Pain and Blessing - click for full story

The last two months have been a mixture of pain and blessings.  The following verses fit well with the experiences we’ve been facing.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."         2 Corinthians 1:3-4 

In the last two months we’ve been comforted greatly by the God of all comfort, who in turn has given us the strength to comfort others.  During the month of April, I conducted a funeral service for my father who passed away at the age of 72 due to lung cancer. Once again in the month of May I was called upon to conduct another funeral service for my grandmother who passed away at the age of 92.  Although the funeral services were very painful to conduct I’m grateful that we got to minister and witness the love of Jesus Christ to many of our family members.  We are thankful to many that have prayed for us during the last two months. 

As we live for Christ I’m reminded that even in times of pain the good work of his kingdom continues forward.  Below are some pictures and a brief description of all the victories the Lord has allowed us to see in spite of the pain and hardship. 

  

During the beginning of April, we were blessed by a visit from our Superintendent Dr. Sergio Navarette and our district youth director Manny Rodriguez.  They were the key speakers during the indigenous festival celebration of the Oaxaca district. 

In April we also hosted a team made up of three churches from the Michigan district.  I’d like to thank Pastor Nate Elarton, Pastor Tom March and Pastor Todd Winkler for taking the time to help in two church building projects.  Along with construction the team also participated in a mass evangelism crusade and children’s outreach, many heard and received the Gospel message.

During the final week of April, we also had the great joy of seeing the second group of CAPE students graduate from our pastoral training program.  For two years in a row now we’ve had the great joy of seeing Indigenous pastors graduate from our program.

In the month of June, we also had the privilege of receiving a visit from one of the missions committee members of Iglesia Evangelica Latina in Los Angles.  During this visit Brother Martinez and I distributed thirty food boxes and new Bibles in a church that has been under persecution in an unreached town.  This visit was a huge encouragement to the struggling new believers of this town. 

 We truly do serve a wonderful God. In spite of the difficult times we face in our lives, God is faithful and the work of his kingdom is never defeated.