Tuesday, July 25, 2006
[11:44 AM]
Weekly Update
John 9:4 I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
Greetings Everyone,
We were very busy working during the day last week, often not getting home until close to midnight. We had a missions group come in to do Vacation Bible School. Dr. Silkey, an optometrist, also had eye clinics during the afternoons giving free exams and free glasses. We went to the same place as last year with Pastor Miguel and saw the attendance grow considerably from the year before. We had a great time and many of the kids came back one afternoon just to play more games with the "Gringos". A big thanks to the missions group from Lawton, Oklahoma, for all their efforts and sacrifice.
We moved the eye clinics from one day to the next to different locations where Miguel has works going. The last day we saw four people make a profession of faith, three of them were Pastor Miguel's relatives. After that, they made a big dinner of Pozoli and Mole (pronounced Moe-lay). In the past, Steve has commented that this is his favorite mole, and the lady made it special for us since she knew we were coming. Afterward, Brother Miguel asked if we would pray for two of the ladies whose mother had just passed away during that week. When he pointed them out, it was the lady who had prepared the special meal for our family, and her sister. Wow! They were all dressed in black, but were happily and graciously serving others as best they could. What an incredible example of putting others first. What a blessing.
The mission here continues to go well. The people just seem to be growing and growing. Three of our girls had eight or more memory verses to say Saturday, and Sunday they came back with quite a few more. We praise the Lord they're hiding God's Word in their hearts.
In other news, Juan Carlos got accepted into the Medical School in Monterrey, about five hours from here. He went to enroll and found out that the cost was prohibitive for him and his family. He felt like God wanted him in Monterrey, but they needed about three thousand dollars for the first year, not including books, room and board, etc. He came back without enrolling and decided that he would go to school here in Zacatecas instead, and not put that burden on his family. Within a couple of days, people inside and outside of his family gave the money needed for him to enroll and go to school in Monterrey. We are going to miss him terribly, but it's a great thing for him. It's one of the premier medical schools in the country and will give him a lot of new opportunities. He already has the name and phone number of a church there and is planning on contacting them immediately. Monterrey is the most evangelized city in all of Mexico so finding a good church should be relatively easy. He's looking forward to getting involved quickly.
Local university news: Alison has received all the money that she needs to pay for her first year of college, her uniforms, her books, etc. Praise the Lord for His amazing provision.
Remember, we can't do it here without you folks back there supporting both financially and prayerfully. Keep up the good work and talk to somebody about Jesus today!
The Benedicts
Co-Laborers in Christ,
Mexico Division
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Wednesday, July 12, 2006
[3:01 PM]
Weekly Update
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. Romans 16:17
Hello Everyone,
This past weekend we had two of the best services ever here in Mexico. The people are really growing, they're singing with all their hearts, and the spirit in the mission is so sweet. Saturday it was so evident that God is working in their lives, we left our discipleship class just amazed.
Sunday we went of to Zacatecas where one of our people got baptized. One of the evidences Christian growth is the willingness to follow God's plan. Baptism sometimes causes problems between family members here. We praise the Lord for the faithfulness of this Christian young lady.
At the end of the baptismal service, we had three more of our regulars make a profession of faith. We have been working with them for a while now, but I believe that seeing the courage of one of their friends getting baptized helped push them towards that decision. Please pray for these three that they will grow in the Lord and follow Him.
Next week we will be working with a group doing V.B.S. in the mornings and clinics in the afternoon. We are excited!
We know that every time we see victory, Satan is going to rear his ugly head again. This has already happened over the weekend and we expect it to happen again as God continues to work here in Mexico. Please pray that God will remove the distractions and obstacles that we face from circumstances and people that Satan uses to try to discourage us.
Thank you so much for your faithfulness in bringing our petitions to the Lord. As you can see from last weeks update and the followup, God still answers the prayers of faithful people.
The Benedicts
Co-Laborers in Christ
Mexico Division
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Friday, July 07, 2006
[5:39 PM]
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Jeremiah 33:3
Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to share this e-mail with you about one of the prayer requests we sent out this last update. I hope you find it as uplifting as I did. Thanks for your faithfulness in bringing petitions before God's throne with us.
Steve, Amber & Kids,
The Benedict Bunch
Steve,
The specialist ran some more test on Tanya, Dhalia and Lizeth and found that those
tumors are NOT malignant. PRAISE GOD!!!! The doctor said that those tumors are not life threatening and that the body itself will released them...however, he will run some tests to be sure that they are OK. My sister was shouting, "It's a miracle, it's a miracle!", after the doctor gave her the good news. I think she became a believer already..... God is good all the time. All the time God is good.
Please continue praying for this family and that God use this situation to bring people to Him. My sister is not saved, yet. But after seeing the hand of God working in the lives of her three little girls, I believe that my sister is ready to come to Jesus.
How can you not? I talk to her last night and she was open for the gospel. Please pray for their salvation.I know God is working in their lives, and after this, there's nothing you can say but to realize that God is an AWSOME GOD.
My brother-in-law, however, received not good news; his tumors are life threatening, but I believe that God can remove them and used them for His Glory.
I just want to shout that my God is awesome, my God is Good, I'm yelling at the computer right now because God has heard our prayers, THANK YOU GOD,
I LOVE YOU
Steve, I just want to thank ya'll and thank every one that prayed for my family.
There's no words to express my gratitude, but thank ya'll, thank ya'll and billions of thank you to all who prayed for this need. Please keep them on ya'll prayers, they have a long road ahead of them.
God bless ya'll
Ruben
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Wednesday, July 05, 2006
[10:53 AM]
Weekly Update
Psalm 5:2 Hearken unto the voice, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.
Greetings Everyone,
The work continues here as normal. However, we thought we'd use this week to pass on some more specific prayer requests.
There's a lady who lives in Zacatecas named Rosita. She's been saved for a long time. She went to church regularly, but not much more than that, satisfied to be a "status quo" Christian. Sitting under the ministry of another missionary here, Brother Jim, she decided that being a "pew sitter" wasn't good enough any more and became the most faithful door knocker of the First Baptist Church of Zacatecas. She has recently been diagnosed with cancer, and it's bad. She's going through chemostherapy and right now is unable to continue the visitation. She broke down talking to Brother Jim the other day and said, "After all these years, I've finally found what gives me the greatest joy, but I was only able to do it for three months. How could I have wasted so many years?" Please pray for her and use this as your launching pad, so that one day you won't have to look back at wasted time.
We also received this lettr from a dear pastor friend in Texas:
Steve, I usually don't send any personal prayer request to ya'll, but this time my heart's broken. Last night my sister, Mary called me and told me that her three daughters and her husband were sick...But after awhile she explained everything. Her husband, Jesus has tumors all over his kidneys and the liver, and the doctor sent his three daughters for an echo. The doctors found that all three of them have tumors in their kidneys and liver. Tanya is the oldest one, she's 13 years old, Dahlia is 11 years old, and Lizeth is 7 years old....As you can imagine my sister is devastated and she asked me to pray for them....Please pray for them. I know ya'll have already many prayers in your minds. But please every time ya'll remember My sister and her family, Please pray for them. Their names and ages are: Mary 34, Jesus 32, Tanya 13, Dahlia 11, and Lizeth 7 - last name: Arrieta, Alarcon. I would appreciate your prayers for this family.
We would ask that along with remembering and praying for the ministry here in Jerez, that this week you would pray for very diligently for these specific prayer requests also. We'll keep you updated as best we can.
The Benedicts
Co-Laborers in Christ
Mexico Division
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