Here's the beginning of the November newsletter from Leo and Meri Ruiz, pastors we support in Ecuador:
Greetings in the wonderful name of our Mighty Savior, Christ Jesus our Lord! Once again too much time has passed since we've sent out a news letter. I want to begin by thanking you for your continued prayers and notes/emails. What a blessing it is to have friends that care. Since our last letter we have received a few special offerings to help with ministry expenses - what an answer to prayer you have been - thank you so much for your generous giving and your continued faithfulness to obey the voice of the Lord.
Just to fill you in a little... we have been diligently trying to rent a certain cane house in the barrio for our ministry program with children and young people. However, it seems the owner is not that interested in renting to us. So the Lord is showing us other possibilities. We will check into renting other properties, as well as the possibility of purchasing a small lot to construct a cane building to be used as a church. Please pray that the Lord would open the right doors and that we will make the right contacts and that soon this situation will be resolved.
We are still searching for a location for the Manta Church. Now with the Christmas season full underway we are really hoping to have a place by the end of the year so we can celebrate the coming in of the New Year together with our small congregation - in "our church."
God is good and His mercy endures forever! Leo has been diligently working, preparing for the upcoming graduation of the Bible Seminaries. There are many pastors that have not completed the necessary education in order to continue with the "higher education" now required by the government. Leo has been holding intensive studies for these pastors (going to three different cities twice a month to teach). These pastors will also be graduating and then they will begin their "university studies" with those that are already studying in this program. Please pray for the Seminary Graduation taking place Saturday, December 12th at 10am (and the graduations in Machala, Quevedo, and the Peninsula during the following week).
Meri has found herself in an interesting situation. . . .
