July 8, 2008

Dear Prayer Warriors,

Thank you so much for your prayers. God has been at work and deserves all the glory.

Pastor George Arvi is much improved and will be released from the clinic to continue his treatment on an outpatient basis soon. Some stitches on his arm became infected and had to be cleansed and sewn again. Please pray for his continued healing. He has had a phenomenal testimony during this past month, and I have been in his hospital room when he is witnessing and counseling those who visit to encourage him. God is receiving the glory!

Right now the Bible institute is having a month-long break between semesters. The semester ended with a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Iquitos Baptist Bible Institute. Pastor Flauber served as master of ceremonies for the alumni dinner and other students and teachers pitched in to make that activity and the main celebration the next evening a success. Alumnus and former director, Jorge Espinoza, did a great job as keynote speaker. Thank you for praying for Pastor Flauber for comfort in his sorrow. His six children were able to come from Lima for their mother’s funeral, and he will spend this month’s break in Lima with them.

The mission team from Dayton, Ohio, created the highlight of the month for me. They ministered in several churches in Iquitos, in Nauta, and in a couple of towns not far from Nauta at the mouth of the Amazon River. I just enjoyed getting to know the members of the group as well as working with them. In Nauta, especially, we saw around twelve professions of faith among the children who attended the 3-day VBS and a couple of these gave testimony to their salvation during the closing exercises. Bible institute student, Nimia, had 25 children in her Bible class last Saturday in Nauta so let’s keep praying for fruit that endures.

Right now I am in Vista, California, having my annual cancer check-up. I am also preparing to teach the next semester at the institute. This time I will have two courses – the History of Missions (one hour on Mondays) and the History of Christianity (two hours on Wednesdays). Lord willing, I will be teaching Source of Light lessons to the deaf on Tuesday evenings and be able to interpret the chapel service for those who wish to stay. Many years ago I taught the History of Missions course, and there is another teacher, Rocio Valdivia, who is interested in teaching it with me this year. Another teacher, Ruth Ferrer, in interested in auditing the History of Christianity course this year. Pray I will be able to find a second copy of the Historia del Christianismo by Justo Gonzalez for the library. It is a two-volume work of over 1000 pages that I am trying to read through this month . . . interesting but very time-consuming!

Take care and keep looking up! It may be today . . . !

Your sister in Christ,
Lynn Porter