February 12, 2006

The Church of Christ in East Caracas was established in February 2003. Last Sunday, February 5, the church celebrated its third anniversary. Fifty-two people, including nine visitors, sang Happy Birthday to the church and enjoyed a presentation of photos from the previous year's blessings and activities. A group picture was taken and cake was eaten. The entire day was filled with an excited celebratory spirit. That same spirit continued the following Sunday (today) as there were thirteen visitors! Four of the visitors were ladies that I've been studying the Bible with weekly and have been irregular in their attendance! Every time another visitor walked in the door this morning, my heart leaped and I felt the joy our Father must feel when His children "come home." The journey has not even begun yet for many of those visitors, but your prayers will help bring them into a personal relationship with Christ and greater fellowship with His church.

The attendance of those ladies (Yolanda, Yanira, Isvelis and Antonietta) felt like a special victory after several weeks of occasional "excuses" that often hinder the extended time in the Word in a personal Bible study. I think I'm getting better at studying the Bible with someone over the phone ;) Please pray that God will help these women, and all of the members and contacts, remove whatever hindrances are in their life as they seek to grow in the Word and their relationship with Christ.

Thank you for your prayers for the growth of the men. After services this morning, as will be occurring every other Sunday afternoon, the men met to study the Word together. The English classes have also been encouraging. One of the students from the advanced class was amazed by the story of Isaac and Rebekah and was encouraged to know that God answers prayers in that way. The beginning class got into a great discussion about creation vs. evolution. It's a blessing to be able to reach people and touch their lives in a variety of ways. Many seeds are being planted. May God bring about tremendous growth!

As always, there are many new pictures on my website highlighting these events (www.MichelleMissions.com ). There are also pictures from a recent Ladies' Bible Study in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. Saturday, February 4, I was invited to speak on Depression and Discouragement: major issues for women, whether they face those challenges themselves or have a close family-member or friend who struggles with those realitites. Many were encouraged to understand what Scripture says about those topics. Two sisters from East Caracas accompanied me on that trip. A visitor from the English class and another sister were going to attend, but were unable to because of family emergencies. They are excited that they won't have missed the class completely, since I will be sharing a class on the same topcis here in East Caracas on Thursday, March 2. That sounds far away, but God has blessed us with a full calendar of activities and holidays in the meantime.

I will be leaving tomorrow morning (Monday, February 13) for Bogota to renew my Venezuelan visa and to spend a week encouraging and teaching the women there, as well as participating in a weekend seminar with Daniel Mata, minister of the church in San Cristobal, Venezuela. I will be able to teach two classes: the Role of Women and Women's Work in the Church. Please pray for the success of this trip and the ways God will be able to use in in the church in north Bogota. I will have more new pictures and stories to tell from that trip soon.

There's more to share, but my suitcase isn't packed for the Bogota trip yet. Thank you, always, for your prayers and support. We really can't do it without you. Before I close, I must share a Special Prayer Request: As the church in East Caracas grows, we have noticed a normal growth pattern. When we have an attendance of ~50 several consecutive Sundays, the attendance drops back down to ~30 until it builds back up again, then drops, etc. The seating capacity of the meeting room in the Hotel Continental is 50. The children's classes must be held on the hotel patio. To top it all off, an evangelical church has started meeting in another of the hotel's meeting rooms. We are seeing a more urgent need to find a more permanent meeting place for the church. Please join us in fervent prayer for this need, as we know God will provide.

"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective..."
Don't forget to check out the pictures (www.MichelleMissions.com)
May God's blessings be upon you all.
Thanks again.
M.
www.MichelleMissions.com

Donations and monthly contributions can be sent to:
South Baton Rouge Church of Christ
8725 Jefferson Hwy
Baton Rouge, LA 70809

US Contact:
9836 Keenan St.
Highlands Ranch, CO 80130

Venezuela Contact:
720-249-4266 (Denver phone number that rings in Caracas)
58-212-266-0164 home
58-414-129-2035 cell
mjgoff@gmail.com