FIRST COUPLES' MEETING

After visiting the doctor, and with your prayer help, John has slowly started to feel better. He has been able to sleep the last two nights. We are very grateful for your prayers. It is so reassuring to know that there is a whole team standing in the gap for us.

Saturday we started to get ready for the couples' Bible study. I had a lot of enchilada meat in the freezer from last time, so I decided to start of with enchiladas, I had to add more meat, and I ended up with 40 enchiladas. I had no idea of how many were going to show up, but food around here never goes to waste. I also baked two cakes, one lemon and one carrot. They like those better than chocolate cake. John and I thought about what we were going to talk about and decided to review the salient points from the last few studies: Who is Christ? I typed up and outline with Bible verses and questions: Christ is the Creator, Christ is the Lamb of God, Christ is the Way, and Christ is our Mediator.

Sergio and Bianca, married last October

Saturday afternoon we had a couple of visitors, so by the time we got everything ready and loaded it was 6:30 pm. We had told everybody 6:00. Not to worry, nobody was there when we arrived. It was 7:30 by the time everybody was there and we got started. We had salad, enchiladas, chips and salsa. There were six couples, among them a new couple. They were invited by Sergio and Bianca, a Christian couple who got married in October. They have been leading a Bible study at Francisco's house since they got married. I have talked about them before. Sergio works here in the Hacienda and is going to college to get a degree in Business Administration. Bianca is studying to be a nurse. They live here now, but I don't know what will happened once she graduates because there are no hospital around here. Any way, they invited the new couple to attend because they have been attending the Bible study at Francisco's. The man, Johnny, accepted the Lord, but the wife has not made a decision yet. We ate, had the Bible study (no questions this time, they were a little subdued), had a raffle for the gifts because it was too late for a game, had dessert, and everybody went home at about 10:00. There was another couple who used to come, but had moved away. There were here visiting relatives, so they made it a point to come also. The couple whose son has cancer was not there because they are at the capital having treatments. Another couple had a party at their house, and there were two more couples missing, but I am not sure why. It was so good to see our dear friends again and to catch up. We feel positive about the evening. The Lord will take His Word and use it to give fruit in people's heart.

I also talked to Luz about the wedding. I really hope that they get it together. Even with the incentive of the wedding dress, which made her cry, they are still ambivalent about the date.

Today we went to church, only one service because John is not quite ready for the marathon. It was also good to see our fellow believers. We had a lot of materials for them: Sunday School materials, tracts, books, calendars donated by a Spanish Christian bookstore in Escondido, and presents. We had a big box full off stuff. The pastor talked about the Lord's timing, which is not our timing. He never tarries.

I guess the construction for the church in the next town over is going well, but we postponed the visit until next week, maybe. We are having baptisms Sunday at the beach. There are 10 candidates. I was also asked to speak next Thursday night.

That's all folks...until next time, from the beach...