AFLC World Missions Videos

Have you ever watched our videos.  We have a collection of videos describing a number of our ministries.  The latest addition to our playlist is a video from Justo Pillman who is ministering in Ecuador.  Click on the graphic to the right and then go to Justo’s video named “Missionupdate.”  

Paul and Becky Abel

Almost two months have slipped by and I realize it is time to communicate with our web of friends and supporters. We hope everyone has returned to another school year with a desire to do all to the glory of God and give Him thanks in all things. 

Looking Back

We have had a full two months.  I just want to give you a quick overview so that you can rejoice with us and pray for us as you have done so faithfully throughout the years of our ministry in Brazil. Paul had a complete recovery of his voice after weeks of struggling with laryngitis.  Our time in Campo Mourão in September giving a course on courtship and sexuality was blessed by the Lord and we hope the decisions made will be significant in helping young people remain sexually pure.  We taught the classes together this time because of Paul’s weak voice.  As he ministered during the week his voice gradually strengthened. 

The following week we drove to São Paulo to meet my folks and take them to visit a boy they support monthly through Compassion International. Then we returned to Curitiba to spend a wonderful three weeks together.  It is almost hard to believe that this was their 10^th visit to Brazil in the 25 years we have been here.  How thankful we are for their faithful support and encouragement of our ministry!  They kept busy the whole time they were here, painting our house and doing fix-up jobs that we just don’t get around to doing.  Of course we enjoyed sharing our life and ministry and friends with them as well. One highlight for all of us was babysitting for Deborah and Sarah for 10 days while Joanna and Silvio were traveling. We had a great bonding time and memories to cherish for the years to come. We also enjoyed celebrating a host of birthdays.  I feel like I have made plenty of fancy birthday cakes for awhile.  Thanks to all of you who remembered to send birthday greetings to us!

We are praising God for the rentals at the ARCA.  After several months of financial struggle we are thankful to report that we have bookings set in place until the end of the year.  We are breathing a little easier now. Thank you, Lord! We had an Annual ARCA board meeting in September.  Yara has decided to terminate her ministry with the camp for the time being but will continue to serve on the Board. Her husand Carlos continues to work as camp manager.

Paul took a quick trip to Campo Mourão a couple of weeks ago for the funeral of our dear friend Dona Vita. She and her husband have been caretakers at the Bible Camp in Campo Mourão for over 40 years. She was a dear saint and will be greatly missed.

Looking Ahead

The church construction in Borda do Campo is progressing (see photo) and they plan to have the dedication service on November 14^th and move into unfinished quarters to escape the monthly rent bill.

We have started a weekly Bible Club on Saturdays in Campo Largo in yet one more attempt to reach out to the community.  We have had several visitors and are excited about this new avenue of ministry. 

This coming weekend the ARCA is hosting our Second Missionary Conference. The first one was in 2007.  We hope to host this event every other year to encourage our Free Lutheran people in mission outreach.  This year four different workshops will be offered in preparation for a practical mission outreach event in the community on Monday, November 2 which is a national holiday in Brazil. 

The Mighty Fortress Church in São Braz also took the initiative to offer a bi-weekly course for training leaders in our area churches.  We meet together on Tuesday evenings to learn and encourage one another.

We look forward to the arrival of four Canadian young men next week to help with some construction projects around here.  The two short-termers from the States, Jon and Nathan, are still waiting for their visas to be granted, but we hope to see them soon.  One other volunteer, Karyn Ballman, is in the process of applying for a visa to spend some time with us as well.  Please keep these young people in your prayers.

I’ve already have gone on too long and I feel like I have barely scraped the surface. Life and ministry keep us busy all the time.  We are still here because of the mercies of the Lord. We are so glad He never tires of loving people and offering opportunities for men to be reconciled to Him.  His Word through the prophet Ezekiel expresses His desire for all mankind – “I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!” Ez. 18:32

Thanks for praying for us as we lead people to repentance and faith! 

God’s best to each of you!  Love, Paul and Becky

P.S. Our old website is no longer active, but I have put together another one if anyone needs information about us or would like to take a look – www.paulabel.shutterfly.com

Darwin Jackson

"Fall on your knees and grow there. There is no burden of the spirit but is lighter by kneeling under it. Prayer means not always talking to Him, but waiting before Him till the dust settles and the stream runs clear." F. B. Meyer

It's been great to be in full swing again after being sick for so long. I thought I'd never get rid of that thing! The only thing is, we're so busy teaching and preaching we haven't had as much time for fishing... for men. That's a hint for prayer :-).

We're (Alfonso and I) preaching and teaching three times each Sunday in Mascarenas, twice in two different homes and once in the church. Been preaching more often in Buenos Aires, giving Pastor Antonio more time for visiting and just having a break. And twice at the rescue mission each week.

Florencia is working weekends now, but holds the children's Bible school on Thursdays now in Mascarenas, and it is going well with about 13 to 15 kids strong.

On our visitations in Buenos Aires we ran into a family who were very open to us. We'll be visiting them again this Sunday. Please pray for Victor (back slidden after getting out of prison), Fidencia and Xochit (pronounced shochit).

My guitar student/worship leader in the making, is doing awesome (Edgar). I believe he'll be ready to start leading on his own soon.
Mary Ann and the kids are doing great. They have been on vacation all week. They'll be coming back tomorrow. Pray for their travel from L.A.
Pastor Antonio is on vacation as well this week so I'll be taking his place tomorrow. It is a real joy to be able to do this for him.

Thank you all so much for "waiting before Him till the dust settles and the stream runs clear." Your fellow workers,

Darwin, Mary Ann, Gracie, Cesar, Sykari and Laura

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

Jesse Long - Tanzania

God is good and I am excited to have many evidences of His goodness to report in this update!!  I was just looking back at my last update and realized that I didn’t say much of anything about Tanzania.  I guess it was more a report of my time away from Tanzania than anything.

Well, since that time, Ben arrived safely here in Tanzania.  He was a couple days behind me due to a delay in Chicago but we are thankful that both of us ultimately arrived safely along with ALL of our luggage.

Ben and I met up in Arusha where we spent our first couple days picking up supplies for the coming semester and making sure our motorcycles were up-to-date with maintenance and in good shape after sitting unused for the past couple months.  One praise is that Ben was able to acquire a different motorcycle from a Norwegian friend whose term here in Tanzania had come to an end.  His ‘new’ bike is a 650cc (rather than his old 250cc) and is about 5 years newer, as well.  With both of us having bigger bikes (see attached picture), we sure saw a difference in the travel time between Arusha and Mbulu.  More importantly, however, is the peace of mind that results from having reliable motorcycles to drive.  God is good.  Another related praise is that Ben has already found a buyer for his old bike.  It really was a miracle and came about without him needing to put up even one advertisement!!

So, we had a safe trip out to Waama.  We arrived on the 4^th of this month.  Right away that week, we began having meetings with the other teachers to get things set for the school year ahead and especially for this first semester.  In that first week we had 3 different teachers’ meetings and were able to set the start/finish dates for each of the three semesters, propose a date for this school year’s graduation, set the schedule for each semester’s finals, as well as divide up the teaching responsibilities for this semester.  Another praise is that a third pastor has been brought on board to help teach this year.  He is not full-time here at the school and is actually the pastor responsible for overseeing a nearby district of churches but this has its own set of blessings.  Perhaps most significantly is that he receives his salary from his work in this neighboring district and the school gets the benefit of another teacher who they don’t have to pay but is still carrying a full load of classes.  Again, God is good.

Anyway, it was good to get moved back into our house.  Students began arriving on the 7^th and classes started this past Monday, October 12^th.  This semester I am teaching ‘Evangelism’ (a 4-credit course), Philippians (a 2-credit course), English (a 2-credit class), and James (another 2-credit course).

I would like to ask you all to pray for the dean as he has been having some health issues.  We actually have not even seen him yet as he has been in his home village of Haydom where there is a good-sized mission hospital.  I am not exactly sure of what all he is dealing with but I know the problem has particularly affected his legs.  My understanding is that he had surgery of some sort within the past couple weeks but is expected to make it out to Waama perhaps even this weekend.  Again, please keep him in your prayers.

Perhaps the most significant praise is one that I have not yet mentioned.  WE HAVE ELECTRICITY AT WAAMA!!  God is so good.  I received an email while I was still in the States that said the “power was turned on August 26^th” but I had a hard time believing that it was true until I arrived here and saw it with my own two eyes.  It is a whole new life.  We still don’t have internet and virtually no cell phone network at our house but the step that has been taken is a good one.  Thanks so much to all who had a part in this project!!  The school will benefit from this progress for decades to come.

Well, I am sure there is much more that I could tell you but I think I will save it for next time.  Thank you all so much for your ongoing prayers for us and support in so many ways.  God is good and we are excited to be involved in His work in this part of the world.

God bless you all for your part.

In His service,

Jesse Long

Mbulu, Tanzania

Flooding in India

Some news doesn't make international news even though it can affect a lot of people. This past week, the Krishna River in Andra Pradesh hit a flood stage greater than had ever been predicted possible. The rains from neighboring states overwhelmed three dams along the river. 400 villages have been affected by the floods.

Eventually the river bank gave out in the area where we have 4 AFLC churches. The one church has 300 families in it. In the fisherman's village water went on top of the roof of a three story building.

AFLC World Missions has released some emergency funds to help the victims, please consider supporting this relief work through AFLC World Missions.

Kevin Olson, Traveling in India

Ben Jore

Greetings from Waama Bible School! After nearly 3 months in the States, both Jesse and I are back at Waama ready for our 4th year of teaching and showing the Jesus Film!

The brief couple months we had in the States were a huge blessing. I was able to share a dozen times about the work we do in Tanzania! I was also able to meet up with many friends and family and had a very blessed time with all of them. God is so good. But before I knew it, it was time to head back to Tanzania for another year.

The return trip to Tanzania was quite eventful including a two day lay-over in Chicago, which paved the way for a volleyball game with a friend from 1st grade (thank you Facebook!), a tour of London, two overnight flights, a night in Dar es Salaam, and a 10 hour bus ride! And that only got me to within 3 hours of Waama! I felt like I needed to go on vacation again. But God has been so good to us and has given us a couple days of blessed peace and quiet here at Waama before the students come and classes start.

We actually have already had a couple teachers meetings and divided up classes for first semester! Usually this doesn't happen until AFTER the students arrive. This year I am going to be teaching Intro to Biblical History, Bible History 1, Bible History 2, and Bible Customs and Geography. These total 11 credits, 8 of which are new courses that have never been taught and have to be written from scratch. This is by far the heaviest load I've ever had, but I'm excited to teach these classes and love what I do! Classes are scheduled to start on Monday, October 12!

One of the first things we noticed when we arrived at Waama was that all the buildings had power lines running to them! Indeed, all the buildings on campus have been hooked up to the national grid! This is such an incredibly huge blessing, I can't even explain. On behalf of everyone here at Waama, THANK YOU to everyone who prayed for and gave toward this project! This will be a huge blessing for many, many years to come.

Would you praise God with us? Praise him for...

...electricity! This is such a huge blessing and answer to prayer.

...calling Jesse and I back for another year. We are excited to see what God has in store for us this year.

...a great summer. It was great to see so many of you this summer and share what God has been doing over here.

...Adela Hein. This summer I started courting Adela! We are excited to see where He leads us and covet your prayers on our behalf.

Would you please pray for us and this coming school year? Please pray for...

...students. 51 applications have been accepted for the 2009-10 school year. Capacity is 72 and we would love to max out this year.

...protection. We need protection while we travel - Jesse and I travel many kilometers for both ministry and personal needs. We need protection from sickness - Last week there were 20 confirmed cases of swine flu in Mbulu, 5 miles away. Pray for protection from the "pestilence that stalks in the darkness" (Ps 91:6).

...good ministry. With Swahili getting easier and easier, the opportunity for deeper ministry increases. Pray for wisdom, discernment, boldness, and cultural awareness in all our opportunities.

...rain. There is a pretty significant drought across the country. Many crops failed last year (though God blessed Waama with a huge harvest), many livestock are dying, and the government is passing out food by the truckload. Pray that the rains would come soon.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support! May God bless you,

Ben

PS We are at the beginning of a new year and many of you are new to this update list and have requested information on how to partner financially with me. Here are two different ways it can happen...

-Write a check, made payable to "AFLC World Missions". On a separate note write "For the ministry of Ben Jore". Then mail to: AFLC World Missions, 3110 E Medicine Lake Blvd, Plymouth, MN 55441.

-For those who would like to support me monthly but don't want to write a check every month, you can set up an automatic transfer. To do this, click here to receive the form, print it and fill it out. Then send it to the above address. If you have any questions feel free to contact me or the World Missions office at 763-412-2013.

Kevin Olson

Thank you so much for your prayers for the work and the ministry in Uganda and India.

After two weeks in Uganda, this is the fourth day in India.

There were some great encouragements in Uganda that I would like to update you on and the training in India was in session the morning after arrival.

Before more updates, some prayer requests include:

- The flooding of the Krishna river in the state of Andra Pradesh is very severe. It has never reached these levels. One large hydroelectric dam has opened all of its flood gates but the incoming water is double the outflow. The water could begin going over the dam before the peak flow hits. Water has already entered the dam and the power has been shut down. Literally hundreds of thousands of people are moving to temporary shelters. Thankfully there have been relatively few deaths. The town, Porta Lanka, that the church we were to visit today is being evacuated, so we won’t be going there. Other AFLC churches along the river’s path are also of concern.

- Our family has also been experiencing spiritual warfare. Everyone of us in our own area of weakness has had to deal with something. Somehow those type of things encourage me more than discourage me. It means that ministry is happening and that the battle to be won is the Lord’s and not something I need to worry about.

Here are a couple of people that I want to give you a snap shot of.

The first is Chris, he was Nate and Rhoda’s gardener. From age 13 on he has been away from home, earning a living on his own and even providing for his family. His history is rough, with illness and problems, but in the same way the Lord has been working in and through him. He was miraculously cured and given a new start on life. This past June he and Sarah were married. They did well to have both the traditional African introduction and the Christian marriage at the same time. Marriage has it’s own challenges as it did for Chris and Sarah, but God is good and has carried them through that as well. Last week, Sarah and her mother-in-law were going to one of three funerals in his family. The motorcycle tipped over and Sarah broke her arm.

Even though he has faced more trials than most of us can imagine, God has carried him through them all and the Lord is using him as a young man to teach and lead pastors that are twice his age. Pray for him and the ministry the Lord is doing through him.

Back in Tanzania

Greetings once again from the beautifully warm country of Tanzania!  It is hard to believe summer is already over and even harder to believe all that has happened since I last sent an update like this.  God truly blessed my time away from Tanzania and I am especially thankful to have been able to see many of you.

For those that don’t know, my summer “break” included time not only in Washington with my family, but also time in Oregon, California, North Carolina, Georgia, Australia, and Brazil.  Actually, in some ways it feels like I needed to come back to Africa to rest but, nonetheless, I would not have traded any of the opportunities I had for anything.

To briefly summarize, after arriving home on the 4^th of July, I spent my first week in Arlington, Washington with most of my immediate family.  My second week was spent in Astoria, Oregon working back at my old desk at LEKTRO, Inc.  My third week included an amazing vacation in Eastern Washington with my good friend Eric Paulson, all my brothers as well as my sister, Esther, and several other friends.  Immediately following that trip, my brother, Joe, and I headed off for our trip to California and Australia made possible by a friend in the airline industry and some frequent flier miles.  We returned from that trip on the 15^th of August and already on the 21^st of August I was again on a plane, this time headed to Brazil for a LEKTRO business trip.  Thankfully, that trip was followed-up by another week back at home in Arlington and those days were followed up by a trip back to North Carolina to visit my sister, Sarah, along with her husband and two boys.  However, as evidence to the fact that my self-diagnosis of having both A.D.D. and hyperactivity is accurate, I scheduled some ministry related business into the middle of that trip.  This took the form of a road-trip down to Atlanta, GA where I met with the staff of Renew World Outreach, the organization responsible for developing the solar-powered audio/video units used in remote villages for showing the Jesus Film.  In fact, I was blessed to have been provided with the money to be able to pick up two more of these units (in addition to the one unit we already have over here in Tanzania).  Ben and I are quite excited to put these three units into the hands of local evangelists as early as possible this school year in order to attempt to nationalize the Jesus Film ministry we have been carrying on over the past three years.  I returned from my trip to the East Coast on the 17^th of September and enjoyed some final days with all my siblings together until it was time to board a plane again heading back here to Tanzania on the 25^th.

So, God blessed me with a full and productive summer.  In some ways I feel like I am still trying to absorb all that happened but it is good to be back here in Africa.  God blessed both Ben and me with safe travel and, though Ben was delayed a couple of days, we are now both here in Arusha and praise God that all our luggage arrived safely as well.  These days have been full of preparations for the coming months out in Mbulu.  We plan to make the trip that direction this Sunday afternoon so that we can have a few days to get our house put together.  As the schedule stands, students should begin arriving on Wednesday, the 7^th, and classes should begin the following Monday, October 12^th.  As we look towards the coming year, please pray for these specific requests:

• Wisdom as we both teach various classes – some for the first time.
• Protection as we travel in this environment on our dirt bikes.
• Blessing on the students who will be studying at Waama this year.
• A prompt and blessed start to the school year.
• Direction and wisdom as we seek to establish these three national Jesus Film teams equipped with the new equipment we have returned with.

Thank you all so much for your love and prayers.  I am always amazed as I am home each summer and experience the love and support so many of you show.  May God continue to bless you all in your specific calling.  I look forward to keeping in touch in the year ahead.  Keep up the great work!

In Christ’s service,

Jesse Long

Mbulu, Tanzania

Chmiels Update

Greetings from Ukraine! New school year is in full swing here in Lviv so we will keep this short. As we mentioned in our last update we lost a volunteer who was helping us last year and was planning to come work with us full time this year so we are thankful for all your prayers as we are still trying to figure out what changes to make so that we would be able to manage the ministry ourselves.

We would also appreciate your prayers for the fall weeklong retreat that we also already mentioned in our previous emails. Right now we are working on all the details together with the youth leader of the Lutheran congregation in the Czech Republic that invited us. We are really encouraged to see the enthusiasm of this Czech youth group and the desire they have to share their faith with our youth. That is an answer to our prayers in many ways and we thank all of you who are praying with us for this retreat.

Another prayer request that we also already mentioned earlier is our visa situation. Our Ukrainian visa and registration expires now in October and we are right now in the process of trying to get a renewal. We submitted our documents last week and we should probably hear from the office this week to see if we will be able to get another one-year renewal. Last year it was a headache to get this done so please pray that, if it is God’s will, that it would go smoother this year.

This weekend, the new bishop of the German Lutheran church is coming to Lviv (pictured on the left) and we were asked to host him, his wife and his translator in our apartment. That will give us an opportunity to get to know him better. If you think of us this weekend please pray that our time with the bishop would be honoring to God and that God would grant us wisdom when we discuss some of the details of our work in Lviv.

If you’d like to see some new pictures from our lives and ministry, we updated our summer gallery at http://picasaweb.google.com/HannahJoyChmiel/Summer2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCMn83qCFnaC4Kg#

And of course Hannah’s gallery is updated at http://picasaweb.google.com/HannahJoyChmiel/  For those who like baby pictures :) :) :)

And one last thing, we wanted to really apologize to all of you who sent us emails and got no answer from us. We are REALLY BEHIND with emails that need to be answered so it is possible that if you sent us an email at a time when we were not able to write back right away, the email ended up in a LOOOONG line of emails that need to be answered. If you are still waiting for our answer on something that is important, please do not hesitate to write again and remind us and we will try to email you right back. We are so sorry for this. Every day we hope to get caught up and somehow it is not happening :(

Have a great rest of the week,

Tomasz, Miriam and Hannah

Remember Justo Pillman in Prayer

I just wanted to write a quick note and ask prayer for continued safety down here.  I don't get paranoid about it (I should probably be more careful than I am), but recently have realize how many dangers there are every day.  Just in the last couple weeks I've seen the Lord's protection multiple times while traveling.  Traffic feels like a zoo sometimes there are so many close calls.  Also, last Fri. Josue (the pastor's son) was robbed at knife point at 6:30pm one block from the church.  I walk by that corner almost every day, and frequently ride the public transportation as well.  What peace it gives to rest in the Lord, but I also want to be wise in the places I go.  It is by His mercies that we are not consumed.... great is His faithfulness!  Lam. 3:22-26
Thanks for praying!
-Justo

Jonathan Abel’s Newsletter

In March we were able to buy a property to build a church, after saving  for 4 years. Now we begin our faith journey to build the church.

Click here to read the whole newsletter.

Greetings from the Schierkolks

As we've been traveling on deputation these last few months there were a number of people asking us about the violence in Mexico.  If you'd like to see the article in the New York Times that talks about what has happened in our town you can find it by clicking on the link to the AFLC World Missons Prayer Blog http://aflc-wm.blogspot.com/2009_01_01_archive.html .  In my letter posted Wednesday, January 14th you'll find the link to the New York Times article.  Up until the time we left Jerez in May things were significantly calmer and I have told people that we have not felt personally threatened and have felt no need 'to be let down in a basket with a rope over the city wall' like the apostle Paul was on one occasion.  Things have certainly not reached that point but all of us in Jerez greatly appreciate your prayers for us.

During our visits this summer we have been sharing a DVD movie about the work in Jerez.  You can access the video via the World Missions home page at http://www.aflc.org/world-missions/.  Click on "View World Missions Videos" and that should take you to "Schierkolks Part 1."   The movie is divided into two parts.  In the second part the music had to be edited significantly so if you'd like to see the original you can contact the World Missions office and ask them for the copy of the DVD.  After you view "Schierkolks Part 1" you can watch "Schierkolks Part 2."  If the title doesn't automatically come to your screen just type it into the search bar and it will show up.

This summer was a great time for all of us to be with family, visit with friends and supporters from numbers of churches and share about the ministry going on in Jerez.  We are so grateful for the love and support that we have received from so many over these years.  We are very blessed to be partners in the Gospel with you.  We would ask you to continue to remember our fellow-workers in Jerez, Short-Term Assistants Ingrid Giles and Dan and Marcela Giles and their children.  Thanks for your prayers and support for them as well.

The first weekend of October we're looking forward to a quick visit from Dan and Debbie Giles for the baptism of their new little grandson and we'd appreciate your prayers for their travels, too.

In Christ,

Todd and Barb Schierkolk

Kevin Olson

Hello Friends,

Thank you for all of your prayers for this trip to Uganda.

The trip has gone smoothly and there have been many great connections and experiences.

Some great answers to prayer have been the following:

• Peace returned to Kampala before we went through the city. It was interesting to hear from some of those that did go through the rioting. The mobs were burning cars at random. Life is an amazing adventure. It is awesome to go through it with the Lord.
• The curriculum and other details were all ready before leaving on the trip.
• We have been through the first step of oral testing of the students. They are being tested on the second semester material which is 450 verses from 14 stories of the Old Testament. How would you do if you were memorizing 450 verses every 14 weeks. They are doing great and are growing in their knowledge and confidence of the Word of God. It was fun to hear them answer each other regarding questions that people on the street were asking them.
• The meeting with the ELCU went well and we were able to talk about some of the differences in how we see things.
• This past Sunday service included four baptisms, 23 confirmations and communion. Basically the whole congregation had never been through confirmation. The pastor went through confirmation last January, so it is cool to see him passing it on to his people. Question: How do you do communion in a culture where there is neither wine nor grape juice?

Prayer requests that remain include:

• That we could finish the testing and that the students would put their whole heart and soul into the training.
• For the vision of the church of Uganda and for an understanding of how they can begin to stand on their own.

Let me introduce you to Soka Grace. He is the host pastor of the church where the training takes place in Butagaiya. He and his wife have been married for 23 years and they have seven children with one on the way. He would give the last meal in his home to welcome guests. He struggles with how to pay the school fees for his children and that is a common problem in Uganda. As the host for this training he has brought a sense of unity among the pastors in the county so that they are working together to bring the Word of God to the people rather than being in competition with each other. Now when one of them is in need they all join together and attend each others events. I was at Soka’s house for lunch on Monday. They asked me “Who is a Christian?” and we decided that the title Christian should be the name that someone else gives us rather than what we call ourselves. Instead when we are asked if we are a Christian our response should probably be that “I am a sinner, that is depending on Jesus.”

I have a lot to learn from Soka. He is humble example of Christ lived out in daily life.

Another man that I want to tell you about is Jimmy. Jimmy’s father died some years ago. Since then he has been the head of the house. His mother and grandmother and younger brothers and sisters all live at the same home. He has not yet married, but he is leading a congregation in a near by village. His family will provide food every single time there is a training and the training is held outside of his house in Naigobia. He led his brother to faith in Jesus and his brother Saulo has brought many of the young men in his area to Christ. Now the group numbers about 10. They are pastors and leaders of three churches in the area. Jimmy is soft spoken, but even as a man in his twenties, but Jimmy carries an air of respect.

Pray for Soka and Jimmy the hosts of the training in Uganda!

Thanks for joining us in the ministry to the rural pastors of Uganda.

Kevin

Kevin Olson Traveling

Rev. Kevin Olson, developer of Ambassador Institute is traveling in Uganda and India.  His purpose for traveling is to encourage the Ambassador Institute’s distance education program for pastors and leaders.  He will be testing the students in both Uganda and India.  He will be in Uganda until September 29th.  Kevin will then travel to India and will return home on October 16th.  Please remember Kevin in prayer while he travels and his family while he is absent.

Nate Jores

Thanks for praying for us while we've been on the road since the beginning of August! It's been wonderful to meet so many of you that have been a part of our prayer team for the past few years. We've been encouraged and refreshed in your homes and in your churches. Thanks for housing us, feeding us, listening to us, and sharing your lives with us. It's been so good to be "home".

In August we traveled to a few churches in Minnesota, as well as Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Michigan. Nate enjoyed taking part in the Summer Institute of Theology at AFLTS and he was even able to get away for a few days with my brothers to the Boundary Waters. We spent a day with Nate's brother and family in West Virginia, which was a sweet time for our family. We hadn't seen them for close to 5 years! This month we've traveled to Iowa and South Dakota already, and will soon be visiting Illinois again, as well as Wisconsin and a few more churches in MN.

It's been a full schedule and we are tired, but I think we'll get a little break next month when things slow down a bit. Thankfully we've stayed healthy and the World Missions vehicle we're driving has been running well.

The kids have enjoyed making many, many new friends along the way. They really are good travelers, but get worn out like we do. A few times on the road Jude has said, "I think it's time to go back to Grandpa and Grandma's now." :)

A huge blessing for us has been to see the excitement that people have in hearing about what God is doing in Uganda, and to hear so many of you say that you are praying for us and for the work we are doing. What a gift that is! We've said it many times, but we'll say it again - we need your prayers. There are many challenges that lay ahead of us upon our return in January. Please pray for the conversion of souls through the hearing of the Word of God and that the plans of the Evil One will be thwarted.

We would also appreciate prayer for our upcoming meeting with the AFLC World Missions Committee next Monday. There are some important decisions to be made that will determine the future direction of our work in Uganda. Please pray that the Lord would make His will known to each one of us involved and that there will be great unity in the decision-making process.

Your emails are encouraging to us. Please don't hesitate to write and please let us know how we can pray for you as well! We praise God for each of you.

Blessings,

Rhoda for Nate, Elijah, Judah and Hannah

Ingrid Giles Prayer Letter

Though I’ve been back from vacation for a couple of weeks now, I was surprised to realize that September is half over.  Yesterday was Mexican Independence Day!  ¡Viva México!  I've been having trouble for a few days sending this prayer letter; I hope it works this time.

God knew I needed a vacation.  I am so thankful to Him for planning it.  I’d been saving up all year to take a linguistics course in July.  It wasn’t easy to do -- some months I had to take from my savings to supplement my income -- but overall I was able to put away a bit here and there.  I wore out my shoes walking to the cheap grocery store on the edge of town, but I enjoyed the exercise and fresh air.  (And guess what God gave me just when I needed it?  A knew pair of shoes!)  I was really looking forward to the class.

Imagine my disappointment when the University called me to say that the class was cancelled!  But that was all part of God’s timing... Later that same day, my cousin invited me to spend two weeks in Europe with her!  At first I automatically thought, “I can’t.”  I mean, going to Europe is something that rich people do.  Then I realized that I already had the time and a significant part of the money set aside... and it turns out, it doesn’t have to be outrageously expensive.  My disappointment was replaced with excitement!

I know people were praying for me on this trip, and I thank you.  I saw God’s provision in many ways.  We began and ended our trip in a hostel where all the staff are Christian, and we could feel the presence of God there.  It was nice to talk to some fellow missionaries in a totally different sort of field.  God also blessed me with remarkable health -- I felt better than usual every single day!  (Even when I was tired and footsore.)

I’ll share a story of God’s specific guidance/protection.  After staying with a friend of hers for a few days, my cousin and I arrived in Paris in the late evening.  It was already dusk, and we didn’t have a place to stay.  (We had searched online, but not seen anything in my price range.)  So my cousin waited at the train station guarding the luggage while I set out to find somewhere.  I had absolutely no idea what I was doing!  I speak only a few words of French, and it was dark, and I didn’t even know what part of the city I was in.  I simply walked out onto the street with the vague idea of “finding us a place.”  (That’s my kind of adventure!)  I figured that God had made this vacation possible in the first place, so He must have a place in mind.  I asked Him to guide my steps, and I started walking.

Before long, I felt sort of an impediment that kept me from going further, so I turned left.  (On another day, we walked through the area where I would have gone, and it turned out to be sort of a mini red-light district.)  I came to a hotel and asked about the prices.  The receptionist -- who spoke perfect English -- did drop his price by quite a lot for me, but laughed and said that I would never find the price that I wanted.  I bargained in five or six hotels with similar luck.  Then I turned onto a quiet residential street and saw a sign that said “hotel.”  There, the receptionist spoke absolutely no English at all -- but he dropped his price to a surprisingly affordable amount.  It seemed too good to be true, so he lent me a key to go check out the room before closing the deal.  I approved!  It was on the fifth story, had a window with wooden shutters overlooking a street where real people lived, and we even had our own bathroom -- and towels!  For us, the fact that no one spoke English added to the experience.

I was so thankful that God led me away from a “less desirable” neighborhood to a clean, safe, affordable hotel where we seemed to be the only foreigners, and yet within walking distance of all the tourist attractions.  It was perfect!

Now for an update on previous prayer requests:  My friend Joanie, who had the infection from the hip replacement, is doing much better.  She walks around with a cane and looks like her old self again.  I love my office; it’s so nice to be able to come into a space that has no dirty dishes to be washed or unorganized spice shelf to put in order, and just sit down to work!  Please continue to pray for us all and the security situation.  Along those lines, I could share another story of God’s protection, but that would make this long letter even longer.  Suffice it to say that He has been keeping the promises that we’ve claimed from Psalm 91.

Here is my prayer list:

Please (requests):

• Pray for my health and that of my brother and his family.  (I brought an awful flu with me when I came back, and we’ve all been struggling with it.  The doctor confirmed yesterday that it is not swine flu.)
• Ask God to continue to provide Dan and Marcela’s financial needs and also mine. 
• Please continue to pray for Claudia Gamboa and her kids, for Abril and Cesar and their baby David, and for Oscar.
• Pray for Nena and Fernando and their family, especially for full forgiveness and restoration.
• Pray for Omar’s family.  They haven’t come to church for a while.
• Pray that God would give me the words and phrases necessary to do the best possible job of translating this Sunday School material so that it will be clear to children from all over the Spanish-speaking world.  Also pray that God would use these lessons to speak to the children and teachers who use them.
• Ask God to guide me in small and large decisions, and to help me spend my time wisely.

Thank you (praise):

• I got to go on a wonderful vacation, and I came back refreshed, with a renewed love for my work and for Mexico (even though when it was over, I didn’t want to come home)!  God blessed every single part of the vacation in many ways.
• I didn’t have to have oral surgery, and may not ever have to for this particular problem.  (Basically two different doctors said that the best thing is just to live with it -- and it’s not at all intolerable.)
• I have wonderful loving friends and family and I get to spend time with my nieces every day!
• God is continuing to provide our needs.
• I got new glasses in time for vacation, and I have new walking shoes!
• God has continued to protect Lois and all the rest of us from the “bad guys.”
• Joanie’s hip infection is gone and she seems like herself again.

Sincerely,

Ingrid Giles

Gabriel Mercado

Dear friends and brothers in Christ Jesus,

I write these words to personally give thanks for your financial and spiritual support and I also give thanks to God for everyone of you.

In a previous letter I shared about the mechanical problems of the pick up truck. During the months of May and June I could not use the pick-up, this time the problem was the differential. Once again in His providential care God supplied the funds to be able purchase a used one for $300.00. Thanks be to God who is able to meet our needs.

In the month of April we had visitors (5 people) from Partners in Missions who came to do some repair work on the church building. They were not able to do all that was needed to do and accomplished about 50%. There is still some work left to do but thanks be to God for these dear brothers and sisters who came and did what they were able to do in that short period of time.

In the spiritual life we continue doing all we can that is necessary: preaching every day, teaching from God's Word, sharing the Gospel in the community and praying for those in need. Please pray for us especially for my wife's health she is not doing so well but continues going forward with her labor of love for her Lord. My health is okay but my eyes are not so good for I have glaucoma and every day I have to put drops in the morning and evening.

I write this letter as we prepare to leave soon from Nogales to Obregon and I ask you to pray for us, for the work of the Lord in and around Obregon. I always thank God for your encouragement in the Lord's work in Mexico.

Your Brother and Sister in Christ, 

Gabriel and Virginia Mercado

1 Cor.9:16

Translated by Pastor Ted Kennedy

Justo Pillman’s Newsletter

We went down to the coast, were in the mountains, and were also able to fly into the jungle. I went with Kim and a group of youth from the church to share a video with a jungle tribe.

We spent the night in the jungle, shared the video, and shared the
gospel. It was a memorable experience for each of us, and though it
was not all easy, I know each on the team will never be the same. As
part of the time, we were able to go swimming in the Curaray river. This
is the same river where the missionaries were martyred close to 60 years
ago . . .

Click here to read Justo’s newsletter.

Paul Abel’s Newsletter

God has always gone out of His way to find individuals who didn’t look as though they would amount to much.

God can use us as surely and as powerfully as He used the first disciples.

To read the newsletter click here.

Dan and Marcela Giles

We thank you so much for your continuing support.

We praise the Lord because we were able to register our baby boy, Roberto Emanuel, which included getting his American Passport at the American Consulate in Monterrey.  While we were there, we also renewed my Passport since it was going to expire soon. Everything went very well.  God gave us grace on the eyes of the workers there and He also provided all the money that we needed for the trip. He is faithful and He is good.

Next month ( Oct. 4th ) we will have Roberto's baptism.  My parents, Dan and Debbie Giles, will be here for the occasion.  We are looking forward to seeing them again.

Also next month, I have to leave Mexico due that my Visa will expire the 7th of October. Please pray that God will provide the money for that trip.  We are trusting completely in Him for the means for this trip to the border.

Please pray for our family's health.  We have been struggling with first a bad respiratory infection then with fevers and then what appears to be a stomach flu.  The three kids and also ourselves are dealing with it.  We don't seem to get any better and this is after medication and visiting the doctor once.

Also, pray for our financial situation.  Last week I went to the ATM machine to get money out and to my dismay got nothing instead.  I entered the amount of money I wanted to withdraw and I could hear the machine counting the money and then stop. The ATM then asked me if I wanted "to make another transaction" and I pressed no, and surprisingly it gave me NO money and NO receipt.  Rather concerned, I went home and checked online with my bank and, sure enough, it was registered as if I had taken money out.  I went back to the bank to discuss the matter and they did not want to help me at all.  They said, "Since it's an American card and account, you have to deal with your bank and not us."  I then called my bank in the states and they said that they will register it as a claim and investigate the situation.  Hopefully they will let me know later what the happened.  So only God knows what happened to our money, and we are trusting that the Lord will provide all our needs. He always has!!!   Please pray that this whole situation can be resolved soon and quickly.  We know that God is in control of our lives and everything that happens to us.
Again, we thank you so much for your prayer support.   We really appreciate it.  God bless.

In His Service,

Giles Family