It's is so awesome to see what God does, how He does it, and through whom! Here is pictured an entire family that has come to hear the Word of God and now has a weekly Bible Study in their home, all because of one student that God has radically touched. 

earlier this year I received a phone call from another missionary couple, Mick and Jean Heckinger (pictured on the far right) that had moved here from the Nashville area and through a series of fortunate events somehow wound up with my phone number. Mick and Jean are functioning in a support roll and have a Bible teaching ministry. Recently Mick called me and told of a young man, Gustavo (the one with the towel around his neck) who works in a local bread shop. He told me of how Gustavo had been coming to his Bible studies and had just given his life to the Lord. Then, Mick went on to explain that he was going out of town for several weeks and didn't want to leave Gustavo unattended as a baby believer and that he also felt that our congregation would be a great fit for Gustavo.

 So I gladly took this young believer in and we began to meet weekly for one on one discipleship bible studies and after about 2 weeks he began to ask me to go to his grandmothers house to do a Bible study with his family. To be completely honest, I was somewhat reluctant at first because of my already busy schedule and full plate of responsibilities, but I felt a peace from God to go so I went. 16 PEOPLE showed up! And they were hungry for the things of God, so I told them we'd go back the next week, 16 PEOPLE AGAIN! So, we've established a weekly Bible study there and we're seeing an average of 14 previously unreached people on a weekly basis. When we started this, Gustavo hadn't even been baptized yet! It just goes to show you how God can and will use you if you are willing to be used, He's not looking to call qualified vessels, He qualifies the called vessels!

Well, I'm sure that there was a party in heaven last week because on Sunday Morning in our small, but blessed, Kiddie pool Gustavo followed the Lord in believers baptism. It was a joy to see many from his family there. Gustavo has had to deal with some level of persecution for his faith, his own mother refused to go and told him she didn't agree with his life's turn, to that he replied, "Mom I love you and want you there, but if you aren't going to go and support me, then I still must follow Christ"!!!!

Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings He has established strength! (Psalm 8:2)

Thanks for standing together with us!

Well, a lot's been going on lately. I've been sitting and restructuring some things now that Carolina and I are the only full time missionaries with this church plant here in Venezuela. All in all I think it's been very positive. Here are a few bullet points:

* We just started a new outreach Bible study on the campus of URBE with 3 students. (we're believing for serious growth over the next 3 months)

* We are in the process of planting a new Friday night outreach Bible study in the house of some up and coming leaders.

* This past week, One of our leaders that works for the Government started an outreach Bible study in her office with 8 co-workers.

* The President of Venezuela kicked out the US ambassador. I'm still not sure what, if anything, that means to us.

* Our Sunday AM meetings continue to grow, 3 months ago we were averaging between 25-30, now we are averaging between 35-40. Our larger circle of who's being reached out to continues to grow. Jesus said that the harvest is plentiful, so we must pray for laborers

* Football started! American football is like chess, except the pawns weight 300 lbs of muscle and can crush the living daylights out of the king! Gotta love it.

* It's now Christmas time in Maracaibo! since we're in the "bers" (SeptemBER, OctoBER...), Some businesses are now putting up their Christmas trees and decorations! It's a little funny since it's about 95 degrees, EVERYDAY!

* Two months till election time, both in the US and Venezuela. PRAY PRAY PRAY!

It was two years ago this month that Carolina, Caleb and I moved to Venezuela with one other family Luis and Pati Azañero (little Esteban was still in the tummy). Originally we planned on bringing a team of over 20 people. The Azañeros along with us were to be the first installment and then two months later some of the rest of the team was to begin trickling in. Well, all for different reasons, the rest of the team never got here. That left Luis and I primarily starting from scratch.

We didn't know anyone and We didn't know how to get anywhere but we were convinced that God was ready to start something here in Maracaibo. So, we officially began our outreach in February of 2007. Thirty people came to our first outreach just before valentines day. It was a "dressy casual" coffee break styled event we called "Lovers and Friends, the true romance". From those first contacts about 5 began to regularly attend a weekly Bible study on Sunday nights.

Since that time we've seen several give their lives to Christ including two entire families. We've baptized and taught on making disciples and just two weekends ago we conducted our first "Victory Weekend" here in Venezuela.

After a year and a half of outreach we now average about 30 people in our Sunday Morning Bible Studies, around 10 in a Thursday night Bible study, 6 in a Tuesday night Bible study and several one on one discipleship meetings. All in all we're reaching out to around 70 people. The most exiting thing to see for me is that now the first converts are becoming leaders and the real force of outreach. This is good and it's necessary because after giving 2 years of their lives to go to a country they'd never even seen Luis and Pati were willing to leave everything they knew to take the gospel to a needy people. They even had their firstborn child on the Venezuelan mission field.

After two years of faithful and courageous service Luis and Pati feel that God is leading them back to Peru to be missionaries in their own land. I am forever grateful for the tremendous sacrifice they made to help extend the Kingdom of God here and they will always have a place here in Venezuela.

Please pray for them as they begin their new life in Lima, Peru and please pray for us that the Lord will raise up many like Luis to take the work to the next level.

We are believing for Pepe Selem and his lovely family to be able to join us here early next year to bring a much needed gift of evangelism. Please pray that everything will line up for them to be able to come here unhindered.

This weekend we conducted our first ever Venezuelan Victory Weekend.

Victory Weekend is part of our discipleship process where we take new believers and help them become more established in the Church, in the Word and in the Faith. The day and a half retreat focuses on the victory that we have in Christ. We cover several things including what actually happened on the Cross, Baptism, breaking strongholds and patterns of sin in our life, what is the church and how to reach out to our family, friends and co-workers. Basically, Christ said He came to set the captive free, so in a nutshell, it's about freedom.

The book of acts talks about people and "their whole house" being saved. We had the privilege of baptizing an entire family for the second time here in Venezuela! The Guedez family came to visit our Bible Studies after the eldest son Oscar, Jr. began to change after several weeks in our bible study. His mom (Dora) said, she knew something was going on when he got so excited about buying a new Bible. (Note to parents: when you college student wants to go buy a bible instead of the drugs or alcohol they used to buy, it's a good thing!)

So, Oscar, Jr. brought his dad Oscar, Sr., his mom, Dora and his little brother Jeison. The entire family has  been assisting now for several months and in a public declaration of faith yesterday confessed Christ as Lord of their heart and master of their lives! (Rom 10:9-10)

Here's a few pics of the weekend.

In my last blog, I explained how after looking all over the city to find a new apartment, we finally settled on a place that was nice but VERY SMALL (about 800 sq.ft. or 75 sq.meters). that's ok except we have furnishings for a 1400 sq ft. place. So where would we put all the stuff that doesn't fit? And, there also were NO cabinets in the kitchen (not one), and almost no closet space. It was going to be like playing tetris in real life, and then there's the issue about where we would have our Bible studies on Sunday mornings, you see, we've been using the party room here in our building. So, we submitted the thing to God and told Him "We know you will help us work it out".

Well...He worked it out! Last night, another apartment became available right here in our very building! Same size we've got now, same price we would've paid for the little place, Hallelujah!

I leap for joy! We should be in our new place within the next two weeks. 

Well we've known for some time that we were moving into a new apartment. We thought it was to a unit across the hall on the same floor. It was a guaranteed deal. We have to move by the middle of August because the owner of our current pad is returning to this city to live. Well, last Sunday we were informed that the apartment we've been counting on will not be available for at least 3 more months!

So, Carolina and I set out for the impossible: find an available (and decent) apartment by August. I believe in miracles and we got one. In one days time we were able to find 6 places that were available, the only thing is that every one of them had pros and con's. After praying about everything we finally settled on a nice little place that's in a safe area, but we're sacrificing size. A LOT OF SIZE.

Pros: good area. by the lake. safe.

Cons: small. small. small.

We're moving out of a 1400 sq. ft. apartment (which I never thought of as big in the first place) into a 800 sq. ft. apartment. So it's a good thing I believe in miracles because we're going to need one. ha ha. One thing that's really going to help is that Carolina's mom has a spare bedroom at her place that we can use to store whatever won't fit in the new place.

(for those extremely concerned the picture above is NOT the actual place, it was placed there for comical purposes)

In the last few months we've seen God really come into the lives of several individuals, but there's one family in particular that God has really moved in and through.

Erwin, the first fruits of this ministry, began to invite his friends and contacts about a year ago. One professional friend of Erwins, Erick, came to our Bible Study about 7 months ago. After a short time we began to have a small group discipleship time in his office and he gave his life to the Lord. Almost immediatly he began to pray for his family. God answers prayers like that. We started a weekly Bible Study in Ericks house and In the last 3 months God has totally revolutionized his entire family. Now, the entire household has a morning devotional together and yesterday we had a family baptism.

Acts 16:31
1 So they said,"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."
NKJV

As we continue in our "How to win in life" series, last week was especially great because Pastor Robert Haynes came and taught on managing money and personal finance.

We had a good group and I was excited to see that we not only were helping teach Godly principles to those already with us, but we also picked up a few newbys!

Here's a few highlights:

Josh 1:8
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
NKJV

Notice who makes one prosperous, God says it's us when we abide by his principles. a principle is like a spiritual law of nature. For example, gravity is a fact. It's irrelevant if you like it or believe in it or not, it still is a force acting upon us all the time. Gods financial principles are the same and this first one says we can make our way prosperous by observing and DOING all that the word of God tells us to do.

So what are principles in the Word of God for finance?

1. Hard work - Proverbs 10:4

2. Fear of the Lord and Wisdom - Proverbs 22:4

3. Honoring God with your possessions - Prov 3:9-10

4. Initiative - Prov 6:6-11

5. Don't Cosign - Prov. 6:1-5

6. Honesty - Prov. 13:11

7. Don't do debt - Prov. 22:7

8. Put God first - Matt 6:33

9. Saving/Investing - Prov. 21:20; Prov. 31:16; Prov. 13:22

This is not an exhaustive list of the things covered or taught, but if we fully impliment these few, I believe we would see extreme blessings come our way.

Sort of reminds me of a professional athlete who said, "The more I practise, the luckier I get"

Erick (pictured on the left) came to know the Lord about 6 months ago. Soon afterwards he began to pray and believe for his family. This is a brief story about how God has opened up his "household".

I met Erick's father, mother and brother Leo in December. Erick's dad, Aristides, had just had his 3rd heart attack and was about to undergo an open heart surgery. Erick asked me to come pray for his father and share with his family. In that Hospital room as I shared a with them and prayed and I remember how I felt so sure that God would allow us to see his family changed. A few weeks after that we started a bible study in his house. All Erick's family attended. All but Aristides, in fact at times I felt our presence was annoying to him.

As a result of this outreach, Erick's mother, his cousin, one brother, and a friend have now professed Christ as Lord of their lives!  (There are several more he is bringing that I believe will also decide to follow Christ including a co-worker, a neighbor and a waiter.) It seemed as though God was moving through all but his father.

One Tuesday morning in a prayer meeting Erick tearfully began to petition heaven for his father. THAT SAME NIGHT Erick's dad sat down and conversed with us for over an hour! After that He would come in and out of our Bible studies and I could tell he was listening. In one of our recent Bible studies I remember him coming in  and out as I was sharing how to know for sure you are saved. I explained what it means to surrender your life to God. Erick and his brother have reported to me that since that day their father was different.

Well, about three weeks ago he woke up early one morning, around 5am, and found Erick in his quiet time with the Lord. Aristides asked Erick what he was doing and was shocked when Erick told him "I get up early everyday to spend time with my Lord, dad". Erick reports that his dad seemed very positive and pleased.The next week, Erick reports that his dad got up at 5am every day to pray and seek God!

Saturday morning of that same week he went shopping with his wife and returning to the house, one minute he was joking with the taxi driver and the next minute, he was in full cardiac arrest. Even though the hospital was only a two minute drive by the time that they got him there, he had already passed into eternity.

I know that God is good. I know that whatever we ask for according to His will He hears us. I know He’s not willing that any should perish. I know He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Therefore, I believe that I will see Aristides Iriarte again in the presence of God. One thing I know is that Eternity is before every man and every woman. time is limited, don't sit around and wait on things to happen to you. Go. Do. Pray. Invite. Preach. Reach. Seek.

You see, this was a man who had gone through a stroke, three heart attacks and the doctors didn't know why he was still walking around. I believe God gave him enough time to hear the Word. I think we all are living on borrowed time. Are we using it rightly?

It is amazing to see how God has moved into this entire family by His mercy and grace.

What a weekend!

All last week we were preparing for a University outreach on Saturday Night, our regular Sunday Morning Bible Study and Caleb's Birthday party!

First the Saturday Night Outreach, We had about 16 students come to a "Party with a Purpose". Everyone had a great time and we had a 20 message on purpose and destiny. I got to bed around 1:30am

6AM Sunday morning came early, but that's the time I have to get up to get everything ready. Final tips on the Bible Study, printing kids study, overseeing the set up of the tables, chairs and most important the COFFEE. We had a great Sunday morning as lost people continue to encounter Jesus and the new believers continue to grow in His word.

NO REST for the weary, immediatley after the service we set up for Caleb's party which started at 5. We had snacks, games, a moonbounce and ended around 9 with the obligatory Piñata smash! Roland Castillo who has been attending our Bible studies for several months now did some tricks and illusions on Sat night and hosted Calebs party complete with allowing Caleb to pull a rabbit out of an empty tin pan!

I remember last year when Caleb told my dad that he had no friends in Venezuela, it broke my heart. We began to pray that God would help us establish good relationships and give all of us, especially Caleb some good friends. Well, Caleb had 25 friends in attendance and all were excited about the Star Wars theme!

* We Celebrated Calebs 6th Birthday today as a Family and two neighbors (Otto and Maria Jose) and on Sunday afternoon we'll have a big party with friends, food, a moon bounce and of course a piñata!

* Our dog is finally house trained. God loves me so much that He had me buy my son a puppy so I could learn patience! haha. In January we got Caleb a puppy. His name is "Chamo" and he's a miniature Dachshund. (Some of you may remember the other one last year, well, we found out he was going to be huge so we had to return him to the original owner) but Chamo is now an Abbott!

* David Cook should win AI. He's the man! I've already downloaded 4 of his tunes. (Yes, we do get AI way down here)

* I wish David Palmer could be the next President.

I remember seeing several women almost break into a fist fight at the supermarket. Not because of an insult or physical issue, because they were trying to insure that they would be the first to get some milk as an employee just brought in a crate of Long-Duration milk and then got out of the way.

No this is not my recolection of my two week trip to Cuba. Nope it's not about the time I went to Nicaragua, I'm talking about something I saw right here in the second largest city in Venezuela just a few weeks ago.

Recently in Venezuela milk, eggs, rice, black beans, chicken and sugar are scarce.

WHY,When I can almost always find coffee mate creamer, fruit loops and fig newtons?  Why, when at any time I can get any combo at McDonalds, Burger King or eat wings at TGI Fridays while surfing the net for free?

Because those are the items that are being price-controlled by the government. Farmers simply can't make enough money with these items, so they move on to other things. Is lack ever a sign of blessing? Didn't God promise to send the Israelites to a land full of milk and honey?

Two thoughts:

1. God's plan is freedom. (Gal 5:1) and abundance (John 10:10). Whether spiritual, financial or physical

2. God provides for His people (Psalm 37:25). always.

Praise report: since arriving back in Venezuela I have been able to find all of these products and keep us in steady supply in spite of the lack! God provides!

Well, the Winter has come to Maracaibo, Venezuela. What exactly is "Winter" in a tropical country just above the equator? HOT AND VERY WET. "Winter" here really means Rainy season. And man do we  have some super rains!!!! It's like Memphis tornado weather but without the tornados.

We have now officially lived in Venezuela for 1 year. On one hand, it doesn't feel like it's been that long, on the other hand it DOES! We have seen God do a lot in a year. This time last year, our "team" consisted of Carolina, Caleb and I. I was just trying to figure out which way was up, get a car, find an apartment, figure out how to buy furniture, get a cell phone...EVERYTHING. We take so much for granted.

Now we've got over 40 people assisting a Bible study either on Campus, in our building or in a local cafe. We've seen several understand the Gospel and profess Christ. There are now several involved in the discipleship process. I'm so grateful to God for what He's given us and how He's allowed us to participate in His plan for this country.