January 2005 Prayer Letter

Dear Friends & Family,

Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

What a busy year it has been! All I can say is that God has been so good to us. We rejoice in all that He has done on our behalf and stand in awe that He would choose to use us for His ministry.

I want to thank each one of you who have prayed and provided for our ministry and us. God has used you all as tremendous channels of blessings. Together we accomplished much in 2004 and we look forward with great anticipation to 2005.

We are excited about 2005 and the opportunities for ministry that we will have. We are expecting the best years of spiritual growth for us and our ministry.

Ministry News

The Lord continues to protect and provide for us. We are grateful. The past several months have been exciting and challenging. At Efata, we began a ministry to the hearing people in our neighborhood with a young national preacher. It is going slow but we are excited about this new ministry outreach.

The summer is upon us and the schoolchildren have gone home. Twelve children in our orphan program live with us full time. Two are in the process of adoption. Pray for Benjamin and Olga that the adoption will be smooth. Ray and Anita Bradley, missionaries to the Deaf in Ecuador are adopting them.

This month we had our Mission’s Conference. Missionary Jim Sloan preached. The conference went very well. Please pray that our church will see their responsibility to world evangelization and missions.

Family News

We continue on furlough/deputation. Our target for returning to Peru is the last week of June. Lisa, the kids and I are very excited about getting back.

John just turned one and began walking about a week prior to his birthday. You cannot keep him down. He is a wonder to watch as he grows.

Listed below in the special prayer section, is a need to expand our personal home where we live. It is a very small apt. and very tight with seven children. We cannot fit any more boys in the boy’s room and John is getting older. If you can help with this very special need, it would be a great blessing. I estimate it will cost about $5000.00 to modify where we are currently living to add the space we need.

SPECIAL PRAYER & NEED REQUESTS

Housing remodeling funds

Please pray that God would provide $5000 to remodel our home in Peru. We live in a very small two-and-a-half bedroom apt at Efata and need to expand for our family. This is a special need and we would like to begin working on this prior to our return to Peru.

Pray for support for the children

We would ask you to pray about supporting a child either as an individual or as a church. This is our greatest need. You can help with any amount. Please contact us if you would like to invest directly in a deaf child’s life.

Follow-up on Land

Continue to pray for the Land issue. We are getting closer and continue to put pressure on the government agency responsible so that we can get this done.

Pray for new workers

Please continue to pray for Corey and Melissa Ricker. They will begin their deputation in February to raise their support to come and work with us at Efata. We are excited about this young couple and the great addition they will be to the Efata team.

Pray also for the Holmes family as they are praying about coming to work with us. They completed a survey trip with me to Peru in November. Bro. Holmes has a great desire to work in a children’s home ministry as well as help establish churches and teach in a Bible Institute.

Continue to pray for the McDowell family as they continue raising their support to come and work in Efata.

Pray for continued safety on the road

We covet your prayer for continued safety and health on the road as we travel and for our preparations for going home in June.

Once again, thank you for everything that you do. We love you and invite you to come and visit us in Peru.

God Bless,

Bro. Joe & Family