April 05 Newsletter
We were headed to Guatemala City and we in
fact did that. What an unusual yet fulfilling time that was! The
fact that we were in a Spanish speaking country teaching with a Korean
translator made it unusual.
The openhearted response of the 55 Korean
students made it very fulfilling. These were elders,
music directors, church secretaires, all kinds of lay leaders of
one of the large Korean church there in the city. Most of these
people are there because they have garment factories employing up to
700 Guatemalans in their businesses.
Pastor Lee has such a burden for the local Guatemalans
that as a
congregation they have been helping some 12 local churches get going,
providing financial help and even pastoral training. What a
lovely combination! So our 3 day class to the Koreans was
followed by a 2 day Guatemalan Pastors Seminar, also on spiritual
warfare. For this I did not need a translator but they needed
lots of grace for my rusty Spanish.
The Lord even opened a door for me to preach our
last evening in a large Guatemalan church encouraging the Body of
Christ there. The strangest experience was having Ray not understand me
when I spoke. That was a hoot!!
With only about a 36 hour lay over in Dallas in between, we now
find
ourselves in New Jersey. Our first class on How to Hear God's
Voice began last night with about 30 adult Koreans at a local
church. On Sunday we will share in the high school Sunday school
class since they will be going on a missions outreach to Guatemala this
summer.
All day Monday is a Korean Pastors Seminar,
then Monday and Tuesday nights are a different group of Koreans in
South Jersey. We are kept busy but that is what we came here
for. Even though we can't always converse it is so lovely
to see God honestly refresh and renew hearts. This whole NJ thing
in sponsered by a newly established YWAM base here that needs staff to
get the things running that God has called them to do. We love
seeing God's heart come alive to people all over. What an honor
to be involved in this work!
We will begin our drive back north on the 27th just after our flight
returns
to Dallas. We need to be in Portland on the 30th so that Ray can
get ready
to continue his earthmoving adventure on the Oregon coast on May
2. I need to keep driving up to Victoria so I can keep teaching
for the hungry people in a School of Intercessory Prayer
there. It means some weeks apart but He and His Kingdom are much
more important than us and our desires.
So onward we go! He has grace for all of it.
Thanks for loving us and wanting God's best for us. Enjoy that
for yourselves.
Hugs,
Ray and Patience
