, six members of her family have trusted Christ and are faithful to church.
We knew that any endevour for God would be met with resistance from Satan. The Devil did not disappoint. But I am so glad that Jesus said of His church that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Please do keep us in your prayers. The Devil has attacked us on the homefront, here, and by attacking our people. With a church full of new converts, we have many hurting people in need of big things from God. I am so glad that “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
Thank you for your love, prays, and support. Jessica and I and the people of Chorrillos owe a great debt to each of you. Please keep us in your prayers. We are trusting God to continue to do great things in the church; plus this week we are planning on launching six in-home Bible studies. I know that God has a great plan for our people and our district. After a few services in our new building, a lady walked by and asked, “Is this THE church? The church that EVERYONE is talking about?” I cannot wait till the buzz going through Villa Marina travels throughout Chorrillos and then Lima and all of Peru!
Excited about what Jesus is doing,
Junior and Jessica Martin
Romans 9:3
Monday, August 13, 2012
July Prayer Letter from the Kokubuns
Dear Friends,
It has been a wonderful, exciting couple of months in the lives of the Kokubuns! As you know, July was THE month. All the hours, days, and months of preparation for our new lives in Peru were finally becoming a reality. Early on July 3, we boarded a plane headed to Peru. I could have never dreamed what the next month would bring.
In the past month, our team has started our first church plant. The morning after we arrived, my wife and I jumped into the vehicle with Dan Hubbard, Zach Foust, and Junior Martin. We were going to look at a storefront property that would eventually house our first church, not knowing how soon that would be. (This was on a Wednesday, July 4.) God moved. We signed a contract on the storefront, and that next Sunday we had the first service of Iglesia Bautista International.
We had over 30 people in our first service! The church is only four weeks old as of this writing, and the church is booming. Where the pulpit sits in our church is geographically right smack in the center of Chorrillos, a district of Lima. For the last four weeks, the Gospel has been preached at the heart of Chorrillos, Lima, a town we have come to love. There have been dozens of salvations and lives changed. The people God has called us to are eager to hear the good news of the cross.
There are so many stories of God using Iglesia Bautista International to reach the harvest. Here are two:
One Wednesday night before church, I walked down the street inviting people to our new church. As I came to the end of the block, I found a soccer park with dozens of young people playing soccer. I walked over to the bleachers and sat down just to watch. My heart was truly broken for the youth. As I was sitting there, a couple of curious teenagers walked over to say hi. As I began in my broken Spanish to talk to them, they were curious about what an American was doing in their park. Before I knew it, two young men grew to twelve young men. We all talked and laughed at my accent. I invited them all to the service that night. Many of them have received Christ as their Saviour and attend church often.
One boy in particular, Jorge, has a special place in my heart. I handed Jorge a tract the first Saturday we were inviting people to church. Jorge was sitting on a bench watching his friends play soccer. Zach Jr. (my teenager from the team) and I approached him and invited him to church. Having a language barrier, we simply gave him a tract and prayed he would be in church the next morning. To my disappointment, he did not show on Sunday morning. I did not think another thought about it until Sunday evening while I was playing the prelude. In walked Jorge with two of his friends! All during the preaching, I was excited that they came, hoping that Jorge
would get saved. During the invitation one of the Spanish pastors who had been helping us approached the young men and asked them about salvation. When he asked Jorge if he knew he was going to Heaven, Jorge gave him a confident, "Yes!" When asked how he knew, Jorge explained that he had taken the tract that I had given him home and had asked Jesus to save him! Hallelujah! God truly is working here in Chorrillos, Lima, Peru.
I cannot thank you enough for your continued support and love. We love hearing from you through all your comments and letters. You are in our hearts and prayers; we love you very much. If there is ever anything we can do for you, please contact us. Now that we have settled in our first apartment as a married couple, we hope to connect more with you. We will be blogging and updating our Facebook much more in the future.
Here is our information:
Phone: 919.407.8668 (Call or text anytime; it's a USA number, so you will pay no international fees.)
Address:
Daniel y Heather Kokubun
Urb. Las Brisas de Villa
HB Lote 7 Costa Norte
Lima 09
Chorrillos, Lima, PERU
Serving Him,
Daniel and Heather Kokubun
It has been a wonderful, exciting couple of months in the lives of the Kokubuns! As you know, July was THE month. All the hours, days, and months of preparation for our new lives in Peru were finally becoming a reality. Early on July 3, we boarded a plane headed to Peru. I could have never dreamed what the next month would bring.
In the past month, our team has started our first church plant. The morning after we arrived, my wife and I jumped into the vehicle with Dan Hubbard, Zach Foust, and Junior Martin. We were going to look at a storefront property that would eventually house our first church, not knowing how soon that would be. (This was on a Wednesday, July 4.) God moved. We signed a contract on the storefront, and that next Sunday we had the first service of Iglesia Bautista International.
We had over 30 people in our first service! The church is only four weeks old as of this writing, and the church is booming. Where the pulpit sits in our church is geographically right smack in the center of Chorrillos, a district of Lima. For the last four weeks, the Gospel has been preached at the heart of Chorrillos, Lima, a town we have come to love. There have been dozens of salvations and lives changed. The people God has called us to are eager to hear the good news of the cross.
There are so many stories of God using Iglesia Bautista International to reach the harvest. Here are two:
One Wednesday night before church, I walked down the street inviting people to our new church. As I came to the end of the block, I found a soccer park with dozens of young people playing soccer. I walked over to the bleachers and sat down just to watch. My heart was truly broken for the youth. As I was sitting there, a couple of curious teenagers walked over to say hi. As I began in my broken Spanish to talk to them, they were curious about what an American was doing in their park. Before I knew it, two young men grew to twelve young men. We all talked and laughed at my accent. I invited them all to the service that night. Many of them have received Christ as their Saviour and attend church often.
One boy in particular, Jorge, has a special place in my heart. I handed Jorge a tract the first Saturday we were inviting people to church. Jorge was sitting on a bench watching his friends play soccer. Zach Jr. (my teenager from the team) and I approached him and invited him to church. Having a language barrier, we simply gave him a tract and prayed he would be in church the next morning. To my disappointment, he did not show on Sunday morning. I did not think another thought about it until Sunday evening while I was playing the prelude. In walked Jorge with two of his friends! All during the preaching, I was excited that they came, hoping that Jorge
would get saved. During the invitation one of the Spanish pastors who had been helping us approached the young men and asked them about salvation. When he asked Jorge if he knew he was going to Heaven, Jorge gave him a confident, "Yes!" When asked how he knew, Jorge explained that he had taken the tract that I had given him home and had asked Jesus to save him! Hallelujah! God truly is working here in Chorrillos, Lima, Peru.
I cannot thank you enough for your continued support and love. We love hearing from you through all your comments and letters. You are in our hearts and prayers; we love you very much. If there is ever anything we can do for you, please contact us. Now that we have settled in our first apartment as a married couple, we hope to connect more with you. We will be blogging and updating our Facebook much more in the future.
Here is our information:
Phone: 919.407.8668 (Call or text anytime; it's a USA number, so you will pay no international fees.)
Address:
Daniel y Heather Kokubun
Urb. Las Brisas de Villa
HB Lote 7 Costa Norte
Lima 09
Chorrillos, Lima, PERU
Serving Him,
Daniel and Heather Kokubun
Friday, July 27, 2012
June/ July Prayer Letter from the Hubbard Family
July 2012
Dear Praying Friends,
A lady approached one the ladies on Team Peru before our Wednesday night service and asked, “Is this THE church? The Baptist Church? The church everyone is talking about?” Well, “Amen” to that! We have been seeing the hand of God moving mightily on
behalf of Team Peru.
We’ve had a jam-packed, busy time since the wheels of our airplane touched down! We’ve been going day and night working to transition and settle five of our nine team families. It has been amazing to watch God open door after door and care for thousands of little details.
We were able to rent a small storefront for our church to meet in—about as centrally located in the district of Chorrillos that you could be! We’ve had visitors and souls saved at every service since we began meeting there. This Sunday we will begin a children’s Sunday school class, meeting in a micro-bus parked across the street!
Last Saturday and Sunday, we passed out 1,000 tracts, invited people to come visit, and witnessed. I personally have seen many souls trust Christ as Saviour as I’m out and about. The fields are white unto harvest!!
In addition to the present church building, we are preparing to begin the groundwork for the larger property that will become ours for a church in December. We also are looking to begin a third church in another area in the near future! It’s full-speed ahead for 10,000 churches!
Our family is well. We had a rough transition, as we arrived with a flu bug going through the family. However, we’ve worked through that and are enjoying greatly the mild temperatures and abundant, inexpensive produce. Our son Timothy has given us two “scares” in our short time here. He was bit by a spider six times our first Wednesday here in Peru when it got trapped in his shirt collar. It concerned us being unfamiliar with what is dangerous and what is not. He proved to be fine after an antihistamine and cortisone treatment. Then this past Sunday he was playing with our neighbor’s dog when the dog bit him on the left cheek. It was not a deep wound, but it did bleed a lot. Fortunately, it is a healthy dog and current with its shots. He is healing well once again. We are consistently reminded of the importance of the prayer support of our Christian brothers and sisters.
We are ever aware of you, our co-laborers in the ministry. We know that every dollar of support is a representation of long hours and sacrifice on the part of God’s people. We live our lives to be a worthy investment of your time, money, and sacrifice. Thank you for seeing, by faith, what was not seen. Thank you for your support. We are daily seeing the fruit of your faith as it is translated into Peruvian souls saved.
We are excited to see what the Lord has in store for the months to come.
For his Glory,
Dan Hubbard
Dear Praying Friends,
A lady approached one the ladies on Team Peru before our Wednesday night service and asked, “Is this THE church? The Baptist Church? The church everyone is talking about?” Well, “Amen” to that! We have been seeing the hand of God moving mightily on
behalf of Team Peru.
We’ve had a jam-packed, busy time since the wheels of our airplane touched down! We’ve been going day and night working to transition and settle five of our nine team families. It has been amazing to watch God open door after door and care for thousands of little details.
We were able to rent a small storefront for our church to meet in—about as centrally located in the district of Chorrillos that you could be! We’ve had visitors and souls saved at every service since we began meeting there. This Sunday we will begin a children’s Sunday school class, meeting in a micro-bus parked across the street!
Last Saturday and Sunday, we passed out 1,000 tracts, invited people to come visit, and witnessed. I personally have seen many souls trust Christ as Saviour as I’m out and about. The fields are white unto harvest!!
In addition to the present church building, we are preparing to begin the groundwork for the larger property that will become ours for a church in December. We also are looking to begin a third church in another area in the near future! It’s full-speed ahead for 10,000 churches!
Our family is well. We had a rough transition, as we arrived with a flu bug going through the family. However, we’ve worked through that and are enjoying greatly the mild temperatures and abundant, inexpensive produce. Our son Timothy has given us two “scares” in our short time here. He was bit by a spider six times our first Wednesday here in Peru when it got trapped in his shirt collar. It concerned us being unfamiliar with what is dangerous and what is not. He proved to be fine after an antihistamine and cortisone treatment. Then this past Sunday he was playing with our neighbor’s dog when the dog bit him on the left cheek. It was not a deep wound, but it did bleed a lot. Fortunately, it is a healthy dog and current with its shots. He is healing well once again. We are consistently reminded of the importance of the prayer support of our Christian brothers and sisters.
We are ever aware of you, our co-laborers in the ministry. We know that every dollar of support is a representation of long hours and sacrifice on the part of God’s people. We live our lives to be a worthy investment of your time, money, and sacrifice. Thank you for seeing, by faith, what was not seen. Thank you for your support. We are daily seeing the fruit of your faith as it is translated into Peruvian souls saved.
We are excited to see what the Lord has in store for the months to come.
For his Glory,
Dan Hubbard
Thursday, July 19, 2012
June Prayer Letter from the Rader Family
June 2012
Dear Praying Friends,
June has been jammed full of blessings and infallible proofs of God’s grace. We must begin by thanking David Norton of Williamsburg, IA, for buying us a radiator. We also would like to thank Brother Steve Herrmann of Merrilville, IN for helping us to replace the radiator and fix a tail light. In addition, we owe thanks to Brother Ivan and Paul Baker for replacing our water pump and giving us date money to eat out while our van was in the shop. Thank you to the Joshua Kent Family for deciding to support us monthly. Thank you to the Bob Jones family not only for the place to stay, tire, oil change, alignment, and over-all car check-up, but also for your decision to support us monthly. Thank you to every church we visited this month for spoiling us rotten! These and so many other friends have helped us along the way. Our God is AWESOME! His servants are wonderful people.
During the month of June we were able to present our work at nine churches in seven different states. Our mission board did an excellent job this month providing a full week of vital teaching and training of need to know facts for missionaries during Missionary Candidates’ School. What a pleasure to see old friends while increasing in wisdom and knowledge.
We were blessed to see four saved this month. One afternoon Sarah flagged a young Hispanic man down who was out selling popsicles. After purchasing a popsicle and inviting him to church, she was able to share salvation’s story with Christian. Now that he has invited Christ into his life, living up to his name will be possible. The profit he made from that stop was much greater than what he got from selling a popsicle. Amen! Another one of those saved this month was a fourteen year old mother living in a shelter with her son. My heart melted while hearing her story because my grandmother also stayed in a shelter with my Dad when he was a small baby. So many people of our country need the Lord and His wisdom. God bless you as you reach out to them.
Please pray for our vehicle and safety. We will be driving many miles in July. We are truly traveling on the grace of God. We are partakers of the profits of your prayers. Please pray for our teammates already in Peru, and those preparing to depart shortly. Please continue to pray. We need you. Thank you for your prayers, support, and love. God bless you.
His for souls,
Mark, Sarah, Savannah, and Paul Rader
Dear Praying Friends,
June has been jammed full of blessings and infallible proofs of God’s grace. We must begin by thanking David Norton of Williamsburg, IA, for buying us a radiator. We also would like to thank Brother Steve Herrmann of Merrilville, IN for helping us to replace the radiator and fix a tail light. In addition, we owe thanks to Brother Ivan and Paul Baker for replacing our water pump and giving us date money to eat out while our van was in the shop. Thank you to the Joshua Kent Family for deciding to support us monthly. Thank you to the Bob Jones family not only for the place to stay, tire, oil change, alignment, and over-all car check-up, but also for your decision to support us monthly. Thank you to every church we visited this month for spoiling us rotten! These and so many other friends have helped us along the way. Our God is AWESOME! His servants are wonderful people.
During the month of June we were able to present our work at nine churches in seven different states. Our mission board did an excellent job this month providing a full week of vital teaching and training of need to know facts for missionaries during Missionary Candidates’ School. What a pleasure to see old friends while increasing in wisdom and knowledge.
We were blessed to see four saved this month. One afternoon Sarah flagged a young Hispanic man down who was out selling popsicles. After purchasing a popsicle and inviting him to church, she was able to share salvation’s story with Christian. Now that he has invited Christ into his life, living up to his name will be possible. The profit he made from that stop was much greater than what he got from selling a popsicle. Amen! Another one of those saved this month was a fourteen year old mother living in a shelter with her son. My heart melted while hearing her story because my grandmother also stayed in a shelter with my Dad when he was a small baby. So many people of our country need the Lord and His wisdom. God bless you as you reach out to them.
Please pray for our vehicle and safety. We will be driving many miles in July. We are truly traveling on the grace of God. We are partakers of the profits of your prayers. Please pray for our teammates already in Peru, and those preparing to depart shortly. Please continue to pray. We need you. Thank you for your prayers, support, and love. God bless you.
His for souls,
Mark, Sarah, Savannah, and Paul Rader
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
June Prayer Letter from the Martins
July 3, 2012
Dear Praying Friends,
It’s hard to believe June has come and gone! For months we had been counting down to our arrival in Peru, and it is almost surreal to think we have been here for exactly two weeks! God has been so very good to us in our journey. As much as we longed for the end of our deputation, our travels taught us so many invaluable lessons that will always be with us. The churches we visited and the friends we made will always be very near to our heart as well.
Our trip to Peru was almost seamless! Our fellow teammates, the Szabatins, were so gracious to drive us up to Toronto. The check-in process at the Toronto airport started off a little rough, as we were told none of our baggage (which was a lot) was going to make it to Peru (very long story)! God quickly intervened, and we, along with our six totes, three carry-ons, and dog made it onto the plane. I wish I had the time and space to share all the “I love yous” God gave us along the way. We had a very smooth flight and then a 7½-hour layover in Bogota, Colombia. We were not sure how we were going to care for our small dog, but security quickly fell in love with her, as did all the drug-sniffing dogs! Once again, God showed us He was watching out for us. We then made the short flight into Lima. Believe it or not, we breezed through customs without a single question, retrieved ALL of our luggage, and only one tote was searched! I think we must be in God’s will!! Around 1:00 Wednesday morning, we were greeted at the airport by Bro. Dan Hubbard, Bro. Zach Foust, and a cup of Starbucks! Thank you to each one of you who have been praying. Your prayers have truly made a difference.
Our two weeks in Lima have gone by so fast. After being in the staging home for only three days, we moved into a temporary apartment in Chorrillos. What a beautiful area! Chorrillos is the district where we will be permanently located and where our church will be. We have spent a lot of time searching for the right apartment and for a church building. Please pray that God continues to guide us and give us the wisdom needed to make the right decisions. We have three beautiful apartments we are looking at and trying to “negotiate.” The negotiation process is certainly different than in States, and we want to make sure we get what is best for our family. After being without a home of her own for over a year, I am eager to give Jessica a place she loves and can call her own.
Since our arrival, we have officially started the Iglesia Bautist Internacional! We are currently meeting in Bro. Hubbard’s apartment but are looking at an ideal piece of property. Please pray that God will open the door for us if this is His will. Having the church started is great, but in our current neighborhood, it is hard for the people to get to us. I am eager to get the church in a permanent location in the midst of the people, so we can begin bringing in multitudes of Peruvian people!
We have spent much time walking up and down the streets of Chorrillos, praying for and talking to the people. We have been able to give the Gospel to many and have over a dozen people and/or families interested in visiting our church. God also has already opened a door for us to begin a home Bible study next week. Please continue to pray for the people of Lima. I have such big dreams and aspirations, not only for our district but also for the rest of Lima and all of Peru. In a city of 9 million people and a district alone of 260,000 people, I cannot wait to see what God will allow us to do!
Thank you to each of you for your faithful prayers and support. Jessica and I are so thrilled to labor in Peru on your behalf. I cannot wait to get through this time of acclamation and transition and consume myself in the ministry. We have spent much time purchasing appliances, apartment hunting, ordering furniture, acquainting ourselves with the stores and public transportation, and working on our visas. Although all this is necessary, I long to turn my attention solely to reaching the people of Peru. The Peruvian money unit is called a sol. Everytime I am asked for “just one sol,” I cannot help but think of the countless souls around me who need to hear the Gospel. Thank you for believing in us and for praying for us. I can hardly wait to see what amazing things will happen in July!
Your ambassadors to Peru,
Junior and Jessica Martin
Romans 9:3
Dear Praying Friends,
It’s hard to believe June has come and gone! For months we had been counting down to our arrival in Peru, and it is almost surreal to think we have been here for exactly two weeks! God has been so very good to us in our journey. As much as we longed for the end of our deputation, our travels taught us so many invaluable lessons that will always be with us. The churches we visited and the friends we made will always be very near to our heart as well.
Our trip to Peru was almost seamless! Our fellow teammates, the Szabatins, were so gracious to drive us up to Toronto. The check-in process at the Toronto airport started off a little rough, as we were told none of our baggage (which was a lot) was going to make it to Peru (very long story)! God quickly intervened, and we, along with our six totes, three carry-ons, and dog made it onto the plane. I wish I had the time and space to share all the “I love yous” God gave us along the way. We had a very smooth flight and then a 7½-hour layover in Bogota, Colombia. We were not sure how we were going to care for our small dog, but security quickly fell in love with her, as did all the drug-sniffing dogs! Once again, God showed us He was watching out for us. We then made the short flight into Lima. Believe it or not, we breezed through customs without a single question, retrieved ALL of our luggage, and only one tote was searched! I think we must be in God’s will!! Around 1:00 Wednesday morning, we were greeted at the airport by Bro. Dan Hubbard, Bro. Zach Foust, and a cup of Starbucks! Thank you to each one of you who have been praying. Your prayers have truly made a difference.
Our two weeks in Lima have gone by so fast. After being in the staging home for only three days, we moved into a temporary apartment in Chorrillos. What a beautiful area! Chorrillos is the district where we will be permanently located and where our church will be. We have spent a lot of time searching for the right apartment and for a church building. Please pray that God continues to guide us and give us the wisdom needed to make the right decisions. We have three beautiful apartments we are looking at and trying to “negotiate.” The negotiation process is certainly different than in States, and we want to make sure we get what is best for our family. After being without a home of her own for over a year, I am eager to give Jessica a place she loves and can call her own.
Since our arrival, we have officially started the Iglesia Bautist Internacional! We are currently meeting in Bro. Hubbard’s apartment but are looking at an ideal piece of property. Please pray that God will open the door for us if this is His will. Having the church started is great, but in our current neighborhood, it is hard for the people to get to us. I am eager to get the church in a permanent location in the midst of the people, so we can begin bringing in multitudes of Peruvian people!
We have spent much time walking up and down the streets of Chorrillos, praying for and talking to the people. We have been able to give the Gospel to many and have over a dozen people and/or families interested in visiting our church. God also has already opened a door for us to begin a home Bible study next week. Please continue to pray for the people of Lima. I have such big dreams and aspirations, not only for our district but also for the rest of Lima and all of Peru. In a city of 9 million people and a district alone of 260,000 people, I cannot wait to see what God will allow us to do!
Thank you to each of you for your faithful prayers and support. Jessica and I are so thrilled to labor in Peru on your behalf. I cannot wait to get through this time of acclamation and transition and consume myself in the ministry. We have spent much time purchasing appliances, apartment hunting, ordering furniture, acquainting ourselves with the stores and public transportation, and working on our visas. Although all this is necessary, I long to turn my attention solely to reaching the people of Peru. The Peruvian money unit is called a sol. Everytime I am asked for “just one sol,” I cannot help but think of the countless souls around me who need to hear the Gospel. Thank you for believing in us and for praying for us. I can hardly wait to see what amazing things will happen in July!
Your ambassadors to Peru,
Junior and Jessica Martin
Romans 9:3
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
June Prayer Letter from the Foust Family
July 2012
Dear Praying Friends and Supporting Churches,
Wow! It is hard to believe that we have been in Peru for an entire month. The month of
June literally flew by while we started the journey of learning to live in Peru.
We have spent the month going about the business of setting up our team to live here in
Lima. It has been exciting and a learning process for us. So far, we have signed the lease on five apartments for the families of our team. All of the apartments are in one very secure neighborhood. The neighborhood is located in Chorrillos where we have our
church. God has been very good to us, and He has allowed us to find very nice
apartments in a beautiful location for a very good price within our budget. It is always exciting to see how God provides!
We have also spent much time on the process of getting our residency established in
Peru. We hope to have the much-needed residency cards soon. We have learned that there
is little one can do in the way of business and purchasing without permanent residency.
Thankfully, we have some friends here in Lima who have been kind enough to help us
with this process. While the process seems frustratingly slow at times, we have learned
to rely even more upon God, and we are certainly learning that valuable trait of patience!
God has allowed us many opportunities to witness and invite people to church as we go
about our business of getting settled. Please be in prayer that God would give us the
capacity to help the many people who come across our path each day.
His For Souls,
Zach and Karin Foust, Zachary, Caleb, and Logan
Dear Praying Friends and Supporting Churches,
Wow! It is hard to believe that we have been in Peru for an entire month. The month of
June literally flew by while we started the journey of learning to live in Peru.
We have spent the month going about the business of setting up our team to live here in
Lima. It has been exciting and a learning process for us. So far, we have signed the lease on five apartments for the families of our team. All of the apartments are in one very secure neighborhood. The neighborhood is located in Chorrillos where we have our
church. God has been very good to us, and He has allowed us to find very nice
apartments in a beautiful location for a very good price within our budget. It is always exciting to see how God provides!
We have also spent much time on the process of getting our residency established in
Peru. We hope to have the much-needed residency cards soon. We have learned that there
is little one can do in the way of business and purchasing without permanent residency.
Thankfully, we have some friends here in Lima who have been kind enough to help us
with this process. While the process seems frustratingly slow at times, we have learned
to rely even more upon God, and we are certainly learning that valuable trait of patience!
God has allowed us many opportunities to witness and invite people to church as we go
about our business of getting settled. Please be in prayer that God would give us the
capacity to help the many people who come across our path each day.
His For Souls,
Zach and Karin Foust, Zachary, Caleb, and Logan
Sunday, July 1, 2012
June Prayer Letter from the Szabatins
May/June 2012
Dear Pastor & Praying Friends,
My wife says I always work best while under pressure. Well, this week we will see.
On June 18, we will be leaving to go to Canada to visit with family before we head back to Peru (and hopefully pick up some work to pay for plane tickets). During this same time, our belongings from Western Canada are on their way down to us here in Indiana. We have not seen any of this stuff in three years. I just checked the Yellow/Roadway website; and as I write this, our belongings are in St. Paul,
Minnesota, on their cross docks waiting for their next move toward Chicago Heights. Right now the ETA is this Wednesday. We have four skids of things that we have to go through, separate, and list, because on Thursday we are preparing to finish packing the container.
We also have water-filtration systems coming from Missouri that are going to arrive on Thursday that have to be on the container on—you guessed it—Thursday. It would be great for them to get here Wednesday instead.
Thursday will be pressure time as well. If you do not have Facebook or you did not see the posting, we had some wonderful gifts given to the team. We had 360 folding chairs donated by First Baptist Church. Brother Wayne Holder gave us 90,000 books of Romans in Spanish, with the Romans Road outlined. B.E.A.M.S Bibles gave us 1,000 Spanish Bibles for those we win to the Lord, and a church in Michigan gave us 360,000 Spanish Gospel tracts. Almost all of these things, plus four skids of toys given to us by Brother George Ranft at Reformers Unanimous of First Baptist Church of Hammond, need to be put into the container with our four skids of items.
I may start praying for a 25-hour day to get everything accomplished before we leave!
While we are looking forward to going to Canada to see family (we haven’t been there in a year), we are also sad at saying goodbye to Danica-Lee. She is staying in the Chicago area for the summer and preparing for her senior year at Hyles-Anderson College. We don’t get much opportunity to see her right now, and those few times we do see her at church, her time is limited because she also wants to spend time with
Fred, her fiancé. When we see her next, she will be putting on a graduation cap and gown and then two weeks later putting on a wedding dress and veil. My mind is still trying to wrap itself around the whole “daddy’s little girl” to “she’s graduating college and getting married” space/time continuum thingy.
Josiah has also been coming into his own, both physically and spiritually. I keep checking to see if he is taller than I am yet. We can always tell when he is in a growing spurt because we have to keep restocking the fridge quicker than the national deficit keeps rising. A few weeks ago, I took him to McDonald’s around 1:00 p.m. He had several items off the dollar menu. About 3:30, he was asking to go back because
he was hungry, and once again he got a couple of burgers, some fries, and a Coke. We got home at around 6:00, and the Hopsons had gotten some Papa John’s pizza. Josiah had four pieces. Now we don’t eat like that all the time, but when he is hungry, it’s like feeding coals to a hot fire. It just gets consumed faster than you can blink.
This past month Josiah has had a great time soul winning. He saw 15 people saved, and 12 of those were on one day!
I am working away at my Spanish. My understanding continues, and I look forward to the day when I am as fluent in Spanish as I am in English. At church we had the ordination of the men on the team, as well as the Commissioning Service. A week later we had the Spanish-church send-off. Each of the men was asked to preach for about ten minutes. I started off in Spanish for the first couple of paragraphs. It was so funny, because when I did that, the Spanish people started cheering. This was my first attempt at preaching in Spanish, and while I flubbed some words, I was happy I tried.
We are looking forward to getting back to Peru and back to where home is. We are so thankful for your prayers and support.
Prayer Requests:
Travel mercies here and abroad
Transportation and customs clearance of our container
That our team tax number (RUC) would get approved
That our application for a permanent visa would go smoothly in Peru
Thank-you for all your support, love and prayers on our behalf,
Paul, Andrea & Josiah Szabatin
Ezra 8:21-23
Dear Pastor & Praying Friends,
My wife says I always work best while under pressure. Well, this week we will see.
On June 18, we will be leaving to go to Canada to visit with family before we head back to Peru (and hopefully pick up some work to pay for plane tickets). During this same time, our belongings from Western Canada are on their way down to us here in Indiana. We have not seen any of this stuff in three years. I just checked the Yellow/Roadway website; and as I write this, our belongings are in St. Paul,
Minnesota, on their cross docks waiting for their next move toward Chicago Heights. Right now the ETA is this Wednesday. We have four skids of things that we have to go through, separate, and list, because on Thursday we are preparing to finish packing the container.
We also have water-filtration systems coming from Missouri that are going to arrive on Thursday that have to be on the container on—you guessed it—Thursday. It would be great for them to get here Wednesday instead.
Thursday will be pressure time as well. If you do not have Facebook or you did not see the posting, we had some wonderful gifts given to the team. We had 360 folding chairs donated by First Baptist Church. Brother Wayne Holder gave us 90,000 books of Romans in Spanish, with the Romans Road outlined. B.E.A.M.S Bibles gave us 1,000 Spanish Bibles for those we win to the Lord, and a church in Michigan gave us 360,000 Spanish Gospel tracts. Almost all of these things, plus four skids of toys given to us by Brother George Ranft at Reformers Unanimous of First Baptist Church of Hammond, need to be put into the container with our four skids of items.
I may start praying for a 25-hour day to get everything accomplished before we leave!
While we are looking forward to going to Canada to see family (we haven’t been there in a year), we are also sad at saying goodbye to Danica-Lee. She is staying in the Chicago area for the summer and preparing for her senior year at Hyles-Anderson College. We don’t get much opportunity to see her right now, and those few times we do see her at church, her time is limited because she also wants to spend time with
Fred, her fiancé. When we see her next, she will be putting on a graduation cap and gown and then two weeks later putting on a wedding dress and veil. My mind is still trying to wrap itself around the whole “daddy’s little girl” to “she’s graduating college and getting married” space/time continuum thingy.
Josiah has also been coming into his own, both physically and spiritually. I keep checking to see if he is taller than I am yet. We can always tell when he is in a growing spurt because we have to keep restocking the fridge quicker than the national deficit keeps rising. A few weeks ago, I took him to McDonald’s around 1:00 p.m. He had several items off the dollar menu. About 3:30, he was asking to go back because
he was hungry, and once again he got a couple of burgers, some fries, and a Coke. We got home at around 6:00, and the Hopsons had gotten some Papa John’s pizza. Josiah had four pieces. Now we don’t eat like that all the time, but when he is hungry, it’s like feeding coals to a hot fire. It just gets consumed faster than you can blink.
This past month Josiah has had a great time soul winning. He saw 15 people saved, and 12 of those were on one day!
I am working away at my Spanish. My understanding continues, and I look forward to the day when I am as fluent in Spanish as I am in English. At church we had the ordination of the men on the team, as well as the Commissioning Service. A week later we had the Spanish-church send-off. Each of the men was asked to preach for about ten minutes. I started off in Spanish for the first couple of paragraphs. It was so funny, because when I did that, the Spanish people started cheering. This was my first attempt at preaching in Spanish, and while I flubbed some words, I was happy I tried.
We are looking forward to getting back to Peru and back to where home is. We are so thankful for your prayers and support.
Prayer Requests:
Travel mercies here and abroad
Transportation and customs clearance of our container
That our team tax number (RUC) would get approved
That our application for a permanent visa would go smoothly in Peru
Thank-you for all your support, love and prayers on our behalf,
Paul, Andrea & Josiah Szabatin
Ezra 8:21-23
Monday, June 25, 2012
May Prayer Letter from the Hubbard Family
Dear Praying Friends,
Our time of departure has come! On June 15, my family and I left the country with
one-way tickets to Peru! We have anticipated this for many months and are very
excited about crossing “the Jordan River into the Promised Land.” There is much land
of which to take possession.
Our last two months have been jam-packed with activity. In May our entire team
came together for a month of training, teaching, strategizing, and prayer. We had the
opportunity to discuss in length our plan of reaching the city of Lima, the country of Peru, and ultimately the continent of South America. We’ve established our core
principles on which every part of the ministry will hang. We ended the month with an
ordination and send-off service. How honored I was to participate in the ordaining of my own men on the team. I believe in Team Peru. I believe this team is a group of the most skilled men and ladies and greatest Christians that could be found. How humbled I am that they would follow me to the “uttermost parts of the earth” for the cause of the Great Commission.
At the end of May, I left for Peru to establish our first family. The Foust family arrived in Peru on May 31. Zach and his family are here now helping with preparations to receive the rest of the team. He has been such a tremendous blessing helping me get my family established. We are now anticipating the Martins, who will join us on the 19th. Then three more families will join us July, two more in August, and the last in the fall. We will get the families acclimated during the remainder of the summer.
Although I will start the church almost immediately upon my arrival, our Grand Opening and big push will happen in September. On September 1, a beautiful property will become available for our use for the church, ACE Christian school for our children, and our college. It is awesome to see how the Lord has been opening doors for us. Next month I’ll share how the property became available.
We serve a great God, and I am so honored to represent Him and you on the mission field. Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer and support. Without you, this would not be possible. I am very anxious to translate your investment into souls saved and churches started. I love you and thank God for you.
For His Glory,
Dan Hubbard
Our time of departure has come! On June 15, my family and I left the country with
one-way tickets to Peru! We have anticipated this for many months and are very
excited about crossing “the Jordan River into the Promised Land.” There is much land
of which to take possession.
Our last two months have been jam-packed with activity. In May our entire team
came together for a month of training, teaching, strategizing, and prayer. We had the
opportunity to discuss in length our plan of reaching the city of Lima, the country of Peru, and ultimately the continent of South America. We’ve established our core
principles on which every part of the ministry will hang. We ended the month with an
ordination and send-off service. How honored I was to participate in the ordaining of my own men on the team. I believe in Team Peru. I believe this team is a group of the most skilled men and ladies and greatest Christians that could be found. How humbled I am that they would follow me to the “uttermost parts of the earth” for the cause of the Great Commission.
At the end of May, I left for Peru to establish our first family. The Foust family arrived in Peru on May 31. Zach and his family are here now helping with preparations to receive the rest of the team. He has been such a tremendous blessing helping me get my family established. We are now anticipating the Martins, who will join us on the 19th. Then three more families will join us July, two more in August, and the last in the fall. We will get the families acclimated during the remainder of the summer.
Although I will start the church almost immediately upon my arrival, our Grand Opening and big push will happen in September. On September 1, a beautiful property will become available for our use for the church, ACE Christian school for our children, and our college. It is awesome to see how the Lord has been opening doors for us. Next month I’ll share how the property became available.
We serve a great God, and I am so honored to represent Him and you on the mission field. Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer and support. Without you, this would not be possible. I am very anxious to translate your investment into souls saved and churches started. I love you and thank God for you.
For His Glory,
Dan Hubbard
Friday, June 15, 2012
May Prayer Letter from the Foust Family
Dear Pastors and Praying Friends,
Thank you so much for all of your support and prayers. We have just arrived in Lima
within the last week. It has been so exciting for us to see God’s hand in all that has been accomplished so far. What a miracle to see God moving. Our flight with the children went well; thank you for your prayers. Although it took all night and we had to reclaim our baggage and pass customs in Mexico City unexpectedly, we made it through with all of the children and only lost one large suitcase!
We have been very busy with the sometimes frustrating task of business in a third-world country. We have been blessed to find secure housing in an incredibly beautiful area for less cost than we had hoped. We have also found the kind of vehicles we wanted for much less than we thought we’d pay. During one of our housing appointments, the landlady mentioned that she and a group of twenty-two friends started an organization to take coats to the mountains for children in need. When I began to tell her of our plans in Peru, she asked if we could train those in her organization to help the children long-term and not just meet the temporary physical need. We excitedly look forward to the opportunity to train workers to satisfy an eternal need!
Karin and the boys had been practicing their Spanish in anticipation of our arrival in Peru. It’s been exciting to watch my wife and kids as they venture into Peruvian society. The people here have been very patient as we learn the culture. This has been so helpful as my family breaks the communication barrier. The people here love it when a cute little blonde kid comes up and in Spanish asks how much something costs.
Praise the Lord that we have had the opportunity to see people saved this month in
personal soul winning, as well as under the preaching. It has been so obvious to us in all that we do that you are faithfully praying. As a special favor, I would ask that you pray for the housing situation for nine families and the health and strength of our team leader, Bro. Dan Hubbard.
Today I accompanied Bro. Hubbard to the airport so that he could go home to get his
family. While there, I was surprised to discover that they had our lost suitcase there in storage!
His for souls,
Zachary and Karin Foust, Zachary, C.J., and Logan
Thank you so much for all of your support and prayers. We have just arrived in Lima
within the last week. It has been so exciting for us to see God’s hand in all that has been accomplished so far. What a miracle to see God moving. Our flight with the children went well; thank you for your prayers. Although it took all night and we had to reclaim our baggage and pass customs in Mexico City unexpectedly, we made it through with all of the children and only lost one large suitcase!
We have been very busy with the sometimes frustrating task of business in a third-world country. We have been blessed to find secure housing in an incredibly beautiful area for less cost than we had hoped. We have also found the kind of vehicles we wanted for much less than we thought we’d pay. During one of our housing appointments, the landlady mentioned that she and a group of twenty-two friends started an organization to take coats to the mountains for children in need. When I began to tell her of our plans in Peru, she asked if we could train those in her organization to help the children long-term and not just meet the temporary physical need. We excitedly look forward to the opportunity to train workers to satisfy an eternal need!
Karin and the boys had been practicing their Spanish in anticipation of our arrival in Peru. It’s been exciting to watch my wife and kids as they venture into Peruvian society. The people here have been very patient as we learn the culture. This has been so helpful as my family breaks the communication barrier. The people here love it when a cute little blonde kid comes up and in Spanish asks how much something costs.
Praise the Lord that we have had the opportunity to see people saved this month in
personal soul winning, as well as under the preaching. It has been so obvious to us in all that we do that you are faithfully praying. As a special favor, I would ask that you pray for the housing situation for nine families and the health and strength of our team leader, Bro. Dan Hubbard.
Today I accompanied Bro. Hubbard to the airport so that he could go home to get his
family. While there, I was surprised to discover that they had our lost suitcase there in storage!
His for souls,
Zachary and Karin Foust, Zachary, C.J., and Logan
Thursday, June 14, 2012
April and May Prayer Letter from the Raders
Dear praying friends,
What an honor to serve the Lord! For the months of April and May my wife and I were
privileged to see 21 souls come to Christ through personal soul winning. We have enjoyed some incredible meetings. I’d like to mention one conference in particular, where we were one of six missionary families. The last service our family was the only one who was still at the meeting. The entire group of church members present formed a circle along the walls of the auditorium with us in the center. Everyone then knelt and prayed for the missionaries. Next they voted to take on all six
missionaries for support. Hallelujah! The pastor came to me and hugged me with tears in his eyes. My spirit was truly renewed and encouraged by their love for the souls of the world and their faith.
I had the opportunity to tell three “atheists” about our great God using the laws of science as an illustration. I lead them to the conclusion that according to scientific law you cannot deny the existence of God while being of a reasonable scientific mind. Though I presented my argument kindly, they told me to leave. We then walked 50 feet away to three teens who had overheard parts of the first conversation. In spite of being heckled the entire conversation they listened intently to us. Josiah, Erika, and Everado then trusted Christ as their Saviour. What a great God we have!
The entire month of May was devoted to Team Peru’s preparation. We have thoroughly enjoyed finally being able to spend time with our fellow team families. Every day was busy as we discussed plans, aligned philosophies, strategized, loaded the container, detailed logistics, and spent much time in prayer together. An honor of my life occurred right in the middle of the month. Every man of Team Peru was ordained by my pastor, Dr. Jack Schaap. The last Sunday night in May our team enjoyed a send off by
our Spanish church. Closing out the month we had an all night prayer meeting. We prayed for Peru, our plans, our supporting churches, and much more.
My wife and I are excited about our team. Our teammates are some of the finest Christians we know. Our team is now beginning to land in Peru one family at a time. Our support is at 50%. We will be leaving in December for Peru having finished our deputation or not. God has given us a great vision and a great mission. Please be strong and of good courage, as we are strong and of good courage. Thank you. Thank you so much for your support, love, and prayers. Please continue to pray. God bless you.
For souls in need,
Mark, Sarah, Savannah, and Paul Rader
What an honor to serve the Lord! For the months of April and May my wife and I were
privileged to see 21 souls come to Christ through personal soul winning. We have enjoyed some incredible meetings. I’d like to mention one conference in particular, where we were one of six missionary families. The last service our family was the only one who was still at the meeting. The entire group of church members present formed a circle along the walls of the auditorium with us in the center. Everyone then knelt and prayed for the missionaries. Next they voted to take on all six
missionaries for support. Hallelujah! The pastor came to me and hugged me with tears in his eyes. My spirit was truly renewed and encouraged by their love for the souls of the world and their faith.
I had the opportunity to tell three “atheists” about our great God using the laws of science as an illustration. I lead them to the conclusion that according to scientific law you cannot deny the existence of God while being of a reasonable scientific mind. Though I presented my argument kindly, they told me to leave. We then walked 50 feet away to three teens who had overheard parts of the first conversation. In spite of being heckled the entire conversation they listened intently to us. Josiah, Erika, and Everado then trusted Christ as their Saviour. What a great God we have!
The entire month of May was devoted to Team Peru’s preparation. We have thoroughly enjoyed finally being able to spend time with our fellow team families. Every day was busy as we discussed plans, aligned philosophies, strategized, loaded the container, detailed logistics, and spent much time in prayer together. An honor of my life occurred right in the middle of the month. Every man of Team Peru was ordained by my pastor, Dr. Jack Schaap. The last Sunday night in May our team enjoyed a send off by
our Spanish church. Closing out the month we had an all night prayer meeting. We prayed for Peru, our plans, our supporting churches, and much more.
My wife and I are excited about our team. Our teammates are some of the finest Christians we know. Our team is now beginning to land in Peru one family at a time. Our support is at 50%. We will be leaving in December for Peru having finished our deputation or not. God has given us a great vision and a great mission. Please be strong and of good courage, as we are strong and of good courage. Thank you. Thank you so much for your support, love, and prayers. Please continue to pray. God bless you.
For souls in need,
Mark, Sarah, Savannah, and Paul Rader
Thursday, June 7, 2012
May Prayer Letter from the Kokubuns
Dear Friends,
We had been looking forward to meeting with the rest of the team in May! May was jam-packed with excitement, preparation, anticipation, prayer, and much more. On May 1, we found ourselves reuniting with friends. This was the first time that all of the team families had been together in one place. We enjoyed getting to know each other better through the many meetings and activities. Every day was spent detailing the many elements of our presence in Peru. From the first church plant, to training pastors, to multiplying churches, to cleaning our food, to living and transportation arrangements, we covered every foreseeable aspect of our launch. All the planning elevated our excitement to see what God has for us in Peru.
As most of you know, I was admitted into the hospital the second week of the month. My ulcerative colitis flared up beyond my control. As disappointed I was that I was missing out on mission preparation, God had other plans. Coming off of eight months of deputation, I became ill at just the right time. My doctor who deals with my condition just happens to be in Indiana, of all places. God graciously allowed me to be healthy until I returned to this area. It also allowed us to put together a good game plan for when we will be living in Lima, Peru. God is so smart. My condition is not life-threatening, and I believe we have a good plan to keep it under control and me healthy.
My wife stopped by the hospital to pick up some medication the day after I was released. As she walked back to the car, she saw three young people sitting on the curb. They were obviously distressed about something. She handed them each a tract, hoping that God would open a door to witness. They told her of their loved one in the hospital. My wife so wisely got to share the
Gospel with them, and all three accepted Christ as their Saviour. If nothing else, God put me in the hospital so that three more souls could hear salvation's story. Praise the Lord!
God so graciously allowed me to attend my own ordination on May 16, 2012. (I had just been released from the hospital the day before!) What a sweet, powerful service we had as the deacons of First Baptist Church, Dr. Moore, Dan Hubbard (team leader), and Preacher prayed over each of us team men. We were given a beautiful Spanish Bible with our names engraved on the cover
and a certificate of ordination. What an encouragement it was to me personally; after the service many church members came by and promised they would be praying for us, as many of you do on a regular basis.
We finished the month off with a commissioning service in the Spanish Department on a Sunday evening. Several of the team men had the opportunity to preach to the Spanish congregation. After the preaching, the Spanish deacons laid hands on and prayed over each of us. That evening the team got together for an all-night prayer meeting. We prayed for God's power, wisdom, and guidance, for the starting of thousands of churches, for the political leaders of Lima, and for our supporting churches. I believe God met with us that night.
Currently we have one family already moved and getting settled in Lima, Peru. The rest of the team will go down one family at a time about every two weeks throughout the summer. Our departure date is scheduled for July 3, 2012. We cannot thank you enough for your continued support and prayers. You are the force God is using to reach South America. Thank you for your investment in my family. There will be fruit that will remain on your account in Lima, Peru. We are looking forward to what God has for us.
Please pray for God's continued direction in the logistics of starting our first church and getting established. The Devil is certainly aware of our call to Peru, and he will not be idle in trying to disrupt God's work. Pray for protection from principalities. Pray for the churches that we are going to start. Lastly, pray for us to meet and cultivate relationships with the right people in the government, neighborhoods, schools, and elsewhere to accelerate God's business.
Thanks again for your prayers. They mean the world to us.
In Christ's love,
Daniel and Heather Kokubun
We had been looking forward to meeting with the rest of the team in May! May was jam-packed with excitement, preparation, anticipation, prayer, and much more. On May 1, we found ourselves reuniting with friends. This was the first time that all of the team families had been together in one place. We enjoyed getting to know each other better through the many meetings and activities. Every day was spent detailing the many elements of our presence in Peru. From the first church plant, to training pastors, to multiplying churches, to cleaning our food, to living and transportation arrangements, we covered every foreseeable aspect of our launch. All the planning elevated our excitement to see what God has for us in Peru.
As most of you know, I was admitted into the hospital the second week of the month. My ulcerative colitis flared up beyond my control. As disappointed I was that I was missing out on mission preparation, God had other plans. Coming off of eight months of deputation, I became ill at just the right time. My doctor who deals with my condition just happens to be in Indiana, of all places. God graciously allowed me to be healthy until I returned to this area. It also allowed us to put together a good game plan for when we will be living in Lima, Peru. God is so smart. My condition is not life-threatening, and I believe we have a good plan to keep it under control and me healthy.
My wife stopped by the hospital to pick up some medication the day after I was released. As she walked back to the car, she saw three young people sitting on the curb. They were obviously distressed about something. She handed them each a tract, hoping that God would open a door to witness. They told her of their loved one in the hospital. My wife so wisely got to share the
Gospel with them, and all three accepted Christ as their Saviour. If nothing else, God put me in the hospital so that three more souls could hear salvation's story. Praise the Lord!
God so graciously allowed me to attend my own ordination on May 16, 2012. (I had just been released from the hospital the day before!) What a sweet, powerful service we had as the deacons of First Baptist Church, Dr. Moore, Dan Hubbard (team leader), and Preacher prayed over each of us team men. We were given a beautiful Spanish Bible with our names engraved on the cover
and a certificate of ordination. What an encouragement it was to me personally; after the service many church members came by and promised they would be praying for us, as many of you do on a regular basis.
We finished the month off with a commissioning service in the Spanish Department on a Sunday evening. Several of the team men had the opportunity to preach to the Spanish congregation. After the preaching, the Spanish deacons laid hands on and prayed over each of us. That evening the team got together for an all-night prayer meeting. We prayed for God's power, wisdom, and guidance, for the starting of thousands of churches, for the political leaders of Lima, and for our supporting churches. I believe God met with us that night.
Currently we have one family already moved and getting settled in Lima, Peru. The rest of the team will go down one family at a time about every two weeks throughout the summer. Our departure date is scheduled for July 3, 2012. We cannot thank you enough for your continued support and prayers. You are the force God is using to reach South America. Thank you for your investment in my family. There will be fruit that will remain on your account in Lima, Peru. We are looking forward to what God has for us.
Please pray for God's continued direction in the logistics of starting our first church and getting established. The Devil is certainly aware of our call to Peru, and he will not be idle in trying to disrupt God's work. Pray for protection from principalities. Pray for the churches that we are going to start. Lastly, pray for us to meet and cultivate relationships with the right people in the government, neighborhoods, schools, and elsewhere to accelerate God's business.
Thanks again for your prayers. They mean the world to us.
In Christ's love,
Daniel and Heather Kokubun
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
May Prayer Letter for the Martin Family
June 1, 2012
Dear Praying Friends,
June is finally here! Jessica and I have been counting down the days for this month to arrive. On June 18, we will be making the drive up to Toronto and then flying to Lima. Reality is setting in! We are saying our good-byes and getting everything in order to move to Peru. Thank you to all of you who have prayed and invested in us. I cannot wait to get busy doing what God has called us to do.
May has been incredibly busy and productive. As I mentioned in our last letter, our entire team assembled to undergo some intense training and to begin preparing for the work in Peru. It was so exciting to go through each phase of our plan of starting 10,000 churches! I enjoyed being able to spend time with each of our team families. We participated in team building exercises and games, which taught us the value of communication and trust. In addition, we also loaded up our container for shipping. We finished packing up all of our belongings, as well as some items for the church: folding chairs, tables, PA equipment, hymnals, tracts, and Bibles. The month gave us a small glimpse into what working together in Peru will be like.
We also had our send-off services for both our English and Spanish churches. Our English send-off was a very special service, as this was also my ordination service. There is something very humbling and challenging as my Pastor, missions director, team leader, and many deacons laid their hands on me and prayed for God’s blessing and power on me and the ministry in Peru. In our Spanish send-off service, Pastor DeAnda put on a grand service. Our team sang with the choir, Jessica sang with the church’s ladies’ ensemble, and I, along with a few other men from the team, preached. This service also ended with many of the men praying over us. Hearing the men whose people you are going to reach pray over you is truly an unforgettable moment in time.
Being home this entire month, we enjoyed being able to spend time with many of our church people, as well as get involved in many of our ministries. I was able to teach in three Spanish adult classes, drvie for one of our Spanish bus routes, and go soul winning with our team. One Saturday in particular, I was knocking doors in Blue Island, Illinois, with Bro. Dan Hubbard. After making several visits, I met a teenage boy named Alexis. After talking to him for several minutes, Alexis bowed his head and trusted Christ. A few houses down, I struck up a conversation with Miguel, who was in his driveway working on his car. His three small children, who were playing in a plastic swimming pool, ran over and began talking our ears off! Miguel seemed very interested in our church, so once his wife came out, I began playing with the kids as Bro. Dan continued answering their questions. After nearly an hour, Miguel and Gabby prayed and asked Christ into their heart! I have so many stories, if only space allowed. I am so thankful for the 7 people God allowed us to see saved this month.
Thank you to all of you who have had a part in our ministry. God has answered so many prayers, supplied so many needs, and blessed in so many ways. Whether you have partnered with us through your prayers, kind letters and e-mails, or your financial support, I am very grateful to you. I am especially grateful to Lighthouse Baptist Church in Michigan and Agape Baptist Church in Missouri for their pledge of support this month. I cannot wait to share reports of Peruvians saved and churches planted in Peru.
Please remember us in your prayers. This month will be an emotional one, with all the feelings that come with saying farewell but also all that comes with the joy of being in God’s will and beginning our adventure in Peru. It will be impossible to describe how incredible it will be to finally be able to love the people there. We have loved them through prayer and fasting these many months, but now we will actually get to see their faces. I can’t wait to send our next prayer letter to you from our home in Lima! I love serving Jesus!
Your ambassadors to Peru,
Junior and Jessica Martin
Romans 9:3
Dear Praying Friends,
June is finally here! Jessica and I have been counting down the days for this month to arrive. On June 18, we will be making the drive up to Toronto and then flying to Lima. Reality is setting in! We are saying our good-byes and getting everything in order to move to Peru. Thank you to all of you who have prayed and invested in us. I cannot wait to get busy doing what God has called us to do.
May has been incredibly busy and productive. As I mentioned in our last letter, our entire team assembled to undergo some intense training and to begin preparing for the work in Peru. It was so exciting to go through each phase of our plan of starting 10,000 churches! I enjoyed being able to spend time with each of our team families. We participated in team building exercises and games, which taught us the value of communication and trust. In addition, we also loaded up our container for shipping. We finished packing up all of our belongings, as well as some items for the church: folding chairs, tables, PA equipment, hymnals, tracts, and Bibles. The month gave us a small glimpse into what working together in Peru will be like.
We also had our send-off services for both our English and Spanish churches. Our English send-off was a very special service, as this was also my ordination service. There is something very humbling and challenging as my Pastor, missions director, team leader, and many deacons laid their hands on me and prayed for God’s blessing and power on me and the ministry in Peru. In our Spanish send-off service, Pastor DeAnda put on a grand service. Our team sang with the choir, Jessica sang with the church’s ladies’ ensemble, and I, along with a few other men from the team, preached. This service also ended with many of the men praying over us. Hearing the men whose people you are going to reach pray over you is truly an unforgettable moment in time.
Being home this entire month, we enjoyed being able to spend time with many of our church people, as well as get involved in many of our ministries. I was able to teach in three Spanish adult classes, drvie for one of our Spanish bus routes, and go soul winning with our team. One Saturday in particular, I was knocking doors in Blue Island, Illinois, with Bro. Dan Hubbard. After making several visits, I met a teenage boy named Alexis. After talking to him for several minutes, Alexis bowed his head and trusted Christ. A few houses down, I struck up a conversation with Miguel, who was in his driveway working on his car. His three small children, who were playing in a plastic swimming pool, ran over and began talking our ears off! Miguel seemed very interested in our church, so once his wife came out, I began playing with the kids as Bro. Dan continued answering their questions. After nearly an hour, Miguel and Gabby prayed and asked Christ into their heart! I have so many stories, if only space allowed. I am so thankful for the 7 people God allowed us to see saved this month.
Thank you to all of you who have had a part in our ministry. God has answered so many prayers, supplied so many needs, and blessed in so many ways. Whether you have partnered with us through your prayers, kind letters and e-mails, or your financial support, I am very grateful to you. I am especially grateful to Lighthouse Baptist Church in Michigan and Agape Baptist Church in Missouri for their pledge of support this month. I cannot wait to share reports of Peruvians saved and churches planted in Peru.
Please remember us in your prayers. This month will be an emotional one, with all the feelings that come with saying farewell but also all that comes with the joy of being in God’s will and beginning our adventure in Peru. It will be impossible to describe how incredible it will be to finally be able to love the people there. We have loved them through prayer and fasting these many months, but now we will actually get to see their faces. I can’t wait to send our next prayer letter to you from our home in Lima! I love serving Jesus!
Your ambassadors to Peru,
Junior and Jessica Martin
Romans 9:3
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Friday, May 25, 2012
Saturday, May 12, 2012
April Prayer Letter from the Kokubuns
Dear Friends,
We brought in April while being at a missions conference in Frankfort Indiana, with Pastor Flynn. We had a great time getting to know the people in his church. The other missionary at this conference just happened to be Bro. Bob Bowen. We soaked in the time we got to spend with these two Godly men, and enjoyed being able to get practical missionary advice from Bro. Bowen. Soul-winning with their spanish teenagers one Saturday, the very first young man my wife talked to accepted Christ as his Savior.
In Oklahoma, we were able to attend a missions conference at my wife's home church. While we were there, we got a phone call from across town, asking us if we would be able to come and share our ministry there. The Lord worked our schedule out just perfectly, and we were able to meet the wonderful people at Harmony Baptist Church. We are looking forward to going back on June 10th!
We enjoyed working in my home churches’ ladies conference. My wife played the piano in the Spanish ladies conference, and I helped with the Junior girl's conference. On Sunday night, I had the privilege of preaching at my home church. The Holy Spirit did an amazing work that night: the altars were flooded with people, and one young person was called to be a missionary. It was awesome to see God move in the midst of us.
In May, we will have a month of meetings with our Team in Hammond, Indiana. Many of the men on the team will be ordained on May 16th! We will be planning daily throughout the month for the launch of Team Peru! Our first family, the Fousts, will fly out on May 29th. Other families will follow in segments of 2 weeks. Please pray for several of our team families as they head down to Lima, and us as we look to purchase our plane tickets for July 2nd.
Thank you to each church and person who faithfully gives so we might bring the Gospel to Lima, Peru. We could not do without your prayers and support. We keep you in our prayers and you have a special place in our hearts.
Serving Him,
Daniel and Heather Kokubun
We brought in April while being at a missions conference in Frankfort Indiana, with Pastor Flynn. We had a great time getting to know the people in his church. The other missionary at this conference just happened to be Bro. Bob Bowen. We soaked in the time we got to spend with these two Godly men, and enjoyed being able to get practical missionary advice from Bro. Bowen. Soul-winning with their spanish teenagers one Saturday, the very first young man my wife talked to accepted Christ as his Savior.
In Oklahoma, we were able to attend a missions conference at my wife's home church. While we were there, we got a phone call from across town, asking us if we would be able to come and share our ministry there. The Lord worked our schedule out just perfectly, and we were able to meet the wonderful people at Harmony Baptist Church. We are looking forward to going back on June 10th!
We enjoyed working in my home churches’ ladies conference. My wife played the piano in the Spanish ladies conference, and I helped with the Junior girl's conference. On Sunday night, I had the privilege of preaching at my home church. The Holy Spirit did an amazing work that night: the altars were flooded with people, and one young person was called to be a missionary. It was awesome to see God move in the midst of us.
In May, we will have a month of meetings with our Team in Hammond, Indiana. Many of the men on the team will be ordained on May 16th! We will be planning daily throughout the month for the launch of Team Peru! Our first family, the Fousts, will fly out on May 29th. Other families will follow in segments of 2 weeks. Please pray for several of our team families as they head down to Lima, and us as we look to purchase our plane tickets for July 2nd.
Thank you to each church and person who faithfully gives so we might bring the Gospel to Lima, Peru. We could not do without your prayers and support. We keep you in our prayers and you have a special place in our hearts.
Serving Him,
Daniel and Heather Kokubun
Friday, May 11, 2012
Monday, May 7, 2012
April Prayer Letter from the Martin Family
May 1, 2012
Dear Praying Friends,
Our journey is now complete! I do not know if sweeter words have ever been spoken! After surrendering to God’s will for our lives, we set out on 16 months of deputation. What a life-changing chapter of our life! God has allowed us to travel through 47 states and share our burden and calling in 118 different churches. We have seen some of the most beautiful country, attended some of the greatest churches, and met some of the most amazing people. Without a doubt, God has used deputation to teach us, challenge us, and change our lives in the most incredible way. I am so thankful for the last 16 months. However, I am much more excited to begin this new chapter of our life in missions.
April was definitely a high note on which to complete our deputation travels. Not only were we able to be in some wonderful churches, but I was finally able to do something I have been waiting to do for a very long time. Two weeks ago, I purchased one-way plane tickets to Lima! What an adrenaline rush! After thousands of miles, hours of phone calls, a lot of hard work, and a ton of anticipation, we were finally able to put a date to the work God has called us to. Thank you to many of you who have been praying about this. I was able to get an incredible deal on airfare! We will be traveling with one of our fellow team members up to Canada and will be flying out of Toronto (feel free to insert Canadien jokes here)! Believe it or not, by doing this, we will be saving $800. God is so good! We will be flying out June 19. Counting down the days is a great feeling!
We have been so incredibly busy this month. April was a “kick it in gear” month. We spent a lot of the month preparing all of our legal documents to apply for our Peruvian visas. What a process! We had to acquire and authenticate multiple copies of both of our birth certificates, our marriage license, and all of our high school and college diplomas and transcripts. Getting this done will make May a lot easier and put us well ahead of where we need to be when we arrive in Peru. Between all this craziness, we have been busy packing up our belongings to be shipped and shopping for apartments, and we still traveled! We were able to be in four churches in Michigan, Ohio, and Arkansas. Each meeting was a special blessing to us. I am so thankful for God’s people and for His mercy and provision in all He allowed us to accomplish this month.
Looking back over our deputation, I am constantly aware of God’s hand in every aspect of our life. Just to see the way God has protected and provided for us is so humbling. As I hear of so many families striving to get to their field, I am overwhelmed by the generosity of the people God has put in our path. I am especially grateful for the new churches that partnered with us in April: Community Baptist Church in Michigan, Grace Baptist Church in North Carolina, and Gospel Light Baptist Church in Arkansas. We are at 95% of our support, and I am confident that God will supply the remainder of the support we need before our departure.
Each and every one of you have a part in our ministry. Whether you support us through your prayers, giving, or both, you make everything we do possible. Day by day, God reminds me that nothing we do is done by our own strength. Please know that your prayers are not in vain; but in everything God does through us, from the nine people we saw trust Christ in April to every church that is planted in Peru, you have a part.
May will continue to be a busy month for us as we get our container loaded and spend the entire month doing some intense training and planning for the launch of our ministry in Peru. We will be posting updates regularly and cannot wait to see what God has in store for us. God bless you!
Your ambassadors to Peru,
Junior and Jessica Martin
Romans 9:3
Friday, May 4, 2012
May Prayer Letter from the Foust Family
May 2, 2012
Dear Praying Friends and Supporting Churches,
As I write this letter, our countdown timer shows that we leave for Peru in 28 days. What a miracle to see how God’s people have rallied to make this possible. We began full-time deputation not quite a year ago when the school year where I was teaching at City Baptist Schools ended. We hit the road wondering what God had in store for us. We have been truly blessed.
As we traveled the country, we met many friends of years who are doing a great work in their Jerusalem. We got to be involved in teen soul winning, bus calling, bus routes, visitation, ordinations, teen activities, Junior Church, main-street soul winning, train-station soul winning, preaching, Spanish ministries, Sunday schools, and much more. We are truly thankful for every opportunity to serve and influence. We loved meeting every child who wants to be a missionary when they grow up and every
adult who would love to go but is faithfully getting the job done that God has for them where they are. What a blessing to see hearts so tender towards God.
I wish all of you could experience deputation. I wish you could be in all of the great churches we’ve seen who are getting the job done for the Lord.
As we prepare now for Peru, I would ask that you please be in prayer for God’s moving. Many of you remember Clara, the lady who wants us to start a church in her home. Pray that God will use this as an open door for a great work. On our last visit, we met a man who trains all of the police and military officials in Lima. He would like to introduce me to the commandants and generals of the training center so I can speak to all of the graduates of the military and police academies. On our last trip, we saw
many properties, and God is opening doors. Please pray that God would continue to lead so clearly.
As a huge blessing, City Baptist Schools of Hammond, Indiana, where I taught for 15 years, had a walk-a-thon and raised over $4000. How surprised we were to find that money was going for our plane tickets. Because we were able to send articles on a container, this amount completely covered our airfare. Thank you, kids, for your hard work! We love you and miss you daily.
Lord willing, our next letter will be coming to you from Lima, Peru. Please pray for the mind of Christ as we make many decisions quickly: housing, furniture, appliances, church property, vehicles, and wonders God has in store that we know not of.
His for souls,
Zach, Karin, Zachary, Caleb, and Logan Foust
Dear Praying Friends and Supporting Churches,
As I write this letter, our countdown timer shows that we leave for Peru in 28 days. What a miracle to see how God’s people have rallied to make this possible. We began full-time deputation not quite a year ago when the school year where I was teaching at City Baptist Schools ended. We hit the road wondering what God had in store for us. We have been truly blessed.
As we traveled the country, we met many friends of years who are doing a great work in their Jerusalem. We got to be involved in teen soul winning, bus calling, bus routes, visitation, ordinations, teen activities, Junior Church, main-street soul winning, train-station soul winning, preaching, Spanish ministries, Sunday schools, and much more. We are truly thankful for every opportunity to serve and influence. We loved meeting every child who wants to be a missionary when they grow up and every
adult who would love to go but is faithfully getting the job done that God has for them where they are. What a blessing to see hearts so tender towards God.
I wish all of you could experience deputation. I wish you could be in all of the great churches we’ve seen who are getting the job done for the Lord.
As we prepare now for Peru, I would ask that you please be in prayer for God’s moving. Many of you remember Clara, the lady who wants us to start a church in her home. Pray that God will use this as an open door for a great work. On our last visit, we met a man who trains all of the police and military officials in Lima. He would like to introduce me to the commandants and generals of the training center so I can speak to all of the graduates of the military and police academies. On our last trip, we saw
many properties, and God is opening doors. Please pray that God would continue to lead so clearly.
As a huge blessing, City Baptist Schools of Hammond, Indiana, where I taught for 15 years, had a walk-a-thon and raised over $4000. How surprised we were to find that money was going for our plane tickets. Because we were able to send articles on a container, this amount completely covered our airfare. Thank you, kids, for your hard work! We love you and miss you daily.
Lord willing, our next letter will be coming to you from Lima, Peru. Please pray for the mind of Christ as we make many decisions quickly: housing, furniture, appliances, church property, vehicles, and wonders God has in store that we know not of.
His for souls,
Zach, Karin, Zachary, Caleb, and Logan Foust
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