A Great Work
Thank you for taking a moment to read our newsletter. God is doing a great work here in South America, and we’re grateful to serve here and share with you some recent updates.
Amalia and some friends. The parking brake was on!
First, some news. We will be back in the United States for a brief trip starting this month, through May and most of June! We’re going on furlough to update churches, thank supporters, and visit family. We’re excited for our everyone to meet our daughter Petra — she will turn one year old in California!
Below are some pictures and updates from the ministry, and prayer requests.
One area Racquell and I serve in together is the children’s ministry here at Calvary Trujillo. Lately it has been packed. Thank God we have a good group of helpers. Wednesday night services and Sunday morning kids’ services have been overflowing. The church had to buy more chairs for our overflow room and move one kids’ class outside under EZ-up tents.
Youth group has been great too. Mario, Racquell’s brother, is leading the youth group now. Please pray for him and the other staff members here. There is a lot of growth and we want to love the sheep, and teach the word of God without fear or compromise.
Getting to teach from the Book of Matthew at youth group.
Youth leaders. The group is called Doce Dos, taken from Romans 12:2.
The Bible college semester is in full swing, as well as the Church’s new Pre-Kinder program. Our favorite little student, Amalia, is doing great. She is speaking so much Spanish now, and comes home excited to share about what she’s learned and about her friends.
This Valentine’s Day, Racquell coordinated and decorated with a ton of help for our “Cena de Parejas” (Couples’ Dinner). It’s a free event to bless the couples of the church, and reach new folks also. Friends on a mission trip from Idaho taught and shared testimonies. People came up to receive prayer for their marriages afterwards, and it was a beautiful night.
Bible study and testimonies at the Couples Dinner.
The next day, I traveled to Mendoza, Argentina. I was there with a church work crew from Washington state for two weeks, and I’m thankful for God’s provision for my stay and flights. It was a challenging but rewarding trip.
The plan is to plant a brand new Bible college there in Mendoza, with a vision similar to CBI Peru - to train, raise up, and send out pastors, missionaries, and servants to reach South America and beyond with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We’re hopeful and expectant for the work ahead.
My friend from Washington adjusting plumbing fittings with the help of a puppy “Negra.” We ran over 400 feet of new water supply line.
New security lights to deter thieves from breaking into the campus.
We had 2 great weeks in Argentina working in the sun, digging ditches, installing new plumbing & electrical supplies and fixtures, and fellowshipping with the church “Calvary La Vid [The Vine]”. The brothers from La Vid worked so hard, cooked great food, and helped in every way they could. It’s a true joy to work alongside them and we pray for great things in the future.
Translating for Pastor Sean when he taught on Sunday at La Vid in Mendoza.
With all this, we feel so privileged. Privileged to be God’s kids, and privileged to serve as full time missionaries here. We’ve seen lives changed by Jesus and have hope for so much more. Nonetheless, there are things that the enemy would use to distract us from this great work. The word of God is what keeps us focused and fired up.
Here’s how Nehemiah responded when enemies tried to trouble him from building the wall to protect Jerusalem:
“…Sanballat and Geshem [enemies of God’s people] sent to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they thought to do me harm. So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” (Nehemiah 6:2-3)
Not that we are great. But this is a great work, and we serve a great God. In the face of spiritual attacks or discouragment, we keep moving forward in the work of the One who loved us, gave Himself for us, and commissioned us.
A free Family Fair event in Huanchaco leading up to Easter. We pray God’s word would take root and change lives, and that folks would get plugged in to church, too.
Amalia was so excited to win this prize.
We’re looking forward to our furlough, but also to coming back in June and continuing. With everything going on here, there’s much more we could share. We pray that you’re encouraged in your own life in Jesus to be busy in His work and remain focused in it.
We will be flying to Missouri this month to join our leaders at speaking events. From there we will mostly be in California, with other short trips until we head back to Peru at the end of June! If you’re in California and know of a vehicle we can rent or borrow for any of that time, feel free to reach out.
Some praise reports:
God is doing amazing things in our church
Work at CBI Argentina has begun
Amalia is learning Spanish
Prayer requests:
Discipleship connections with youth and families
That the church (and we too) would grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus
For continued provision for flights and other travel costs
Thank you for taking time to read and pray for us. Thank you also to those who support or have supported us in any way for the sake of the gospel work here in South America. This is fruit of your labor as well.
If you would like to support financially, a current need our family has is travel costs. By the grace of God we have some of our flights and details taken care of, but could still use help in that way. You can do so by clicking on the “Give” button, or reach out if you would prefer to give by mail.
By the grace of Jesus and for His glory,
The Stratton Family
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