These have been an
eventful two months here at Efata and in Peru.
We are thankful that we serve the One True God! As the verse above states, “There is no
other!”
Ministry News
We had a wonderful
Mission Conference in June. James (our
second son) came down to preach the conference for us, and he did a great
job. We had three churches participate
in our round-robin conference, and it was such a blessing to our people and to
the other churches. We had several of
our missionaries here who gave updates, and we enjoyed spending time with them.
The week after the
conference, we had a wonderful visit from one of our supporting churches–Berean
Baptist Church from Raleigh, NC. What a
blessing they were! Their youth group led
by their Youth Pastor Philip Rabon came down and did a work project installing
hashtag-shaped pavers (#) to add parking next to the street that grass can grow
through and help to beautify the area.
Our neighbors really like it as well.
Three preacher boys who came with the group were able to preach here at
Efata and at some of our satellite churches around Lima. Their team also joined our young people to help
at another church with a small work project and go soul winning. Several people
were saved. We are very thankful for
the blessing they were.
We have had the joy
of both deaf and hearing following the Lord in baptism recently in our
services. Please pray for them to grow
and for more fruit.
As I write, Lima is hosting
the Pan-American Games. We are thrilled
to be hosting a large group of soul-winners, who have come down from four
different churches. Fargo Baptist in ND,
Victory Baptist in Wichita Falls, TX, Lehigh Valley Baptist Church in Emmaus,
PA and Metropolitan Baptist Church in Bloomington, MN–26 people in all. They, along with members of Efata Baptist Church,
have already distributed about 250,000 gospel tracts of the 300,000 we have,
and they still have several days left. What a great blessing. We have already received
phone calls and inquiries from the tract distribution.
If you are following
our issues with the municipality regarding the tax issues, it is still no closer
to a resolution. We are still waiting
for our appeal before we can further address this with the city. Please pray as
we work on this and investigate every available avenue to solve this issue.
The mission plant in
Chancay now has a permanent missionary! Our missionary Henry Vasquez has taken up
the mantle and has moved to Chancay to minister full time at that location.
Please pray for him and his wife Mirian, especially for her health as she has
some chronic heart issues. If any of you
who have been faithful supporters and friends would like to help them
financially for this church plant, I know it would be a real blessing. They do not have a great deal of support, and
now on top of their regular needs, they have extra ministry expenses and living
costs of rent, utilities, etc. that they are facing. If you would like to help
them on a monthly basis for any amount, just designate that to Henry Vasquez
when you send in your support and every dollar that you designate to them and
the Chancay project will go directly to them.
Family News
All is well on the
family home front. The kids enjoyed
celebrating their Peruvian Independence Day on the 28th of
July. Both Jessica and Jennifer wore
beautiful red and white dresses, the colors of the Peruvian flag. My youngest is getting older! We celebrated Jennifer’s 9th
birthday on the 22nd. Thank you to those who send notes and cards on our
special days. It is an encouragement.
Jared and Judson are
well, serving in their respective Services and churches. Judson’s Pastor, a dear friend of mine whom I
mentioned in my last prayer letter, Ray Warren, went home to be with the Lord.
Please pray for his family and his church, Liberty Baptist Church in Holly
Springs, NC. I will greatly miss this choice servant of God, but I look forward
to seeing him again in Glory! He loved Peru and ministered here on many
occasions.
Please keep Joseph, Zulema
and their two little ones, J.J. and Esther, in your prayers while they are on
furlough, asking that God would continue
to supply their needs and give them just the meetings that He would have for
them to be able to raise the needed support. Pray that God would use them as
they travel.
Also please pray for
James and Ann and little Elsie that God would supply their every need and
encourage them as they are also on deputation.
Pray that God will use them as well and lead them as they go. We’re missing the grandkids!
Once again, thank you
for your prayers, support and care for us as we plant churches, train deaf and
hearing, care for orphans and widows and see people saved and baptized here in
Peru and beyond.
As we serve together
here in Peru as your faithful partners in the Lord, busy about the Master’s
business, we know that one day we will be with our Savior and rejoice in His
presence with those who came to know Him. It is wonderful to see people’s
understanding opened and their eyes alight with joy to know Christ. We have
been blessed by many different opportunities this summer.
Ministry News
The new school year
has started for the Deaf children, and it is good to see them back again along
with some new students God sent our way.
Two of the Deaf boys who grew up here and lived here as orphans were reunited with their family. They graduated from the school, and a few months ago their brother came to visit them. From there, we were able to get in touch with their mom. She lives several hours from Lima in a rural community.
The judge turned custody over to her, and with the help of an organization, we were able to purchase several Guinea pigs for them to raise and sell as a business. We are thrilled that after all these years they were able to reconnect with their family. Both boys were saved and baptized during their years with us.
I am currently teaching
our Bible Institute which I enjoy immensely.
We have twenty students from our church enrolled. Our Bible College started a bit late due to a
reorganization, but it is going well with seven hearing students and one
Deaf. Two young men in the seminary have
surrendered to preach to the Deaf and we are excited for them. Please pray that they will stay focused and
dedicated during these years of preparation.
Please pray for the
Montufar family; we were able to lead them to the Lord and have begun marriage
counseling and discipleship with them. Brother
Montufar is a retired police colonel.
One of his sons, who is a police helicopter pilot, also received Christ with
his wife in our annex ministry in Pucallpa, a jungle city. They have been
faithful to services as his work schedule allows. We are praying for his other son who also is
a pilot with the police here in Lima. This family has a burden for their friends,
and invited others over who we were also able to lead to the Lord. We praise
the Lord for these opportunities.
On Mother’s Day we
had over 120 come for a banquet, and many ladies came for the first time and
heard the Gospel. Many deaf ladies as well as hearing were presented with God’s
precious Word.
On the 19th
we had a wonderful anniversary service. We were able to see five people
baptized and just had a sweet time of fellowship with the church family.
We are still working
on the issue with the municipality and the tax situation. There really has been no movement on that
front as we wait for the appeal process to move. We are praying that through the current laws
and our situation, we will see some relief.
Family News
Joseph and James and
their families are currently on deputation/furlough to raise their support to
come back to Peru. We praise God for
providing for their vehicle needs. Please
pray that God will provide for their daily needs and especially meetings to
present their ministry. I know they
would love to hear from you. Contact info: Joseph & Zulema Kotvas –
904-335-8563, joseph.kotvas@gmail.com; James & Ann Kotvas – 303-718-2801,
jameskotvas@gmail.com.
Jared is doing well
in the Air Force, and Judson is currently deployed overseas in the Marine
Corps. He is also doing well. Please
pray for his Pastor, Dr. Ray Warren from Liberty Baptist Church in Holly
Springs, NC. for the Lord to intercede for his health. He is a good friend of ours.
The children at home
are doing well. Joy is attending the
Bible institute as well as starting her last year of high school. John, Joel,
Jessica and Jennifer are doing well in school and at home. We enjoy having both
Joy and John interpret. It is hard to
believe that our youngest will be nine in July.
Lisa and I were able with points and a voucher to fly
to the States in April for a few days to visit our new grandson, Nathaniel
Miller. He is so precious! Julianne and
Frank have now given us four grandchildren. We were also able to see Judson
before he deployed and catch a dinner with Jared and Joseph and family. What a
blessing!
We are so thankful
for modern means of communication to keep up with our seven grandchildren and five
adult children as they are all so far away now.
As always, thank you
so much for your prayers, support and care for us as we plant churches, train
deaf and hearing, care for orphans and widows and see people saved and baptized
here in Peru.
Blessings,
Bro. Joe & Lisa Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
These
past couple of months have been very busy here at Efata and for our ministry
overall. During these months the Lord has put it upon my heart to preach and
encourage our church in personal revival.
As the verse above clearly shows, God will respond if we turn from our
own ways and seek Him.
Ministry News
We
can see God moving within our youth group.
During camp there were several teens who dedicated or rededicated their
lives to Christ. Two young men surrender
to preach and be involved with the Deaf full-time during a tremendous youth
conference at a sister church here in Lima.
You can see changes in attitudes and actions.
In addition, there have been several salvations during the soul winning time and open-air preaching, many baptisms, and a series of baby dedications that have taken place these couple of months.
The new structure
School just started back March 4th and we have been in a construction project for the past two months adding a new multi-purpose area for the school and church on the second story over our cafeteria. I have clearly demonstrated that I am not a professional drywall hanger, but I have enjoyed working alongside our men during this time.
We
currently still have an appeal in to be exonerated from municipality
taxes. We were exonerated from property
tax, but the municipal service tax is still pending. We are talking a tax in excess of
$7000.00. (Understand this tax used to
be less than $5.00 a year for us, then the municipality decided to reevaluate everything,
and this is the result of back tax hikes back to 2012 from which by law we
should be exonerated from paying.)
Family News:
Joseph
has been working as our Pastor to the Deaf for almost four years. He is now on furlough/deputation with his
family to raise much needed support. He
had very minimal support when he came down to get married and could not return
to finish raising his support until now.
Please pray for him that he will be able to raise his support quickly
and return to the field.
James
and Ann have completed a six-month term of field prep with us and are now on deputation
to raise their support as well. They
just had a baby, Elsie Joy, and we are thrilled for this addition to our
family.
IF you would like to have either Joseph or James in for a meeting, here are their phone numbers and e-mails. You may contact them to schedule them in. I know they would love to hear from you.
Lisa
was able to go the States for a couple of weeks to help our daughter Julianne
and her husband Frank with the birth of our 7th grandchild.
Thank
you all once again for your care for us and the ministry in which God has given
us the privilege of serving Him. We hope to hear from you soon and look forward
to scheduling visits with you as the Lord allows.
Blessings to all,
Joe & Lisa Kotvas Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
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.
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
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 & Lisa. Children: Joy, John, Joel, Jessica, Jennifer
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.