March 2017 Prayer Letter
A Happy Spring to all our Family and Friends in Christ,
Spring is a wonderful time of year, when God takes a sleeping and dead land and brings it back to life again. Trees bud, grass turns green, birds return; God makes all things new. Though we often complain of the cold and darkness of winter, it is a needed time for plants to renew. It enables them to continue to bloom and produce fruit. Without this time, many plants would rot and die. This picture can remind us that God allows us to go through harder times in our lives, to renew us and keep us bearing fruit. The apostle Paul encourages the church in Corinth with the same thought when he says “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away (winter), our inner self is being renewed day by day (spring). For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 It seems as though our recent prayer letters have been filled with
news of death. Both Marcia and Cesar from our church in Riobamba finished their earthly journeys and are now with their Savior. At the beginning of February another long-time friend of ours also went home to be with the Lord. Elden Rawlins served faithfully as a deacon in our home church: First Baptist Church in Oak Hill. For several years, Elden had been the only deacon in our small country church. So, after much prayer, our home church made the difficult decision to close its doors. With no male leadership, we made the decision to appoint a trustee board made up of 3 former and 2 current members, to take charge of the dispersing of the properties. Pray for them as they are talking to churches about using the property as a church camp. Pray for the members as they settle in to a new church family, and that the Lord would use this time of “winter” in their lives to renew them and begin to use them in new ways and ministries.
Thank you for your prayers for the Ecuadorian presidential elections. The first round took place in February. The voter margins were not wide enough to elect a president; therefore, there will be a second round of elections between the top two candidates on April 2nd. One candidate is in the party of the current president, who has been trying to turn the country to communism. Although it can be alarming to think of what could become of religious freedom and missions with the current, and potential future leadership of the country; we rest in the fact that “the king’s heart is in the hands of the Lord.” (Prov. 21:1) After a slow winter, our travelling has now picked back up. Most recently, we have enjoyed fellowship with our supporting church in North Carolina, as well as several supporting churches in Virginia. It is such a blessing to re-connect with long-time friends, and get to update them on the Lord’s work in Ecuador. We appreciate your prayers as we continue to travel. Plans are already in motion for our return to the field. We will be returning sometime in July, as a group will be coming down for a mission’s trip in August. Dave has begun the search for tickets. Continue to pray for us as we take care of housing both here in Ohio and down in Riobamba. The Lord is always faithful to answer our prayers and provide above and beyond what we ask for or need! Thank you for your faithful prayers and support. We have enjoyed the fellowship so far, and are looking forward to more visits in the months ahead. If you have not yet set up a time for us to come visit and give you an update, please get in touch with us soon, as time is quickly slipping away! Not only is it a great opportunity to let you know personally the great things the Lord is doing in Ecuador, but it allows you to hear how best to pray for the ministry. It also allows us to know how to pray for you and your ministries as well. Together in the King’s Service, Dave and Cindy
