Jan - March 2006 Prayer Letter
Dear Friends and Family,
We have just completed some of the most fabulous months here at Efata. Back to back we have had two wonderful conferences. I have never seen my church work so hard as a team and family than in these past several months. We are drawing closer and closer as we develop a church and leadership team that is going to make a difference.
First, we had our mission conference. Our guest preacher was missionary Dean Hamby from Macedonia World Baptist Missions. He did a wonderful job. God used him to impact our people. The church doubled its faith promise commitment.
A few days after this we held a family conference with Ezekiel Salazar and Gil Torres from Fires of Evangelism. What a tremendous conference. There were many saved and many good decisions during this very impacting conference. We are still feeling the results of this conference. We baptized 15 people these past three weeks.
Ministry News
We are encouraged by the growth of our people in the area of soul winning and visitation. More are coming and they are getting excited as see the people they visit coming to church and getting saved. One of our young leaders, Frank and my son James, were able to lead an old deaf friend of Frank’s to the Lord. They were so excited. This was the first person they both ever led to the Lord.
School has started back up. We have several new students and we are excited about this as well. There is much to do as we expand dormitories and improve classrooms. We have done preliminary remodeling of a new dorm for the girls so we can have enough space for them. As funds are available we will put down tile in the dorm and its bathroom as well as other needed modifications. We greatly need to expand the teen boy’s dorm as well.
Manuel and Paula Caceres of Argentina have come to begin their training as missionaries to the Deaf. They will be with us for two years and then return to Argentina to begin ministries and works for the Deaf. They are already fluent in Argentine sign language and are professionals who have given their lives to serve the Lord.
The Caceres gave up their Jobs, sold their house and things and moved their family to Peru to train and prepare. They have very little by way of support. If anyone would like to help support this fine family on a monthly basis, please let me know. They are the sweetest couple with two small children. They are a great blessing. I can highly commend them to you. I know they will do great things for the Lord. They are already fully integrated into the work here.
One sad note is that one of our students, 8-year-old Abel, was lost by his mother in January. We have not been able to find him. We have searched, put out fliers but have not found him. Please pray that he will be safe and returned home.
Family News
The family is doing great! The new addition has been such a blessing. The Lord gave us our new son Joel Benjamin. He was born Jan. 28 at home into my hands. What a blessing! Lisa and baby are doing great. It was the fastest and easiest birth of all so far.
Joel is such a quiet sweet baby. He has Down syndrome and we are very excited about the blessings and challenges that face our family and Joel as we raise him for God’s Glory. He has a plan and a purpose for Joel and we desire to do our part to help Joel realize them. As far as stimulation is concerned, he will have plenty of that with his brothers and sisters and all that goes on here at Efata. I feel God could not have given Joel a better family to love and raise him.
New Website Design
Please take a look at our website www.efata.org. It has been completely redesigned with more information and pictures. There you will be able to view pictures of the ministry and our family. Joseph my oldest son has been working on this for a few months. It is his first major web design. He has done a tremendous job and has learned a great deal in the process. I am very proud of him. All of our children are great blessings and it is such a joy to watch them grow up here on the mission field.
To all of you, thank you for the privilege of representing you here in Peru. You are all very special to us.
God Bless,
Bro. Joe & Lisa
Joseph, Julianne, James, Jared, Judson, Joy, John, Joel
Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.