NTM

A trip to this area was postponed because the nights can get to -20º in the winter.  The summer months are a little warmer.

Who would imagine that a tropical country would have cold like Canada or Siberia.  At 13,000 feet above sea level when there is no sun it gets a bit nippy especially at night.

A survey trip is needed to the high plateau.  There are strong winds there most of the time.  The climate is very harsh.  The people we need to visit are very hardy people. 

We hope to find good contacts with natives that will help us gather accurate information for a survey report. 

From what we have already learned the people that live in that area keep to themselves.  The high plateau with strong winds and cold nights makes the life of the people living there not so easy, but they have lived and thrived for many many years. 

No nonsense would describe Carlitos.  He doesn’t like  needless sparkles and glitter. 

In the last 25 years he has taught most of the Angaite children how to read.  He is the director of the government school.  Although there are two other teachers also at the school, Carlitos teaches all the new students how to ready.
 After the children have been in his class for a few days the fact that he loves and cares for them is obvious.

God has moved mightily in his life and given Carlitos the gift of teaching.  The examples that he uses from everyday life make the truths of God’s word easy to understand and apply to the daily life of the Angaite people. 

One time he was trying to describe how people without Christ are lost and really spiritually dead.  He bent down and uprooted a small plant.  Holding it in his hand he looked at it and said "This plant looks alive, but it is really dead… it just hasn’t withered yet’.  People without Christ are like that ‘dead but look alive’. 

Pray that he will continue to be ‘God’s man’ in every area of life.  The pressures of village life can at times be over-whelming… pray that Carlitos will  have the wisdom from God to know how to handle each situation that he finds before him.

Once every 3 months the Angaite believers  have a special Sunday service – testimonies, singing, sharing Bible verses, special music and a short message.  March 18^th was the first one for 2007.   

            What a time of encouragement and fellowship it was for everyone.  It was so thrilling to see our very shy and quiet friend, Papi, have the courage to stand in front of everyone and quote 2 Bible verses. 

            Serjio, hasn’t been coming to any of the meetings the last 8 months.  He gave testimony saying, “As you know I’ve not been coming around for a while.  I really messed up.  I’ve asked the Lord to forgive me and I know He has and now I ask you to forgive me.  I’m glad to be back with you.”  Thank God for His mighty working in Serjio’s heart!

Several young people gave testimony saying they want to live for the Lord and asked that we pray for them. 

            Felix, a recently widowed father of 6 children (ages 2 to 16) shared some Scripture and thanked God for His comfort during this time of grief.

            The service lasted 4 hours but seemed like only one hour.  What a blessing it was to us to hear each person who shared in the service.  Through the everyday struggles of life God is again and again proving He is God almighty!

            After the meeting, they had the Angaite version of a potluck.  Those who could, brought rice or onions or gave some money to buy oil. Everyone brings their own plate and spoon.  Several ladies cooked the meal for us.  Everyone enjoyed a plateful of food and the treat of a glass of kool-aid.  After visiting a while longer, some went to play soccer and others to play volleyball.  The older folks watched and chatted.  We thank God for letting us be there for that special time of blessing.

            Keep praying for the Angaite believers.  They have struggles just like the rest of us, but they also desire to live their daily lives pleasing God and not being just hearers of God’s Word but doers of it.