March 26, 2010

Dear Prayer Warriors,

Greetings from the Amazon jungle of Peru. Except for the extreme heat and humidity, if you were sitting with me in my office, you might find it hard to believe that I am in the jungle. Iquitos is a city with a population of over 500,000, a bit of “cement jungle” set down in the midst of the green.

Praise the Lord with me for the well attended VBS at Divine Redeemer Baptist Church in February. The daily attendance averaged around 120, and 4-10 children from my neighborhood went with me everyday. The noise level was deafening at times, but they paid good attention during my story time. Please continue praying that the seeds of God’s Word sown in their hearts will bear fruit.

I was happy to escape the city to the “Hills of Zion” campgrounds for the youth retreat held the first week of March. Tessy and I were counselors for nine young women. The theme of the week was “Hard to Believe” and the emphasis was on examining our hearts to see if we are true believers, followers of Christ, and not just professing Christians whose lives don’t match our words. Only one girl in my room said she wasn’t a believer. Pray for Diana that she might be saved soon.

March 13 a group of us paid a visit to Mazan to share God’s Word with the Deaf there. Besides Pedro, two Deaf young people came from Mangua, Keyla and Edwin. We studied the lives and sacrifices of Cain and Abel. Lord willing, in April we will be visiting Gallito and Panguana to testify to the Deaf in those towns. These are day trips where we take a speedboat to the town in the morning and return to Iquitos in the afternoon. I have started teaching the Deaf in town, with 7 women and girls coming to my house for classes. Most of the guys who were studying are now in Chiclayo. Pray for Sosimo, Cedrick, Erick, and Luigi as they study their high school courses, and for Sosimo as he disciples the other three.

This past week classes began at the Bible institute. I am teaching History of Missions and Christian Evidences and preparing two courses for independent study, Daniel and Women’s Ministries. Please pray for wisdom in all this as I am being stretched beyond my “comfort zone.” Praise God for His comfort and grace, for His Spirit Who enables me to accomplish His will. My verse for 2010 is II Corinthians 9:8, and I am finding His power and grace are abundant in my life for every good work. Please pray for Pastor Acho as he leads and teaches in the institute this year. Pray for his health and for wisdom in all things pertaining to the ministry. He, too, is being stretched. Others who are being stretched are my co-workers, Rich and Dee Donaldson. Pray for God’s sustaining strength and wisdom for them, too. May our Lord receive the glory for what we can only accomplish through His work in our lives.

Thank you again for your ministry of prayer. May the Lord bless and keep you as you draw ever closer to Him. Keep looking up!

Your Sister in Christ,

Lynn L. Porter