Misión Montana Vista

Tapscott’s monthly newsletter for December 2005 through February 2006

 

It’s been a mild winter here in the desert southwest. Most days begin with a jacket and end with the A/C running in the van. God has blessed us here and given us lots to do and think about. First I would like to thank y’all for praying for Sonia. She’s doing much better after her knee surgery (January 18). Basically, she had no bone holding her kneecap in place, so the doctor had to go in and set it where it belongs and pull the muscles around it to keep it there. She has been going to physical therapy (which she really enjoys), and was attending school last week until she slipped on some milk in the cafeteria and hurt herself. But she’s getting along well.

 

I was hoping to delay this newsletter until I had some better news, but it seems the devil is still working too hard for that. Last week Vero’s husband Pedro went to Wednesday Bible study, and I had a good talk with him afterward. He said he wanted to be baptized the next day after a Bible study, so I was obviously excited. However, Thursday turned out to be a peculiarly bad day (interesting how sly Satan can be, huh?) and he ended up rethinking everything. The Bible study scheduled for that evening became a counseling session, so I ask that you pray for Vero and Pedro. Pray that she can be an exemplary Christian for Pedro and that his heart will continue to open to the gospel message.

 

Things are going well for Marta and Pedro (yes, another Pedro!). She has been continuing to grow, and after many difficulties God has brought him to a point where he is willing to study with her and Kevin once a week! What an awesome God we serve! It is amazing how the most difficult of circumstances causes people to look up to God. One of the sisters in the church was able to help get him a job and Furr’s, so he is really looking favorably on the church. He had bad experiences in Mexico with priests who claimed to be followers of Christ but (as here) were found to be molesting children and doing other atrocities. We are praying that, although the love and acceptance of the body here draws him to Christ, ultimately it will be his desire to know the only true God that brings him to the Savior’s feet.

 

Our English classes are going relatively well. I now have one student who has yet to miss a class, and three others who come occasionally. Kevin seems to have a pretty good group of four regular attendees. We ask you to pray specifically for this work, as it is an excellent way to introduce people to the gospel (we have one our of English and 45 minutes of Bible). Another effort that is great for outreach is our Dispensa, or Food Hand-out. There are so many people that regularly go to this monthly activity, and they are also getting about 20 minutes or more of Bible. These two efforts are where we ask you to focus your prayers.

 

We are really trying to enhance our discipling efforts here by getting everyone involved in some work of the church. We would like to get everyone focused on evangelism, using their influence in family and friend circles to spread the gospel. They can reach so many more people than we ever dreamed! Join with us in praying for their continued growth in this area, and that we will never tire of spending as much time as possible mentoring the brothers and sisters here.

 

May God continue to rain down his blessings on you all, and we look forward to seeing you all again soon (we’d love to show you around El Paso—ask Ruby Jackson!)

 

In the name of the Most High God,

Lonnie, Romie, Vivianna, Sonia, and Talon Tapscott