CT News September 2024
September 2024
Dear praying family!
We have a few pictures for you to see what our month of ministry and activities was like. See them here!
Sarah and Hannah’s trip to the US
As I complete this report, Sarah and our daughter Hannah are on their final leg of a trip back to Maryland to see family and take care of final details for Hannah’s college days that ought to start next fall. We are going to miss them both the next three weeks but are excited to hold the fort here and complete our responsibilities while they are gone. I don’t remember our kids being separated from their mom this long in our lives. We are certainly looking forward to our time together… at least I am, hee hee!
Month of the Bible and new preaching series
We had an outstanding time instructing the assembly about the family for the last five months. Our last theme on the series coincided with an especial event for Bible Month that involved all 11 home bible studies gathered in the chapel’s main auditorium. What a treat it was to see young and old competing to show their love and knowledge of God’s Word. The several unchurched in our home bible study got to see and taste the importance of belonging to a group of believers in a local assembly. We are continually stressing this as Hebrews 10:25 reminds us. A new series is about to be launched soon… we are praying to the Lord to guide this planning.
Elliot Christian School 29th anniversary
Speaking of families, as we prepared to celebrate the Elliot School 29th anniversary in late September, we continued seeing an escalation of deeply rooted issues involving many students. We felt deeply for the extra amount of time and energy all of these were demanding from our staff and school principal. We met repeatedly with them to support and offer our guidance. As such, we committed a day of the week to deal with these students and their parents from a pastoral side.
A young brother in the faith promoted to glory
We were saddened but not surprised to learn the news that the brother with a huge arm tumor we intended to help in the jungle had died. As you might recall from our last update, we managed to get him out of his village and secure a place in a hospital to begin aggressive treatment. Being afraid that he might get his arm amputated and the slow way the tests were going, he decided to abandon the hospital and went back to treat his extremely damaged arm with leaves and traditional jungle concoctions. General sepsis took place and took his life. He was a young believer with a wife still undecided to follow Jesus. Pray for her and her 3 young children!
Hogar de Esperanza News
Further south at Hogar de Esperanza, much prayer sustained the work for the last couple of months where we sensed an intense attack from the enemy. It all started with reports from the school where the children go, that one of our own was constantly rebelling and causing havoc. The situation was so bad that the teacher couldn’t keep up with school responsibilities because of our child. We were compelled to send our own psychologist daily to stand guard in the classroom so that the class responsibilities would be completed. Back in our compound, things only intensified due to irreconcilable differences about the way to proceed between our staff and house moms. Having 1/3 of our children officially recognized as special need children does not help our cause of seeing permanent and prompt resolutions any time soon. As a board we stepped in to try to regroup and bring peace and unity in the name of the Lord. Things haven’t been easy; we don’t think we have landed on the pad of general satisfaction and contentment, but we are pressing on finding your prayers as the fuel to keep us going.
To leave this issue on a good note. The state sent one of their agents to see what was happening. After spending time with this child and talking to our staff and director, she wrote the following: “Everything you do there is leaving an indelible mark on the life of each child. You have come as a ray of light for so much pain that they have experienced. You are doing an excellent job. Have a nice week and may God continue to take care of you. Blessings!” Pray that we will continue to see healing and unity with all in our midst.
Coming up…
October 1-20, Sarah and Hannah’s trip to the US to take care of college prepping for Hannah.
October 5, our assembly celebrates its 35th anniversary. Pray that we elevate the name of Jesus as we remember His faithfulness to this assembly and its impact in the region.
October 6, believer’s baptism. One in our home bible study will be taking this bold step of obedience.
October 13, Pablo will be starting a new preaching series about the church.
October 21, our family will be back together with Sarah’s and Hannah’s arrival back from the US.
With loving gratitude!
Pablo & Sarah CT
