Spring 2012 Report

Dear Friends,

Many of you will remember that the focus of our upcoming work in Uruguay is the training of Uruguayan laborers in EMU’s existing Bible institute, and especially a partnering with the leadership there to see a higher-level Bible-college program of study, both for new students and for pastors already serving in the churches. This goal continues to be not only our own, but also that of our mission agency and of our co-workers, the Espinels. The final appearance of this project has not yet become clear, and we are agreed that the outcome need not exactly duplicate what we are familiar with in North America; but there are some clues that the Lord might be putting pieces in place for some exciting developments in the next few years. Recently several men from a like-minded mission agency approached Matías Espinel with their desire for the development of such a program, a meeting which has resulted in the involvement of several good mission groups and local churches in Uruguay. A comisión of seven men is now meeting monthly to gather information and to communicate. Everyone involved would appreciate prayers for wisdom and for an obedience to God’s leading that neither rushes nor delays. Always with opportunities such as these there is need for sensitivity to the unique situations “on the ground.” 

The last several months have seen progress in organizing our affairs for a move to Uruguay: details such as health insurance decisions, a new bank account, choices about our belongings, buying consigned clothing for the next three to four years, and preparing our home for re-financing and possible rental are small but necessary steps. We have reached 60% of our required support level and are expecting that a permanent move is in the near future, if the Lord wills. In the meantime, we are scheduling meetings or visits to churches for at least the remainder of 2012. Thank you for the interest, encouragement, prayers, and financial support that so many of you give us.

At the end of March we were pleased to see the completion of a tract (in English and Spanish) and an accompanying website, both dealing with our nephew Jonatán Torres’ successful journey with osteosarcoma cancer. Our part in this effort was comparatively small, given the many, many hours invested by other friends. But we’re thankful for the Lord’s provision to us of time and energy to help with some of the writing and proofreading in the project. Students from his high school, Bob Jones Academy, took the tracts on an evangelistic trip to New York City in April. Please take some time to visit www.jonatorres.com to read and hear Jona’s story, to see pictures of his life, and to read or order the tract. Please pray for the Lord’s working through these media. Two thousand Spanish copies recently arrived in Uruguay.

Since our last report we have also completed our teaching in the Bible institute and Bible college programs at Iglesia Bautista de la Fe in Greenville, SC. The semester ended in May, and we participated in the first graduation ceremony of the college on May 20. Elizabeth finished kindergarten on May 25, and we have since begun homeschooling her first-grade studies. A strength of her early elementary school experience continues to be geography! Please continue to pray that our children would faithfully follow Jesus.

For the next six weeks we will again be traveling west, during which time we anticipate specific evangelistic opportunities in Idaho, along with numerous occasions to talk about what God is doing in Uruguay. Please contact us if you would like to know our itinerary.