As 2018 ends and we
prepare for 2019, I Think of the verse above and not only rejoice in the “day”
that the Lord has made, but in the year that the Lord has made and allowed us
to continue to serve him.
I want to let you all
know that we are greatly blessed by your prayers and financial care for us as
we all partner together to fulfill our Lords command to go into all the world
and preach the Gospel.
This year has seen so
many blessings and overcome trials that we can only look back and see how great
our God is and can agree with the Psalmist when he wrote multiple times in
Psalm 107: Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his
wonderful works to the children of men!
This year we have seen
many deaf and hearing saved, baptized and growing in the Lord. We have
seen marriages strengthened, abortions averted, ground-breaking advancement on
a new church plant, young people more dedicated and improvement in
infrastructure of our facilities.
2018 was special as
well in that our son James graduated with his master’s degree in Missions from
Baptist College of Ministry and was married, and he and his wife Ann are
expecting their first child. He is also a full-time missionary who is
spending 6 months here at Efata before embarking on their deputation to raise
their support to come and work in Peru as well. Joseph and Zulema with their
two little ones will also be on furlough/deputation beginning in Feb. of 2019.
We are also excited for Julianne and Frank who are expecting their 4th
child in March.
During 2018, we had
the blessing and honor to travel over 50,000 miles reporting to churches and
visiting new churches to give an account of our stewardship of the sacrificial
giving and financial support for Efata Ministries and our family; as well as challenging
and encouraging churches regarding missions and Deaf missions
specifically. Though we were not able to visit all our churches that
partner with us this furlough, we will do all we can to catch up with you all
as the Lord gives opportunity. It was a blessing to meet some new pastors
of churches that have been supporting us for many years and to forge a solid
relationship with these servants of the Lord and they lead their churches
onward for the Lord. We will also miss our pastor friends who have moved
on or passed away during our time here in Peru.
2019 looks to be a
year of many opportunities and challenges for us here in Peru and we look
forward to seeing how God leads and guides us as we move forward for Him in
this new year that is upon us The blessing is we will not be facing this new
year alone. We know that God is with us and that you are there for us as well
with your prayers, notes of encouragement financial gifts and support.
May God continue to use you all for His glory where you are and around the
world.
Los últimos meses han sido un tiempo especial de viajar e informar a la mayoría de nuestros maravillosos amigos y compañeros en el ministerio. Todos han sido bondadosos y generosos, y muchos han apoyado al ministerio con el cual Dios nos ha bendecido. Tuvimos el privilegio de estar en muchas maravillosas iglesias nuevas durante este tiempo. Estamos orando para que muchos puedan juntarse con nosotros y con el trabajo que estamos haciendo en Perú entre sordos y oyentes con apoyo regular.
Después de un año en los Estados Unidos, regresamos a Perú el 15 de noviembre. Es bueno estar en casa. Nuestros hijos están encantados de estar aquí, y estamos acomodándonos nuevamente en el ministerio y preparando para lo que el Señor tiene para nosotros aquí. Ha sido de gran bendición ver ocho almas salvadas en las semanas desde que regresamos.
James y Ann se han acomodado para su trabajo misionero de seis meses en Efata. Gracias a los que han respondido a nuestro llamado para ayudarlos en este trabajo misionero a corto plazo antes que vuelven a los Estados para levantar su apoyo y regresar permanentemente. Por favor, mantenga a Ann en oración por su salud y embarazo. Ha sido de tremenda bendición para Efata tenerlos aquí.
Juan Zevallos y su familia en Efata para el día de la familia
El trabajo en Perú va bien. Tuvieron 350 personas en Efata para el Día de la Familia en octubre. Seis almas fueron salvas y 3 bautizadas en ese tiempo.
Tenemos algunas peticiones de oración importantes:
Primero, la municipalidad local ha levantado un gran impuesto a Efata que es retroactivo a 2012. Dicen que debemos 144,500 soles, lo que equivale a aprox. $44,000. Por supuesto, no tenemos esa cantidad de dinero y estamos solicitando una exención. Ya somos exentos de los arbitrios, pero estos son impuestos de servicio que solíamos pagar a una tasa de $3 por año. El gobierno ha cambiado, y no estamos en contra de pagar nuestro deber, pero esta es una tasa comercial retroactiva que cubre años que ya se pagaron. Es una historia larga y complicada. Por favor, ore por el “corazón del rey”, para que Dios lo mueve en nuestro favor.
Segundo, por favor ore por el avance de la obra en Chancay. En este mes construimos un muro alrededor del terreno, y se hicieron más contactos. Por favor, oren para que Dios levante esa obra.
Tercero, por favor ore por nuestra misión en Pucallpa. Henry Vásquez, el misionero quien está supervisando la obra, se mudará a Lima este mes debido a los problemas cardíacos de su esposa. Trabajarán con nosotros sembrando la nueva misión de Chancay. El ministerio en Pucallpa ha sido muy difícil, y estamos vendiendo las propiedades que tenemos allí con la intención de comprar propiedades en zonas pobladas fuera de la ciudad y mover el trabajo allí para llegar a la gente. Ya tenemos estudios bíblicos en estas áreas. No hemos podido vender la propiedad, y ahora necesitamos un nuevo pastor nacional para asumir la obra durante su transición. Oren por la sabiduría y dirección de Dios en todo esto también.
Gracias una vez más a todas las iglesias, familiares y amigos que nos recibieron y nos cuidaron durante este tiempo especial de reencontrarnos con nuestros amigos y los que nos apoyan. En especial, gracias a todos los nuevos amigos e iglesias que hemos conocido por el camino. ¡Es maravilloso saber que las misiones siguen siendo el latido de muchos, ya que sigue siendo el latido del corazón de Dios!
Joe y Lisa. Hijos: Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
It has been an incredible time of traveling and reporting to most of our wonderful friends and partners in ministry. Everyone has been gracious, generous and supportive of the ministry God has blessed us with. We had the privilege of being in many wonderful new churches as well during this time. We are praying that many will be able to directly partner with us and the work we are doing in Peru among the Deaf and hearing.
After one year in the States, we flew back to Peru on November 15th. It’s good to be home. Our kids are overjoyed to be back, and we are settling back into the ministry and preparing for what the Lord has in store for us in the months and years ahead. We have been so blessed to see eight souls saved these weeks we have been back.
James and Ann have settled in for their six-month mission work at Efata. Thank you to those who have responded to our appeal to help them for this short-term mission work prior to them going on full-time deputation to raise their support to return permanently. Please keep Ann in prayer for her health and pregnancy. It has been a tremendous blessing to Efata to have them here.
Juan Zevallos and his family at Efata for Family Day
The work in Peru is going strong. They had 350 people in Efata for Family Day in October. Six souls were saved and 3 baptized during this time.
We do have a few major prayer requests for you to pray about:
First, the local city hall has assessed a large tax on Efata that is retroactive to 2012. They say we owe 144,500 Soles, which equates to approx. $44,000. Of course, we do not have that kind of money and are applying for an exemption. We have already been exempted from the property taxes, but these are service taxes that we used to pay at a rate of $3 a year. The government has changed, and we are not against paying our fair share, but this is a retroactive commercial rate that is going back and covering years that were already payed. It is a long and complicated story. Please pray for the “king’s heart”, that God will turn it in our favor.
Second, please pray for the continued advancement of the work in Chancay. This month we were able to have a wall built around the property and more contacts have been made. Please pray for God to raise up this work.
Third, please pray for our mission in Pucallpa. Missionary Henry Vasquez, who is overseeing that work, will be moving to Lima this month due to his wife’s heart problems. They will work with us in the new Chancay church plant. The ministry in Pucallpa has been very difficult, and we are selling the property that we have there with the intent of buying property further out of town where the population is headed and moving the work there to reach more people. We already have Bible studies in these areas. We have not been able to sell the property and now we need a new national missionary/pastor to take the work over and carry it through its transition. Pray for God’s wisdom and leading in all of this as well.
Thank you once again to every church, family member and friend who has hosted us and cared for us during this special time of reacquainting with our friends and supporters. A special thanks to all the new friends and churches we have met along the way. It is wonderful to know that mission work is still the heartbeat of many as it is still the heartbeat of God!
Joe & Lisa. Children: Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
Quiero tomar este tiempo para agradecerles una vez más a todos ustedes por su maravilloso cuidado y apoyo de nuestra familia como sus representantes en Perú, Sudamérica y más allá, alcanzando a sordos y oyentes.
Seguimos en nuestro viaje de diputación, visitando a las iglesias y a los amigos que nos apoyan y también a varias iglesias nuevas, conociendo nuevos amigos por todo el país. Durante este tiempo hemos recibido aliento y bendición en cada reencuentro.
Ya conseguimos nuestros boletos de regreso a Peru para el 15 de noviembre, y nos espera mucho trabajo allá. Estamos agradecidos al Señor por el maravilloso equipo y personal que nos ha dado, quienes mantienen la labor del ministerio en nuestra ausencia.
Déjame presentarles una oportunidad muy especial para ser de aún más bendición y ayuda a la obra en Perú. Como muchos saben, mi hijo James y su nueva esposa Ann están levantando apoyo para venir a Perú como misioneros. Están planeando un viaje misionero de seis meses para trabajar en el campo, permitir a Ann conocer a la cultura, las lenguas y la gente peruana, y preparar para su mudanza a Perú después de la diputación. Tienen pasajes para viajar al Perú el 2 de octubre del 2018.
Me gustaría pedirles personalmente a todos ustedes una ayuda por James y Ann, ya sea con una ofrenda de amor para ayudarles con los gastos de este viaje misionero de seis meses, o si pudieran incluso empezar a apoyarles mensualmente ya sea para seis meses o permanentemente.
James creció en Perú y ahora está regresando como misionero con su nueva familia. También está esperando a su primer hijo en febrero. Muchos de ustedes se acordarán de James desde que les visitamos en el pasado. James tiene ahora una maestría en misiones, una maravillosa esposa hija de misioneros, y un fuerte testimonio enfocado en las misiones. Por varios años, ha ayudado a enseñar a jóvenes seminaristas en un campamento de misiones.
James tiene fluidez en castellano peruano y en la lengua de señas peruana, y antes de ir al seminario era un líder activo en nuestro ministerio y está completamente informado sobre la cultura peruana. Su esposa, Ann nació y creció en Japón y no es ajena a las misiones. Ella ha tenido un amor por los sordos y un gran deseo de venir a Perú, incluso antes de su cortejo y matrimonio con James.
Cuando regresan de este viaje, esperamos que puedan juntar rápidamente el apoyo que necesitarán para volver y continuar el trabajo a la cual Dios les ha llamado.
Muchas gracias por su consideración para Jamesy para toda la obra misionera de los Ministerios Efata y la Familia Kotvas, y por su apoyo fiel. James será de mucha bendición en la evangelización y el sembrado de nuevas iglesias y ministerios. A continuación está la información de contacto de James por si usted desea comunicarse con él para obtener más información. Tenga la libertad de llamarme también – 813-406-2838.
Nuestra familia está muy bien. Los niños están recibiendo una gran educación visitando varios monumentos y ubicaciones nacionales (D.C., Filadelfia, Mount Rushmore, Estatua de la libertad, Gateway Arch San Luis, etc.) así como diversas áreas of Estados Unidos y Canadá. ¡Dios ha usado a su pueblo para ser una bendición tremenda para nosotros a lo largo del camino!!! Gracias a todos.
I would like to take this time to thank all of you once again for your wonderful care and support for our family as your representatives in Peru, South America and Beyond, reaching both the Deaf and hearing.
We are continuing our furlough, visiting our supporting churches and friends and visiting several new churches and meeting new friends as we travel across the country. During this time, we have been encouraged and blessed as we have reacquainted with you.
We have our return tickets to Peru for November 15th and have a great deal of work waiting for us. We are grateful to the Lord for the wonderful staff and ministry partners he has given us that keep the ministry going in our absence.
Let me present to you a very special opportunity to be a further blessing and help to the work in Peru. As many of you know, my son James and his new wife Ann are on deputation to come to Peru as missionaries. They are planning a six-month mission trip, working on the field, allowing Ann to get to know the culture, languages and people of Peru, and helping them prepare for their move to Peru after deputation. They have their tickets to Peru for the 2nd of October 2018.
I would like to personally ask all of you if you would help James and Ann with either a one-time love offering to help them with the expenses of the six-month mission trip or if possible, if you could even begin supporting them as missionaries to Peru on a monthly basis either for this six-month trip or permanently.
James grew up in Peru and now he is returning as a missionary with his new family. He is also expecting his first child in February. Many of you know or remember James from when we visited with you in the past. James now has a master’s degree in missions, a wonderful MK wife and a strong missions-focused testimony. He has helped teach at mission’s camp for the last several years to mission-minded college students.
James is fluent in Peruvian Spanish and Peruvian Sign Language and before he went to college was an active leader in our ministry and is completely knowledgeable regarding Peruvian culture. His wife, Ann was born and raised in Japan and is no stranger to missions. She has had a love for the Deaf and a long-held desire to come to Peru, even before her courtship and marriage to James.
When they return from this trip, we are hoping they will be able to raise their needed support quickly, so they can return and continue the work that God has called them to do.
Thank you so much for your consideration for Jamesand the overall mission work of Efata Ministries and the Kotvas family which you have been faithfully supporting. He is going to be a tremendous asset in our outreach and church planting ministries. Below is James’ contact information if you would like to reach out to him for further information. Feel free to call me as well – 813-406-2838.
The Family is doing great. The kids are getting a great education visiting various national monuments and locations (D.C., Philadelphia, Mount Rushmore, Statue of Liberty, Gateway Arch St. Luis, etc.) as well as different areas of the US and Canada. God has used His people to be a tremendous blessing to us all along the way!!! Thank you to all.
Joe y Lisa. Hijos: Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
Déjame presentarles una oportunidad muy especial para ser de aún más bendición y ayuda a la obra en Perú. Como muchos saben, mi hijo James y su nueva esposa Ann están levantando apoyo para venir a Perú como misioneros. Están planeando un viaje misionero de seis meses para trabajar en el campo, permitir a Ann conocer a la cultura, las lenguas y la gente peruana, y preparar para su mudanza a Perú después de la diputación. Tienen pasajes para viajar al Perú el 2 de octubre del 2018.