May - June 2004 Prayer Letter

Dear Friends,

Luke 21:28

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

I cannot help but believe that time is getting short and we need to be busy about our Father’s business. There are over 400 Million deaf people in this world and very few churches or missionaries reaching them. Can you imagine a population of people greater than the U.S. and Canada combined, but spread out all over the world with little or no Gospel witness? We need to train workers, missionaries and interpreters who will go to this vast silent population before it is too late! Efata Ministries and my family are doing just that!

Ministry News

Things are going well for us as we travel on furlough/deputation. We have had such a blessed past two months as the Lord has begun to bring in new support for Efata and us. We have raised about 15% of our needed additional support – To GOD be the GLORY!

Due to the generosity of God’s people, we have been able to clear some of the financial burdens left over from the last couple of years for the school and orphanage.

I was able to be in Peru for a week recently in April. It was a joyous time with my church, the deaf children and staff. God loves them people and so do I.

God has blessed and provided funding to add an additional room onto the little boys dorm so we can take a few more children in. We are excited about this and thank the Lord for touching peoples hearts to give to this project.

Please PRAY for Efata as we are away. Several serious issues have come up and we are begging God to intervene in hearts to bring them to repentance. The Devil takes no furloughs and never has to go on deputation!

(See Special need below Family News)

Family News

Lisa and the kids are doing wonderful. They are a joy and help as we have travel. It is not always easy on a large family when traveling. Thank God, he has given me a great wife and kids who are like the Marines – they “adapt and overcome!”

We had to purchase a large van. Our Suburban was just too small. What a difference! Thank the Lord for it. We still have the Suburban and need to sell it. With the gas situation as it is, people are not so keen on buying a vehicle with a 454 engine; however, God has just the right person out there who needs a pulling machine.

Thank you so much for all you do. Thanks for holding the ropes!

SPECIAL PRAYER & NEED REQUEST

For a long time now, I have made mention from time to time of our situation with the land that Efata sits on. In 1996, the Peruvian government took over all non-titled commercial property to offer them for sale or other governmental use. As our land is not titled, the government took it as well. We have been working hard to obtain the title to the property which we occupy through the appropriate Government agency COFOPRI.

Through the legal process, we have so far surveyed and delineated the boundaries of the land and have registered legal descriptions in the government public registry through COFOPRI. We also had to have the land use and plat description changed to conform to our possession and not what was listed, a Catholic Church.

During this process, COFOPRI has suffered personnel and budget cuts and has not moved forward due to work backlogs. They recently advised they will officially inform us of the price in September.. The last unofficial estimate we were told was that it will cost approx. $20,000 for the property. We have approx. 1 acre of fully developed land where our church, school, orphanage and living quarters are. Over the past 30 years, tens of thousands of dollars, prayers, hard work and ministry efforts have been invested in this ministry. We believe that God has not allowed this investment to be in vain. Many deaf and hearing souls have been saved and lives changed through Efata.

It is only a matter of time before the government will finally give us an answer. However, we need to begin raising the funds for it now. Once we have a price we only have 60 days to make the purchase. They will not accept payments. If we do not, the land stays with the government and can be sold to others.

To those who have given to this project, we have raised $3000.00 so far which we have used to pay expenses for obtaining our land.

If you would like to help us with this project, please send your love offering to Macedonia World Baptist Missions, P.O. Box 519, Braselton, GA 30517. Ask them to deposit the funds in the Efata “land” account.

God has protected this land for all of these years from several attempts to remove us by past governments. Thankfully, when they saw the work with the Deaf, they left us alone. We believe God desires for Efata to continue and we desire to be good stewards of what God has placed in our care.

Please contact me directly with any questions you may have. Thanks you for your care for our special ministry to the Deaf!

God Bless,

Joe