The past few months have been filled with activity and adjustments.  No longer having Harrison here as a part of our team has been challenging, especially for his mother!  However, it is great knowing we will soon have Richard Parsons here working along side us.  The addition of the Stacy family has been a treat for all of us, but especially Laura as she as quickly attached herself to little Tobin. 

     The fall is normally a little slower paced after completing an action packed summer filled with visiting groups.  However, so far we have not slowed down.  My two trips to Tampa to be with Cindy coupled with adding new ministry responsibilities to our personal lives, has resulted in some very busy days. 

     In the midst of all our mission efforts, we must never forget the individuals.  For me, being able to counsel and encourage others is a blessing, but it takes a lot of time.  While it is easy to report results of campaigns, church plants, and inaugurations, it is impossible to report the impact of taking time to just listen to a young mother whose husband has had an on-going affair for over two years, for example.  After all, that is real ministry, the kind that Jesus himself took time for. 

     As you consider contributing to our year-end fundraising effort, please imagine yourself personally giving to the many individuals whose lives will be touched in 2012.  Don't forget the story of the loaves and fish that Jesus multiplied and used to feed 5000 plus people.  He can do the same with your contribution, no matter the size!

     We are continuing to see good results from our ongoing work with visiting Let's Start Talking teams. This past month a group of four were here from the Pine Tree church of Christ in Longview, TX. This group effectively ended our LST season for this year. In order to follow up on these efforts we have begun a Friday night English Bible study as a means of ministering to the large number of regular LST readers that our teams have developed over this past year.  

Church Planting 

     One of the ministries that we have "sharpened and refined" this past year is our ministry that focuses on planting new churches in surrounding communities. Here is a picture of Josué Molina, one of our dedicated church planters, in the village of Ojo de Agua. This community has been targeted by us as the next community where we want to plant a new church.

     Josué is focusing on converting married men who are head of households in this community. In the book of Acts, as the church spread across the known world at the time, we can see heads of households being converted to Jesus along with their "whole household'. The methodology that we are employing in this ministry is to convert men who will serve as church leaders from the very outset in their local congregations. These field efforts are supported by our other equipping and training ministries of "Leadership Boot Camp", Mobil Equipping Seminars that take place in the individual congregations and our Resident Evangelist Training Program known as CREO.

     This particular methodology will help us multiple the number of churches planted because each group of new converts will be leading their own congregations without being dependent on outside funds to support a full time paid preacher. Please be praying for Josué and our other team members as we continue to refine our efforts in planting new churches in surrounding communities.

Cindy's Surgery Is A Success  

     Cindy's amputation surgery at Shriners Hospital was a success. Here she is in her first physical therapy session after the surgery. She is very independent and has a surprisingly strong, determined spirit which she is going to need as she faces the challenges ahead of her. The coming months include 6 to  8 weeks of physical therapy while her wounds are healing, then two to three months to fit her with prosthetic legs and feet; coupled with more physical therapy as she learns to walk and even run in her new limbs.

     Please be praying for her and for her host family, Tim, Susan and Stephanie Berry.

     The Jon and Stacy Stacy family are finally here. This young family has three young children, Lawson (boy 6), Jordan (girl 5) and Tobin (boy 4 months). Stacy has a BA degree in Spanish and an MBA, both from Harding University. Jon has a BA in accounting and he also is a Harding University graduate. They have years of experience working with the youth and family ministry at the Mayfair Church of Christ in Huntsville, Alabama.

     We are excited that they are here and look forward to them plugging in right away. God is continuing to bless us here at Mission UpReach with growth in terms of measureable impact on both the community and the local church. Jon and Stacy will be invaluable in continuing to reap this harvest of positive results in the various ministries we are involved in.

Back in August of this year we proudly inaugurated two new church buildings that we have been blessed to be able to build this year. Pictured below is the church building at El Porvenir. The other building pictured here to the right is the building at Crucitas.