Feb. 2011 Update

The Border Region Thank you once again for your faithfulness to God and to us as you keep us in your prayers. You are a vital part of our ministry team.  I'm sure you have heard of some of the happenings down here in the Border Region lately with our Congresswoman being shot, with a Border Patrol agent being killed, with the state of almost war with the drug and people trafficking here. Satan, I'm sure, doesn't mind it a bit.  But please don't be discouraged when you hear the news, because God can still change hearts. When you hear of news like the above, please pray for our stations, the station managers, and the employees and volunteers at the stations along the border. Yes, it can be a dangerous place for them to be especially as they cross the border to meet with listeners and collect donations from the Mexico side of the border, but as has been said, "if God is for us, who can be against us?"  If you are interested in more about the situation across the border from our station KVER in El Paso, Texas, please see this seven minute story/video from The New York Times here. Steve recently had to take a trip to Yuma to reinstall a computer running their radio automation system. Toward the end of last year the manager of that station, Darli Toncel, left to return to Columbia to continue spreading the Good News in the region where he is from. The manager from Douglas, Arizona, Emi Amaya, moved to Yuma and there is a nice article in the Yuma paper on her thoughts as she takes over there. See that article here.   Steve for the last week or so has been quoting Thomas Edison: "It's not that I have failed 700 times, but that I have successfully proven that those 700 ways don't work." as he tries to get the radio automation system installed on newer computers than have yet been tested.  From the listeners... MILTON [DE LOS SANTOS], one of our on-air personalities, approached Marta, a sales clerk in Home Depot. Martha recognized the sound of Milton‟s voice, and said that before they talked business, she really needed to tell him about something. ‟I listen to Radio Manantial all the time,‟ Martha told him. „I believe that Radio Manantial saved my life. I suffer from depression. One night I was driving my car on Interstate 19 on my way home, driving 75 miles per hour. I took a swallow of water and placed my nearly full water bottle in the cup holder. The bottle bumped the radio buttons, and I found myself listening to a preacher who seemed to be speaking directly to me. I became so engrossed in listening to the message that without realizing it, I had significantly lowered my speed. The words I heard gave me a sense of calmness and brought hope to my spirit. All of a sudden one of my tires had a blowout! I was able to keep driving and gradually come to a stop without any problem. On the surface it would seem that the water bottle had saved my life, but I know it was truly God giving me another chance. Ever since then I have been listening to Radio Manantial. It inspires me and helps me get through the day. I still suffer with depression, but now I have my Manantial to help me overcome those difficult moments. Okay, now we can talk [Home Depot] business.‟
On the Home Front Pauli helped out a lot with the translation of the live nativity play for December and we all had a part in the play both in Spanish and in English. Please pray with us as God opens doors for us to minister in bilingual areas that we might glorify Him as we work here. Steve is now helping out with monthly food distribution at a local church. There is a large portion of the families that are Hispanic. Pray that God would be glorified through this.	Quick News Steve and Pauli are now helping out with AWANA (a Bible Club for kids) and a couple of neighborhood friends of our kids are now going, as well. Pauli's mother is coming to visit for the two months beginning in February. Pray that she will be refreshed from the time here. Pray also that we can encourage her in her faith while here.
We're Praying  Pray with us as we host Pauli's mother for two months. Pray with us for those on our team who have had to drop financial support as they have lost jobs.  Pray for their families and for them to find peace in God during this time.  Pray for God's provision in their lives. Pray for our brother-in-law who has recently been diagnosed with cancer. Pray for missionary friends from Ecuador who have had to return to the States to look for a possible kidney transplant. Pray for us as parents as we try to raise our kids in such a way that they love and desire to serve God.