Tuesday, August 11, 2015

July update!

Dear Friends and Family,
Judah Nathanael
We are so thankful to those who were praying for us during the birth of our fourth child and the days that followed.  Judah Nathanael was born by C-section on June 22nd at 36 weeks.  He spent a few days in the NICU with some complications and jaundice but now both he and mom are happy and home. We also praise the Lord for the provision of all funds needed to cover the hospital bills. Pray for us as we adjust to life with four children, for balance of family life and ministry, and for our personal sanity!

With an increase in family size we have been praying for God to provide the right vehicle to meet both our family and ministry needs. Just this past week God met both our need and the need of some friends who needed to sell their 2006 7-passenger SUV!  We have the car in our garage and have saved up the majority of the asking price.  We have about $5,000 to go to fully pay it off.  Please pray for us as we begin the paperwork of changing titles and both learn how to drive a stick-shift.

Church news - With the more faithful members we finished up the first part of a discipleship course right before the baby was born.  While taking the course we have worked on encouraging them to be faithful in church attendance, reading the Word, praying and meditating on a daily basis.  Many have expressed a new found desire to take these steps of obedience.  Please pray for continued spiritual growth.

Two weeks ago we celebrated a baptismal service together with our church plant.  One lady from our church, Perpetua, and three people from the church plant followed the Lord in believer's baptism.  Please pray for their continued spiritual growth and commitment to Christ.  Several more are on the waiting list and are working through Bible studies and resolving personal issues that need to be dealt with beforehand.

Coming soon our church will be celebrating its 40th anniversary with a weekend of special services, a soccer tournament among some Baptist churches in the area and a special meal. Please pray for us as we seek to minister to the sheep who have gone astray and to bring them back into the fold.

In August several people from the church will accompany Eric and Joshua on a missions trip to the jungle region of Quillabamba.  We also look forward to a visit from Arthur Raske, a Creationist who will be teaching a course on Genesis at the seminary and sharing a Biblical Worldview of creation while Eric translates.  Pray for him as he prepares to translate this course and also to teach a course on Spanish grammar coming up in October.

We appreciate your prayers and sacrificial gifts on our behalf and know that without God's help we could not do what we do! Keep praying for the United States as well.  These are the last days, Brethren.  But God is still on His throne and Jesus is coming soon!

Love in Christ,

Eric and Casandra Pardine, Joshua, Steven, Gabriela and Judah