November 2007

Greetings from San Diego and San Salvador!

Why both cities you ask? Well because Regina and the girls had a change of plans and will be San Diego until the beginning of January. Eric on the other hand has been in San Salvador since mid-October. Regina and the girls were supposed to fly out two weeks after Eric, but the Lord had a change of plans. As it turns out their 8-month old, ILY, needed glasses and so they have to stay in San Diego to wait for the glasses and a follow-up appointment. ILY has been diagnosed with being strongly farsighted and will probably need glasses for the rest of her life. Please pray for her that God would strengthen her eyes and that she would adjust well to the glasses. Also, that there would be a good pediatric ophthalmologist in San Salvador as her eye condition will need to be closely monitored for the next year or two.

Both of Eric and Regina were shocked to find out that their little tiny baby needed glasses, but God quickly put things into perspective. The same day that they received ILY’s diagnosis, Eric met a young teenage boy that has a disease in which he will be completely blind in three years. Regina also remembered how at church the day before a friend shared about a girl named Brandy with Cystic Fibrosis that desperately needed a lung transplant just to breathe the very air most of us take for granted. So, as always God is in CONTROL and He knows that he is doing in our lives and family.

Eric, Mike and Kristen Smith, and Tanto, the Festival of Life team, have been very busy in San Salvador meeting people, visiting different churches and ministries, and preparing for the Horizon School of Evangelism team to arrive in San Salvador at the end of November. Pastor Carlos Bautista of Calvary Chapel has been a huge blessing and his church has felt like home. Their favorite mode of transportation has been the city bus. It only costs a quarter, rides like a rollercoaster, and provides an excellent ministry opportunity and a way to get to know the community. They have been able to visit hospitals, an orphanage, remote villages, church plants, homeless and prostitution ministries, World Vision, and much more. It’s amazing to see the different ways that God impacts a city through these ministries. Hopefully, they we will be able to work more closely with them in the upcoming year in preparation for the Festival.

One of the ministries that have profoundly impacted the group has been the street kid’s ministry. Last Sunday at about 5:30 AM, they went with pastor Rodolfo to a local park, where 30 homeless teens live. It was a very humbling experience to see these kids, who were all sniffing glue, trying to fill the emptiness in their hearts. The youngest kid was only 11 years old. Pastor Rodolfo met their spiritual needs with the word of God and then met their physical needs by serving them food. They also met another pastor named Pastor Jose who has a little church on a hill over town. He is 70 years old and every day walks the two miles up the hill to teach the church.

We are happy to report that the Rosarito youth group continues to flourish and has about 25 teenagers consistently attending the weekly bible study now taught by Roy and Francis Parra. Also, God used one of the teenagers named Pancho, to bring his Dad to the Lord. Both were recently baptized and God continues to use Pancho to minister to his family and friends.

Prayer Requests:
Please pray for ILY's eyes that God would strengthen them and that she would adjust having glasses.
For reputable doctors in San Salvador. Specifically, for a pediatric ophthalmologist and an allergy and asthma doctor.
Pray for ministry opportunities and divine appointments for Regina in San Diego.
Ask God to strengthen Eric's bond with his wife and family has they spend time apart.
For the Festival pre-team. That they would have favor among the locals and energy has they coordinate ministry opportunities and host the Horizon School of evangelism (HSE) in San Salvador for three weeks.
Pray that God would use the HSE team to impact the city and surrounding areas. For God’s will and direction for the Festival of Life.

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