Dear Family and Friends:
As Pastor Ted Gross began his sermon at the “Cristo la Única Esperanza” Church in Pedro Juan Caballero on February 12th, a series of gunshots rang out in the street in front of the church. Those who attended the service (I was at another church) said that the worst part came a minute later with a machine gun returning fire from right outside the sanctuary windows. When the shootout ended, everybody got up from the floor and continued on with the service, which concluded with one young woman making the decision to follow Jesus. Give thanks to God for protection and salvation in the middle of such hardship.
Our week in Pedro Juan Caballero was a strategically high impact, short-term mission trip. Pr. Gross, Pr. Fredy Pavez, and Dr. Gil Lain equipped 24 church leaders with 26 hours of theological teaching. 50 teachers from different schools received an inspirational in-service training prior to the new school year. Mary Lain, Sue Gross and I encouraged 150 inmates through visits to the regional men’s and women’s prisons. A dormant pastors’ association was revived. The week concluded with a women’s conference attended by almost 200 participants. We are joyful for the many decisions to follow Jesus, and are very hopeful for the local leaders who will continue to do the work of evangelists through their ministries and lives. Thank you for your prayers for the people of Pedro Juan Caballero.
As Pastor Ted Gross began his sermon at the “Cristo la Única Esperanza” Church in Pedro Juan Caballero on February 12th, a series of gunshots rang out in the street in front of the church. Those who attended the service (I was at another church) said that the worst part came a minute later with a machine gun returning fire from right outside the sanctuary windows. When the shootout ended, everybody got up from the floor and continued on with the service, which concluded with one young woman making the decision to follow Jesus. Give thanks to God for protection and salvation in the middle of such hardship.
Our week in Pedro Juan Caballero was a strategically high impact, short-term mission trip. Pr. Gross, Pr. Fredy Pavez, and Dr. Gil Lain equipped 24 church leaders with 26 hours of theological teaching. 50 teachers from different schools received an inspirational in-service training prior to the new school year. Mary Lain, Sue Gross and I encouraged 150 inmates through visits to the regional men’s and women’s prisons. A dormant pastors’ association was revived. The week concluded with a women’s conference attended by almost 200 participants. We are joyful for the many decisions to follow Jesus, and are very hopeful for the local leaders who will continue to do the work of evangelists through their ministries and lives. Thank you for your prayers for the people of Pedro Juan Caballero.
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Sue Gross spoke
on forgiveness at the women's conference (Pr. Pavez translated)
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We’re trying to gradually ease into our responsibilities due to the birth of Gabrielli, probably in mid-March. Margarita is very ready to have this most uncomfortable stage of pregnancy come to an end. Ana says that she will be a helpful big sister, and can’t wait to teach Gabrielli how to count in Spanish and English. Antoine at least verbally acknowledges that he is not the family baby anymore. Please keep Margarita and Gabrielli in your prayers.
All that happened in February and everything planned for the coming months is possible because of your generous financial support and faithful prayers. Thank you for joining with us to teach across Paraguay the good news that, by God’s power, salvation is available to everyone—not because of what we do but because of his own purpose and grace.
Yours truly,
Tim, Margarita, Ana, Antoine and Gabrielli
