Hola desde la Ciudad Oaxaca de Juarez!
First of all, we would like to thank all of you for your prayers and financial support! We have been in Oaxaca now for two months and are finally settled in our home and ready for the task of acclimating to our new country.
In the months of July and August, we were able to prepare our home to live in it, and in the process we were able to initiate relationships with several people involved in the remodeling of the house. One young man – Martin (the son of the carpenter) – has decided to join one of our English classes, so we will be seeing quite a bit more of him. He recently dropped out of high school, so we are praying that as we become closer, we can encourage him to return. He does not know Jesus, so of course we are looking for any opportunity we can get to introduce him to our Saviour.
Other non-believers who we have recently become involved with are: Aracely & Cresencio (a couple who recently moved here from Cancun), Eva (a young lady from the Sierra Sur mountians), and The Cruz Family (Señor Cruz, his wife Sandra, and their children Christian, Nicole, and Alan – I am driving out to their home in the country twice a week to teach the children English).
Lily has been busy counseling people. The church that we attend here has offered to let her use one of the rooms of the church for counseling. It’s been a slow start for her, but she is now up to two appointments a week.
I have been somewhat busy with the ups and downs of being sick. Since arriving here, I have lost 30 pounds, seen several doctors, taken more medicine than I care too, and have slept more in the last two months than I have in the last year! The doctors aren’t sure what is going on, but they were able to find parasites and also bad bacteria more than once. We have spent quite a bit of money on tests, appointments, and medicine, but I was at the point two weeks ago where I was tired of the enemy stealing our support, so I decided to trust God for my healing. At time I was down to 189 pounds. Since then I have been feeling a lot better, and have even gained a couple of pounds! Praise God!
In spite of struggling with sickness, I have been able to start three English classes and am preparing to start another in our church facility here. One of the classes is at a rehabilitation clinic, teaching a doctor and her staff.
In our first few months here, we have been able to meet several missionaries, and we already have invitations to go with two different groups up into the mountain villages as they minister. We met a young bi-cultural couple who are the directors of the Oaxaca YWAM (Youth with a Mission) office, and we are meeting with them once a week for Bible study.
Part of our initial six-month plan was for both of us to establish relationships in the community, so we have been praying that God would continue to send people our way that need to know Him.
Another goal of ours during these first six months is for Derek to become more fluent in Spanish. Derek has taken the commitment to speak Spanish as much as possible, thus helping him practice what he knows, while learning more through the whole immersion idea.
In spite of some setbacks, we can clearly see God protecting us, and leading us as we live for Him here in Oaxaca. Please pray for the following:
1. That God sends more people to Lily as she counsels.
2. For Derek’s health.
3. That God would send more English students.
4. Wisdom for us both as we develop relationships with our students, those Lily counsels, and with others we meet.
5. That God would prepare their hearts to accept Him.
6. For Derek as he learns more Spanish.
7. For both of us as we continue to adjust to this new way of life.
8. That in spite of the continuing protests and city shutdowns, God would cover Oaxaca in peace.
Thank you again for your support, but more importantly for your prayers. We treasure each and every one of you and look forward to seeing you again!
Tags: Updates
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