About Us
The Maness Family
February 2020 Report
One on One Discipleship
Each Tuesday evening Hugo and I have met for coffee and Bible discussion. We have been spending about two and a half hours together answering questions and discussing current life struggles and God’s solutions. Each time we open the Bible God’s simple plan of salvation is presented. The book of Matthew has been our guide for basic discipleship with a current focus on the Sermon on the mount.
Asked to Teach for Three Days on Marriage and Family
We had been asked to help with a three day camp meeting and teach. We were asked to teach each morning on marriage and family. When we arrived, we found ourselves teaching not married adults but single kids. We adapted each lesson for their personal needs and everything went very well. It was a great blessing to be able to have several discussions throughout the weekend. I brought the morning lessons and brother Oscar brought the evening lessons. There was a lot of time put into the lessons before the camp preparing materials to help a troubled marriage, which the Lord has been using not only at the camp with the adapted lessons but with a few individuals that we know and talk to that have major problems in their marriages. Please pray for the many people that we have opportunities to speak with on a daily basis.
Stacie has begun teaching a Bible Story in Spanish before the sermon each Wednesday!
The Lord put on Stacie’s heart to offer something for all of the kids that have been coming on Wednesday evening to the Bible study at Marcelo’s house. She has been printing off a Bible story and taking it to her language coach for suggestions on grammar and usage. She has been doing an amazing job sharing with the kids!
Looking for a House to Rent Closer to the Plaza
Our rental agreement will end at the end of May so we have been diligently looking for a place to rent that would be big enough for our family and also to have Bible studies.
Planning a Party
One part of the Argentine culture is the quinceañera. Picture planning a wedding. Hannah will turn 15 next month and we are planning on having a party for her in this tradition without breaking ourselves or the bank. We are planning on having a party with a Texas theme and sharing the Gospel with all that come. Please pray for us.
Thoughts from Stacie
Tranquilo: That’s my word for the year. It translates as “Tranquil, Peaceful, Calm, Quiet, Relaxed…” Basically my goal for this year is to keep the stress levels down. Any time I realize stress is building I go back to that word, “Tranquilo.” Usually I pick words based on what I know I will need during a given year for me one word is so much easier to remember than lists of goals.
Teaching: As Scott mentioned I started teaching a childen’s Bible Lesson each week to the children that come the the Bible Study on Wednesday nights. I noticed that sometimes children from the neighborhood would just pop in to see what was going on and then leave. They weren’t getting much from the preaching as they would typically leave shortly after the song service ended. This month I started reading a short Bible Story after the singing and I share the gospel with them at the end of each lesson. We also pass out coloring pages from the story for them to take home. These lessons help me gain experience teaching in Spanish and introduces the children to God’s Word at the same time.
Homeschool: Also this month as our schedules change from the summer break we decided to revamp our homeschooling. The month of February I had the kids testing for the Alpha-Omega Homeschool Curriculum. This new curriculum looks like it will be a good fit for us. Please pray for us as we try to adjust to these transitions “tranquilly.”
Bonus Pictures
Above are Photos of Hymnals that Scott prepared for Praise and Worship Services.
Translated the cover reads:
“Hymnal of Praise”
Revelations 4:11
“Thou art worthy, O Lord,
to receive glory and honor and power:
for thou hast created all things,
and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
Hopewell Association Youth Rally at Mt. Sylvia MBC
Monday, February 19, 2018 our children presented the program for the Hopewell Association Youth Rally hosted by Mt. Sylvia Missionary Baptist Church. Below is the video of them playing music and answering questions from the audience.
The ABA National Meeting
Many of the friends we have made while on deputation we got to see again at our association of churches messenger meeting.
The kids enjoyed seeing their friends as well at the meeting. Many of the children present are preachers’ kids or missionary kids.
The first part of the week is the annual National Women’s Conference. I took the girls to that while Scott took the boys to the Missionary Committee meeting.
There were a lot of sweet babies at the meeting this year. I wish I thought to take a picture of all the strollers lined up by the wall where we sat.
Scott was honored to carry the Argentine flag during the flag ceremony on Tuesday night honoring the countries represented by missionaries and pastors present.
Probably one of the most exciting part of the meeting for the children are the booths.
We spent most of our time at the meeting attending our booth. The bracelets we passed out were a big hit.
Bro. Chase Reynolds shared an amazing missionary message about the responsibility of each church to send someone somewhere to share the gospel with a lost and dying world.
It truly was a week!
Jonathan’s Impromptu Sermon
Sunday night, after the service at Cornerstone in Roswell, New Mexico, we enjoyed an ice cream fellowship. We also enjoyed an impromptu sermon from Jonathan on the life of David from 1 Samuel.
Below are some pictures from the evening and a video of Jonathan’s sermon.
Resurrection Sunday
We had a busy Sunday this Easter. Sunday morning we visited Grace Baptist Chapel in Albaquerque, NM. Scott played his viola along with the other musicians in the services.
After the services we took our traditional Ressurection Sunday family Easter picture. This was our first Easter without our eldest son, Joshua. He is going to school at Texas Baptist Institute-Seminary.
We really enjoyed our time at Grace as we parked there and were able to enjoy several activities from various ministries they have to the community.
Then Sunday afternoon we left Albuquerque and headed to Roswell, New Mexico to attend Cornerstone Baptist Church’s evening service. Cornerstone is currently seeking a church to help them organize. We were blessed by their fellowship and are praying with them for God to provide what they need.
I will do another post about our time at Cornerstone.
Navajo Nation, New Mexico
Towards the end of the first week of April we drove from North Little Rock, Arkansas to Two Grey Hills, New Mexico. We left Thursday evening and arrived late Friday night.
It was a long windy drive but we made it in plenty of time for the Four Corners Fellowship of Churches hosted by Two Grey Hills Missionary Baptist Church and their Missionary-Pastor Rusty Denny.
That Sunday morning we enjoyed worshipping with Two Grey Hills. The ladies blessed us with singing a special in the beautiful Navajo language.
We enjoyed visiting with the members after the services. So many friends who have visited Two Grey Hills for short mission trips have asked about different members.
Bro. James (pictured below) has had some health problems but is doing better now.
Bro. Nelson enjoyed trying some of our Argentine Maté. He tried to get some of the others to try it but they weren’t convinced.
We had a really good time and were blessed to see the work God is doing there.
We also got to see their beautiful new building that can be seen for miles around the area. It’s a beautiful large white building that isn’t hidden in the area.
World Missions Seminar
March 27 – April 7 we attended the World Missions Seminar hosted by Faith Missionary Baptist Church of North Little Rock, Arkansas. The first week was directed towards sponsoring church/ missionary relationships, money management, hosting missionaries, etc.
The second week’s lessons were directed with the missionary in mind covering topics on deputation, cultural adaptation, culture shock, language acquisition, family life on the foreign field, Church planting, inter-personal relationships, Biblical conflict resolution, etc.
Bro. Lynn and Sis. Brenda Raburn did an excellent job putting the Seminar together and arranging all the wonderful speakers during the two weeks.
Elijah’s and Hannah’s Birthdays
Elijah and Hannah both celebrated birthdays in March. We celebrated both of their birthdays with friends in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Louisiana State Ladies Retreat
While we were in Louisiana Ruth, Joanna, and I were able to attend the Louisiana State Ladies Retreat on March 10-11. The retreat featured wonderful speakers such as Ann Luellen and Cindy Hebert. I was honored to help in the music department by playing the keyboard. We had a great time.
The theme of the retreat was “Take Me Away” with spa style decorations giving an atmosphere of relaxation.
Spanish Services and Fellowship
On Saturday morning, March 4th, we enjoyed visiting with 3 Spanish speaking congregations at a fellowship with Iglesia Bautista Bella Esperanza. There was great music, great food, Bible Quizes, Games, and Scott was invited to preach. He loves any opportunity he is given to preach in Spanish.
