Saturday, February 28, 2015

February 2015 Newsletter

I want to thank everyone who stood with us in prayer for the 5-day river trip last week. We just got back on Saturday and it proved to be a very blessed trip. Our purpose for going is always to minister the Word of God to the three villages that we are involved with, Santa Clara, Santa Rosa and Yarina. But we also went this time to also encourage the people to come to the Bible school that we will be starting on March 7. It will be a two-year course with 4 cycles a year, each cycle lasting 3 weeks. Our goal is train as many leaders as possible that will go back to their communities and teach what they learned at the school so that everyone will have the opportunity to learn about and grow in Christ.

The first village we visited was Santa Clara and during one of our Bible studies a woman from another village was visiting and decided to come to our meeting. The Lord so moved on her that at the end of the meeting she prayed with us to accept Jesus as the Lord of her life. Glory to God for His timing for her that she was at the right place at the right time to hear about God’s love and all that He did for her!

The second village we visited was Santa Rosa and a man named Francisco lives there with his wife and 10 children. Francisco has had some very painful stomach issues for quite some time and had been going to witch doctors for healing. Even though he believed in witch doctors he would still participate in some of our meetings over the years and even allowed us to pray with him for various needs. At one point he even prayed to renounce the worship of his idols and accept Jesus as his Lord. Although there was no distinct evidence of a changed life I believe the Lord was planting some very fertile seeds in his soul.                       

His recent stomach issues brought him back again to the witch doctors for healing but this time they wanted 500 Peruvian dollars to treat him. This was the last straw for Francisco because up to this point he had been paying smaller fees for their service but with no results. Now they were asking for a 6-month salary to “heal” him with no guarantee that they could. He firmly rejected their request and decided that witch doctors do not have any power to heal and that they are lying. He has now renewed his commitment to Christ and is very open to follow Him more seriously. I have seen over the years of working in this village that the Lord had been drawing Francisco little by little each time we were there and sometimes he would show great interest and desire to follow Jesus and then other times he would not want to have anything to do with Him. I know that God will continue to draw Francisco until he is completely in the Kingdom and will use him to be a spokesman for His glory. Please keep him and his family in prayer for God’s best for him.

In the village of Yarina, our last village-visit, a faithful couple had decided to come to our Bible school and bring three of their children. They have always been very open to the Lord and have expressed strong desire to grow in Him. After the school they want to build a church in the village so that we would have some place to meet instead of the half finished community room we have been meeting.

While in Yarina another wonderful thing happened and that was that I attended a 7th Day Adventist church service. This small congregation has been meeting together for about 2 years and they have often come to our meetings but we have never gone to theirs (usually it’s because we were not there on a Friday or Saturday when they have their services). This time though we were there on a Friday and I asked if I could attend and they gladly welcomed me. It was a small gesture but I believe it bridged some unspoken gaps between us by affirming the acceptance of both of our doctrinal differences. I, of course, invited them to our Bible school as well so I will wait to see how many will be able to attend.

I want to thank you all so very much for your intercession and commitment to pray for this work and all that the Lord wants to do in the lives of the Shawi people. Please continue to pray for the Bible school which will run from March 7 to 28 that everyone will receive from the Lord all that He intends to give them so they are prepared to minister to their villages. God bless you all and thank you so much again.

Sharon Malcolm

Sunday, February 15, 2015

February 2015 prayer letter

My Dear Faithful Prayer Warriors,

I again ask for your intercession on our next river trip. The dates are this Tuesday, Feb 16th to Saturday, Feb 20th. The purpose of the trip is to encourage and minister to the new believers in the three communities where we work but also to get a head count of how many will be coming to our Bible school that will start on March 7.

I would ask your prayer for:
  • our safety as we travel on the river
  • the Word of God to go out in power
  • the movement of the Holy Spirit on everyone who is supposed to come to the Bible school so they make it a point to come.
  • anything else that the Lord leads you to pray.
The Bible school that we are starting will run for 3 weeks, 4 times a year for 2 years. At the end of 2 years they will get a diploma signifying they are trained ministers of the Gospel. Our goal is to equip everyone, men, women, youth and children, in the work of the Lord so that they are confident in what they believe and secure enough to be able to proclaim and disciple their neighbors in the saving knowledge of Christ.

Would you stand in agreement with us for this request as well? We are praying for:
  • A very positive response from the villages and that everyone who is able to come will attend without any hindrances.
  • That the Holy Spirit will move mightily among all those who attend in a way that will be life-changing.
  • That everyone will be satisfied with the accommodations and there will be no complaints.
  • Every part of the training will be anointed by the Holy Spirit and will minister deeply to those attending.
  • Safety as the American team arrives from the States to teach in the Bible school.
  • Divine wisdom to hear from the Lord about how to effectively minister to all who will attend.
I want to thank you so very much for standing with us in prayer for these needs. I know together we will see great things happening and the Shawi people will be trained to be ministers of the Gospel. God bless you all and thank so much again for all of your intercession for this work.

With Much Gratitude and Appreciation,
Sharon Malcolm