Dear Friends and Family,
In a few more months, we will be going home. Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” This has been my “season” and “time” for physical recovery and healing. I’ll share more about that below under Family News.
Ministry News
As I write this letter, I am in Georgia, traveling for the month of September with H.E.L.P. Ministries and interpreting for Victor Ocampo, one of my national pastors. Victor is an incredible church planter and soul-winner, and it is an honor to help him during this reprieve from all my medical appointments.
In August, I filled the pulpit for Grace Baptist Temple in North Fort Myers as their pastor retired. I was able to help the church form their pulpit committee as they begin the process of looking for God’s will for a new pastor. What a blessing it was to see several people join the church and to baptize three new believers during my time there. This was a precious time with one of my long-time supporting churches, and I was honored that I could be of service to them while dealing with my physical treatment.
The work in Peru continues. As of this writing, Efata Ministries is hosting Pastor’s school in our facilities with Equipo Peru, the Peru mission team from First Baptist, Hammond. I have been able to watch some of the services online, and the preaching has been very impactful. Pastors Andy Gomez, Jonathan Ashcraft, Luis Martinez, Noe Montelongo and host missionary Zach Faust are doing a fantastic job, as are the various national pastors, their wives and the other ladies who are helping and teaching in this week of intensive Biblical training. The conference has been well attended each night, with over 600 in attendance including dozens of pastors from Peru and other countries.
We hosted our second annual music camp in August. We had over sixty students come for instrument and voice training. Joan and Merle Zamora and the other teachers did a fabulous job teaching and training.
From the end of July through the first week of August, a mission team of 15 people from our church went to Chiclayo, a city in northern Peru, to visit and support one of our national missionary pastors named Cesar Quiroz.
Our people had a tremendous time ministering to his family and working and serving in both of their ministries: in Chiclayo with the Deaf, and in nearby Ferreñafe with both the Deaf and the hearing.
Family News
My health journey continues. I feel like I am fully recovered from the heart procedure, and I have continued to exercise to maintain my strength. In August I also had cataract surgery in both eyes, and my vision is significantly improved. I only need glasses for reading now, with 20/20 vision for distance.
I am scheduled to have shoulder surgery on October 8th. That recovery process is going to take a few months. It is the same surgery that I had a couple of years ago on my right shoulder, now on my left. I am currently in physical therapy for my lower back. Thankfully I am doing well there with the exercises and interventions that they have given me. My back pain is greatly reduced from what it was before.
We purchased our plane tickets to go back to Peru on November 7th! Our Bible Conference starts on the 10th. My Pastor, Bob Ossewaarde, will be coming down to preach for the hearing, and Evangelist Jim Sloan will be coming for the Deaf. After the conference, I will fly back to the States to continue physical therapy for my shoulder. I should be able to return to Peru in December.
Regarding Jessica’s health, she is still seeing a Chiropractor, and the therapy has been helping. There has been no complete healing for her as of yet, but she is managing.
The kids are really looking forward to getting back home to Peru. They prefer being there than being here in the States. Lisa and I are also looking forward to getting back and being in the saddle once again. There is always so much to be done.
Thank you once again for all your prayers and support during these past few months. Knowing you are behind us is a great encouragement.
Blessings,
Joe & Lisa
Joel, Jessica, Jennifer