{"id":3808,"date":"2020-08-11T11:49:11","date_gmt":"2020-08-11T16:49:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/?p=3808"},"modified":"2020-08-11T11:49:11","modified_gmt":"2020-08-11T16:49:11","slug":"west-newsletter-august-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/west-newsletter-august-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"West Newsletter: August 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Dear Friends and Family,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We hope this update finds you well, both physically and spiritually. Please know that we pray for you regularly! May the Lord, by His undeserved grace, restore safety (and sanity) to our communities, and also open the doors to all nations once again so that the gospel might continue to be proclaimed freely among all the remaining unreached peoples of the world!<\/p>\n

When the \u201cvirus crisis\u201d exploded back in March, it didn\u2019t seem possible that it would stretch on into the latter half of the year. Official church gatherings (here in Peru, at least) are still postponed indefinitely, and the dates for numerous ministry trips that we had planned for the summer (Peruvian Winter) have already come and gone. Also, there is no clarity (yet) on how long travel will be restricted to some of our target areas for ministry, including the prison and villages in the high Andes. Even if official restrictions are lifted soon, many remote areas that have mostly remained free from the virus might not want to receive outsiders for quite some time. The prison will also probably stay quarantined until 2021.<\/p>\n

With the \u201cbad news\u201d out of the way, I am excited to say that God HAS opened doors during this season (and provided funds) for a number of unique outreaches here in the capital of Lima. Below are some praises and prayer requests related to our recent ministry activities in \u201clockdown.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tract Distribution<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

For the first two-plus months of \u201clockdown\u201d here in Peru, it was forbidden to drive anywhere, so we had to walk everywhere. With the nearest supermarket about a mile away, I got into a habit of taking different routes through the dense neighborhoods, leaving gospel tracts on as many doors as possible, usually hundreds per outing. It\u2019s a good problem to have, but after dozens of similar outings, my stash of thousands of tracts has now dwindled to just a few hundred. Pray that these thousands of seeds would bear much fruit!<\/p>\n

Homeless Outreach<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Just days after most businesses in Peru were forced to close, we started noticing homeless people wandering the streets and digging through the trash at night. Some had been evicted when landlords realized they would have no way to earn money. We have been able to help the homeless in a variety of ways, including handing out food and water, money for food (sometimes), along with New Testaments or little Gospels of John.<\/p>\n

\"New<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Ben's<\/a>

My new friend, Manuel<\/p><\/div>\n

We even had a guest (Michel, a Cuban refugee) stay with us for a week or two until we could help him find a room to rent and get back on his feet. He is now working again, watching parked cars for tips (a common job here in Peru) outside a large grocery store, as well as at a Little Caesar\u2019s. He has also become a good friend. Pray for his salvation!<\/p>\n

\"Michel,<\/a>

Michel, on his bike<\/p><\/div>\n

Please also pray for a young (late 20s) drug addict named Arturo who we have been trying to help since back in early June. He is still on the streets, but we are going to try and convince him to go to a rehabilitation center where I often volunteer, counseling and teaching the Bible. If you feel led to help cover Arturo's fees at rehab, please let us know.<\/p>\n

Saturday Street Evangelism<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

In late May, the laws on driving were loosened. As I began driving around our district (San Miguel: four square miles, 150k people) once again, I noticed the informal workers returning to the busy intersections, where they would wash windows for tips, sell candy, or simply beg. So while most Peruvians (those who could afford it) were still hiding at home, these desperate folks were out trying to scrape together some money to survive.<\/p>\n

Up until the end of June, Sunday was still on TOTAL lockdown (military-enforced curfew), and everything was closed, making getting food on Saturday all that much more important! Imagine being forbidden to leave your front door on Sunday (not all bad), all while not having any food at home, or any way to procure some.<\/p>\n

So I began going out to the highways and byways each Saturday to give out \u201cBlessing Packs,\u201d which included a Gospel of John, a tract, local church info, and enough money to prepare a decent meal on Sunday. I can\u2019t count how many truly grateful people I met each Saturday in June. By God\u2019s grace, we were able to provide both physical and spiritual food for these folks at a time when their needs were most acute.<\/p>\n

As I made my rounds week after week, seeing many of the same smiling faces over and over again, I was able to encourage them to read the Word of God, to \u201cseek Jes\u00fas, the Bread of Life, which is infinitely more important than the loaf of bread you can buy down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n

Food (and Bibles) for the Hungry<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

With God\u2019s help, we have also been able to distribute literally TONS of food (rice, noodles, oats, tuna, sugar, milk, oil, etc.) to help feed hundreds of needy families here in Peru, as well as among the suffering (hungry) believers in socialist Venezuela (with special help from our friends and teammates Deivy and Karen, Venezuelan missionaries to Peru).<\/p>\n

There have also been many opportunities to give away Bibles, and even preach, during these times of distribution! As we continue receiving requests for help, pray that God would continue to provide for all those who are still suffering due to the economic effects of the lockdowns.<\/p>\n

\"Food<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Showing<\/a><\/p>\n

Elderly Home in Rural Romania<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Last September (when the world was young!) we spent a weekend in Bucharest, on our way home from meetings in Bulgaria. We had a wonderful host family and translator (thank you, Teo!), and I preached a couple of times.<\/p>\n

When virtually the entire world went into lockdown back in March, we received word that the elderly home our friends help to oversee was in great need. We were able to raise some emergency funds among friends and family, and even donated much of our own \u201cstimulus\u201d check, and the most dire needs have already been provided for.<\/p>\n

However, there are still ongoing needs for basic supplies like clean bedding for new arrivals, fuel for the winter, etc. Please contact me if you\u2019d like to help care for these (nearly 100) elderly folks, most who have already survived decades of Communist rule in Romania through the last century.<\/p>\n

We were able to raise some emergency funds among friends and family and even donated much of our own \u201cstimulus\u201d check, and the direst needs have already been provided for. However, there are still ongoing needs for basic supplies like clean bedding for new arrivals, fuel for the winter, etc. Please contact me if you\u2019d like to help care for these (nearly 100) elderly folks, most who have already survived decades of Communist rule in Romania through the last century.<\/p>\n

\"Elderly<\/a><\/p>\n

Looking Ahead<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Ongoing restrictions make it difficult to know how soon we can get back to the mountain of evangelism and missionary training that had been our priority coming into the year. Pray that the doors will open enough so that we can take a couple of ministry trips to the Andes by the end of 2020.<\/p>\n

How to give:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

\u2022 Online<\/strong> <\/span>- https:\/\/give.iphc.org\/project\/china-nw-missionary-support<\/p>\n

\u2022 Check<\/strong> <\/span>- Make payable to: WMMD \/ PO Box 12609 \/ OKC, OK 73157 (Memo: #21313P)<\/p>\n

Stay in touch:<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u2022 Email<\/span> <\/strong>- china.myadventures@gmail.com<\/p>\n

\u2022 Blog<\/strong> <\/span>- https:\/\/china.myadventures.org<\/p>\n

\u2022 Facebook<\/strong> <\/span>- www.facebook.com\/china.myadventures<\/p>\n

\u2022 Twitter<\/strong> <\/span>- www.twitter.com\/chinaadventures<\/p>\n

\u2022 Instagram<\/strong> <\/span>- www.instagram.com\/chinaadventures<\/p>\n

In Christ,<\/strong><\/em><\/span>
\nThe West Family<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dear Friends and Family, We hope this update finds you well, both physically and spiritually. Please know that we pray for you regularly! May the Lord, by His undeserved grace,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":3494,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[29,1,4],"tags":[367,317,396,165,31,121],"class_list":{"0":"post-3808","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-missionary-newsletters","8":"category-uncategorized","9":"category-world-missions","10":"tag-367","11":"tag-august","12":"tag-august-2020","13":"tag-ben-deysi-west","14":"tag-missionary-newsletter","15":"tag-west","16":"entry"},"title_es":"Bolet\u00edn Oeste: abril de 2020","content_es":"\u00a1Saludos en el precioso nombre de Jes\u00fas!<\/strong> Es un placer estar con socios y amigos para agradecerles personalmente por sus continuas oraciones y su apoyo incondicional. Hemos estado viajando en los Estados Unidos desde el 6 de diciembre de 2018, desde California hasta Carolina del Sur y del Norte. \u00a1Dios es bueno! \u00c9l siempre nos proporciona un lugar para quedarse y un autom\u00f3vil para usar para desplazarnos. Agradecemos a las siguientes iglesias que hemos visitado por su amabilidad, calidez, hospitalidad y generosidad: la Comunidad Internacional de Cristo, los Ministerios Cristianos de Berea, Jes\u00fas es el Se\u00f1or, la Iglesia de la Ciudad Cristiana, la Cruz a la Vida, la Palabra de Vida, la Iglesia Cristiana Filipina, Springfield PH Church, Laurinburg PH Church, Woodville PH Church, Abundant Life Church, Goose Creek PH Church y Brock's Chapel. Nos sentimos honrados y encantados de testificar de la bondad y la fidelidad de Dios. \u00c9l continuamente prospera y bendice el ministerio en Tailandia y los pa\u00edses vecinos (Laos, Vietnam y Myanmar). El 23 de diciembre, 24 budistas recibieron al Se\u00f1or Jes\u00fas durante la celebraci\u00f3n de la Navidad en nuestra iglesia en Don Muang, Bangkok. El 24 y 26 de enero, el pastor Steve Willis y Jim Cox de Valley Harvest Ministries en Virginia llevaron a cabo un seminario de liderazgo en el Centro de Capacitaci\u00f3n de Misiones Indo-China (Mekong Bible Training Center) en Mae Sai con la ayuda del Pastor Chi Chang, el Pastor Big Laddawan, y los misioneros, Doug y Jill Nelson. Fue un gran seminario al que asistieron 40 l\u00edderes provenientes de Tailandia, Laos, Camboya y Myanmar. El tema de la conferencia fue \"S\u00e9 fiel\". La construcci\u00f3n de la tercera fase del dormitorio en el Centro de Capacitaci\u00f3n B\u00edblica Mekong y la cafeter\u00eda en el Seminario Teol\u00f3gico de Tailandia est\u00e1n avanzando. Ambos proyectos deben completarse para obtener mejores instalaciones y programas de discipulado efectivos para nuestros estudiantes. Si desea ser parte de este esfuerzo, env\u00ede su contribuci\u00f3n a IPHC WMM, Oklahoma City con el n\u00famero de cuenta del proyecto designado: 74015 para MBTC y 74520 para TTS. Gracias a IPHC WMM, a la subvenci\u00f3n del Proyecto Antioch, a Valley Harvest Ministries en Virginia, a Bible Temple Church en Toledo, Ohio, y al Equipo de Construcci\u00f3n de Cornerstone por apoyar el proyecto MBTC. Agradecemos a nuestro director nacional, el Dr. Wallapa Wisawasukmongchol, por asistir a la sexta Asamblea Mundial en Chile, del 20 al 22 de febrero, para representar a Tailandia. Ella fue animada y tuvo un tiempo maravilloso con hermanos de diferentes partes del mundo. Damos gracias a Dios por su liderazgo. Tuvimos la suerte de participar en los eventos de comidas de la Gran Comisi\u00f3n de Carolina del Norte, dirigidos por Doug Bartlett, que comenzaron el 14 de febrero y se extendieron hasta el 7 de marzo (totalizando 12 reuniones). \u00a1Estas comidas estuvieron llenas de grandes personas, excelentes informes de misioneros, excelente comida, excelente compa\u00f1erismo y una gran oportunidad para que las iglesias se asocien con misioneros! Gracias a los representantes de IPHC WMM, el Dr. Terry Tramel y el Reverendo Brian Nix, por animar a las iglesias a ganar almas para Jes\u00fas en todo el mundo al apoyar a los misioneros y diferentes proyectos. Sus oraciones y amables invitaciones para que vayamos a su iglesia son muy apreciadas. Puede contactarnos al (916)841-7412 o jiepalbert@hotmail.com. Por favor, oren para que podamos cumplir con nuestro presupuesto y regresar al campo en o antes de mediados de junio por otro per\u00edodo de tres a\u00f1os. Que se haga su voluntad. Gracias y que Dios los bendiga a todos.<\/strong> Sus<\/strong><\/em> colaboradores<\/strong><\/em> en Cristo, el<\/strong><\/em> hermano Albert y la hermana Jiep<\/strong><\/em> \u00a0<\/em> Gonzales<\/em><\/strong>\r\n

<\/div>\r\n

<\/h2>","author_name":"Ben, Deysi, Gabriel, Ariel & Abriana West","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/01\/man-in-black-backpack-during-golden-hour-1230302.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pb62Ar-Zq","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3808","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3808"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3808\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3494"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3808"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3808"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3808"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}