SERGIO AND EVELIEN 4

Here are some up-dates on the work in Cuenca:

Olga is showing more and more interest in learning about the gospel. She attends services sometimes.

Sergio is keen to explore ways of using current problems and topics in order to relate the gospel to these and is looking for a "neutral" place to discuss such issues. Francisco Rivera is one who attended the conference on depression and has met with Sergio on different occasions.

Unemployment is a problem for some members in the Cuenca congregation. Pray that families may be provided for, and indeed that Sergio and Evelien may also see the Lord's provision for them as they seek the Lord's guidance on their lives.

The visits to the Old People's Home continues. One of the residents died recently, and Sergio is hopeful that she died in the Lord, trusting in Jesus as her Saviour.

Evelien continues teaching English (not her first language) to Spanish young people )Spanish not her first language either!). Please do pray for strength and wisdom for her, especially in dealing with difficult pupils.

Sergio is now preaching every Sunday. It is a difficult situation for him as he waits to see if the Lord is calling him to be the pastor of the congregation.

The couple are grateful to those who give and to those who pray. They would ask you to pray for God's continuing blessing on them, for the strengthening of their faith and that God would add to the Cuenca congregation such as should be saved.

Time to Post

I thought it was time to post something, so here are some photos that were taken a few weeks ago at our last psalm-singing recording session. Esther was trying out her new camera, and we are happy to have some pictures of our time together.

GRIDLOCK

Last night was the night that many people will never forget as Scotland's busiest motorways were at a standstill for many hours and people had to spend a night in their cars in sub-zero temperatures. Some spent the night in their office, in a bus station, and some children stayed overnight in their schools. Snow which kept falling for 71/2 hours began at the morning rush-hour. Now there is a severe problem of ice and the M8 is currently still closed as road-breaking machines try to break up the ice.

FEED THE BIRDS

Since moving to this house in December 2005, we have been trying to attract some birds to our garden in a housing area of new builds and low-maintainance gardens. These last 2 years we have been trying to help whatever birds come our way to survive. A robin, a dunnock and a blackbird pay us visits, and for 2 days we saw both a blue tit and a great tit, but we are sorry that we have not seen them for a couple of days.

"SNOW ON SNOW"

Scotland is in the grip of an early winter. We have been known to say when asked by friends abroad how the winters are in Scotland, "Oh well! Where WE live (in the Central Belt) the winters are not severe, WE don't usually get much snow....etc." After last year's winter, and now after what we have received so far this year, we are prepared to eat our words!

He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.
He giveth snow like wool:he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.
He casteth forth his ice like morsels:who can stand before his cold?
He sendeth out his word and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow...

Psalm 147: 16-18

SERGIO AND EVELEIN 3

Sergio and Evelien are encouraged by the Lord's blessing on their endeavors in Cuenca, Spain.

Olga sometimes comes to the bible-studies; so far, her husband has only come once. However, there was an opportunity to give a word of testimony when they had supper together recently.

The couple are really thankful to the Lord for the response to The Conference on "Depression, its Causes and and Cure" where 70 people attended. Pray that the literature handed out may be blessed to hearts and souls.

Meeting up with Uzo continues.

Weekly meetings with the priest also continues, but his heart seems to be hardening against the gospel.

The Old Peoples' Home also receives ongoing visits.

Costel still attends services. He needs stability in his life.

Evelien has begun her teaching job. The work is not easy for her. She also teaches in the Sunday School.

The couple are thankful that their daily expenses are being met. They ask for prayer in all the above, and also in their own lives and and ministry, that God will direct their paths. They also ask for prayer for the congregation in Cuenca, that God will encourage them and add to their number.

RIVERS

"Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream"

Isaiah 66:12

"He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."

John 7:38

"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb."

Revelation 22:1

PHOTOGRAPHER AT WORK IN THE ROCKIES

We had 2 very enjoyable days in the the Rockies just over the border in British Columbia

A MUSICAL AFTERNOON

Today we enjoyed a pleasant afternoon of chat and Scottish traditional music with our friends, Bill and Flora Stark

Come back soon! Bill and Flora!

VISIT FROM JONATHAN!

Jonathan has enjoyed a weekend away from home, staying with his friend Nathan in Linlithgow. On Saturday they met up with some friends from Edinburgh and Glasgow and walked along the nearby canal.

He has had some encouragements recently, such as receiving his Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award and being given a standing ovation for perseverance in his efforts to progress after his serious accident.

Please continue to pray for him as he continues his daily programme of exercising to improve the use of his limbs, and especially his left arm.