Sondra's News Dec 2014

When I first started teaching the Christian Training Center classes in Spanish, I was really intimidated. Well actually, a better word would be "terrified". But I have found the class material to be so full of scripture references and incredible insight into God's plan and His desire for us that both myself and the students get wrapped up in the teaching, and the intimidation slips away. I have come to find that teaching and constantly going over the material along with helping others to 'get it', has brought me to a better personal understanding and a much greater appreciation for what God has done and continues to do for us. He wants relationship - He wants us! And when we finally start to walk with Him, and participate in that relationship, He then asks us to reach out to others because he wants relationship with them, too. He sent his Son into this world, so that "we (would) have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God ... One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. (He understands everything we go through). Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb 4:15,16) Jesus didn't have to come to earth and be "tempted in all things", much less crucified, yet He chose to do so. As I get older, I see Christmas come and go every year, and each year seems to whip by faster than the last. I pray that this Christmas, we can take the time to thank God, that He "so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.…" (John 3:16,17)

Merry Christmas!

Buenos Aires, Nicaragua

Annual Celebration

Panama

I spent time with Pastor Saul in Panama city. I taught from Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby as a seminar for his congregation. Since my visit there in June, he has rallied 5 other pastors to help him run the Christian Training Center. Rev C and I will be returning in January to teach General Discipleship I and help them get started with their first year of studies.

I stayed with my missionary friend Marta Mora, whom I have mentioned in previous newsletters. The Lord placed it on my heart to help her get on a plane and take her first plane ride. Marta has been faithful to go anywhere God calls her. She has spent hours and days on buses, she will hike through the mountains in the rain. She has gone from Costa Rica to Mexico by public transportation, and into the jungles of Panama on foot, but she's been limited to Central America because of her fear of flying. Since I knew from previous experience that she might absolutely refuse to get on the plane, I bought the plane tickets for the both of us to fly to David, praying hard that I was really hearing God, not just trying to avoid a 9 hour (miserable) bus ride. She not only got on the plane, but by the end of the ride she was looking out the window, and saying... "now God can call me to ALL the nations."

In David, Panama we stayed with Pastor Domingo and spent some time with his congregation and pastor friends. He is very interested in starting a Christian Training Center in David. We arranged for him and some of his key people to meet us in Panama City in January to help him get started.

Nicaragua

Cathedral Christiana started their Christian Training Center last year, and with this visit I found that they were into the 3rd class, Old Testament Survey and really enjoying the materials. Pastor Vladimir's vision is to raise up pastors from his congregation and send them to the interior of Nicaragua.

Evangelio Completo is a denomination of pastors in Nicaragua. They have 3 different sets of students going through the training program. I was able to spend time at the 3 different locations and teach for them. The exciting thing about this particular training center is that most of the students are pastors, some have been for years, and they are now receiving Biblical studies for the first time.

Merry Christmas!

It's been a year since I was desperately asking everyone to pray for my family. I honestly worried whether we would make it through this first year without Dylan. Thank you for praying. My sister's family seems to be doing better. They moved to Florida this month, and are excited about their new home, and Wendy is glad to be back in the Tampa Bay area where we grew up. My parents keep very busy with fun activities. My father bought a 'build it yourself airplane' that's growing bigger than the garage. They had a huge bash at their house for their 50th anniversary. My mother's sister moved from Texas to live down the road from them.

And so we continue to move forward with LIFE...

Thank you, Jesus!

Pastor Saul's Church