Trying to convince himself that God doesn’t exist

We have had several interesting visitors this month.  One Sunday night a man came in after service and unwilling to tell us his name. His first declaration when we invited him in was, “I DON’T BELIEVE IN GOD!!”.  We were friendly and offered him some refreshments as we were having fellowship.  Many times, nonbelievers will try to provoke a reaction in order to show how “intolerant” us Christians are.  Not only did he find that he couldn’t draw us into any foolish reaction but that we actually also have intelligent, reasonable conversations.  Throughout the encounter he kept repeating to us his affirmation of unbelief. It seemed to me as if he was trying to convince himself with all the repetition.

Hot Water

Even though it was only a couple of years ago that we had replaced it, our hot water heater began to give us problems again. It got to where we had to relight the pilot multiple times per day for the water heater to stay going.  It got to the point where it would only stay lit for about 15 to 20 seconds at a time.  It doesn’t take long to write this, but it took us a while to figure out that the problem was that the censor was a little too far from the pilot light and was shutting off because it thought there was no flame.  The solution that we found is not elegant looking but we have been enjoying nonstop hot water for the rest of the month! 

Attending a funeral in Argentina

Funerals are done differently here in Argentina than the way we are used to in the States.  There are some things that are easier to adapt to and others that require more personal effort.  During the month we attended our second funeral here.  Both funerals were connected to different sides of one of the families that we have been ministering to on Sunday nights.  Please pray for this family as they have been dealing with a lot this year.

One difference with funerals here is that they don’t prepare the body the same as it is done in the States. The funeral is like what we would consider the family visitation time. Towards the end of the visitation time since I was a pastor present during the mourning time they asked if I would read a verse and give a few short words to the family and friends present. After I shared the gospel and a prayer was said the family has a short time to say their final goodbyes to the body.  Then while everyone watches a man comes by and caulks all around the lid and begins to screw down the metal liner with probably at least 60 or 70 screws. Then there is a solution that is poured into a small hole in the top and sealed. This solution is supposed to help with the breakdown of the body. At the graveside ceremony everyone watched and waited as a worker sealed the casket into a concrete cubby hole.  At the very end the entire family began to applaud the departure of their loved one. 

First Sunday morning service in Guiñazu

One of the families that has been coming to our Sunday night service, (the same family that suffered the recent losses described above), has expressed a desire to have a Bible study in their home. (They are currently living about 20 minutes away from our meeting place in a small suburb north of the city.)  They have a lot of extended family that live in this area that they would like to reach.

Bonus Pictures

First ladies meeting of the year! 

I am so thankful for my wife and her walk with the Lord!  She is such a blessing to me!  This month she had coordinated and realized the first ladies meeting of the year.  Half of the ladies present were from our Wednesday night group and the other half from our Sunday night group with visitors.  One of the ladies present plans on hosting the next meeting in her home next month and inviting friends.  Please pray for each of these ladies and for the ones that they are inviting.

Electrical problems resolved

We were finally able to get an electrician to come out in order to rewire the whole house!  The funny thing is that this electrician lived further away than the last one that said we lived “too far away”!  He was able to put in a new breaker box and separate the house into more than one circuit.  We are thankful that the wiring is now better in the house as it had been a concern for some time.  There was one part that was slightly humorous.  I handed him a new light fixture for the bad, worn out one that was on the back patio.  When I checked on it later, he had replaced the one that was already in good condition and left the old one on the wall still.

“Crazy car problems” (part 3)

I am thankful for the Lord constantly providing for our needs.  We have an appointment tomorrow for the car.  It is having some issues with the electrical engine fan not shutting off when the car is turned off and running down the battery.  Hopefully, they will have that part resolved in the next couple of days.  After that is done we will still need to get the timing chain replaced.  The car has continued to serve us well even if we have had some minor issues now and then.

I am thankful for the Lord constantly providing for our needs.  We have an appointment tomorrow for the car.  It is having some issues with the electrical engine fan not shutting off when the car is turned off and running down the battery.  Hopefully, they will have that part resolved in the next couple of days.  After that is done we will still need to get the timing chain replaced.  The car has continued to serve us well even if we have had some minor issues now and then.

Band and music classes started back up

Summer has ended and we are starting to have a few cooler days.  At the end of March all of the kids classes have started back up.  Elisabeth and Joanna while continuing to take violin lessons have added Saxophone and Trombone respectively.  Jonathan and Elijah have continued to advance on Trombone and French horn.  Music has been a great way to make contact with others.

Teaching second year Greek

We started up our Greek class that we are offering and have already had two classes.  The students are really enjoying learning and all of the discussion that follows.  It is a great blessing for me to be able to share in this way.  We all need to seek and find various ways that we can be a blessing to those around us and encourage in the Lord!

Stacie’s English class is about to start

Please pray for my wife as she is about to present her first class this week.  Her heart has been on this outreach for quite a while as many people here are interested in learning English.  She has about 9 people signed up so far that plan on being there on Friday for the first class.  Please pray for her in this endeavor!

Bonus Pictures

Invited to preach an all week-end church anniversary 

There is a church on the other side of the city that was started 28 years ago by a Baptist missionary that was celebrating their anniversary with an entire week-end full of services.  Their pastor had asked me if I would like to preach and teach during each of the services.  I preached the message for their all night prayer vigil on Friday. That Saturday evening they had separate men’s and women’s classes. My wife taught the ladies while I preached for the men’s class. Then they ended the celebration with back to back services on Sunday morning.  We had a great time with them and were back with our group that evening.

Preaching in the dark!

The last Wednesday of February, there was a storm passing through while we were having our regularly Bible Study. As we were singing our last worship song, the lights went out.  To all of the musicians credit, not a single person missed a beat, even though they couldn’t see their music nor did the singing stop without the lights to see the hymnals!  We had a really great time with a lot of interaction as I preached from my phone with cell phone spotlight for the audience’s benefit.  Pray for Pablito, it was his first time to visit our service!

“Crazy electrical problems” (part 2) or “Thankful for a burnt wire”

The electrician finally made it out to the house but in the end wasn’t much help. He just shook his head and said “muy complicado”, or very complicated.  He told us that we needed to find another electrician that was closer to where we lived.  One day towards the end of the month, we were blessed with an extremely hot day, in which there was a burnt smell and a pop in our living room ceiling light.  I got out the ladder and flashlight and started separating the wires in the junction box to see what had happened.  In the process, I was able to identify the main (only) cable coming from the breaker box to power the house.  In the process of straightening out the problems in the junction box, I found the cause of our problems from last month.  There was a hot wire that had melted into a neutral, thus electrifying our kitchen sink.  Right now everything is working perfectly.  I had requested an electrician, a “professional” (that is not too busy to come out!)  to inspect my work. He should be out on Wednesday.  We are very thankful for the way that we were “led” to the source of the original problem.  I would have not thought the the living room ceiling light would be the first place that the electricity powered the house from the breaker box!  God is very good!

“Crazy car problems” (part 2) or “Now running on four cylinders”

In the US, I would consider spark plugs to be an inexpensive thing.  I guess they still are here in comparison with other more costly parts.  Long story made short, our car is now running on four cylinders again and seems much happier.  We do plan on having the timing chain replaced in the near future.  We are thankful that the car is working again and working well!

A short rest

We are extremely thankful for an opportunity to get out of town for a few days and spend time together as a family!  We returned to a place that we went a few years ago that the kids call, “The country house”!  It is a couple of hours away on the other side of the mountains.  The kids had a lot of fun swimming in the river, exploring the woods and looking for toads!  Besides the cows and horses there was also a friendly dog and cat for the kids to play with.

“Would you visit my sister?” (Part 2)

We just went up to sign the kids up again for this years’ band classes.  The brass teacher really appreciated all of the visits when his sister was in the hospital.  She is back home and improving!  Please pray for continued opportunities to be able to share the gospel with both him and other students that will be in class with us.

Bonus Pictures

Busy during the hot summer break

In Argentina, the seasons are opposite to what you have in the U.S.  For us it has been very hot and humid lately.  During December through January is the time that a lot of businesses close for the summer as they go other places in the country on vacation.  We are planning on trying to get a good break in during February, but so far we have remained pretty busy!  We  are very thankful for all of the great opportunities that the Lord gives us to reach out!

Backpack full of tracts

Brother Victor has the same heart for reaching out to those around us with the Gospel.  During the month, I had invited him to come with us to visit some of the neighboring towns and talk to people.  I had to smile because without asking him to, he, like myself had brought a whole backpack full of tracts to pass out as we met with people.  Pray for a homeless man that we met in the park that was very open to hearing the gospel.  Pray for him! His name is Matias and is struggling with addiction.  Brother Victor explained to me that some of the previous left wing government had a program to give out free drugs to people to reduce robbery.  Only Jesus can solve these problems!

Crazy electrical problems

One of the days this month we had a strong windstorm and since that moment our kitchen sink has been electrified at about 25 volts.  Another part of the kitchen was registering 70 volts and the stove 10.  We had the electrician come out to try to solve the problem.  He found an old wire that was electrified that was touching some of the old rusted out conduit.  He showed us what we could touch and not but we are still waiting to have the problem resolved.  We are hoping this Thursday or Friday that he will be out to get it straightened out.  Until then, we have been washing the dishes with either shoes and rubber gloves or just killing the power to the house.

Crazy car problems

Our car finally gave us the same error again.  We think that it might be an injector.  Not completely sure as where we normally take the car did not have enough diagnostic equipment to completely figure it out.  We are in the process of getting it fixed.  Car is still running fine, just not optimally.

Preparing for a harvest

As we prepare for everything to start back up in March, we have been putting a lot of material together that we will be able to use for teaching.  One of the things that the Lord has put on my wife’s heart is to reach out to people by offering an English class.  She has been going through an ESL teaching course.  She already has several ladies that are very excited about her offering this.

“Would you visit my sister?”

I received a message from our band teacher that his sister was in the hospital and wondered if we could go and visit her.  This is a huge step as we have been praying specifically for him for several years and seeking an open door to share the Lord with his family.  We have already had some great visits with his sister and plan on having several more.  She should be in this hospital for about a month.  Her name is Gloria.  Please pray for her!

Bonus Pictures

One year meeting in front of the plaza!

It never ceases to amaze me how fast time can fly.  At the beginning of the month marks one year that we have been meeting in this great location that we have!  We have two years still on this contract and look to make the most of the time and pray that the Lord would show us the place that he would have us purchase to have a permanent location.  Please be in prayer that the Lord’s wisdom would always lead in all things!

Doing the report

Click, click, clack came the sound from the back seat of the car while we were driving to one of our many weekly events. “I’m writing the report,” said our seven year old, as she pretended to  type on the fold down table in the car.  “And what are you writing about?” I asked. “I’m putting the number of how many leaves are on that tree and how many bricks on that building.”  Apparently that is what it appears to her that I am writing about when I put together the monthly and financial reports!  She has more figured out than I, because I have no idea how many leaves were on the tree that we passed that day.  I love my family and my kids are such a blessing to me as they grow and learn and follow the Lord!

Car full of ladies

My wife had the privilege of getting to take a group of ladies to the yearly ladies meeting at the beginning of the month.  Where it was this year was less than an hour away from where we live and they all had a great time together!  Please continue to pray for all of these ladies and the many things going on in each person’s life.

One moving to another province

We are saying goodbye to one of our regular attenders who is in the process of moving back to the province that she is from.  She has been attending our Bible study regularly since June.  Please pray for her as she makes that transition and for some of her family in that area that does not know the Lord.

Saying goodby to Guada,  one of our Sunday evening regular attenders

I was thankful to be able to recover her Bible before she had to leave. 

Praying that it will be a great blessing to her to read and discover God’s will for her life!

Hacked phone account……resolved

Towards the end on the month we had a slight adventure when a hacker obtained brief access to my Whatsapp phone account and used it to send out requests for money to several contacts.  We were able to lock it down rather quickly and no harm came, just lost several hours going through the contacts and following up.  The good thing is that through that, I was able to speak with several people that I hadn’t communicated with in a long time.  We live in a wicked world that desperately needs the Lord!

Bonus Pictures

Not enough sleep

October has been a good month but a tough one.  During the last month we really haven’t been getting enough sleep.  Wednesday and Sunday services many times go late afterwards. We typically get home around 11 at night on those nights and have been starting early to get the time at the gym in before all of the other activities of the day and the week.  I feel like we are doing better now but we still have the tendency to burn the candle, as they say, at both ends.

Extra night at Marcelo’s

Toward the end of the month, we had introduced an extra night on Monday evening at Marcelo’s, in order to work on the hymns for Wednesday.  It gives us an opportunity for more contact and discipleship as well as time to teach some new songs for worship.  Please pray for some of the new visitors that we have had on Wednesday night: Marcos, Ruth and Juan!

About to come to the end of the school year in Argentina

It is strange to think about from the US, but here October and November correspond to April and May in the US and all that it includes in the scholastic year.  It is a very busy time of the year with very many activities going on at the same time.  We are looking forward to December when a lot of the extra events and classes will close for Summer vacation!

Impossible, Difficult or Done?

Missionary Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) had said that there are three stages in the work of God: impossible, difficult and done.  I feel like we have gotten past the feeling of impossible, Nothing is impossible for God.  We live in the difficult stage and look forward to when the Master says “Well done thou good and faithful servant!”

One day, we desire to see Scriptural New Testament Churches planted here in this country, composed of saved, scripturally baptized believers that are congregational in their governance and that would freely associate together for the promotion of worldwide missions.  I have faith that one day, should the Lord tarry, we might realize some of these and hopefully all of them!  For now we will live day by day and share the gospel one person at a time if need be and patiently, lovingly teach that there is a better way, a Biblical way of doing things.  May the Lord give strength and wisdom throughout the process.  We would like you to know that your prayers matter!  They matter to us and they matter to our Lord!

Bonus Pictures

Our first ladies Bible study went great!

This last month has been a great time of growth and blessing.  Stacie has been especially busy with the beginning of the ladies Bible study.  She has been reaching out and coordinating with the ladies throughout the month and has been building great relationships between all of them. 

Please pray for the next ladies meeting which is about to take place and is planned for the beginning of each month.  Please pray for her as what she has been doing is not easy and requires a lot of time, attention and energy.

Kids inviting their friends to come

We have been extremely busy in many ways, but each thing that we are involved in doing, each outreach, each event allows us to have great conversations with many people from several walks of life.  During the last month, Jonathan was very pleased to have two of his friends from his orchestra and band come to our Sunday service though his inviting them.  He has invited many more in the past, but the normal response many times when we reach out to friends and loved ones can be disappointing when we get a negative reaction to our kind wishes.  He said that he was kind of surprised when they not only said that they would come, but actually came!  I love seeing a desire in my kids to share Christ with their friends and acquaintances.

Outreach in the Plaza

During August, we took advantage of the Argentine holiday, “El día de los niños” (Kid’s day).  All of my family got involved packing gift bags containing candies, a Bible, tracts and other goodies.   You can see in the picture how our table was situated where we had great visibility where people would pass by. During the day we had not only had a lot of great conversations with people in the plaza but got out two cases of Bibles.  One of the young boys hugged his new Bible and exclaimed how much he loves books!  Pray for each one that received a gift bag, that the Lord would work on their hearts.

Jonathan had two great opportunities this month.  He was asked by the pastor of Templo Bautista if he would bring a message for the youth during their special youth meeting.  He did a great job!  Also, after our outreach in the plaza, I had gotten real sick that Saturday evening and was very thankful for Jonathan being able to fill in for me for the message and leading the service.  I was thankful for Elijah as well for helping me lead the music.

Our New Sidewalk Sign

We were very thankful to have a sidewalk sign made for us.  It is the same kind that is commonly used here in this neighborhood by many local shops and businesses.  It is a great addition for us as it allows us to write in chalk any special events that are happening.  When we are having a meeting, we put the sign out on the sidewalk and when we are closed up we have the sign visible through the glass in front of the curtain.  I would like to personally thank each of you for your remembering us in prayer!

Bonus Pictures