Gracias for this GRACE!
Skateboarding, dancing, and sharing the love of Jesus at school assemblies. Hosting a missions conference that connected and encouraged over 400 people from South America and all over the world. “Invading” a jungle city with eighty people, to make some noise and help our friends plant a Bible-teaching, grace filled church in an area full of apostasy and loosely practiced religious traditions.
Those are a few things we’ve been graced with doing since we’ve written you last! The end of September and all of October were eventful to say the least. Please enjoy photos and captions of some highlights.
Racquell, Amalia, and I are grateful for your prayers and partnership in this work in Peru. On a personal level, I feel very humbled to be part of this work. Paul said of himself and his ministry, “To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ…” (Ephesians 3:8 NKJV). I resonate with Paul on this, it is truly a GRACE that God has given us to be His ambassadors and specifically to be used in these capacities in South America.
Below are some pictures of our time in Moyobamba. It took a 19 hour bus ride and some motion sickness medicine to get us there.
For many South Americans, Jesus was “a good man.” Others will even acknowledge His death on the cross as payment for their sin. But many, when I ask them, do not know where they are going when they die. Or they believe they will be in heaven because their “good outweighs their bad,” essentially. The name of Jesus is known, but He is often believed to be only an option, or a piece of salvation. He is even known as “Savior,” to some, but not as “Lord” to most. Our family, then, gets to represent to others what it means to follow Jesus, to be His disciples, and to know and walk with Him. It is a joy to share the love of Jesus here.
It’s our prayer that souls be saved and strengthened through the fellowship of our local church, Calvary Trujillo. And that leaders be trained, discipled, and sent out of CBI Peru—planting Bible-teaching churches all over South America and beyond. In just these past four short months living in Trujillo, we have gotten to see some of that. We have not been alone. Thank you for praying with us and for us, for encouraging us in the ministry God has graced us with, for supporting us financially, and also for those who have come and helped us.
Our prayer for YOU, and those we serve in South America, is really what Paul prayed for the Ephesians. We encourage you to read and pray Ephesians 3:14-21 with us, that the love of God in Christ would be KNOWN and STRENGTHEN MANY.
Here are some specific ways to pray for us:
- Divine appointments as we connect with locals here in Trujillo.
- Wisdom as we house hunt for a new place to live. We’ve been sharing a house with two other couples for a few months, but need to find a new place by January. Our prayer is to rent or buy a home or apartment with enough space for our family, and another married couple.
- Continued financial provision as we prepare for things like appliances and a car.
- Boldness and courage to press on.
- Wisdom as Racquell and I learn how to be parents of a one-year old, living in Peru.
We love you all so much and thank you for partnering with us. Through your prayers and generous financial support, you have made this ministry possible for us, and we want to let you know that this is the fruit of your labor as well. If the Lord leads you to partner with us financially, or increase your already generous support, you can do so by clicking on the financial button below or mailing your support check to:
Saving Grace World Missions
17451 Bastanchury Rd., Ste.203
Yorba Linda, CA 62886
*Note “Stratton” in memo*
To check out the ministry we are serving with, please click the link below or find us on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube:
By the grace of Jesus and for His glory,
The Stratton Family
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