January 24, 2006

Happy New Year! The holidays and the month of December flew by in a whirlwind of activities and January rushed in with anticipation of the same intensity. We're finally back into the normal routine of weekly charlas (Bible studies in homes), but the number of personal Bible studies has increased! Just yesterday, I spoke with one of the recent Sunday morning visitors who is excited about studying the Bible with me weekly and attending the church services faithfully on Sundays. Her name is Yolanda and she is the friend of one of the sisters (Cecilia) with whom I also study weekly. Cecilia is one of my new Venezuelan grandmothers, who might even teach me to knit and crochet. As I've mentioned before, she was baptized more than twenty years ago, but had fallen away from the church and her relationship with God. About four months ago, she showed up one Sunday to church and said, "I've come home." It has been a joy to see her renewed zeal for the Word and study of it. She and her husband have had some challenges with their grown children lately, but her faithfulness and our encouragement have served as a tremendous testimony to her non-Christian husband, Jose Antonio. When I visited Cecilia last week with co-worker, Fabiola, Jose Antonio told us himself that he would be at church on Sunday. And he came! His heart is slowly softening and I solicit your prayers that God will continue to work in his life and that he will be open to hearing and accepting the good news.

There are two who have recently accepted the good news and put on Christ in baptism. William and Ligia and their son, Wilmer, have been studying the Bible with the preacher (Carlos Leon) and a brother (Rafael) of another local congregation (San Antonio de los Altos). Rafael is related to the family and was excited to share the gospel with them. William has terminal cancer in his spine and is on bedrest in their home, but has been renewed by the studies. Because of his health, he was unable to be baptized this past Saturday, but his wife, Ligia, and son, Wilmer, were baptized that afternoon! The family lives on the far east side of Caracas, and the East Caracas congregation is the closest to where they live. We already have a home Bible study in their area of town every other Wednesday night that they're excited about attending. Please be in prayer for William's health and this new family's walk with God.

I was unable to attend the baptism because we found out about it last minute and at the time, I had an apartment-full of young people hungry for hamburgers after a morning in the park filled with volleyball, soccer, and most importantly, Bible study. The group stayed for lunch, fellowship, and a few stayed longer to watch a movie. It was a great kick-off to the 2006 youth activities. The men were especially encouraged by the time together and began sharing some of their goals/plans/ideas for the youth and the church as a whole. Luis, the East Caracas preacher, was unable to return from Christmas vacation as soon as we had hoped because of a failed water pump leading to electrical problems in his Cavalier. He was delayed from returning to Caracas for almost two weeks! What seemed like a challenge and trial for him, his family, and the church, has turned into a tremendous blessing as some of the men saw the need to step up and take on the responsibilities of leading and serving the church. May God be praised for mechanical problems! Please pray that the men can continue with this zeal and desire to lead. They will be having another meeting this Sunday to finalize some of the 2006 plans and their roles in service to the Lord and the work in East Caracas.

One of the most exciting upcoming plans is for a church retreat the last weekend in February. We had a place lined-up, but that fell through, so our prayer is that we find a new site by the end of the week, so we can make this retreat a reality. Your joint prayers with us in that are greatly appreciated. I don't know if you realize how much your prayers and support mean to me personally and for the church in East Caracas. Keep them up and, even better, come down and visit us. I've put together a special collage showing many of our smiling faces that I hope all of you can see ( http://davidagoff.com/MJGMissions/expanded_folders/east_caracas3/2005-6_full/collage.html ) -- of course, there are many new pictures on my site: www.MichelleMissions.com, but this collage has become really special to me as it represents the work here and the joy of my Christian brothers and sisters.

The other pictures recently posted are from the East Caracas end-of-year party on December 18, three weddings in December, and the first youth activitiy of 2006. I didn't get any pictures from the first ladies' Bible class this year, but it was encouraging to see them come back together in that context and soak up the teaching on faithfulness and how it transforms us. God led me in the teaching that day and has shown His faithfulness to me personally in so many ways.

I have been invited to teach many other classes in other cities throughout Venezuela this year (I can't even say yes to all of them!) , and will be heading to Bogota, Colombia, in February to renew my Venezuelan visa, and encourage the church there through ladies' classes, personal Bible studies and visits to the women I've worked with in the past. I'm excited to see all God has planned this year as I see what He's already doing through me and others so far! Thanks again for your prayers and support. We couldn't do it without you! Don't forget to look at the pictures that do an even better job of telling the story ( www.MichelleMissions.com)

May God's blessings be upon you in 2006.
In Him,
M.
www.MichelleMissions.com

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Baton Rouge, LA 70809

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