Szabatin Update July/Aug 2011

                                                                                                                                             July/August 2011
Dear Pastor and Praying Friends,

This summer has been one of many changes. In July while we were in Mexico City, we had the opportunity to participate in many different ministries. I led a Bible study in the home of a family we had met while soul winning. They came from a Pentecostal background. Over several Saturdays I taught on baptism first and then on the Holy Spirit. At first they were defensive; but as time went on, they began to ask questions, not in an argumentative spirit but as wanting to know the truth.

 I also started driving a Sunday school bus route. Driving in Mexico City is an adventure in itself, but once I learned the one rule, I was fine. That rule is that there are no rules for driving in Mexico City. On one Saturday after soul winning and before the Bible study at Jesus’ house, we went to help at an Escuelita, a children’s outreach that they use at Iglesia Bautista Monte Sion. They set up in parks all across the city and then go out with a bullhorn and invite children to come where they can play games,
win prizes, and hear the Gospel being preached. Josiah got dressed up like Mickey Mouse and quickly got into character, running up and down the street giving high fives and shaking the hands of the children. He enjoyed it a lot, and it was great to see the kids coming out of their homes and hear them screaming: “ES MICKEY MOUSE!” Within a half hour, we had 75 children all participating and listening to the preaching, and many of the children received Jesus Christ as their Saviour.

  Our Spanish-language training went well while we were in Mexico. We learned many new words and have started putting broken sentences together.

  As July ended, we were sad to say goodbye to all the friends we had made while in Mexico, but we were also excited that we were finally heading to Peru. Our flight went well, and we arrived just a few hours before the deaf services started at Iglesia Bautista Efata. As soon as we got in, we ran out and bought a bed and a few small appliances. It was the first time in two years we had bought anything for a home we could call our own. The very next day, the Hubbards and the Fousts arrived, and by Friday we were scouting out the city.

 While scouting out one area called Chorrillos, we stopped on a hillside to get pictures of the city. We looked back and noticed a family watching us. Zach Foust walked up and started talking with the woman, and she invited us in. Brother Foust led both her and her son to the Lord, while Mrs. Hubbard spoke to the lady’s friend and ended up leading her to the Lord. I was outside passing out tracts and having a great time seeing so many people read them.

 I approached a man and gave him a tract. He asked me for another tract for his son. As his Spanish was too fast for me, I asked Brother Hubbard to come over. About 30 minutes later, both the man and his son asked Jesus to become their Saviour.

The following Tuesday, the rest of the team arrived, and after one day of sightseeing, we started looking for areas of the city where we could plant the new church. Time and time again, Chorrillos keeps coming up; and there are many opportunities in that portion of the city, as well as many places to live. Over the past week, I have had the opportunity to preach in the deaf service and in Sunday school classes. My family and I have been out soul winning, and while the language is currently an impediment for us, we know that will always not be that way. As we learn it, we will be able to better serve our Saviour here in Peru. 

The Kotvas family have been wonderful hosts, and the whole team is in agreement that Mrs. Kotvas is an incredible woman. Brother Kotvas has been a wealth of information; he has helped and sacrificed much to host a large team on the survey trip. Josiah is making friends with their children and with the students at the school here. There are orphans and children without families, and they are so friendly that you can’t help but love them.

Praise Reports:

While the team was here in Peru with us, we (the team) saw 27 saved. Some of those we saw saved came out to church, and 1lady was baptized.

Prayer Requests:

We will be starting language school in September, and I have decided to try and pick up Spanish sign language at the same time. Please pray that the language comes quickly. I really want to be able to give the Gospel clearly in Spanish without using an interpreter.

Danica-Lee heads back to college on August 22. She will be starting her junior year at Hyles- Anderson College. Time seems to be flying by so fast. We miss her dearly. We saw her in May just before we left for Mexico City, and we are praying there will be enough funds to bring her down during Christmas break. 

Please pray for deputation to go well and quickly for the rest of the team; we miss them already. The spring seems so far away to see them again but yet so close to get so much done and accomplished.

New Mailing Address:

The Szabatin Family

C/O Efata Ministries

Apartado 18-1280

Lima 18, Peru

South America

Thank-you for all you support,

Your Missionaries to Peru,

The Szabatin Family

Paul, Andrea, Danica-Lee & Josiah

I John 5:13

May-June 2011

Dear Praying Friends,

I hope you are enjoying this exceptionally warm summer.  I am very glad to inform you that our team is now complete.  Ten “hand-picked-by-God” families now make up the Peru Team.  How excited I am about this.  Each brings an excellent skill set of ministerial experience and ability.  Because of their faithfulness and yielded spirits to the Lord, I know the Lord will accomplish great things with them.

 

Since last month our schedules have been packed with events.  In June, FBMI had its missionary Candidate School.  The training was detailed and specialized, and the fellowship was as warm as the weather.  I enjoy watching the team members beginning to think, act, and unite as a team.  How obvious is God’s selection process to bring together a team that will do His work and will in a marvelous way.

From there, my wife and I slipped away for several days to celebrate our marriage of 10 years.  I cannot believe how the years have flown.  My wife still is the woman of my dreams and has only grown more beautiful.  We are best friends and still madly in love with each other.  (Excuse me a moment while I go give her a kiss!)  She has stood by my side for better and for worse, richer and poorer, in sickness and health.  We had a nice and relaxing time away.

Currently, we are home in Hammond.  Christy and I have had 8 saved in the last three weeks in personal soul winning and visitors to church, and last Sunday we helped start a Spanish Sunday school class.  We had 21 in attendance our first Sunday.  Keeping myself busy in the ministry, though, is making me long to be in Peru to realize our vision of winning souls and starting churches. 

Next month we will make the journey to Peru with the team to survey the land.  We will be looking for property, housing, and God’s will of where to focus our efforts.  Pray for souls to be saved and seeds to be planted.  A small group will leave on August 4 to prepare for the team’s arrival on the 9^th.  We will all return on the 16^th.  Pray for divine guidance and protection. 

Thank you so much for your prayers and support.  None of this would be possible without you.   I am moved with deep gratitude for the investment that you are making in us.  May God bless you richly.

For His glory,

Dan Hubbard

Szabatin Update June 2011

                                                                                                                                  June 2011

We got to Mexico! On Tuesday, May 31, we flew into Mexico City and saw a sea of lights below us. It was an incredible sight. As we looked down, it was overwhelming to think of a city that has 30 million people in it. That is almost the same population as the whole of Canada. We cleared customs fairly easy, and, even though we were chosen for a “random search,” it went fairly smoothly. I accidently tipped our porters way too much (100 pesos) at the Guadalajara Airport where we were connecting, and the porters were all smiles. When we got to the Mexico City Airport, Brother Wes Palla picked us up, and I asked him how much I should tip. When I gave these porters 15 pesos each, they were not smiling at all! I asked Brother Wes why they were upset, and he told me it is because they think I am a rich American and that I was being cheap. I wanted to go back and tell them I was neither American nor was I rich, but it wouldn’t have done any good.

We were exhausted and tired but also rejoicing that our journey to Peru feels like it has actually begun. Our hosts and good friends, Wes and Cynthia Palla, are going out of their way to make us feel at home while we are here and have started teaching us Spanish. Yesterday Brother Wes and I went out soul winning, and I had the privilege of seeing a young lady come to know Christ. So I could pass out John and Romans, Brother Wes taught me to say, “May I give you this book?” I went up to the first lady I saw and said in Spanish, “I want you to give this book to me.” She smiled and took it anyway. I also got to see Iglesias Bautista Monte Sion (Brother Kevin Wynne’s church). It is an incredible work, and I am looking forward to being here for the next month and learning as much as I can.

          Tienguis (Open Air Market)            

          Iglesia Buatista Monte Sion          

           A roof top view of Mexico City          

           

The city doesn’t ever seem to sleep, from the noise of cars, to people trying to sell things over loud speakers, to people blowing their horns. Last night a man came down the street ringing a bell, and we asked what that was. The Pallas told us it was the garbage man. All the people then came out to the street with their garbage. Then you tip him. I have learned you tip everybody here, even the guy at Wal-Mart who blows his whistle while you park, telling you that you can park where you are parking. Before we left the United States, I went and got my international license. It will be staying in my luggage. The traffic here is not for newbies. It makes the traffic in Los Angeles and Toronto look like a drive in the country on a Sunday afternoon.

Please continue to pray for us as we learn while we are here. We are going to utilize every avenue we have while we are here, but we also do want to get to Peru. Flights to Peru continue to remain high because of fuel surcharges. As soon as the Lord provides the funds, we will continue forward.