Dear Ones,
Praying you are well. Some updates for the second half of August..shown in some photos attached!
Photos 1 to 4 : We took advantage of a special summer vacation fair in the next village to distribute children’s booklets and tracts as well as soul winning..so many selling their wares . Children ( as well as parents) having a great time on various rides, eating various snacks, kite flying etc..
Photo 5 and 6.. Witnessing outside a local hospital..This afro ecuadorian family were losing their grandpa and were waiting outside to visit. We prayed with them and the children received their booklets.
Photo 7: Gonzalo in a local park where we distribute and witness..we just had to take a snap of this beautiful blossom before it is out of season!
We are so very, very grateful for your love and concern for us, for your support,
Always in our prayers,
Gonzalo and Jenny
PS the following some comforting food for thought:
What begins with great fear from an unexpected threat ends with greater joy from an unexpected blessing. Drawing from this story, here are five ways we can seek blessing in our own battles when we feel like a multitude of troubles is pressing in.
1. Seek God first when you are afraid.
In crisis, our minds are flooded with fear, and we must deliberately disrupt our anxious thoughts. Jehoshaphat’s first reaction was fear, after which he immediately sought the Lord. We don’t need to be afraid of the battles that are in front of us, even those that seem insurmountable, because God will be with us and fight for us.
Don’t turn to Google over God or endlessly play out “What if . . . ?” scenarios in your head. Before anything else, ask God for wisdom, resources, and strength — and then look around to see how he’s providing.
2. Remind yourself of God and his promises.
It’s so easy to forget that we worship the God of the universe — the God who simply speaks a word, and worlds come into existence, creating what is seen out of what was unseen (Hebrews 11:3). Everything is at his disposal. Paging through Scripture, we can see how God has worked in the lives of his people throughout the ages. We can also look back and see how God has worked in our own lives — answering our cries, rushing to our aid, and comforting us in sorrow.
“I have no resources, no wisdom, and no hope without God. All I can do is keep my eyes on him.”
God has given us extraordinary promises in Scripture that we can plead back to him, reminding him of what he has pledged. He will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He will take care of all our needs (Philippians 4:19). Nothing can separate us from his love (Romans 8:38–39). All things will work together for our good (Romans 8:28). And he has good plans for our future (Jeremiah 29:11).
Jehoshaphat didn’t presume God would save him from disaster, but rather that God would save him in the midst of disaster. He said, “If disaster comes upon us . . .” (2 Chronicles 20:9), implying that they would trust God in their affliction even if the worst happened. They would keep crying out to him, keep trusting him, confident that he would heal and deliver.
3. Keep your eyes on God, not circumstances.
When Jehoshaphat first cried out to God, he ended by saying, “We are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (2 Chronicles 20:12). This is my go-to prayer in suffering. I recognize my powerlessness over the situation, acknowledging that I have no resources, no wisdom, and no hope without God. All I can do is keep my eyes on him.
Our part is to tell God our need and to lay our struggle before him. His ways are so much higher than our ways, and he knows what is best. We don’t need to know where help will come from besides that it will come from him. If we keep looking at our problems rather than the presence of God in our problems, we will succumb to fear. So don’t focus on the circumstances around you, the wind and the waves bombarding you, because they are not stronger than our God. Nothing is too hard for him.
4. Worship where you are.
Don’t wait till you are delivered to worship. Jehoshaphat worshiped God before the battle. There was no deliverance, just the promise of God’s presence and his commitment to fight for them. We who know Christ have the same reassurance — if God is for us, no one can stand against us (Romans 8:31).
Jehoshaphat’s battle plan involved a choir going before the army, singers thanking God for his everlasting love. And they thanked him not for what he had done or what he would do, but rather for who he is. God inhabits the praises of his people; we can often feel his presence in a unique way when we worship. Even in the midst of trials, we can worship through simple acts like singing hymns, reading psalms aloud, or thanking God for his love. For Jehoshaphat, praise preceded the miracle, and the same is often true for us.
5. Remember that trials carry us to Christ.
Trials end in blessing as we seek God in them. For the people of Judah, the blessing was complete defeat of their enemies and treasure to carry home. For us in Christ, it will also be the defeat of our enemies. Our real enemy is Satan, who wants to destroy us by tempting us to doubt God in our struggle and to believe that he doesn’t care. Nothing could be further from the truth. God is with you in this trial, and as you cling to him, you will receive more blessings than you can carry. Just as the people of Judah named their place of victory the Valley of Blessing, we too can look for ways God is transforming our valleys of trouble into places of unexpected goodness, especially in giving us deeper intimacy with him.
I once thought that the greatest blessing in trial was deliverance, having my problems disappear and leaving me unscathed. But I have learned that the greater blessing in trial is deeper fellowship with Jesus, knowing his peace that surpasses understanding and his love that surpasses knowledge.
I don’t know where you are today, but if you feel overwhelmed by what you face, my prayer is that God will meet you as he met Jehoshaphat and has met me. Second Chronicles 20 has become a metaphor for my life, and when I look back over my trials, I see God’s mercy and grace written over every moment. (Vaneetha Rendall Risner)
