I hope this missions report finds you all growing in the joy of our faith in Christ. Every time I pause to write these reports and reflect on all that has happened each month, the weight of glory upon my heart increases. All the sinful things we are face with, and even the things that are permissible, yet earthly, are seen to be vain and lose their appeal as we come to know the One by whom and for whom we were created. Oh! Soon, the desire of our heart to be united with Christ in fullness will become a reality, eternal and ever satisfying.

This month, my wife and I have both been greatly impacted by the reminder of the importance of love through I Corinthians 13:1-8. The Lord has spoken directly to our hearts and has given us discernment in being able to see where our lives fall short of such a love. Really we can say that all that God requires from us is love (Galatians 6:2). The evidence that we are growing in faith and holiness is that we are growing in love (Galatians 5:6). In one sense, we can even say that our only problem and the cause of all our misery and unhappiness is a lack of love. At the same time, the measure of our joy is equivalent to the measure of our love. All the virtues that we so desperately need are found in the gift of love; a gift that all believers have been given, but one that must be permanently and intentionally cultivated.

The Lord has also graciously brought a new person to our church in whom He seems to be doing a sanctifying work. As with many of the members of our church, this man is among those who once were deceived and lost in the midst of the massive apostasy within our country, and yet have been suddenly snatched out of the deadly waves of such heresies and overwhelmed by the power of the Gospel. The Lord has granted us the blessing of seeing yet another fruit of the work He’s doing through the prayers of the saints! It seems the Lord is continuing to make clear to us that one of the major fields into which we’ve been called to labor is among the masses of false converts.

One other thing that I’d like to mention, that seems like a small thing, but has resulted in a blessing, is that the apartment we are living in has had an insect infestation. It’s been seven days now since we began trying to exterminate the “plague”, but until now we have not been successful. The blessing has been the way the Lord has taught me even through this small trial. We know that the providence of God always works to teach and grow us, and that is what this trial has done for us. In the midst of the nuisance of the “plague” we have come to several resolutions. For example, the following two resolutions: “I will never complain about anything, whether great or small, bur rather I will recognize with joy that the sovereignty of God, in every detail of life, seeks my good.” And another: “I resolve to cultivate my ability to wonder and rejoice, both in the face of the daily ordinary grace God gives us, as well as before the most brilliant display of His unconditional love.”

To finish, I would like to ask you to pray for my co-pastor Esteban and me, as well as for our families, that we would be equipped to serve Grace Family Church conformed to the heart and truth of our Lord Jesus. Pray with me that every member of our church would progress toward greater eagerness in the work of the Kingdom of God.