Ministry Challenges

We are enjoying our second week here. Our daily routine consists of a morning walk after breakfast, then we spend time studying or reading, lunch, more reading, dinner here or with friends, sometimes with friends here. They sold the small hotel that has been here since the beginning to a company that runs detox centers. It is for the very rich, and most guests come by helicopter. It is a little weird, and the government is already after them for using experimental drugs not approved by either the local authorities or the US, and for a doctor practicing without the proper local license. Here is a link: http://www.ibogahouse.com/  This has limited our options to go out to eat, since we really do not like to travel far at night. I think we will be hosting more people over to dinner this time around.

We are a little disappointed with the ministry. There is a marked apathy in this town, and believers are not any different. There are four legally married couples who attend church, but three of the marriages are on the rocks. This is worse than for unbelievers. Needlessly to say, it is damaging the church testimony. According to the pastor, key families are not attending consistently. They only come when we are around; therefore, we are considering closing the little church and starting over in the same house where we have the Bible study, or in an empty house on their property, away from the center of town. Pray for wisdom on this matter. The other church in the other town that was started after this one is doing very well, PTL. Speaking of the couples Bible study, last Saturday there was a huge celebration all weekend in the nearest town. These are cowboys around here, so they had rodeos and things like that for four days. Most of the couples did not come to the study for various reasons connected with the festivities. They also have a lot of celebrations around Holy Week; therefore, we have decided to stop the Bible study until after Easter. We knew that it would be difficult to hold meetings with all the stuff going on; for example, in our little town they build an effigy of Judas that gets paraded around the soccer field in the center of town and burn later. They do this on Saturday before Easter. Even our friends say that there are hundreds of people at this event, but only about thirty go to mass.

The young couple, Sergio and Bianka who are separated, are not doing well. Sergio is determined to get a divorce. She is devastated and very depressed. Please pray for them. John is going to talk to him of Thursday. Pray for wisdom.  Armando, the gardener, had to fast one day to have blood work done the next day, but when he went, the place was closed. Now he has to do it again and miss work again. Please continue to place for healing and salvation. Pray that he can keep his job.

Which brings me to prayer requests:

• John is still having problems with his arm. Pray for healing.
• For Sergio and Bianka's marriage.
• Wisdom for Pastor Alejandro and his wife, Alba.
• Health and salvation for Armando.
• For the couples Bible study
• For wisdom about what to do with the church here.
• Wisdom for us. We are dealing with a lot of different situations here. 

There are some sunset pictures below.

Our pool at sunset

The main event around here

Sonny, why did I get this halo around the sun?

Deep in thought

  

Almost over

Do you like cashews? I am going to make a drink in the blender because they need a lot of sugar.

The Rodríguez family: Osvaldo, Scarleth, Frandisco, Luz, Mary, Diana and Luz Elena in the front

Thank you for your prayers! 

Until next time...from the beach...