Water pumps and priorities

This morning I got the little jeep back from the shop. I wonder how many times I have heard the words (in Spanish or English), "your water pump is shot"? Well, this is the second time in 2 years on that car.

Later today I got an email from the JESUS Film office in Orlando listing the languages around the world with more than 100,000 speakers that still don't have a version of the JESUS film. There are four languages in South America, with a total of 1,050,000 speakers who don't have access to the film in their mother tongue. They live in the highlands of Peru and Ecuador.

Those two incidents put together help me to re-focus my priorities on getting the Gospel to lost people. We can't lose sight of the goal while we take care of the little details of life!

The simple power of the Gospel

Hi again,
Yesterday I got a thick letter in the mail from Johann Hiebert, an associate JESUS film missionary in Paraguay. They send us periodic reports of how God is using the film in people's lives. I thought you would enjoy a couple of stories.

The first is from Pastor Saturnino Jimenez in San Ignacio:
"San Ignacio is a new area being opened up by peasant farmers. These folks really didn't want us to preach the Word of God in their area or show the JESUS Film. We went instead to the local school where we handed out booklets and were able to show the film. That was our start. Today it is a new work with 8 candidates for baptism and 20 people ready for our discipleship program."

From Luis Gaona Guerrero a teacher:
"My name is Luis and my mother is Maria. We were baptized this year, 2006. I am happy because I was reached with the message of the Gospel through the JESUS Film. I can't put into words how "brand new" I feel inside. When the pastor showing the film asked if anyone felt a need and wanted to invite Jesus into their heart, I was the very first person to raise my hand and my mother followed me, in tears. We went home rejoicing that we had Jesus in our hearts. My mother has been greatly blessed. I am now serving the Lord, whom I thank for sending you to us."

Piano lessons in Bolivia

Hi from Bolivia,

We are in the middle of some pretty serious political turmoil here in the country these days. Day before yesterday the governors of six of the nine Departments (states) broke off all official contact with Evo Morales the socialist president. Please pray for Bolivia in these days.

In the midst of turmoil, life goes on. Last night we went to Andrew's Fall piano recital. If you have been to Bolivia, you know that piano lessons would be a very low priority on most families' budget. In fact, there isn't even a piano store in our city. We found an OK Chinese manufactured piano for Andrew to use.

When we moved to Bolivia 3 years ago, we knew we wanted Andrew to continue with his lessons. We found a teacher, Sarai, originally from Cuba. She has been a real blessing to us. Her students are as good as any anywhere. Her older students are really amazing. This school year Andrew has gotten really serious in his piano study and the effort is paying off. Will you forgive a proud father a personal video?

Blessings from Bolivia,
Ron