November 5, 2014
It’s too early! This one is corrected in the subject line for the correct year… the rest is the same.
Dear co-laborers in Jesus the Christ’s harvest field,
Greetings from “cold” and humid Pereira!
The rains have returned and as we move into autumn the temperatures have been going down, leading a lot of local people to complain of the “cold”. And indeed, 26* high sounds cold until you realize that’s in Centigrade and it is only 78.8* Fahrenheit.
October was a busy month for us. It was also a time of great blessings. We were able to “sneak away” for a working “vacation” for a couple of days in Medellin with Sheri’s parents, Mark and Barbara Stringer. The people in the church in Pereira stepped up to take care of the different activities and teaching and the place where Sheri works outside of the home had a short break for a national holiday so we were able to travel on Friday and return on Monday. Saturday, October 11, was Mark Stringer’s birthday so while he and I were at a local jail where he participates in ministry to the inmates, the ladies were preparing a special meal for him. It was a blessing to be able to share with the men there and I was given the privilege of preaching. Although I “wasn’t prepared” the Lord spoke through me to give them a message of hope of true freedom in Christ. Following the message we spent some time talking with the inmates and then we were served a special meal in celebration of Mark Stringer’s birthday. On Sunday I was invited to share with the church and we were blessed to be able to spend time with family before returning home to Pereira early on Monday.
The local ministerial alliance organized a “United Worship Service” for the cities of Dos Quebradas and Pereira as well as the surrounding area. After a long history of lack of cooperation between churches and ministers it was a blessing to see a couple thousand people from all kinds of congregations from a wide variety of denominations and doctrinal leanings gathered together to sing and praise God. We continue to pray and work towards unity amongst the disciples of Jesus the Christ here in this region and we praise God for this first manifestation of a new spirit amongst the church’s leaders here.
This year we have had several people begin attending Sunday services with us here in Pereira. Some of them come from different church backgrounds. Our usual procedure is to get to know them and see if we can “send them home”, but in many cases they are truly seeking a Bible oriented church. For this reason we’ve begun a “Basic Bible Doctrines” class on Tuesday evenings. We’re using materials furnished online by American Rehabilitation Ministries. The attendants are very happy with the opportunity to learn more about the Christian faith. In several cases they have been members of a certain church for many years – but have never been taught how to study the Bible! The leadership luncheons continue on Tuesdays as well. We’ll finish the current course of study with the leaders, the Good Lord willing, around the beginning of the end of year holiday season.
On the last Sunday in October the ladies cornered me and said “What are we going to do for Sheri’s birthday?” to which I answered “That’s a good question, what ARE YOU going to do?” So they got together, planned and organized and called me back with instructions to get her to the church on time, the manner how was left to me. So on November 1st (two days after her birthday) I found a good reason to get her to the church building on a Saturday night. One of the men was outside the unlocked but closed door, talking to a friend. As he was the one who was to clean and organize the place for Sunday’s gathering she suspected nothing. When I opened the door and she walked in, everyone yelled “¡Feliz cumpleaños!” (Happy birthday!) What a blessing to see the love of those to whom we are ministering here in Pereira.
Thank you. Thank you for making it possible for us to live and work here in Pereira. Thank you for lifting us up as we go about the different tasks before us, as we teach, counsel and prepare others for ministry. Your prayers and support are vital to the ongoing ministry here in Pereira. Someday we will stand before our Lord and He will show you what your love and compassion have done for eternity.
In Christ,
Paul and Sheri Moreland