August update

Greetings! I hope everyone is doing well as summer is winding down. Thanks everyone for your prayers and support. Pray is a crucial part of the missionary task. So thank you for praying for the displaced indigenous work in Bogota. Please continue to pray that the Word of Christ would speed ahead and be honored and that the gospel would advance throughout the world unhindered. Missionary work is hard. And our Lord has promised to be with us as we go to the nations. We trust that God will use His Word to change lives as we boldly proclaim the gospel to the nations.

The focus of my work in Colombia is the displaced indigenous. There are thousands of indigenous

living in parks and shelters in Bogota. So every week I visit the parks and shelters to evangelize

among several indigenous groups. In September, many of them we be returned to their own territory

in the western part of the country. A few have told me they will be returning in December. Pray that

we can continue to find and minister to the indigenous who remain in the city. Pray that we can spend

our remaining time wisely with those who will be returning. Sometimes, these planned returns get

delayed, but it seems to me that they will soon be returning. This past month, three Embera believers

were baptized. Pray for them (“Tom, Kel, and Beth”) as they grow in their faith. That we can disciple

them into mature believers.

Also, continue to pray for me as I study one of the indigenous languages. I am making some progress,

but I still have a long way to go. It is a difficult task, but I believe it will be worth it. Pray that I can

learn the language quickly so that I can communicate the gospel in the heart language.

Continue to pray for my visits with both “Silas” and “Mike.” I visit Silas and his family about once a

month to pray and study Scripture together. He is a believer and loves the Lord. He is always excited

learning more and praying. I visit with Mike about once a week. I have been able to pray with him and study some scripture with him. He has been asking a lot of questions about Scripture and the gospel. He is opening up. Please, continue to pray for my visits with both Silas and Mike.

The displaced indigenous work is a huge task. We are hoping to mobilize local churches and national believers to become more actively involved in the mission field that is local. Many have been tremendous help in the work. Yet we would like to see more. It can be difficult to get consistent weekly involvement. Please pray that God will call out people for this task, that people will see the need and make time to see the displaced indigenous evangelized with the gospel. Furthermore, pray that we can effectively train those who desire to be involved in the work. There are important things to consider when working with the displaced indigenous in order to communicate effectively.

In September, I will be working on obtaining a Colombian driver’s license. It’s a drawn out process that involves sitting through classes, but I should be able to get one before the end of the month. Once I get the license, I will get a car which will be very helpful in getting to one of the parks where the indigenous live.

Again, thank you for praying for me and for the work I’m doing in Colombia. The displaced indigenous are a people who walk in darkness. May their eye be opened to see the great light of the gospel. May many of them come to trust in Jesus. May churches be planted among them. May the name of Christ be great among the nations.

In this Psalm, David is crying out for grace and mercy to help in a time of trouble. He comes as one poor and needy who is dependent upon God to give the wisdom and strength he needs. And tucked in the middle of this Psalm, we see a glorious promise of salvation for all nations. All the nations have been

made by God and will one day come to worship the Lord and honor His name. And the nations will come to worship the one, true, living God because of who He is. He alone is God; there is no other. He is good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon Him. He is great and does wondrousthings. He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness (86:5, 10, 15). God is a God who saves, and His salvation extends to the ends of the earth to all who call upon His name. In order to call upon Him, they must hear of Him. Therefore, we must send out men who will preach Christ (Rom 10:12-17). As we go forth preaching the gospel, we will face opposition and difficulties. But our Lord has promised to be with us. Moreover, as those who are poor and needy, we can come to the throne of grace and find help in times of need just as David does in this Psalm. We can be confident that on that final day when our Lord returns, there will be gathered around the throne a great multitude from every tribe, nation, people group, and language worshiping the Lamb. What a mighty God we serve!