Dear Friends in Christ,
Happy New Year!! I’m praying for every one of us to have a great 2020, with a perfect vision of what the Lord would have us do each of the 365 days of this new year!
Thank you for all of your faithful support and prayers, and for the special Christmas love offerings that several of you sent! It couldn’t have come at a better time!
… we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Romans 5:3, 4, 5
It seems 2019 was a difficult year for many, the Iglesia Bíblica Bautista being no exception!
My 2019 ended as follows. I went to Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua to help Missionaries Warren and Joanne Klenk move their household things up to El Paso, TX.
Seemingly, whatever could go wrong, went wrong that week going to El Paso and coming home to Camargo! The van had engine problems getting to Cuauhtémoc on Monday, but I thought I could make the trip, and it was the only window of opportunity I had for a while. Keeping the tarp on with and light rain was a continual challenge. Going through Juarez I bumped the fender of a car with the trailer. That cost time and money, but I was able to witness to the driver and give him a John and Romans! At U.S. customs I was detained a good while, but was able to witness to people there! Then the van barely started, and we got it unloaded without any problems.
The next morning at the Bearing Precious Seed property In El Paso, I discovered someone had stolen my travel-trailer! I had several tools in it, as well as the keys to 2 vans parked there that I’m trying to import to Mexico. Now the thieves also have the only keys to the vans! I finally got a locksmith to make new keys, and move the vans to a more secure place. The locksmith, originally from Cuba, thought he was saved, but on his own merits. After 3 hours, while working on the keys, I at least got him to doubt his own ability to save himself!
Dealing with these challenges on my phone in El Paso, I noticed a young woman with car problems, in front of where I parked, so I was able to help and witness to her!
When going to load 20 church pews for our church building in Camargo, the van wouldn’t start, and Bro. Stephen Dyck, pastor of Victory Baptist helped me and he and some men from the church helped load the pews. Saturday I headed for home. After clearing customs in Ojinaga, the van wouldn’t start, so I was able to witness to more people there! Missionary Henry Giesbrecht got it a secure place and loaned me their church van, so I got home with the trailer and pews, and praise the Lord was home for Sunday services!
The next week, my mechanic and I went and brought the van home. Bro Henry and I were able to witness to him and I witnessed on our way home, towing the van!
Although none of these called on the Lord as Saviour at the time, but Praise the Lord several heard the gospel that wouldn’t have, had it not been for my “challenges”!
On December 31 we had a great watch-night service, and as the new year came in were praying, asking the Lord to use us to reach more people with the Gospel than ever before!
In Christ’s Service,
Bro. Ron Winter
Camargo, Chihuahua, Mexico