Leaving La Barra...but not for good!!

Well, we arrived home today; 3 days earlier than planned. We learned a lot on this trip about so many things. La Barra is a little different than the other places we go to with the gospel with TETM. TETM has been sending teams to La Barra for 7-8 years using different strategies for relationship building such as medical and dental clinics or baseball. So far the strategies have worked and we have built many friendships with the people in La Barra. This last fall we met two believers and just this past February we met two more. However, this December a man by the name of Jose moved into office as Vice President for La Barra and he, along with a few other men, don't like our presence in La Barra, because they know exactly why we are there; to plant a church, a New Testament/La Barra church. When we went in February he told us the men in office met and decided it would be best right now for various reasons that we leave La Barra. We left only to find out from our believing friend Eva that he had lied to us. When we drove back into the village to check with Eva and the President to see if it were true, Jose was furious but we had permission to stay through the President, Arturo. This time, the men of our team met with Jose and Arturo and two other men on the council and Jose did all the talking, telling us we need to leave. He told us that the whole village voted and the majority said they didn't want us here. It ended up he gave us until Saturday (we rolled into La Barra on Wednesday morning). We met with the believers every morning and pray that our time with them strengthened them in the Lord like Jonathon was able to strengthen David in the Lord in 1 Samuel 23:16. When visiting with the people of the village we learned that they wanted us there. As far as we know Jose lied to us about the majority of the village voting for us to leave. We never used names or gave details when we explained to people why we were leaving earlier than planned. We simply said, "The authorities of the village don't want us here and we want to respect them." Everybody knew exactly who it was without us having to say a word. In this case we learned that parading a caravan of people with a big trailer and setting up camp is kind of a slap in the face to the authorities who don't want us there. We decided it would be best to leave in a peaceable fashion with the authorities in town (mainly just Jose). But of course we won't leave for good. The gospel still must go forth in that village and now we know four believers there who are our friends; Eva, Inocenta, Eugenia, and Briseda. However, next time we go it will be a much smaller group of spanish speakers with the intent of going around visiting families and opening the word of God with them as they have expressed a desire. There are many people, friends of ours, in that village that enjoy our company and want to know more about the word and one family in particular was disappointed this time as we pulled out because we weren't able to visit them with all that was going on. Elizabeth said, "Next time you come here you come to my house!" Her face was stern as she said it and I wasn't sure if she was hurt but then as we said goodbye she gave us a huge smile! We did attempt to visit her family this time but the one night we went nobody was home. So, we left La Barra a few days early but with more wisdom as to how to bring the gospel to this village. Lord willing, a small group will return in July consisting of Chris, George (pastor in California, fluent in spanish), Jim (big jolly fellow who plays the guitar and the kids love him), and maybe Jose (a translator that came on this last trip). Lord willing these men will accomplish much for the gospel as they visit with our friends in La Barra about the gospel!

As for the unbelieving husbands you have been praying for, it was a blessing to see evidence of God drawing their hearts to Himself. Rafael, Eva's husband, is very hospitable and kind to us. He was the one who spoke with Jose and got us a few more days in La Barra. OJ, a man from TETM who went on the last trip with us but was unable to go on this trip, sent a package to Rafael with a letter pleading with him to look to Christ. Chris and Jose both had separate conversations with Rafael about the Lord of which Rafael replied with honesty and a recognition of his need but stating he was just 'not ready.' Pray the Lord gets him 'ready.' Also, Pancho (or Endefonso; Inocenta's husband), came to our meeting the last day and opened the word of God with us and followed along. The fact that a working man would take time away from his work to come to a gathering of believers and open the word is evidence enough the Lord may be drawing Him in. We pray this is so! Eugenia's husband, Eduardo, is in the states right now working. Please be praying for his salvation as well. Briseda is the other believer and I just found out tonight from a member of our team that she is married but we don't know his name. Please also be praying for their walks with the Lord that they would grow up in salvation and that they would encourage one another DAILY! Also pray that the wives could live out 1 Peter 3:1-6.

Pray for Jose, that the Lord would soften his heart and open his eyes to his need of a Savior, who is Christ. Pray for Pablo as well. Pablo doesn't want us there just as much as Jose but Pablo isn't as outspoken on it possibly because he is not in office and he also still talks with us as if nothing is wrong. I will say hello to Jose when I see him and he will answer but that is about it. Please be praying the Lord brings salvation to these two men!!

Thank you for all your prayers. Apart from the grace of God and your prayers, there is no way I would want to be on the mission field. To have a network of prayer going on while I'm on the field is like having a safety net under me while walking a tightrope 100 feet above the ground. There is security in knowing so many of you are praying. Thank you and know that through your prayers and my going, God is establishing His people, His Church, His body, in La Barra. You and I have been blessed and privileged to be a small part of the work He is doing in La Barra. I don't know when I will return to La Barra or if I ever will. Only the Lord knows. But thank you for your prayers and know that you accomplished just as much through your prayers for the people of La Barra as we did in going and doing the work among them. I love you all and thank you all for everything!!