Dear Friends and Family,
We continue our medical furlough, rejoicing in the many encouraging developments in both my health and Jessica’s. Below are some details. We are constantly reminded of the goodness of God and His care for His servants.
I recently heard a wonderful message by Pastor Joe Arthur. He shared how Jesus responded with great care and love to John the Baptist, who was in prison and questioning whether Jesus was truly the One. Even in difficult and uncertain times, God cares for and leads His dear children along!!!
Ministry News
This has been a very busy time for Efata Ministries in Lima. In May, the church celebrated its 48th anniversary, followed by the school’s 55th anniversary in June. That was a great blessing, as we now have 43 students in our school. We rejoice in this! The Deaf need a solid education as well as the opportunity to learn about the Lord.
We also held our mission conference in June and had a great meeting. The Saturday international banquet was a blessing, with beautifully arranged booths, decorations, costumes, information, and delicious food representing the six countries we chose to highlight this year. The staff and members did a wonderful job, and the mission messages were excellent.
The next big events are our church mission trip to Chiclayo this year in July and our Music Camp in August. We are looking forward to good participation in both events.
You may remember the legal battle we are navigating with our annex ministry in Callao. The local government continues trying to seize control of the property. While they have not succeeded so far, please keep praying. There have been no significant updates since our last letter, but we will keep you informed.
Family News
Great news! I have completed cardiac rehabilitation and did exceptionally well, according to the staff. My heart is stronger, and I’m continuing to exercise to improve my overall health and well-being. I’m so grateful to the Lord for bringing my heart issue to light so it could be addressed.
The only thing left is cataract surgery, which is scheduled for the first two weeks of August.
Jessica is seeing a chiropractor who has been helping her. She has a condition involving the Atlas vertebra in her neck, which tends to slip out of place. He is working to help it permanently set in the correct position.
She has also undergone extensive blood work, X-rays, and MRIs. A new neurologist informed her that she is chronically dehydrated, which may be contributing to her headaches. She is now making dietary changes and drinking lots of fluids (excluding coffee and tea) to restore proper hydration.
Jennifer and Joel are doing well. Joel is also receiving some needed medical attention, and we are thankful for the progress we’ve made during this furlough.
In September, I’ll be traveling around Georgia, as I did last year, interpreting for one of our national pastors as he raises support for the work.
My plan is to return to Peru in the first half of October to help prepare for our Bible Conference in November.
During this medical furlough, we’ve been able to visit a limited number of our supporting churches, along with a couple of new ones. Due to the many doctor appointments and rehabilitation sessions, I’ve remained close to our home church here in Fort Myers. Thank you for your understanding.
Blessings,
Joe & Lisa
Joel, Jessica, Jennifer