An Amazing Sunday!

We had a pretty intense and joyful day today.  Some of those baptized last week took part in the Lords supper for the first time!  The brother that received the Lord at the baptisms last Sunday came today and was warmly welcomed by the believers! 

Just as our group Bible Study Dynamics class started Jose came up to me and said “Leon, you need to come outside, a visitor wants to receive the Lord!”  We both met the man outside, he was distraught.  His marriage and family was being torn apart.  He said, “I can’t take it any more, I have ruined my life and the lives of those I love.”   “I need to be forgiven, I need a new life, I need what you all have been talking about, this… Salvation.”  We shared the Gospel with him and he told us that he believed that Jesus died for him!  We prayed with him and stayed to encourage him.  While we were praying with him some of the believers came out and stood around us praying quietly for our new brother.

As were gearing up for the song service, Pedro comes up to me and announces, “Aaron received the Lord this Thursday at our home Bible study!”  We have been praying for Aaron for more than a year!  This is such great news! 

The leadership asked our sister Isabel to share about her trip to Mexico City and how God gave her the privilege of sharing the Gospel at a funeral.  There is a lot more to this story than I can share here, but in brief, more than 50 people stood up and put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!  Praise the Lord!

This Sunday was my turn to speak and the theme was on family.  I was struggling to keep myself from crying tears of joy with so much answered prayer all coming together at once.  The message was titled, Are We Going to Fight With, or Fight For our Family?  God blessed and everyone was moved to take steps for building UNITY in their marriages and families, and instead of arguing, envy & selfishness they are determined to get on their knees and in prayer FIGHT for their marriages, children, and for our brothers and sisters in our church.

It’s late, and I am tired, this has not been a very easy week for me.  But, as I think it through, I can see how God has been working, blessing & encouraging!  Even when things get rough, all that we do in the name of the Lord Jesus is definitely worth it!  I hope this encourages you my dear friends, what you do for the Lord will not be in vain!  Thank you for laboring in prayer with us for the work here in Ensenada!

March 9, 2012, A tribute to a good and gentle brother

Celia & Hector

A friend passed away a couple of days ago.  Hector was notably gentle and kind.  He was always very enthusiastic about greeting and expressing sincere friendship with a big smile and a full opened arm hug.  He was a delight to be around.  He loved the Lord Jesus Christ.  We celebrated his 'graduation' last night at Iglesia Cristiana Familiar with sadness and peaceful joy.

The night before, at prayer meeting, I shared about comfort.  In 2 Corinthians we learn that we have been most effectively comforted by God, so that we can be ministers of comfort to those around us as they are buffeted by the storms of life. The most significant comfort for mankind comes to us through the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.  God forgives our sins and sends the Comforter to live in the believer, never to be alone.  The believers were encouraged to be ministers of comfort to Hectors family in the this time of grieving.

After the memorial, Hectors daughter thanked the whole church for being so loving and supportive to her family.  Yes!  God answered my prayer!  "He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.  When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." NLT 2 Cor. 1:4  Thank you Lord the opportunity to be used by you to bring comfort to the hurting!  Please pray for Celia and the family in this time of grief.

Dec 9, 2011

We talked with Arturo & Marisol today.   Im glad we called.  They were really dragging through some deep waters with all the pain from this illness.  She has suffered with pain for so long that it is beginning to take a heavy toll on them, emotionally.

Marisol is struggling with fear now, fear that this may be a terminal situation without remedy.  But as Linda talks with her they can confirm her objective response to the treatment and Linda was able to encourage both of them.  Please pray that the Lord would help Arturo & Marisol to hold on to hope for the duration of the treatment specified for this kind of Tuberculosis, the Dr's say that she may continue with pain for another 9-12 months.

Nov 22, 2011

We had a good conversation with Arturo & Marisol a few days ago.  Marisol is still having back pain, but the Dr's expect this to continue, and gradually diminish, over a period of many more months.  A second opinion and lab work confirmed that what she has is Renal Tuberculosis (affecting a kidney and the ureter).  Since this falls under the class of a public health concern, the Bolivian government covers her treatment for this specific disease.  Any operation that Marisol may need is still under debate.  Her kidney function seems to be gradually improving on the affected side.  One physician wants to install another catheter, but the specialist is concerned that this would only increase her chance for infection in the weakened kidney.  The catheter (as well as previous hospital visits and procedures) would not be covered under the government Renal TB care program.

The greatest trial for Arturo & Marisol is coming from well meaning family.  They want Marisol to be free from pain NOW.  But the prognosis for recovery for this disease is very slow.  This requires a lot of patience for Arturo and Marisol.  The family is insisting on everything (White magic, etc.) and blaming this illness on Marisols Evangelical husband with his strange "Chrisitan" beliefs.  The Drs have told these people that judging by the spread of the TB, Marisol was probably infected 10 years ago, long before she even knew Arturo.  But that didn't go over too well with them.  Please pray for widsom for the Dr's, pray that the family would stop being so hard on Arturo & Marisol.  Thank you!

Oct 31, 2011

The current course of treatment was begun a few weeks ago.  Marisol is feeling better, the pain slowly but steadily subsiding.  Her kidneys also seem to be responding to treatment.  The Drs say that they will not be able to determine her chances for a complete recovery for a couple of months.  We are praying that she will not have troublesome side affects from this medication.  Thank you all so much for your concern! 

Oct 13, 2011

The Drs approved the Tuberculosis course of treatment for Marisol.  Some in the family insisted upon a second opinion.  The second Dr applauded the good work of the first physician and told the family, "you are lucky that they secured this treatment, the diagnosis is very difficult to establish with the Health Dept. and the earlier she gets started the sooner her problems will be resolved."
*We are praying that her weak kidney will respond and start working at a healthy rate and...
*We pray that the problems in the ureters will be solved and the pain will go away.
*Pray for wisdom for the Dr's to know when to remove the shunt (bypass) from the ureter.
Thank you for praying for Lindas brother and his wife!

Monday Oct 3, 2011 > A Family in Need in La Paz, Bolivia

We called Arturo & Marisol again today.  She is at home resting.  They are still caught up in the back and forth trips for medical tests and diagnositcs.  The renal shunt has helped, but Marisol still has inflammation in the ureter.  The Drs have asked for more tests, and a CAT scan.  There is also the possibility of treating her with a course of antibiotics specific for renal tuberculosis (common in Bolivia) to see what happens.  This is one of the possible solutions for her problems.   If she responds well, it could put an end to the disruptive cycle of expensive tests, medical speculation, and more testing.
*Please pray for wisdom for the Drs, for good helpful decisions.  All the lab work and imaging has been inconclusive up till now.  This makes me think more and more that this problem will ultimately be solved through united and focused prayer.  Thank you for praying for Lindas brother and his wife Marisol.

P.S.  Oct 4, Today Arturo and Marisol are going in for more tests.  The diagnosis needs to be confirmed for the government to be able to step in and provide for treatment.  The Dr will talk about Marisols case in a consult with the Public Health Physicians comittee.  The committee needs to agree to the diagnosis and submit the claim to the Dept. of Health.  The treatment for Renal Tuberculosis is monitored closely by Public Health in Bolivia to insure that the patients follow through with the entire course of antibiotics.  The good thing is that a confirmed case will be (should be) paid for by the government.  From what we have read about this illness, she needs to get on the treatment soon.
*Please pray that this process can be expedited.
*Pray for Marisol, the discomfort and the anxiety that she is coping with.
*Pray for Arturo and the many ways that this is stressing him, in addition to the medical crisis, domestic challenges with 2 children, he is bearing the brunt of senseless cristisism.