Dear Friends, January 14th found us traveling the now familiar road from Concepcion to the ranch at San Salvador. For the most part the road was dry and with several of the ranch gates already open, we made good time covering the 75 miles in 5 hours. After a pleasant visit with the ranch administrator and his wife, we left by motorboat for San Carlos. Our former San Carlos partners, John and Patty Stucky and Mark Goddard were planning to arrive in San Carlos the 17th for a week visit so we got busy getting a spot in the shed ready for John and Patty. Mark’s wife, Odie, and their 3 boys weren’t able to make the trip. The people were so happy to have all of us visiting at the same time. Many hours were spent visiting, reminiscing and talking about the Lord. The enthusiasm for the Bible verse memorization program continues at a high level. We were kept busy weekday mornings listening to one person after another quoting verses. This trip 10 more people completed the first set of 40 verses and received a Guarani New Testament. Four more people finished the second set of 40 verses and were very happy to have their very own Guarani Bible. Two teenaged boys and a young married couple have completed memorizing the whole book of Ephesians. There are still around 150 people (representing 54 families) involved in the program. At this point, we’ve given 78 Guarani New Testaments, 18 Bibles and 1,004 cassette tapes of the Guarani New Testament (dramatized) and Bible lessons from Genesis to Christ’s ascension. In our last letter we told you about the month long Bible course being held in Pira and we asked you to pray that there would be a couple from San Carlos willing to attend. God answered prayer. Elojio and Florentina, their 10 yr. old son, Luis, and Florentina’s 10 yr. old brother, Alve, accepted the invitation and traveled with us to Concepcion. Bob and LaVon Goddard met us there and took them to Pira. We are very excited for them. They were a bit scared but told us they wanted to take this opportunity that God is giving them to study God’s Word. Elojio and Florentina had gone with us in November to one of the Pai colonies and stayed for several days in the home of a Christian family there. That helped give them the courage to go farther away from home and for a longer time. Luis and Alve were so excited! This was their FIRST trip ever - on a launch, in a vehicle, to go across a bridge, and see a city and they ate their very first ice cream cone! When they get home they’ll have stories to tell for weeks to come. Next Monday we’ll be traveling to Pira. We’re looking forward to sitting in for the last couple days of classes. Wednesday we plan to drive Elojio and family to Concepcion (about 5 hours) so they can go back to San Carlos on the riverboat on Thursday. We’re looking to hearing all about their month living among the Pai people and listening to all they have to tell about the classes and their experiences there. We do thank you for praying for the Angaite believers. Life is not easy for them. It is exciting to see them grow in the Lord and desire to learn more of His Word. Pray that they will continue to grow in their daily walk with the Lord and that they will have a burden to reach out to others with the Gospel. God has said that He will build his church and that His Word would NOT return void. Thank you for praying for us and for being helpers in the work of the Lord. Serving together, Rich & Dee Perik |
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