"May the Grace, and Mercy, and Peace of Him..."

Dear Christian Friend,

May the Grace, Mercy, and Peace of Him who can keep you from falling and present you faultless before the Father with joy, abide with you in rich blessing.

What a great blessing to hear of the work progressing and many souls saved in some regions where in other years the seeds were sown with tears, sacrifice, and danger.

Years ago a young believer came to ask for help about a certain problem. He was not long converted and had little experience, but he wanted to begin doing something for the Lord. He wanted to know if we could help him get started. Also, he had a place in mind but it was tough and, at that time, dangerous. It needed an experienced worker to get started out there, and if he were an American, it would have been better, since the Indians in those remote villages hesitate attacking if there is an American in the group. Well, we all went out to Itzapa, visiting from door to door. Some houses were very nice, large, formal, and simple adobe block shanties with homemade roofs of big leaves or homemade tile. Also there were some made of cornstalks.

Later, we all met in the market square to have an open air meeting. We had invited everyone to a service that evening. Tracts were left with everyone, although the majority of the population could not read.

That young worker is now years more mature. In that village there is a vital community of Christian believers. He also has seventeen other places where they have a Bible meeting place, with as many other lay brothers or young pastors in charge. How wonderful! They have a united Bible study plan which both deepens everyone who participates and prepares any who feel called to be pastors.

We are rejoicing at the blessings God plans for his Kingdom and His people. Through these groups we can also pass on the material help that you sacrificially send us. When that country is in difficult economic times, the Christians appreciate the love the American believers show the them. Even so, Paul exhorted the believers in many cities to send help to the suffering church at Jerusalem.

Here is another incident. A young chap came in the other day saying he was a pastor in Duenas. He asked for money for their roof problem. I know that village and one of the pastors there, but I didn't know this one, so I gave him nothing until we investigated a little. It turned out that we had preached in the market place years ago when there were few believers with one pastor of the small group. This young new pastor had heard us many times in the plaza but was not a believer then. Now, Duenas has changed. It has many more Christians and several pastors. This young chap who came then was not only authentic, he also was our own convert. "Bread cast upon the waters shall return after many days." . . . He got his roof.

There is room for a smile yet... A teacher told the children in an art gallery that Joshua Reynolds was a great portrait painter who could change a smiling face to a suffering one with the stroke of a brush. A kid's voice promptly chipped up, "So can my mother." 

The American Mr. Brush liked it in France when they called him "Monsieur Brush", and in Spain when they called him "Senôr Brush". However, he didn't like it in Germany when they called him "Herr Brush".

Keep smiling! Keep rejoicing!

Orland Wolfram