SHM Donald & Becky Kamese: June 2013

Dear Friend

For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

Romans 14 v11-12

As another months passes by, it’s crazy to think we are now half way through the year. June was another hot month with challenges of power cuts and no water supply to the house. We also welcomed a new addition to our family-a dog called Luchita (meaning ‘fight’ in Spanish), participated in women’s and marriage conferences, Donald preached at a youth conference and we attended a funeral. This week as we made our way to Delicias with a car full of people, we found ourselves discussing the above verses. We were reminded once again that each of us will one day stand before God and give an account of our lives. It has given us a renewed vigour in our work here as we continue to seek to share the gospel and use the gifts God has given us.

Everyday life

We are currently finding there are many benefits of being a mixed couple! Besides getting to experience the richness of different cultural backgrounds, we are finding that being the only mixed couple in the region is tending to attract people who want to come and talk to us or have their photo taken with us!! We are trying to make the most of these opportunities by sharing the gospel with them and inviting them to church. Just last week, while we were spending time together in the local city on our day off, we were sitting in a park having a picnic and reading the bible together when a guy came over and asked if we were Christians. It turned out Sergio had been in prison some years back where he had heard the gospel and accepted Jesus into his life. However, since his release he had slipped away and gotten into heavy drinking. As we talked with him we were able to encourage him, pray with him and give him a bible and directions to nearby churches.

Delicias

Myrna and Tadeo are continuing to prepare for their wedding next month and to take over responsibilities in the church in Delicias. We have been spending time with them encouraging them in their work and helping them to prepare for marriage. There have been a few difficulties in the church recently as some of the older members are finding it difficult to adapt to some of the changes that have been made in the church in recent months. Please pray that these would all be sorted out quickly and unity would be restored.

Visiting missionaries

For the past month Kiara Bland has been here in San Pedro serving with Seedtime and Harvest Ministries from Nashville, Tennessee. As one of our regular supporters, it’s been great spending time with her and getting to know her more. She has been coming to Delicias with us weekly and also when we visit people from the church here in San Pedro. Becky has particularly enjoyed having another English speaker here who she can talk to as she continues to learn Spanish. Two more guys have also come down for two weeks from Tennessee to experience missionary life. They too have come to Delicias with us and participated in leading the church service.

Alondra

Thank you to all of you who were praying for Alondra, sadly a few weeks ago she passed away. We held her thanksgiving service the following day where a few hundred people gathered to remember her life. We are thankful that she is no longer suffering and now with her heavenly father. Please continue to pray for her family as they deal with their loss, and for the many friends who attended her funeral and heard the gospel.

Ministry

Donald is underway developing the curriculum for the Bible/Mission school soon to be started and in identifying cell group leaders for further training. We are realising how needed it is for the native people here to be traine

d so they are equipped to reach their own people with the gospel. Next week a group of 5 guys from the church are going to Haiti on a missions trip where they will be reaching people through soccer in order to share the good news of the gospel with them. Donald will be doing some studies with them before they leave in order that they are prepared. Becky, alongside Kiara, is currently working with the 11-15 year old girls where there is a big problem of them getting physically involved with guys at a young age. They meet weekly where they share from the bible with them and encourage them. Donald is doing the same with the young guys.

Praise report

-Becky is increasing in her Spanish and has been able to enjoy spending time and talking more with some of the ladies in the church.

-Praise God for the recent conversations we have had with people, one even resulted in them giving their life to God.

-Thank God for the life of Kiara and the blessing that she is here, as she has given up her summer to come and serve.

Please pray

-Please pray for Sergio, that he would read his bible and find a church and that his life would be changed. Please also pray we would continue to make the most of these opportunities to glorify God.

-For the living conditions in San Pedro, we aren’t getting any water delivered to the house so Donald has to go and manually get it from the water plant. For continued strength during the hot months.

-For the 5 boys going to Haiti, that they might be bold in sharing the gospel.