Friday, 5 September 2008
Dear Precious Friends and Family,
As we end out time here in Trinidad, we are sad to leave our friends but excited to return home to you!
This week we realized that the water tanks were nearly empty and Steve and Pastor Gosyne have placed many calls to have water restored but to no avail. The McGee family may return home to empty pipes and empty water tanks! Please pray for “running water” not just water delivery.
Steve completed his teaching on the book of “Romans” at the Bible College/Seminary last weekend and had the opportunity to spend some extra time with his students both at the house and some at the Bible College/Seminary. Several of them came to me and shared that he was a great teacher, they enjoyed his teaching and they learned a lot. This was a condensed course. The students went through the entire book of Romans in 3 weekends! They read the book (in at least two bible versions), answered written questions, read classical commentaries, exegeted verses, gave oral presentations, wrote a 10-page essay, and took an impromptu final exam. A lot to cover in a short period.
In teaching through the book of Acts for my Sunday School class of 9-12 year olds, I have given a memory verse for them to learn each week. They have been very eager to return each week to recite the verse even without reward! They have also learned the importance of personal devotions and feeling comfortable leading group prayer. One of my students, Shandel, even painted a picture for me!
Yesterday, we welcomed an MTW Missionary couple, Pastor Keith and his wife, Debbie who will be caring for the McGee home and dogs and ministry until their return in 10 days. Please pray for their peace and comfort in driving and finding their way around, in their ministry, and of course in obtaining water!
We have become very close to a student of Steve’s at the Bible College, a 44 yr old man named Ceasar, who comes from a background of addiction. As he tells people, he has no wife or children, car or home but he has all he needs in Jesus! He works making silver jewelry, lives with his cousin and family and is a great witness for the Lord here on the island. He feels called to ministry and we would ask that you pray for him as he continues his studies at the Bible College/Seminary and his mentoring relationship with Pastors Gosyne and McGee.
Last Monday night, Steve and I hosted the Ligonier Ministries Radio Program for Pastor McGee from 12MN-4 AM, for the last time. During each broadcast, this program receives 20-80 calls from listeners. Emmanual, a broadcaster there at Isaac Radio 98.1, shared with us that the station owner initially was very reluctant to put this program on the air (she wasn’t convinced it would attract listeners). But, the very first night they received 80 calls, and it is now their most popular program! People call to ask theological questions, to order broadcast material, or just to talk. The Gospel message is being carried through the air waves across Trinidad!
Please also pray for:
1) Pastor Gosyne’s wife, Denise, who has been battling severe asthma. Please pray for her healing and the physician’s wisdom as he adjusts or prescribes medication.
2) The Church, Covenant Reformed Evangelical Church must vacate their building Sept 30 and move to a new facility. Please pray for an increase in their financial supporters and construction mission teams to be able to help with the new building ASAP. This is a very poor church and they cannot support themselves. It has an incredible outreach with a huge impact on very poor areas including Carlsen Field.
3) Please also pray that God would call Missionaries to assist with the tasks of administration of their ministries, the Church, the Bible College/Seminary and Radio Ministry.
4) The children at Carlsen Field to have changed lives as a result of the ministry there. It is an area where violence is common, children raised in single parent addicted homes, very little food to eat and most times cannot score above 30% in their grade level testing! They now have a role model in Krystal, a High School student who has passed her school exams with very high scores. This is an example of a changed life through the ministry of Covenant Reformed Evangelical Church!
Thank-you so much for your support of our ministry in Trinidad! Steve will continue to write courses for the Bible College/Seminary through MINTS and we will return for him to teach there. The ministries of Covenant Reformed Evangelical Church are growing tremendously through the work of Pastors Gosyne and McGee. Please continue to pray that God would bless them and their families and ministries.
Thank-you so much for your encouraging letters and prayers!
We Love you and miss you all!
Karen and Steve
(Phil. 4:13)
