Missionaries

Dear churches and friends,  

June 2008 marked my life in a tremendous way.  I was told, after a 3 day stay at a hospital in Florida that my kidneys were failing.  There was talk of dialysis and possibly being placed on a waiting list for kidney transplant. After much prayer, I decided to leave the care of the doctors and to believe God would heal me using natural means.  I left the hospital and went to the house of a friend who for several weeks helped me through prayer and natural supplements.  Even today I am still taking supplements and herbs and I believe that I am almost totally recovered.  Had I remained under doctor’s care I would not have returned to the mission field and continued our work here.  Since our return, we have seen many giving their lives to Christ through the preaching of the Word and personal evangelism.

Since my first return from the US I have had to come back home to Florida 2 times, to purchase more supplements and herbs and for some rest.  My last trip to the US was a combination of rest and visit to churches.  God blessed us through our visits, touching the heart of many to contribute to the work here in the Amazon.  We were able to bring some money back that we used to continue the work in the building of our Sunday School / Bible Institute building.  The highlight of our trip last summer was the vacation Bible School in Eden, New York.  Many kids surrendered their lives to our God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

We had left the charge of the church in the hands of the man I have been grooming to eventually take my place at Emanuel Baptist Church.  Due to lack of experience on his part, I found the deacons bickering among themselves and attendance cut in half.  It has been a hard task, bringing the attendance back up again, which by God’s grace has happened.  Also the deacons are again living like brothers in Christ, forgiving one another as God has also forgiven them.

This November we at Emanuel Baptist church celebrated our 5th anniversary.  Again, around 500 people came to hear the Gospel of Christ.  80 people from our 5 churches in Peru and Colombia came to celebrate the occasion with us. Brother Dale Cable, who has worked in Bolivia planting churches, came and preached to us. Several made decisions and all of us were comforted edified and encouraged.

Our church in Porto Narinho in Colombia has now a pastor.  Brother Alfredo and Sister Flor Maria are now occupying the house we bought. They are holding services in that house with the 5 families who are part of that congregation.

Construction of our new Sunday School/Bible Institute building is continuing.  The work proceeds very slow but we trust God to provide for us through the members of Emanuel Baptist here in Tabatinga and through other churches partnering with us in this project. By God’s grace we will be able to give continuity to this endeavor so important for the training of workers in this Amazon area in so much need of the Gospel.

Euler and Leny

I hope you have had a wonderful holiday, and that you are recovered from WTB. I am sure that it was exciting and a blessing to many people. I pray that God will give you a great start to the best year yet. I want to thank you for all the support and prayers you gave me as I endeavored to move to Korea. You were encouraging, and I know that many people prayed for me. The Lord has helped me often since being here so I know your prayers have been answered.

Daegu is very crowded, all the buildings are either business or apartments. Everything is built straight up and side by side. The people are very social and friendly. This month one of the translators from church and I will be starting a Bible study in the area which we live. We are hoping to draw people from this neighborhood and get them connected with the church. This should be a good outreach for the area.

The school where I work is full of great kids and teachers. I am praying that I will be able to reach them for the Lord. The language is a barrier at the moment but I am sure God will help me find a way to get around it. I am looking forward to what God will do there.

I would appreciate your prayers for me to get over being sick. I am fighting all the new germs and being around a lot of kids I get my fair share and then some.

I know this is where God wants me and I am glad to be here. Thank you again for all of your love and support and prayers.

Your Brother in Christ,

Ross

UPDATED JULY 2010

There were nine souls saved during our summer camp. There were 10 decisions to surrender to serve God in church ministry.

The teenagers ran most of camp. It was amazing. Three of the 10 teens that worked at camp also were saved during camp week. They had been coming to church for a long time, but confessed that they had not yet trusted Christ. How very exciting it was to witness their trusting Jesus for salvation!

Camp was absolutely Awesome. At the end of the week we had an awards banquet where all the parents came and we had opportunity to preach the Gospel. They listened intently to the preaching and hearts were stirred.

Most powerful was that the teens and children shared testimonies of salvation in front of the gathered parents. It was AWESOME!

Surely hearts were moved and seeds planted deep that will produce a great harvest!

Tony, Cindi, Arlen, Sherry, Carolyn, and Gerry came from Cross Roads Baptist Church under Pastor Dan Proctor to help with camp and worked themselves to exhaustion to make and eternal impact in the children’s lives. Ralph and Rhonda Musick came from Canada as former members of First Baptist Church , Iceland . Rhonda cooked with Sherry in the kitchen and was a loving influence on the kids. Ralph came also and cooked during the closing awards banquet. Their sacrifice is known and we are so very thankful!