03/04/03: Tribal Update: Hernan shares about missing us and our sudden absence from Tribal land

Hello Folks:

One of the main Tribal pastors, Hernan Delgado, sent an audio tape out a while back. Here is a small portion of what he said. It gives you a little bit of a peak into his heart.

"We don’t see you. We miss you badly, you who used to live among us. But even though you are gone, we still live. We are doing fine. God continues to watch over us. He is good. He is the great-watching- over-One. He watches over you there far away in a place we don’t know, and He watches over us here too. He is the true Helper. There is no other god that we look to, only to Him. But yes, we miss you. We remember you. It is sad when we walk past your house. It is a very sad place now. It used to be so full of visiting and brotherly togetherness. Yes, we miss your fellowship, your teaching, your counsel. But even though we are separated and so far apart, we live doing well knowing that we are connected to Christ, knowing that we are blood-bought ones, knowing that we have from-heaven life.

You are our people. We can't forget you. And when you used to live among us, you did much work in order to help us. When we still lived in darkness, under the rule of Satan, as blind ones, as those who lived as if their spirits were dead, you counseled us, we who were as dead ones, we who had no conscience. You taught us God's Word when we were still in this condition. Yes, when we were like those lost in the middle of a huge jungle, like those bound up with ropes, you taught us God's true words, the straight words. And you kept asking the true Father on our behalf to intervene and save us. This is the way you lived, working in our midst. We remember that. In order that we believe, in order that we become alert spiritually, you helped us. And now here we live believing the tasty words of God's message. And now, because of what Jesus has done for us, all our sins are paid for in full. Yes, Jesus did much to intercede for us. And we are those who are now baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, in the name of the Father. The true Creator did exceedingly good things for us in order to bring us out of the darkness and into the light. He is surpassingly good.

The sent one Paul lived remembering the people in Ephesus and those of other places where he had been. He continued to pray for them and write them words and visit them sometimes. And yes, you over there are probably thinking about us too over here. You are probably thinking about us as if we were your children. For yes, we heard the truth from you. We heard the straight words from your mouth. And so you are as a father to us. You were like a true father living in our midst. You brought us the words that give eternal life. Therefore I say all these things to you. So don't forget us. Remember us, ask God on our behalf.

I still live. And my kids and wife, they still live too. Our brothers-in-law, our uncle, the others, they still live. And my truly little one, my youngest is walking now. And my mom is sick. She isn’t doing well. Her strength is gone. She can hardly walk. Not good. Only with a stick is she able to move along now. She is truly old, the one who bore me. And I know she could soon die. But even as death comes, I trust only our Father. He is the giver of life and the taker of life. I continue to trust him, in the midst of death. But you know, I will be truly sad and lonesome when she dies. I will weep long. She bore me.

Therefore I ask you to pray for me without ceasing. Pray that I will believe strongly, that I teach the believers well. That he would give me great teaching ability. So ask God on my behalf each time you think of me. And if you were here, sure you would teach them. But now it is through our mouths that the true Spirit works. Pray that the true Spirit guides me to teach and counsel my people well. I tell you this because we are of one family and one in Christ. Pray that I will think the very thoughts of Jesus. And like Timothy, who didn’t just think about his own things but was always wanting to think about others to help them. Like that I want to think. This is the way I want to help the believers here think. Ask God on our behalf. Pray that I will be like a fully mature adult in my spirit, like one who is totally developed spiritually."

Prayer Requests:

-for the continued growth and development of the Tribal pastors in the two churches

-for many more good Tribal readers

-that the men and women in the churches will continue to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ

-for translation as we work through the book of Acts

-for our time of discipleship with a number of the Tribal leaders and their families. On March 21 - April 25, we plan to meet at a safe location far away from Tribal land with these dear folks to just encourage and teach and disciple them. We will be living right with them so it will be a good time of just hanging out and doing life together. We are looking forward to seeing them very much and trust there is enough fuel to get there! Right now there is no aviation fuel and very little gasoline around here. Pray much that this time works out and that they will really grow in the Lord and grow in their leadership responsibilities. Pray for much wisdom for us too as we work with them. (without a doubt, Teresa and I will receive a much bigger blessing from this time than they will)

-for our Latino co-workers, who are out with the Tribal right now. Pray for Jacinto and Ruby Porrello, that they will make good progress on the Tribal language. Pray too for Jose and Elia Ruiz, that they will have real wisdom and diligence to guide and encourage the Tribal believers

-for continued freedom to minister here in the country. Politically the country is in upheaval. Pray for those in leadership and for God's solution. There is much strife at this point between the government supporters and the opposition.

-praise for 75 pages of Titus lesson material that was recently completed. Hope to get those checked and printed up and handed over to the Tribal shortly

Thanks again for your encouragement and love and support.

Enjoying the adventure in Him,

Merrill and Teresa