Monday, August 22

    Do you still believe in prayer? We are humble servants of the Lord who do not pray enough, but God has been busy answering our prayers. Lance, Cheyenne's son, came to spend a few days with us before going back to school (starts today). While here, we had a "bonfire" for him (more the size of a campfire but to a 6 year old, it was big). After the campfire died down and we roasted marshmallows on sticks, we chatted about Hell and the need of all people to be saved. We were pleasantly surprised at his understanding and the application. One answered prayer - his eyes are being opened concerning HIS salvation and he is very tender about the concept.

     Yesterday after the church service, Cheyenne needed to get the bus pass for Lance for school, so we headed out three hours after the service, but "early" for the deaf. We met Pedro at the gate, greeted him and told him we had to hurry along - he was only late three hours plus for the service. As we started towards the bus, the ex-deacon came running saying "come back, come back." Cheyenne went on and Ann and I returned.  PEDRO BROUGHT BACK THE DEED TO THE LAND!!!! Answered prayer #2. If you will look back to the March 15 post titled "Victory in Jesus", you will see some of the dealings these two had gotten into. When we left for furlough in 2007, we asked Rigo, the deacon, to keep the deed of the land for safety reasons. The church asked him to bring them back on three different occasions and he always made an excuse. As he left the church, he took the deed to Pedro, who had left with him and in whose name the church is listed. Pedro has been AWOL for about five years. Rumors immediately flew through the deaf community that Pedro and Rigo were going to sell the church and split the money. The more the deaf got upset about it, the more peace He gave to us. I finally explained to all of the deaf that the church was God's and not ours. Pedro and/or Rigo would have to do things very underhanded to accomplish this end, so I was going to pray that God would deal with the issue and with them. Rigo has appeared to be willing to do whatever is needed now, but he has been responsible for about twenty deaf leaving, not to follow him, but because they could not put up with his bullying. Most seem to be hurt beyond repair. However, the church has held Rigo responsible for the fiasco of the deed and told him he was to undo his bad decision and get the deed back. Pedro had vehemently refused -- until yesterday. Pedro was very angry and very unhappy. I believe he thought he had a way to "boss over everyone" and when it failed, he was broken. I spent the most time talking to him about his spiritual needs and that we still loved him. He KNOWS the truth and has practiced it for twenty years. I asked about his Bible reading, prayer and soul winning and of course he stood quietly with his head down. I was not reproving him, I was asking if he had been faithful to the Lord and was walking with Him, so that his decisions were according to God's will. It ended with Pedro saying he will never come back because he is not respected. He MUST defend his manhood according to culture. We will just as fervently keep him in our prayers that he will return for reconciliation. Will you pray with us?

     Thank you for being prayer warriors for those of us on the field, even though you may not know the tiny details you are praying for - God does and He hears and answers prayer! We have a long hard trail to get the church back to where it was a year ago, but God is faithful. Pray that our deaf will be faithful in reaching out to their friends and neighbors with the Gospel. Pray for our neighbors where we live. I cannot give details, but they came the other night begging me to help them with a spiritual crisis. The families are very Catholic but please pray that we will be able to lead them to the Truth, regardless of the extended families.

     Thank you again for caring, giving and praying. It DOES work!

Gary & Ann