THE FLETCHERS 1

 Meet Bob and Betty Fletcher, from New York State who visited us recently.

Also visiting are the Fletchers' daughter, and her husband, Brenda and Garry.

 

Yes, eating together is a wonderful occasion

Meet Angus our new gift for the garden

SERGE AND EVELIEN

Serge continues to make full use of different ways of building up relationships and witnessing to the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

At the Book Club that he has been attending throughout the year he gave a talk on "Why I am a Christian, in spite of Christianity". There was an hour afterwards for questions and answers. Some people showed interest and indicated that they would like to speak to him in private.  Please pray for those who listened.

Costel has been welcomed as a member of the congregation, and shows evidence of his growth as a Christian. Please pray for him, his wife and daughter.

Remember also the preaching in the parks during the Summer .  Now and again people will approach and ask questions. Last year there was a Seventh Day Adventist who showed interests in the message. Now, one year later, he has been twice to Church and it seems that the Lord is working in his heart.

Serge is still in touch with the Jehovah's Witness. He has read 2 books that were lent to him, and it looks as if his heart is being touched little by little. The last book to be given him was "Grace abundant" by C. H. Spurgeon.

The Romanians, Claudio and Christina are going through a difficult time because of the economic situation. Claudio has now been unemployed for 2 years and the couple are considering returning to Romania.

Kike, Oscar's brother and a backslidden Christian has suffered a heart attack. Please pray for his physical and spiritual health.

Pedro has health problems, and has been undergoing intensive rehabilitation in Guadalajera. This has resulted in improvement in attention span, reasoning, and memory. Please give thanks for his recovery thus far, and for his further time of treatment.

Please join Serge and Evelien in their prayers for Dolores, who made a profession of faith a long time ago and stopped attending services years ago, but turned up recently at an evening service.

Agustin's brother, Antonio has personal problems. Ask that he may search of God in his difficulties.

Serge has signed up as a volunteer with an organisation that supports blind and partially blind people in Spain, and  is also in the process of being accepted as a volunteer for the Red Cross. Please pray for opportunities to share his faith.  Pray also for Manlo, another volunteer worker who has visited the church on various occasions.

It has been nice for Evelien to have met the one Dutchman who lives in Cuenca! There has been no opportunity for her to speak her native language in Spain until now. The couple have invited him and some friends for supper. Pray for a friendship to be established and a witness to the Lord to be seen and heard.

Serge and Evelien would like to thank those who pray and give to the work in Cuenca and that together we may be strengthened in the Lord. May He "add to the church daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47 

WELCOME, ETHAN!

Here is the youngest member of our congregation, born 9th July  2012.

ALL-AGE HOLIDAY

The All-Age Holiday is just that, a lovely mixture of old and young. It is held in a lovely building belonging to the Boys' Brigade, which is a Christian-based organization.

 Despite all the rain there are lots of activities to keep everyone occupied. There are special times of worship morning and evening, and meals are an important time of their time together.

A boy likes a stick! (And he needs his wellies!)

May God bless all young people who attend Christian camps wherever they are held this Summer

BIRTHDAY

Guess who had a (big) birthday, and walked into a restaurant unsuspecting to find her family waiting there! She wondered why these people were taking photos!

 

Back in our home my 3 brothers and their wives with daughter Joy at the back.

WOE IS ME

After our visit to Bedford we made our way to friends of ours near Ipswich and "camped" on their drive. They welcomed us with their accustomed warm hospitality, and we were able to worship with them in  Walsham-le-Willows on the Lord's Day

They took us to see an old church in Helmingham, Suffolk.

The list of Rectors dates from 1307 and one name especially was of interest to us: John Charles Ryle, who was in this church from 1844 -1861.

Ryle was one of the leaders in the Evangelical Wing of the Anglican Church in the 2nd half of the 19th century. He disapproved of much of the ritual in the Church of England worship. He had every conceivable space of the walls of this church covered in Biblical texts.

The test above the pulpit is especially solemn; a continual reminder to himself and any other preacher to preach the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and nothing else.

Ryle became Bishop of Liverpool. He has left tracts, books and written sermons, many dealing with relevant issues of the time and all direct and challenging.

BEDFORD

Recently, on our way South to a wedding, we stayed overnight in our camper van just outside the town of Bedford. Next morning we visited the handsome Bunyan Meeting Free Church, built in 1850, replacing an older one built in 1707. Before that, in 1672 stood an old barn in an orchard, which was bought and converted into the first meeting place of Bunyan and his congregation.

The inside is beautiful. On 2 sides of the church, there are stained glass windows illustrating scenes from Bunyan's celebrated book, Pilgrim's Progress.

Beside the Meeting House there is a very interesting museum, depicting the life and times of this man, whose book, Pilgrim's Progress has been translated into 200 languages.

In the town on a corner of St. Peter's Green there is a statue which was erected in his honour in  1874.

John Bunyan (1628-1688) was born into a poor family. As a child and young man he was unruly. Swearing, cursing and lying became second nature to him.  However, after he became a Christian there was a radical change in him. He became a preacher and author, and in those times when those who wished to uphold the teaching of the Bible in all matters of worship and way of life, he was imprisoned for his stand. He used his time of deprivation in prison to do some of his best and most influential writing.

A QUIETER BIRTHDAY

After the excitement of last year this year's birthday was a quiet event. But what better than to share it with someone you love?

JANUARY PICNIC

How is this for a lovely picnic site in the middle of January?
Cup-a-soup with rolls with pate and chutney. Mmmmmmmm

SERGE, EVELIEN AND SINA!

A new co-worker! She is called Sina. She is about 5 months old , and when she is being taken for a walk, nearly everyone wants to speak to her!! An opportunity for Sergio to chat with many different people. In fact, Serge keeps looking for doors opening so that he may be able to share the Good News of the Gospel.

His latest venture is joining a Novel Readers' Club! About 20 people go and they read, then discuss a novel. Serge has given the leader a novel that he himself has written, about a young man searching for his identity, and who is finally converted through reading the Bible. Please pray that the Lord may use this opening.

Serge has paid a return visit to a man who initially was very prejudiced against him. His wife has been confined to bed for many years. The man's attitude has changed and on this occasion Serge was able to pray with them. "This cannot be paid for with anything," they said.

A widow lady, a contact from their times preaching in the park, has given her address in order that she may receive a visit.

Don Dimas, who watched the film on Martin Luther still has issues to work through. Please pray that he may see Jesus Christ as the only mediator between God and man.

Soon Serge and the Jehovah Witness will discuss a book that Serge gave him about the false teaching that he hears. May his eyes be opened.

Uzo has put off being baptised because of some personal doubts. He still attends services.

Claudio is still without employment but is attending a course which hopefully may help him in that respect.

There are things to thank the Lord for: Lucia is now a church member, Olga has gone to Poland to finish her studies. She has been recommended a church there and continues to show spiritual growth.

Serge and Evelien testify to the Lord's provision for their needs, both spiritual and material. They continue to ask those who pray that the work in their church in Cuenca, Spain, may be blessed by the Lord, and that "He might add to the church daily such as should be saved".