Wednesday, July 28, 2004
[2:04 PM]
Hello everyone,
James 5:16b ... the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Romans 2:4b ... not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?"
I just couldn't wait to share this news for another week. Yesterday, we told you about Arturo & Margarita and their new house. We told you that we hoped by showing him the goodness of God that he would get saved. We asked you to really pray for his salvation and his alcohol problem...well, guess what happened this morning? About 30 minutes ago, Arturo took off his hat, bowed his head, and asked Jesus into his heart. PRAISE THE LORD!!!!
What happened was Margarita was at our house working when Brother Alejandro stopped by. She told him that they were having a few problems with all this "stuff" being done for them. They were a little embarrassed, a little worried, and was wondering why. Why is all of this happening for them right now? Why were they being provided for? Maybe it would be better for them to have a smaller place. We talked with Margarita and explained how God works, and that they helped us out a lot in the past, and we are counting on them helping us, as well as us helping them, in the future. She decided that everything was OK, but could we please go talk to Arturo.
Alejandro and I went over to talk to him ... well, Alejandro talked and I was there for no good reason, I guess, but anyway, he explained that it wasn't us that were doing this, it was God through us and you back home. He told Arturo that God loves him, and wants the best things for him, and this is just one of the ways God is using. Arturo then told Alejandro that he had been trying to read his Bible, but he just couldn't understand things very well (i.e., the Ethiopian Eunuch?). Alejandro showed him the plan of salvation, shared his personal testimony (I stood in the hallway and prayed), and Arturo accepted Jesus as his personal Saviour. Isn't God GREAT?
Thanks for praying so fervently about this. We know that without you praying for these special requests, our job would be a lot tougher. You folks are wonderful.
All the Praise and Glory to God,
The Benedicts
Co-Laborers in Christ,
Mexico Division
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[10:12 AM]
Weekly Update
Good Morning,
II Corinthians 1:11 "Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf."
Wow, what a week! God has blessed so abundantly I hardly know where to start. We have seen two huge prayer requests answered.
We'll start with the church property. We had our property dedication Sunday evening after our regular service at the Children's home. What a blessing it was to see all the kids running around, and then to gather around for a time of prayer and thanksgiving. The new property is just outside of Jerez, 2.5 miles from our home. We've attached the pictures of the property and a taste of how sweet the dedication service was. Please pray with us now that God will supply the necessary funds and materials to build.
Another thing we've been praying about for a while was a new home for Margarita and her family. They've been killing snakes inside their house, 6 in the last couple of weeks. They live in the gang area of town and right behind their house is a place where everybody hangs out to drink and do drugs. This sure is a bad environment to raise kids. We've been praying for some time that God will provide a new place for them to live. And guess what? This past week, through the gifts of some of you, we were able to rent a home for them in our neighborhood. It needed a lot of work and painting, but Arturo has been busy doing the repairs. They still need a few things and it still needs a few more repairs but they should be moving in this week. They are very excited about this. Margarita is saved, but Arturo is not. However, Sunday morning, he asked us to come by their new house to pick them up for church. Please pray for Arturo. He has a serious drinking problem but is ready to quit. More than that, he needs to be saved. We're praying that this change of address will give him a fresh start, and their family a better life. This home is not being provided "free", Arturo will be working one day each week for the ministry work down here, whether painting, cutting grass, putting up fence, or when the time comes, helping to build the church building. They will also be responsible for their utilities, food, etc.
You may say, "How is that missions work? It sounds more like humanitarian." Matt. 5:16 says "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven." The last part of Romans 2:4 says, "...not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" The people here see God as an angry God, full of wrath towards them. We are hoping and praying that through these acts we can show God's goodness and love, and that we can lift up the name of Jesus with our actions as well as our words, not just to Arturo, but to the other people who see what God is doing here. You hear of lots of professions of faith, especially here in Mexico. Its not hard to get them to repeat a prayer. But, the truly changed lives are those who have seen Christians in action, day after day, doing the things that let people know that we really care about them, but even more important that God really cares about them. That's real, and that's what they want.
Please remember these prayer requests as well as safe travel for us. We have to return to the states this weekend. Our VISA's expire as does our car permit and we need to take care of some other things also. We sure do appreciate all that you do for this ministry down here. Without you, it would be much more difficult. You are truly laying up treasures in Heaven.
The Benedicts
Co-Laborers in Christ,
Mexico Division
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Thursday, July 22, 2004
[8:38 AM]
Hello everyone,
This is an update-on-the-update (I forgot something big) and a prayer request combined.
Let's start with the update: This past week, our "family" grew by five. Last Tuesday, we (the Children's Home) had the privilege given to us to raise a family of children from the nearby city of Fresnillo. They range in age from two-and-a-half to ten. We are thrilled. They are the perfect addition.
The next item on the agenda is the prayer request. We have just returned from looking at a piece of property that a man wants to give us to build a church on. You will remember that we have asked you to pray about this before, now it looks like God is giving us a green light. Please pray that God will continue to guide as we work out the details, and that if this is not what He has in mind, that He will slam the door shut on this property.
Thank you so much for your time and effort you spend praying for us and the ministry here. You make a huge difference in our lives, as well as the lives of many Mexican people.
The Benedicts
Co-Laborers in Christ,
Mexico Division
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Wednesday, July 21, 2004
[8:59 AM]
Weekly Update
Greetings Everyone,
What a splendid week we had this past week. We had several encouraging e-mails, Alejandro and his family returned from Guadalajara, the need for a wheelbarrow, that we mentioned last week, was met within 24 hours, and God is incredible.
We had a great service at church this week. We set a new record for attendance with 68 people. Of those 68, eleven of them were first-time visitors. There was a good part and a bad part about this; the good part is that they all want to come back next week. The bad part is that there were other people that wanted to come but we didn't have room to transport all of them. We have a van that we'll be able to use but we need to get the paperwork in order. More good news, Antonio, the man who got saved about 2 months ago, volunteered to come out early and get the van to pick up the people from his neighborhood. He has consistently invited others to church since his salvation.
We are in the final stages of preparation for Discipleship classes in Spanish. We have a teacher and will be opening our home on Saturday evenings, please keep this in your prayers. We expect a good turn out.
The pictures attached are of Anjelica's family who were the recipients of the propane tank and wheelbarrow we mentioned last week. We thought you might like to see who you're praying for. Jacqelyn, the daughter we mentioned in last weeks update, is the little girl in the front holding the baby.
The other picture is what 22 people in one Suburban look like. The part you can't see has Amber holding the new baby plus Carlos on her lap. We had so much fun with all these folks, Margarita was having such a good time she asked if she could be the last one we dropped off. I wish you could "can" the sounds that we hear on the trips, especially on the way home after church. Imagine the happiest group of people you've ever heard, now take the 22 happiest out of that group, cram them all into a Suburban and you'll have a small idea of what we hear every week. Anjelica was calling everybody sardines. Psalm 122:1 "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the LORD." How about you? Do you come away from church feeling like you've completed your duty or do you come out with a joyful heart? Are you excited that you have a church to attend, did you feel "fed full up" and ready for battle?
Why don't you all put on your jewelry and run to Taco Bell? No, seriously though we have some exciting things getting ready to happen this week and we really, really, need your prayers that God will guide each step of the way.
Thank you for all you do for us and God's ministry here in Jerez.
The Benedicts
Co-Laborers in Christ,
Mexico Division
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Tuesday, July 13, 2004
[1:07 PM]
Weekly UpdateGreetings Everyone,
"They shall be mine, sayeth the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels." Malachi 3:17a
Hey, did you know that we are all miners and gemologists? With your prayers and support, together we are finding and refining the precious "jewels" here in Mexico.
Church was very good this week. Juan Carlos translated this week, as Alejandro and his family are still in Guadalajara. He did an excellent job. We took our piano out to the home and he played a special also, Amazing Grace. It's fun to watch him grow in the Lord.
You know it's kind of funny how God provides things. We've had 2 propane tanks for the past year, but we can only use one at a time. Sunday night, Angelica, one of our new Christians, informed us that her wheelbarrow and propane tank had been stolen. So yesterday we took her our extra propane tank. God had provided for her need a year ago and just stored it at our house. Isn't that cool? A wheelbarrow is a necessary tool here in Mexico, especially for those who have no car. Please pray with us that God will supply the $55 for a new wheelbarrow.
When we took the tank to Angelica we met her husband, Mario, for the first time. He was very open and friendly and knew we were from the church. Please pray that God will use these opportunities to reach out to Mario that he might be saved. These two precious people have been blessed with four wonderful children. The oldest is a six-year-old named Jacquelyn, (pronounced Yak-a-leen) the first syllable of which is very appropriate. She and Juan Carlos were talking up a storm on the way home from church. She'd ask him how to say words in English and then she'd say them so easily, "pencil sharpener, dad, hello, and thank-you". When she got to backpack, she thought that was just the funniest sounding word in the whole English language. Think about it, it does sound pretty funny.
We understand that the best thing that we have going for us are the prayers of you faithful people. The praying when you pass Taco Bell thing has worked so well, we've decided to come up with another reminder. Take another look at the verse above, then whenever you put on your jewelry, or look at your rings or watch, remember to pray for the Benedicts and the people of Mexico. You really do make a difference!
The Benedicts
Co-laborers in Christ,
Mexico Division
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Tuesday, July 06, 2004
[11:13 AM]
Weekly UpdateGood Morning Everyone,
I Chronicles 16:34 Oh give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good; for his mercy endureth forever.
Starting off with baby news, it looks like the baby has a name ~ Esmeralda. However, nothing is set in stone. This is Arturo's choice of a name but Margarita isn't quite sold on it. She came to church this week where Margarita introduced her as Esmeralda.
In other church news, we had 5 first time visitors. Praise the Lord! And, they said please come back and get them next week for church again. We were missing Alejandro and his family at services plus 8 regulars and we still had 50 people. Emmanuel, the young man that got saved earlier this year, did the translating and did an excellent job! He's jumping in with both feet.
This past week we spent the night, for the first time, at the children's home. We had a great time. The kids were wonderful and everything seemed to go smoothly.
This week there were no soccer games for us to work at. It was Election Day. In an interesting turn of events, it looks like our good friend Ruben was elected vice-president of Jerez, and the man we rent our house from will be the new president. We say it looks like because it's not official as of yet, but Ruben came by yesterday all smiles to tell us of their victory. I'm sure God had His hand in all of this.
We have a couple of prayer requests for you: Brother Bob Nicholson and his wife Leatha had the home that they've been living in for the past few years get sold so now they are looking for another place to rent. It's not like you just pick up the want ads, you have to know somebody who knows somebody, etc. Please pray that God will provide the right house at the right time.
While out looking for a house the other day, Brother Bob met a young man named Humberto. Humberto was in an accident a few years ago and is permanently in a fetal position. They said that mentally he's fine, but physically he'll never recover. Pray that God will allow Brother Bob opportunities to witness to this young man.
Alejandro and his family are visiting family in Guadalajara and one of their strong desires is to see the rest of their family get saved. Please pray that they will be a good witness and that God will use them.
Keep passing those Taco Bells! Seriously, we can feel the prayers and see the results of the faithfulness of our team in the states and all over the world. God is good!
Your Partners in Christ,
The Benedict Bunch
Missionaries to Mexico
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