We are in Negritas

We are now in Negritas with Lupe and Leti.  We are also looking for guidance as to when we should go to Oaxaca. Lupe and Leti cleared their schedule so we are good to go from that standpoint.  Their crops look good for now but it hasn't rained for a week and we should probably water before we go... which takes three days!  God knows the best days for us to be in Oaxaca and that is why we are looking to him for guidance.  We have another visit to make nearby that will take a couple of days, and so we could wait for a few days.  I am planning to teach a three day seminar in Oaxaca with 5-9 students. 

Our little car flew past 280,000 miles on the way here.  Pray that it does well to Oaxaca and back with Lupe and Leti’s whole family added to the load.  We will be completely over-loaded.  We have a carrier on top and a carrier on the trailer hitch.  I just need to lose some weight and we’ll be good.

Speaking of Lupe’s crops, keep praying!  (See previous post!)  This could be their best crop by far if God chooses to bless.  (It would not be hard as he has never had a “good” crop).  We want God to make his power known.  The last rain dumped a great amount of water on Lupe’s fields while many fields of nearby farmers did not receive any.  Some people are openly asking, “Why?”

“Glorify Your name in all the earth!”

Lift up your hands on the mountain!

That’s what we want you to do.  When the children of Israel were fighting against the Amalakites in the desert, Moses, Aaron, and Hur were up on the mountain supporting them in prayer.  When Moses lifted up his rod high (an indication that he was lifting up the people in prayer) the army of Israel was winning.  When Moses lowered his rod the Amalakites prevailed.  Noticing this, Aaron and Hur supported Moses’ arms as he lifted up the rod. 

So which battle was more important?  The one on the mountain or the one down on the desert?  The answer, I think, is both!  The people had to fight the battle in the desert… but if Moses, Aaron, and Hur weren’t up on the mountain supporting them in prayer that battle would have been lost!

We are now in Mexico fighting the battle, but we need you to lift us up in prayer.  We plan to return home on August 18.  Please pray for us until then.  A few things you can pray for:

• Safety on the road.
• Success in encouraging Lupe and Leti in their ministry.
• Success is teaching a seminar on how to use Bible storying to teach home Bible studies.
• Success in starting 2 new Bible studies in Santiago Apostol in Oaxaca.  Pray that they would continue after we leave with the ones we train in charge.

We will try to keep you informed with updates when find an internet café.  It is easier for me to type a fast report on Facebook than on this blog.  So, if you like you can friend me on facebook (Jon Sousa) and I will accept the next time I am on.  

Pray for Lupe’s and Leti’s harvest.

Four and a half years ago Lupe and Leti returned to their home town of Negritas as missionaries to shine Jesus’ light.  They have been working hard to reach their family, friends and neighbors for Jesus. 

This prayer request is for a different kind of harvest… a physical one with real corn and beans.  Lupe and Leti live in a mountainous desert area of central Mexico.  Crop failure is the norm rather than the exception.  I have been going to Negritas for years and I have never once seen a stand of corn like what is common here in Oregon.  It is much more common to see withered, half grown stocks standing in parched earth.

Lupe likes to farm and he needs a crop to help feed his family.  We support them financially but it is not enough to completely provide for his growing family of six.  But that is not the reason we need to pray for Lupe’s harvest.

The more important reason is that people in Negritas are watching… and they need Jesus.  God blessing Lupe’s harvest is a way to demonstrate his glory to the people in Negritas.  Every year that Lupe has planted his small field he has had a slightly better crop than everyone else in town.  And the farmers have noticed.  Last year a neighboring farmer brought his idol to bless his field.  Lupe watched as the man carried his little god all around the field to bless his harvest.

Lupe, Leti, and family 2 years ago

Lupe often gets discouraged and wonders if he will ever reap a harvest of souls.  When I visited him last November I encouraged him.  I told him that being a good farmer three months a year was part of being a good missionary.  I told him a story about a friend who grew up on a large farm in central California.   They had lots of fields and one of their main crops was cotton.  Year after year, one field always out performed the rest.  It wasn’t because the soil was any better.  It wasn’t because that field got any more water or fertilizer.  It wasn’t because it was weeded more often.  It was because my friend’s mom always prayed for that field.  She prayed for that field and God blessed that field.

I told Lupe that every year I have been praying for his fields, that God would bless them more than all the other fields around.  I encouraged Lupe and Leti to pray for their fields.  God has given a slightly better harvest to Lupe and the other farmers have noticed.  I am praying for a huge harvest that everyone will notice. 

Please join me in praying for Negritas, that God would show his glory and would triumph over the false gods of the area.  The people are expecting these false gods to punish Lupe for leaving them.  That hasn’t happened in over four years.  Pray that God will show Negritas who is God.  Pray for God to glorify his name and to draw many people to himself.

Update on Pastor Pablo

Thank you for praying.  Pastor Pablo’s hand is doing much better.  He was in the hospital for a couple of days.  We saw him on Sunday and he did not look well.  He was very shaky. Pablo has some other underlying issues that he has been suffering with for several months.  The doctors have not found the cause of these problems.  Please pray for Pablo’s health.  I will be preaching at the church for a few weeks.  We don’t know how long it will be before Pablo is back to normal.

Pray for our pastor in Salem

This is an urgent prayer request for Pablo, the pastor of our church in Salem.  My information is somewhat sketchy, but clear enough to pray for.   A few days ago Pablo was working and was stuck by a thorn (perhaps an insect bite too?)  His hand got very swollen.  He went to the doctor and was given an injection.  Today he went back to the doctor and was sent to the emergency room.  Doctors are now saying that his hand is so bad that he might lose it.  God is great!  Pray hard.

If any of you lacks wisdom...

Some time ago, Juan Alvarez started asking for prayer for wisdom, specifically, so that he can share God’s word more effectively with pre-believers.  On February 15 Juan was giving a ride home to a co-worker when the subject of conversation turned to spiritual things.  The Co-worker was a Jehovah’s Witness (as least in name - not practicing very much) and he asked Juan what he believed happened to people when they die.  He explained to Juan that JWs believe that the soul sleeps until the resurrection and the judgment. 

Juan told his friend that the Bible says that when a believer dies his soul is immediately in the presence of Jesus.  As they were discussing the idea Juan told his friend the story of the two men who were crucified with Jesus.  When he finished he reminded his friend of Jesus’ words to the man who believed, “This day you will be with me in Paradise.”  Juan asked, “If Jesus said that THIS DAY you will be with me in Paradise, when did his soul have a chance to sleep?”  Juan’s co-worker replied, “You’re right!  He had to be with Jesus that same day.”

I was very impressed… and blessed.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”  -  James 1:5

Open Gym in Full Swing

On January 4 we began a new year of Open Gym.  We meet at 6:30 pm at Talbot Community Church's gymnasium.  We have basketball for the men folk, activities for children, and mostly visiting for the ladies.  We also have English classes when there are people who are interested.

At about 8:00 pm we have a break for some refreshments and a short devotion.  This year I began sharing short Bible stories with a twist.  After sharing the story in Spanish and English I ask everyone to help me rebuild the story (retell the story with everyone's help).  Then I ask two questions:

·       What does this story teach us about God?  

·        What does this story teach us about people?

Everyone participates in rebuilding the story and answering the questions.  Right from the beginning of the year members of our church noticed that everyone was paying better attention to the story.  This is GOOD! 

Please pray for our Open Gym ministry and for everyone who comes, that God would reveal himself to them in a very real way.

Telling a Bible story