¡Hola a todos! How are you? We hope that you and your family are thriving. There are some exiting things that happened this month in ministry!
Praise!
We love celebrating all the good that God is doing around us. Last weekend, Sofi, Chepe’s second niece and a member of our small group, was baptized! We’re so excited for her and honored that she asked Chepe to baptize her and for us to spend the day with her and her family to celebrate. Sofi made the important decision to declare her faith publicly, following the model given to us by Jesus Himself in Matthew 3. It was a great day in praise and hanging out at the beach with our small group. I always jump at the chance to have some fresh shrimp cocktail since we rarely have shellfish due to Chepe’s allergy. ¡Felicidades, Sofi!
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” | Matthew 3:13-17 (ESV)
Last week, we also celebrated Chepe’s 31st birthday! Thank you to everyone who sent their well wishes. We spent a lovely time with family and relaxing at home. I am grateful every day for God bringing Chepe into my life and for His provision and abundant blessings.
More Ministry Updates
Beginning this weekend, Iglesia Gran Comisión in San Salvador and Soyapango will again be hosting church in-person every Sunday! We will continue serving the San Salvador church that for now, will continue meeting at the CDI in the Volcano. We are praying as a church that God would open doors for us to find a location in the city very soon, making it more accessible to all church members. Will you pray for us to find the right location soon at an accessible price? Chepe will continue to lead production and scheduling volunteer teams, and I will serve in multimedia.
The CDIs continue providing food packages for 150 families while we come closer to defining the plan to open our doors to hosting children. The government has allowed schools to open this month in a hybrid capacity, and we are working to determine what adjustments we need to make at our CDIs to receive the approval to open as well! Please pray for guidance and wisdom for the CDIs in this process. We miss our kids!
In El Salvador, the rate of COVID-19 cases has been steady and fairly low (about 150 new cases per day) for several months and the government has received enough vaccines that all front line workers, teachers, those suffering from chronic illness or anyone over 55 is eligible to be vaccinated. We are grateful for this, especially considering that some of El Salvador’s neighbors are experiencing new waves of infections and facing lockdown again. We are trusting in God’s timing for the church and the CDIs and hopeful that we will experience some more “normalcy” very soon.
GRACIAS for all of your love, prayers and support. We thank God daily for you and pray for you often.
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