Some of you may remember that a few months ago I shared the story of this lady in Mexico who our friends, the Clarks (missionaries there) led to the Lord in July. (Story here.) Below is an encouraging report I wanted to pass on of how Maria is growing in the Lord.
Dear Grace,
…We have been encouraged, and grateful to the Lord to find that, with each visit to her, she seems to be expressing that she really understands, and is trusting in Jesus. We gave her a CD player and a CD with much of the NT on it, as well as 5 stories from the Unshackled radio program in Spanish.
When Ted went by to see her on Sunday afternoon, he said that as he was walking up the little mud path leading to her house, he could hear the sound of a stereo system, and sure enough, she was sitting beside the CD player, with her head tilted, listening to the CD. She told him that she puts it on first thing in the morning when she wakes up, and listens to it until she goes to bed at night!
She reaffirmed her serious doubts about the JW’s, and also mentioned that since that first day Ted visited her and she prayed, she has had a newfound peace and joy. She said she did not feel this before, but she only kept praying every day that the Lord would send her someone to tell her what was the truth!
Ted says that it is amazing how sharp her mind is, and how she is thinking and considering things; knowing she is illiterate, and appears so old and shriveled, you almost wouldn’t expect that.
Well, we thought you would like to know, and also, please thank others you know who have been praying for her.
I received that report in August (about a month after she was saved) and yesterday I learned more encouraging news:
“A month or so ago, she [Maria] became distressed when her sister borrowed her New Testament CD for a few days. She felt she couldn’t live without it! When visiting with her, we will sometimes begin to relate to her a story from the New Testament about Jesus, and she will often cut right in and say, “Oh yes, I know that story”, and will go on to tell it in detail! This is a woman who had probably never heard any part of the Bible before in her life! But she has many of these stories in her heart now.”
Praise the Lord for His graciousness in the way He works in the hearts of people, giving them a love for Him and His Word!
One week from today my parents, Sarah and I along with Nickie and Bekah will be flying to Mexico to speak at a family camp that the Clark family runs annually. The Clarks have been heading up the translation of quite a few of our resources, and our prayer is that these resources would be widely used and distributed. We’d appreciate prayer for safety for our team, for effective ministry in spite of the language barrier, and for the Lord to raise up a host of godly and ministry-minded families in Mexico.
“For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O LORD, You surround him with favor as with a shield.” Psalm 5:12
