November's News--Happy (late) Thanksgiving!

A smoked turkey, stuffing, salad, pumpkin pie, and even a can of cranberry sauce (not easily available here!) made a special meal, as we celebrated--in hearty American-style!--one of our favorite holidays. No matter that it was a few days late, as we taught the children in the Palm community school on the actual Thanksgiving day (of course, not a holiday here.)  And yes!, like many of you, our hearts were full, as we DO have much to be thankful for:
• How thankful we are to our God for Who He is...our Savior, our Redeemer, our Guide, our Help, our Provider! How amazing that we can go boldly into the very Throne-room and ask for mercy and grace in time of need! (Heb. 4:16) And how we appreciate His Truth, given to us in words we have the ability to read and understand and depend on.
• In Palm community, the believers are excited to begin work on their own church building. Paulino and Guillermo worked hard to have the provincial tractor level out the lots, and the believers in that community have a vision of having "Dios Paikum Yel" (God's house of prayer) ready for the Believers' Conference in April of 2017. Some in the community have boldly stated their opposition, but the believers have responded in kindness, saying that once the building is up, even those who don't agree will be invited to attend any events that we have! Paulino has a dream of celebrating his 50th birthday with a big community event, showing how to have a fun party without the drinking, dancing, and fighting that accompany most community gatherings.

Lot for church building overlooking Palm community

• Our Sunday fellowship is growing! Along with the regular believers is another group, those who perhaps do not understand the full picture of Christ's sacrifice for their sins, and yet come and listen intently. Grandma Delfina (with a passel of grandkids!) and Segundo and wife and kids (the first ones to join us from the community of St. Vincent) are among these listeners, along with many children who come on their own.
• God is at work among the believers here, changing hearts. We have seen both Gloria and Paulino change in their attitude toward their brother Milton, expressing their love and forgiveness to him, and their desire that He would walk in obedience to God. Gloria expressed her heart in telling her wayward brother, "God never gives up on His children, and never throws them away. Even though it's hard, you can choose to repent and come back to Him." Such a change from two years ago!

Gloria and her husband Guillermo

• This week God has done a great work in Milton's life, bringing him to a place of humble repentance. This has been a long journey for Milton and for us, and it is not over yet! God's mercy and grace will be needed as Milton faces the harvest of the wrong he has sown. We are thankful that God is Able to redeem us, and can work good even in difficult situations. (If you would like more details, we have written a more detailed update,  see previous blog entry.)

We are also thankful for each of you, as you stand with us in many different ways--you are a blessing to us!

Joining you in thanking our Savior,
Kevin & Kathy